Silly profanity, inept vampirism, occasional spatters of gore, and faux supernatural documentary filmmaking made What We Do in the Shadows a pleasing and often hilarious movie, which, in turn, became a welcome addition to FX’s lineup of shows in 2019. Not only did it perfectly translate the film’s brand of humor to TV (thanks in large part to the presence of Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement), but it also expanded upon the concept in some clever ways, namely the increased attention paid to unappreciated vampire familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), who, as it turns out, is unusually proficient at dispatching the nocturnal creatures he wishes to one day join the ranks of.
In its first 10-episode season, What We Do in the Shadows introduced viewers to its quartet of Staten Island vampires, Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch). Through it all, the first season paid particular attention Guillén’s put-upon familiar, tracking the lows and lower lows of his decidedly one-sided relationship to his vampiric master, Nandor. Though it had the makings of an infinitely reusable joke, one that could be repeated ad nauseam at Guillermo’s expense — not unlike how the similarly formatted Parks & Rec crew regarded their officemate Jerry — What We Do in the Shadows saw a unique opportunity to add a dash of intrigue to its otherwise, let’s say, undirected (in the best way possible) story, offering Guillermo a chance to fulfill an unexpected destiny, that of the vampire-killing Van Helsing clan.
Season 2 expands on the notion in clever ways, particularly in the premiere, ‘Resurrection,’ which picks up soon after where the season 1 finale left off. Here, the show’s documentary format pays off, allowing the characters — Guillén, in particular — a chance to deliver a concise play-by-play of nearly everything that’s occurred in the interim, without grinding the episode’s progression to a halt. Through some clever editing and special effects, ‘Ressurection’ charts Guillermo’s unlikely and persistent path toward becoming a vampire hunter extraordinaire. It’s a compelling angle for the character and for the show, one that increasingly pays dividends as the season progresses.
Despite the increased attention paid to Guillén, What We Do in the Shadows remains a near-perfect ensemble show, and though the premiere’s runtime is remarkably short it nevertheless manages to live up to its title with a guest appearance from Nadia and Laszlo’s new familiar, played by Haley Joel Osment. Osment shakes up the usual group dynamic without destabilizing what the series has created, and it helps to realize his stay on the show will be limited, thanks in large part to a guest appearance from Benedict Wong as a necromancer/gift shop owner and acquaintance of Nadja’s.
The guest stars are just the latest in a string of memorable one-and-done appearances since the show began, perhaps most notably by the conclave of vampires in season 1 that included Waititi, Clement, Evan Rachel Wood, Paul Ruebens, and Wesley Snipes. In that sense, it’s good to see that What We Do in the Shadows is still intent on playing fast and loose with its ability to attract stars for a silly guest spot and to make their exits as memorable as their entrances. The trend continues through the first half of the season, which adds Craig Robinson to the cast as the ostensible leader of a group Guillermo finds himself mixed up with, and who will no doubt cause trouble for his increasingly untenable double life.
As always, though, Novak, Berry, Demetriou, and Proksch provide the show with a constant stream of big laughs, particularly when they’re at Guillermo’s expense. This season, the talking head segments offer an even better look into the wonderfully demented mindset of the Staten Island bloodsuckers, particularly when weighed against Guillermo’s struggle to maintain loyalty to his master and his growing realization that his destiny may set him on a completely different path. That Guillermo is the also the most self-aware of anyone in the house only adds to his inner conflict and brings a welcome sense of stakes (no pun intended) to the series’ otherwise sedate, hangout vibe.
With season 1, What We Do in the Shadows proved itself one of FX’s best comedies, and season 2 is set to establish the series as one of the funniest on television, period.
What We Do in the Shadows season 2 premieres Wednesday, April 15 @10pm on FX.
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