"We're Werewolves, Not Swearwolves"
What We Do in the Shadows is the rare adaptation that surpasses its source material. Taika Waititi's 2014 film was brilliant—an absurdist mockumentary about vampire roommates—but the TV series expands the concept into something richer, stranger, and somehow more emotionally resonant.
The Staten Island vampires—Nandor the Relentless, Laszlo Cravensworth, Nadja of Antipaxos, and Colin Robinson the energy vampire—are sitcom archetypes elevated by commitment. Matt Berry's Laszlo alone could carry a show; his pronunciation of "ghost" is its own comedic tradition. But the show's secret weapon is Guillermo, Nandor's familiar who discovers he's descended from Van Helsing and desperately wants to become a vampire despite his vampire-slaying instincts.
It shouldn't work—a horror-comedy with genuine heart—but somehow the show makes you care about bloodthirsty monsters who are also petty, insecure roommates arguing about chore wheels.
Characters & Acting (9): The ensemble is perfect. Kayvan Novak's Nandor is hilariously insecure, Matt Berry's Laszlo is pure chaotic energy, Natasia Demetriou's Nadja is gloriously unhinged, and Mark Proksch's Colin Robinson makes being boring fascinating. Harvey Guillén's Guillermo provides the emotional core.
World Building (8): The show's supernatural ecosystem—vampires, werewolves, witches, necromancers, energy vampires—is internally consistent and endlessly inventive. The Vampiric Council, the Night Market, the Sire—all feel real.
Resolution (7): The show ended before it ran out of steam, but the finale felt more like a pause than a conclusion. Some plot threads were left dangling. A proper ending remains elusive.
"The Trial" (S1E7) — The vampires face the Vampiric Council for killing the Baron. An instant classic with a who's who of vampire cameos.
"Colin's Promotion" (S2E8) — Colin Robinson becomes head of his company. Energy vampire corporate satire at its finest.
"The Wellness Center" (S3E4) — Nandor and Guillermo investigate a suspicious wellness center. The show's blend of horror and heart peaks here.