[Review] What We Do In The Shadows Season 3

Last Thursday the season 3 finale of What We Do In The Shadows premiered, and after ruminating on this season’s cliffhanger, I have some thoughts. For starters, this seems like the correct direction to go. With our chaotic group of vampires (plus one human bodyguard) having been cooped up together in their dark and dreary Staten Island mansion for quite some time, distance is undoubtedly needed. I would say that this is especially the case for Nandor (Kayvan Novak) and Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), and though I was one of the many people who was hoping for the “will they won’t they” chapter to close with an enthusiastic “will”, it’s clear the two need some growing up to do. This season’s exploration of their relationship was interesting, and Nandor’s struggle with romance reveals that he’s still figuring himself out, and hopefully with some much-needed soul-searching on his own, he’ll find some self-assurance. Next, let’s move on to Guillermo–he can’t catch a break! From unpaid labor as a familiar, Nandor still refusing to turn him into a vampire, and now Laszlo (Matt Berry) locking him in a coffin sent straight to Europe, I just don’t know how he does it. Personally, I’d love for Guillermo to finally get some time away from the vampires and do some eat-pray-love-ing like Nandor, but now that he’s set to be Nadja’s (Natasia Demetriou) bodyguard, we’ll finally get a taste for their dynamic. 

Nandor (Kayvak Novak) and Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) in the episode “The Farewell” (episode 9)

This season has been all about growth, each character has gone through a crisis and through this, we’ve gotten to know them better. Nandor’s struggle with love, Nadja’s struggle to be a better friend, Laszlo supporting his loved ones, Colin Robinson’s (Mark Proksch) search into his heritage, and Guillermo realizing his own potential and worth. Their crises collide and chaos ensues as always, but it’s really this season that things really come to a head. Nandor, Nadja, Colin, Laszlo, and Guillermo can’t continue on with their routine: co-dependency and reading each other to filth. The need for something new is spectacularly shown through Colin Robinson’s death and rebirth, and though it’s strange and a little grotesque (sorry baby Colin), it’s a necessary step for everyone in this vampiric group of misfits. Change is inevitable, confusing, messy, heart-breaking, but vital for growth.

Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) and Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) in “The Farewell” (episode 9)