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All 6 seasons of What We Do In The Shadows, ranked worst to best

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All 6 seasons of What We Do In The Shadows, ranked worst to best

As a long-time fan of the supernatural and a self-proclaimed connoisseur of all things vampiric, I can confidently say that my life has been forever enriched by the delightful and witty world of What We Do In The Shadows. From its humble beginnings in the 2014 film to the brilliant TV series that followed, this show has consistently managed to tickle my funny bone while satisfying my insatiable thirst for all things undead.

In the realm of television, I’ve found myself immersed in a delightful mix for six years now – one piece is reminiscent of “The Office,” another echoes the dark allure of “Dracula,” and yet another resonates with the quirky humor from the 2014 “What We Do In The Shadows” movie by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. This FX sitcom has been a consistent source of quality comedy with a twist of horror, much like a reliable friend who never fails to make me laugh.

In this series, the main characters just so happen to be vampires: there’s the dimwitted Nandor (Kayvan Novak), hot-tempered Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), suave Lazslo (Matt Berry), Colin Robinson, a dull energy vampire (Mark Proksch), and Guillermo, Nandor’s patient familiar who is more skilled than any of his immortal masters. Every comedy has its straight man, and in this case, it’s Guillermo.

This group of actors kept the series engaging for six powerful television seasons. What We Do In The Shadows was particularly notable due to its unique visual aesthetic, boasting more depth and richness than typical sitcoms; even if you happened to glance at the TV while an episode was airing, it could easily appear as though you were watching a film adaptation of Anne Rice’s works, with its lavish period costumes and gothic settings. However, the moment Laszlo began doting on a singing Big Mouth Billy Bass, you quickly realized your error. Every sitcom requires a balance of contrasting elements.

This week marks the final episode of “What We Do In The Shadows,” and I can’t help but pay tribute to this fantastic series by revisiting each of its six seasons in reverse order, from least favorite to favorite. I’ll surely miss this show when it leaves our screens, and it deserves a grand farewell!

6. What We Do In the Shadows season 6

The latest and final season of “What We Do In The Shadows” has provided some enjoyable episodes, such as the amusing “Sleep Hypnosis” and the action-packed “Come Out and Play,” which pays homage to the 1979 film “The Warriors.” However, the overall storyline of this season hasn’t been as compelling.

Similar to many sitcoms, each episode of “What We Do In The Shadows” can be watched independently, yet there’s a significant amount of ongoing storyline as well. This recent season has focused on Guillermo’s departure from the vampire family and his solo journey, which means he interacts less with the group now, leaving some viewers unsatisfied, particularly given it’s the final season. This wouldn’t be such an issue if each episode were consistently funny and inventive, but they haven’t quite managed to compensate for this lack.

As a devoted fan, I must admit that this current television season continues to impress me, yet I can’t help but hold out hope for an exceptional finale that truly does justice to the series. However, in comparison to the previous five seasons, it seems to be the one that falls slightly short.

5. What We Do In the Shadows season 4

Season 4 saw “What We Do In The Shadows” reaching its peak of continuous narrative threads. There were three main stories unfolding almost separately: Nandor embarked on a quest to find a bride, assisted by a djinn; Nadja ventured into the world of vampire nightclubs; and in an oddly unique storyline, Laszlo took care of the small, tune-loving creature that emerged from the body of adult Colin Robinson. This one enjoys musical performances.

Each storyline has its highlights, particularly noteworthy are Nandor’s turbulent weddings in “The Wedding” and the eccentric efforts of the vampires to school Little Colin Robinson in “Private School”. While it all works, it seems to be more effectively executed during other seasons.

In my opinion, as a film critic, Guillermo seems to overindulge in the plot details this season, an issue that appears to have carried over from the previous one. Moving on, let me share some thoughts about…

4. What We Do In the Shadows season 3

What We Do In The Shadows offers a hilariously eccentric take on vampire life, yet its humor has a solid foundation in Guillermo’s persistent desire to transform into a vampire, despite Nandor’s apparent indifference towards his aspirations. If the series has a soul, this is where it resides. However, season 6 may not be as gratifying due to Guillermo abandoning that dream. Yet, it’s in season 3 that we begin to understand the show will keep us waiting for as long as it can.

In this setup, Guillermo takes on the protective role for the vampires, while Nandor and Nadja jointly manage the New York City branch of the Vampiric Council. This arrangement leads to engaging plotlines. Notable scenes include “The Casino,” a weekend getaway in Atlantic City with human companion Sean, and “The Cloak of Duplication,” where Kayvan Novak displays his impressive mimicking abilities.

Season 3 delves further into the backstory of the show in “The Escape,” as the vampires pursue the Sire, the ancestor of all vampires. While it might seem humorous that What We Do In The Shadows has a lore at all, this added depth contributes to the uniqueness of this sitcom.

3. What We Do In the Shadows season 5

Towards the conclusion of season 4, Guillermo takes control of the situation and persuades Derek to convert him into a vampire – sort of. However, his newly acquired vampiric abilities only partially surface, leaving him puzzled throughout season 5 as he seeks to understand why this is happening. Meanwhile, he keeps his transformation secret from his master Nandor, fearing his wrath upon discovering that someone else had turned Guillermo into a vampire instead of himself.

Among all extended storylines in the series, this one stands out as the most triumphant; it’s filled with genuine suspense as Guillermo grapples with his predicament, and there’s plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as each character in the house gradually catches on, except for Nandor who amusingly remains clueless.

In a humorous twist, the standout episode titled “Local News” comes to mind, where the vampires mistakenly believe their secret has been exposed and fear an angry mob from Staten Island is on its way to hunt them down. The irony lies in the fact that nobody actually knows about their existence, making the situation even more comical as they exacerbate matters by overreacting unnecessarily. Among the contenders for the funniest episode in the series, “Local News” certainly holds a strong position.

2. What We Do In the Shadows season 1

In the manner set by the 2014 film, “What We Do In The Shadows”, the TV series began strongly right from its debut season. Unlike some sitcoms that need time to find their footing as actors adapt to their characters and producers experiment with suitable humor and plotlines, “What We Do In The Shadows” had its lead actors already in sync with their characters and the mockumentary-gothic horror concept was already fully fleshed out.

The episodes such as “Baron’s Night Out” demonstrate the unique blend of the absurd and ordinary that the show masterfully achieves, as it depicts vampires enjoying a night out while eliminating an ancient bloodsucker. Moreover, the series gained its most viral recognition in “The Trial,” which boasted appearances by numerous well-known actors famed for their portrayals of vampires, including Tilda Swinton, Paul Reubens, and Wesley Snipes.

What We Do In The Shadows didn’t experience many growing pains; instead, it was strong from its debut and consistently maintained that quality. However, it did surpass its initial season on one occasion.

1. What We Do In the Shadows season 2

In the second installment of “What We Do In The Shadows,” the cast and crew continued to deliver fresh, humorous episodes, having gained some experience from the first season. One particularly impressive pairing includes “Colin’s Promotion,” where Colin Robinson reveled in power and found his place within the main gang, and “On The Run,” where Laszlo fled a brawl and embarked on an entirely new life in Pennsylvania, drawn by its name sounding similar to Transylvania, a name that we all know carries a cool factor. The show truly showcased Matt Berry’s distinctive speech style at its finest.

Prior to discovering that the series wasn’t going to fully deliver a vampire character named Guillermo as initially expected, it managed to create tension and humor from his storyline in episodes such as “The Return” and “Nouveau Théâtre des Vampires,” which came closest to directly imitating Anne Rice’s style. To this day, I find myself chuckling at the scene where the vampires struggle to recall Guillermo’s last name: “It is Guillermo…Buillermo…?” Nadja ponders.

Farewell, Nandor, Nadja, Laszlo, Colin, and Guillermo. I suppose The Guide as well. May your journeys continue smoothly!

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2024-12-08 17:42

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