For the last six years, we have been blessed by the presence of What We Do in the Shadows, a mockumentary-style series that really is the gift that keeps on giving. In bringing back our crew for one last ride, this final season dishes out quality laughs and the same witty dialogue that’s a mainstay of the franchise.
What I love about this final season is that, despite the end inching ever closer, it’s business as usual in terms of moving through narratives and character arcs. Aside from the finale, the season plays out just like any other season – it’s not building to a crescendo or peppering in farewells, it’s just another few weeks in the lives of these vampires. In a way it could sound anticlimactic, but as they aptly point out in the finale, that’s the point. The show, or in this case the documentary, ends, but the lives of the characters go on. It’s a nice way to leave things as it feels real, original and appropriate. But enough about the ending, let’s backtrack and look at the season as a whole.
The structure of the season has all the things we’ve come to expect – there’s a few key arcs that span the course of the season, in this case the corporate office content and the reanimation business, and then there’s episode-isolated arcs that bring something new to each week. On top of that, there’s the episodes that leave the Staten Island house behind for an external location, and there’s a couple of those here too. As far as variety goes, this season is by far one of the more balanced – there’s a little bit of everything peppered throughout so fans get one last taste of their favourite episode styles. The corporate office arc, with Guillermo at the centre, is the most memorable aspect of the season – it links to everything else going on, still involves the rest of the crew and brings fresh dynamics and some of the biggest laughs. One of the things I love about this series is the writers always know when to dip out of a certain arc and when to dive back in. For instance, the office arc carries through the season, but it’s not overdone, with enough other content to balance it out.
As with any comedy series that has isolated arcs in episodes, some will hit more than others. Every episode in here delivers big laughs, but there are a couple like the March Madness episode that don’t hit quite as well – but that could also be the case of an Aussie audience vs a US one.
Being the final season, the writers have ensured every one of our main crew receives ample screen time. If you’re looking for more development on Nandor and Guillermo’s relationship, that’s in here. If you’re after Laszlo’s hilarious one-liners and antics with Colin Robinson, you’ll get your wish. If it’s Nadja’s pure chaos and words of wisdom you want, there’s plenty to go around. There’s even a number of fan-favourite supporting characters who return for a comedic moment or two in a nice homage to seasons passed. Amongst all of this content, there’s no shortage of laughs to be had in every episode. From the abundance of slapstick comedy (of which there’s an uptick in this season) to the wit-filled dialogue that weaves together punchline after punchline, this season cements What We Do in the Shadows as one of the all-time-great comedy series’. It started with a bang, never dipped in quality and went out on a high, leaving behind a reputation that can never be tarnished.
It’s devastating that we won’t see this crew together again, because the unbreakable chemistry they share is what has made the series so enjoyable. In this season, and especially in the finale, some of the best scenes simply involve our core crew sitting around and going back and forth with snappy dialogue aplenty. When these unique personalities combine, it leads to a number of hilarious dynamics, and that’s all thanks to the comedic talents behind the roles. Kayvan Novak’s ability to play the clueless, stoic and adorable Nandor is exceptional. I didn’t know him before this series, but he’s firmly on my radar now. Matt Berry is the MVP of the show – in six seasons he’s never had a moment that didn’t hit, lending his natural comedic chops to the most memorable moments. Natasia Demetriou is wonderful when it comes to balancing Nadja’s chaotic energy and level-headed thinking. Her spats with Berry are always wonderfully entertaining. Only Mark Proksch can play deadpan as well as he has in this series, and he has some big moments within this season where he delivers flawlessly. Then there’s Harvey Guillén, the audience’s go-to for all your 4th wall breaks and one of the big emotional hooks of the series. His performance is what makes Guillermo so loveable and fun to watch.
In the end, I can’t sing the praises of this series enough. It has never put a foot wrong, and this season proves exactly that. It sticks to its guns and delivers 11 episodes filled with laughs aplenty, ending with one of the series’ best episodes and a finale that perfectly embodies the silly vibe of the series. There’s moments throughout this season that will come to mind when thinking of this series, which goes out on top as one of the funniest things on TV. If you haven’t checked it out yet, now’s your chance as it makes for the perfect easy binge.
8.7/10
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