They’ve Returned From the Shadows!
The Promotional Image for “What We Do in the Shadows” (via FX).
For anybody that's ever wondered what it's like to live in the shadows and amongst the vampires, Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) and Jemaine Clement’s (Flight of the Conchords) hit comedy show on FX, "What We Do In The Shadows," returned for a second season on the 15th with more shady humor and danger. Those that are familiar with Waititi and Clement’s previous works, may have stumbled across the 2014 film with the same title.
The show’s plot remains somewhat similar to the film’s, but finds its own footing with the unique acting talents and improvisation from the cast. The film quickly became a cult classic, reeling in passionate and devoted fans throughout the years, while also drawing in new ones with absurd and clever writing by Waititi and Clement.
While every new episode airs on FX on Wednesday nights, Hulu subscribers have the option to watch new episodes the day after airing. Shadows documents the lives of three ancient vampires and an energy vampire (who absorbs the energies from humans and vampires by boring them with his anecdotes) living under the same roof in modern day Staten Island, NJ. Rooming in with them as well, is the human familiar of one of the vampires, who serves and dedicates his life to his master while also waiting to be turned into a vampire after his ten long years of service.
The show utilizes the mockumentary style to adequately explore how these dimwitted and hilarious characters assimilate to the mortal world while also keeping their true-selves hidden. The show brings back season one stars, Kayvan Novak (Nandor), Matt Berry (Laszlo), Natasia Demetriou (Nadja), Harvey Guillen (Guillermo), and Mark Proksch (Colin Robinson).
Season one left off with the revelation that human-familiar Guillermo, is descended from the legendary vampire hunter Van Helsing. This raises the stakes for the undying devotion he holds towards his master, Nandor who has already promised him for ten years that he would turn him into a vampire.
The first three episodes of the new season deliver with the same comedic flow from season one, as the five leading actors work as a true ensemble, bouncing off from each other’s comedic risks. Episode one of the new season, “Resurrection,” kicks off with special guest star Haley Joel Osment playing Nadja and Laszlo’s new lazy familiar, Topher. His presumptuous attitude only irritates Guillermo more as he struggles with his vampire hunter lineage.
Episode two, “Ghosts,” fumbles a bit when the vampires are visited by the ghosts of the human version of themselves. But an interesting take away from that episode was that Colin Robinson’s vampiric origin was finally hinted at, due to no one on the show knowing how “energy vampires” are made. Nevertheless, episode three, “Brain Scramblies” delivers with strong laughs when Guillermo accidentally stumbles upon a group of vampire hunters who call themselves the “Staten Island Mosquito Collectors” Craig Robinson (The Office) guest stars as the group’s leader.
Later, the vampires are invited to watch the Super Bowl at their neighbor’s house when they confuse their neighbor’s wording thinking they’re going to watch “The Superb Owl”. Nadja’s ferocious personality shines through with Demetriou’s performance and funny one liners like, “She used to be such a cute fresh-faced girl. But now she just looks like an elephant’s knee.”
With television shows being a saving grace during these current days of social distancing and quarantining at home, "What We Do In The Shadows" offers funny, faux devastations as a distraction from life's everyday ones. With season 2, episode 4 coming this Wednesday, what is done in the shadows won't stay in the shadows for long.
