Steven Prusakowski
Some shows possess that uncanny ability to put you under their spell. Tuning in any day, any time, to any episode, scene, or even for one of the exquisitely delivered lines of dialogue can make you helpless to its charms. What We Do In the Shadow is one such show, just a taste leaves me enchanted, struggling to stop watching. The FX series is entering its hilarious and zealous fifth season, the series retains its unique comedic blend of high concept comedy mixed with low brow – risque humor, satire, puns, razor sharp wordplay, cartoon gore, and physical comedy that makes it one of the funniest shows on television.
Still, when I try to introduce it to potential new fans it is not always love at first bite. A mockumentary about a group of vampires living in modern day Staten Island, what’s not to love? It may be that some of the qualities I find so alluring as a long time fan can also make the series intimidating. The lore and callbacks can make jumping in mid-series is a challenge to say the least. The characters are richly written and all possess backstories and mythology that has developed and is passed along from previous seasons.
Season 4 took the vampires in some wildly original directions, but Season 5 hits the ground running with even bolder swings. The scope expands beyond the familiar mansion walls into unexpected Staten Island adventures and beyond, a stroll down Nadja’s (Natasia Demetriou) heritage in Little Antipaxos, are on the floor for televised political debates like you have never seen before, visiting “the mall” (the pronunciation alone is comedy gold), the beach, and even outer space. Watching the housemates still stumble through modern human situations with spectacular misunderstanding never fails to deliver uproarious results. Laszlo’s misreading of every storefront alone is worth the price of admission. (i.e. “That’s the ‘Baby Village”, makes sense to keep them all in one place.”)
As they boldy go where no vampire has gone before we watch them misunderstand and often stumble through modern human world situations. The more they try to fit in the more they fail miserably with uproarious results. Like the vampires, the jokes never get old. Writers bravely take on the new while finding the right balance of relying on some old favorites.
After the big comic swings of last season, this season provides a welcome hint of familiarity exploring the dynamics of the different relationships between the characters while each travels their own journey. This in on full display as we watch yet another physical transformation take place. Last season it was Colin’s (Mark Proksch) metamorphosis from creepy adult-faced infant to creepy teenager to still kind of creepy adult. This time around it’s Guillermo’s (Harvey Guillén) turn and the results are very different but just as hilarious. The series writers find ways to tap into veins of unexpected comedy to deliver clever results that are more than skin deep.
After waiting years for the oblivious Nandor (Kayvan Novak) to transform him into a vampire, the loveable familiar takes the task into his own hands. All’s well that ends well, right? Not so fast, as this season kicks off we learn that the process does not go off without a hitch (of course) or two, leaving Gizmo stuck somewhere between human and vampire – including some itty-bitty bat wings. The mix of visual and physical is on par with anything before, even creepy baby Colin.
If Nandor were to learn of Guillermo’s turning, it would mean death for both of them. Laszlo steps in for some “scientific” experiments to reverse things, each funnier and more outrageous than the previous. All the while, Nandor’s growing jealousy over their new bond, and the escalating tensions between the two vampires create constant friction that fuels some of the season’s biggest laughs. It is a scenario that adds more tension than most seasons while never forgetting to be deadly funny.
In the first four episodes alone, the show is packed with “you had to be there” moments that prove the writing remains among the best in the industry. Guillermo still serves as our partially human guide through the madness, but every character gets their own comedic spotlight. The ensemble’s chemistry is unmatched with each actor brings something unique to the mix of absurdity. I could happily watch entire episodes of nothing but their witty banter, bickering, and perfectly timed insults.
It does not matter when, where or what the subject matter, just about every single line of dialogue delivers comic gold, be it through clever wordplay, Laszlo’s extravagant over-pronunciations (he really nails Kim Cattrall), the growlingly outrageous physical comedy, or one of Guillermo’s perfectly delivered reaction shots. The series never nor comedy becomes complacent, always evolving and aiming for the moon in the hunt for laughs.
Sure, What We Do in the Shadows can be ridiculous at times (and I eat it up) but showrunner Paul Simms never struggles to find humor in the more unlikely of places. Equally impressive is that after five seasons of comedy at the volume it is delivered how feels fresh it often feels. The writers endlessly deliver some of the smartest comedy line after line, and sometimes between them. There’s something in it for everyone. By putting our vampire friends in new, seemingly random situations from episode to episode there it looks like we could have many more seasons ahead.
Viewers are treated to a meeting of the Council of Energy Vampires which almost drained me through my TV, the funniest yogurt joke I think I have ever heard (as simple as it was, it had me laughing out loud), Nandor takes flight (literally), a cringeworthy Build-A-Bear experience unlike any I’ve ever witnessed, an unexpected circumcision in the name of friendship, a Pride parade run by some of the least likely of organizers and much more… all this in the first four episodes.
While your standard, less ambitious sitcoms are easy to consume and can be enjoyable, they rarely are as rewarding as WWDITS when you are in on the joke. That’s why I always recommend new viewers watch from the start of the because the more familiar you are with the world building, the better. Every joke and callback lands better when you have the luxury of having watched all before it. By the way, I am happy to say that every person I convinced to do so quickly transformed into fans of the show. Suck-cess.
With every passing season What We Do In the Shadows proves to be one of the best comedies on television. Even with the high bar, season five has a very strong start. Each episode is fleshed out with well-crafted characters, outrageous situations and some incredibly clever writing. Every time you think you have seen it all, the show surprises, creating new awkward fish-out-of-water moments for us to enjoy. This fifth year vampire series never grows old. I’d even say What We Do In the Shadows still has plenty of life left in it.
(★★★★1/2 out of five stars)
What We Do in the Shadows airs Thursdays on FX and then the next day on Hulu.
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