It’s Spooky, Not Scary
Let’s be honest: not everyone wants to be terrified. 'What We Do in the Shadows' nails the Halloween aesthetic—gothic architecture, ancient curses, bats, and copious amounts of blood—but wraps it in a layer of absolute silliness. The show, presented as
a mockumentary following four vampire roommates on Staten Island, uses the horror setting for punchlines, not jump scares. The stakes are rarely about life and death, but rather about who failed to do the dishes for five years or how to properly host a Super Bowl party for the neighbors. It delivers all the fun of the supernatural genre with none of the lingering dread, making it the ideal comfort-food binge for a cozy autumn night.
Ancient Monsters, Modern Problems
The core comedic genius of the show comes from a simple, brilliant premise: what happens when centuries-old, bloodthirsty creatures have to deal with the mundane frustrations of modern life? Nandor the Relentless, a former warlord from the Ottoman Empire, struggles with email and American citizenship. Laszlo, a debaucherous English nobleman, is more concerned with his topiary and his cursed hat than conquering the New World. This clash of ancient ego and contemporary inconvenience is endlessly funny. They may be immortal beings with immense power, but they're still flummoxed by chain stores, online scams, and the complexities of local politics, a conflict that makes their absurd lives surprisingly relatable.
A Dysfunctional Family of Lovable Idiots
At its heart, the series is a workplace comedy where the workplace is a decrepit mansion and the coworkers are a found family of undead narcissists. The dynamic between Nandor, the self-appointed but clueless leader; Laszlo, the boisterous hedonist; and Nadja, the long-suffering and passionate Romani vampire, is the show's engine. They bicker like siblings, support each other in absurdly specific ways, and share a genuine, albeit deeply weird, affection. Rounding out the household is Colin Robinson, an "energy vampire" who drains life force not by biting necks, but by boring people with mind-numbing conversations—a perfect parody of every tedious coworker you've ever had.
Guillermo Is the Secret Ingredient
While the vampires provide the chaos, the show's true heart lies with Guillermo de la Cruz, Nandor’s long-suffering human familiar. For years, Guillermo has catered to every vampiric whim in the hope of one day being granted immortality. But his journey takes an ironic twist when he discovers he's a descendant of the legendary vampire hunter, Abraham Van Helsing. This gives him an incredible aptitude for vampire slaying, a skill he must hide from his masters. Guillermo is the audience's anchor—a loyal, earnest, and surprisingly deadly figure whose quest for belonging provides the show with its most compelling and often hilarious storyline.
The Jokes Are Densely Packed and Highly Rewatchable
Created by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, the show builds on the deadpan, mockumentary style of their 2014 film of the same name. The format, which works so well in shows like 'The Office', is perfectly suited for highlighting the vampires' disconnect from reality. The scripts are packed with witty one-liners, absurd physical comedy, and subtle background gags you'll only catch on a second or third viewing. Whether it's Laszlo yelling "Bat!" before transforming or Nadja's possessed doll complaining about her roommates, the series is a masterclass in comedic timing and inventive world-building that rewards repeated binges.
