What We Do In The Shadows Season 5 Premiere Review: As Funny As Ever, Intriguing New Storyline
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS SEASON 5 PREMIERE REVIEW SCORE
The funniest bloodsuckers on this side of Congress are back, and part of the changed status quo of What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 promises to add a very interesting storyline to the laughs. In particular, Harvey Guillén’s Guillermo (or Gizmo, depending on who’s mentioning him) faces a predicament even more troubling than when he discovered he was a descendant of Van Helsing at the end of Season 2.
Everyone can tell “something” is up with Guillermo in the Season 5 premiere. Nandor decides it’s because they missed the familiar’s birthday (which, of course, he doesn’t know the date for).
Since we left the vampires at the end of Season 4, the restored and age-appropriate Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) is trying out his energy-sucking talents as a waiter, Nandor (Kayvan Novak) has annoyingly latched on to the philosophy put forth in the 1967 self-help book I’m OK – You’re OK, and Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) finds herself in desperate need of female companionship.
But perhaps the most hilarious change since What We Do in the Shadows Season 4 comes to none of the vampires or even Guillermo, but to the now miserable Nadja Doll. Its legs were crushed by a drunken Nadja, and when Colin Robinson “fixed” her, he added a new function that the Doll hates but the other vampires adore.
And then there’s Guillermo. When we left Guillermo in What We Do in the Shadows Season 4, he had gone to ask Derek (Chris Sandiford) — whose brief vampire-hunting career was cut short in Season 2 — to do what we all know Nandor never will do: turn Guillermo into a vampire.
Everyone can tell “something” is up with Guillermo in the Season 5 premiere. Nandor decides it’s because they missed the familiar’s birthday (which, of course, he doesn’t know the date for). That seems to close the subject for everyone but Laszlo (Matt Berry), who starts following Guillermo incognito.
This would all be nothing but a gag for the resident familiar of What We Do in the Shadows, except we learn that the stakes (no pun intended, but warmly embraced regardless) are much higher.
In what is doubtless the most genuinely, and wonderfully, awkward vampire-turning scene in What We Do in the Shadows — or really in the entire history of screen media — Derek kind of turns Guillermo. The familiar has no hunger for blood, he can still go out in the day, and he can eat normal food without projectile vomiting for five minutes straight.
The only real difference he shows is that he develops an appetite for raw meat, and when he says “Bat” like Laszlo, something happens, but not what happens for Laszlo.
This would all be nothing but a gag for the resident familiar of What We Do in the Shadows, except we learn that the stakes (no pun intended, but warmly embraced regardless) are much higher. For a familiar to be turned by a vampire other than the one he serves represents a huge humiliation. If Nandor finds out Guillermo has been turned, he will be forced to kill his servant.
Doug Jones is back as a much less crispy Baron Afanas, and Anthony Atamanuik returns as Laszlo’s brain damaged “rotten soldier” Sean.
Guillermo’s new storyline is my favorite part of the What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 two-episode premiere, but I can’t decide how I want it to end.
The most predictable development would be that by the end of the season, we’ll see Guillermo cured, just as Colin Robinson was aged back up by the end of Season 4. Really, the fact that his vampire transformation is pretty weak so far, seems to be an easy way to facilitate his being cured down the road.
I’m just not so sure I want a return to the status-quo. I think the idea of Guillermo becoming a full-fledged vampire and learning to deal with all that entails could be interesting. But Guillermo is the closest reflection of us in What We Do in the Shadows, so it seems unlikely this change will stick.
Regardless, just two episodes into the new season, and any fans are sure to be pleased. Along with the usual hilarity, the series makes sure to bring back some favorite recurring characters.
We get to see the always funny Kristen Schaal return as The Guide, who seems desperate to break into the vampires’ clique. Doug Jones is back as a much less crispy Baron Afanas, and Anthony Atamanuik returns as Laszlo’s brain damaged “rotten soldier” Sean.
What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 looks to be on course to continue as one of the funniest and singular shows on television. You can catch the comedy Thursday nights on FX, and it’s available for streaming by Friday morning on Hulu.
