What We Do in the Shadows

A mockumentary masterpiece with fangs and heart

What We Do in the Shadows is what happens when pure absurdity meets razor-sharp writing. It’s a mockumentary about four vampires (and one unfortunate familiar) living in Staten Island, trying to navigate modern life while maintaining their centuries-old vampire traditions.

The series, based on the 2014 film by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, is a spiritual successor that somehow manages to be even better. It balances its gothic absurdism with genuinely clever writing and top-tier comedic performances – all wrapped in deadpan delivery and blood-soaked awkwardness.

Why it works so damn well

On paper, the premise is ridiculous: ancient vampires struggling to understand email, city council meetings, and the concept of paying rent. But that’s where the genius lies. Every episode takes a mundane part of modern life and filters it through the lens of a group of eternally confused undead weirdos.

The show hits its stride almost immediately. The humor is tight, the lore surprisingly deep, and the worldbuilding sneaks up on you. It doesn’t rely on traditional sitcom beats – it lets its characters drive the chaos. The writing is smart enough to be satirical, but never smug. It’s silly, but not shallow.

And perhaps most surprisingly: it has heart. You care about these characters. Even when they’re being idiotic, narcissistic, and occasionally murderous.

🧛‍♂️ Character & actor breakdown
Let’s talk about the heartbeat of this show – the cast. Every single character is perfectly written and even more perfectly performed.

Nandor the Relentless (played by Kayvan Novak)
Once a bloodthirsty warlord of the Ottoman Empire, now a slightly pathetic and deeply confused leader of the house.

Kayvan Novak’s performance is a masterclass in comedic restraint and over-the-top drama at the same time. Nandor’s accent, his obsessive need for order, and his bumbling attempts at self-improvement are endlessly funny. Whether he’s trying to become an American citizen or exploring modern dating apps, he’s an immortal man-child in the best way.

Laszlo Cravensworth (played by Matt Berry)
A pompous British aristocrat with a libido as powerful as his ego. Laszlo is perhaps the most quotable character in the series – mostly because Matt Berry’s voice is a weapon of comedy in itself.

Berry plays Laszlo with absolute commitment. His delivery is always theatrical, always unnecessary, and always hysterical. Whether he’s escaping as “Jackie Daytona, regular human bartender” or crafting bizarre musical compositions, he’s comedy gold.

Nadja of Antipaxos (played by Natasia Demetriou)
Laszlo’s wife and the true queen of the vampire household. Nadja brings chaos, sensuality, and a heavy dose of dry sarcasm to the group. Her chemistry with everyone (especially her resurrected ghost-doll version of herself) is electric.

Natasia Demetriou deserves more credit than she gets. She balances genuine warmth with unhinged rage and delivers punchlines that feel like verbal daggers. Nadja’s arc is surprisingly emotional too – especially in the way she grapples with power and her centuries of history.

Guillermo de la Cruz (played by Harvey Guillén)
The familiar. The human servant. The poor bastard.

Guillermo is the emotional core of the show. He starts as a devoted servant who dreams of becoming a vampire… but as it turns out, he’s a descendant of Van Helsing and has a natural talent for vampire-slaying. This twist is brilliant, and Harvey Guillén plays Guillermo’s internal conflict with both sincerity and perfect comedic timing.

His journey from doormat to badass is one of the best character arcs in any comedy series – period.

Colin Robinson (played by Mark Proksch)
The energy vampire. He doesn’t suck blood – he sucks the life out of you with boring conversations and unbearable small talk.

This might be the best character concept in modern comedy. Proksch plays Colin Robinson with a terrifyingly accurate understanding of office behavior. He’s the guy who corners you in the break room to talk about printer toner.

And yet, he’s incredibly powerful. Watching him feed is both painful and hilarious – and his character arc in later seasons (no spoilers) adds a genius layer of absurd worldbuilding to the whole show.

Worldbuilding and writing

While the show thrives on episodic madness, there’s a surprising amount of lore built into the world. Vampire councils, rival werewolves, cursed hats, forbidden romances – the creators aren’t afraid to lean into the mythology when it helps the comedy land harder. And it does land hard.

Every time you think the show has peaked, it pulls out an even more absurd idea that somehow works. That’s what makes it so rewatchable – it’s endlessly inventive.

Final thoughts

What We Do in the Shadows isn’t just a funny show – it’s one of the smartest, weirdest, and most original comedies of the past decade. It does what few comedies manage: it builds a believable, coherent world that is both ridiculous and emotionally resonant. You laugh, yes – but sometimes you actually feel for these idiots.

🎲 Final score: 9/10

It loses a point only because a couple of episodes in some seasons dip a bit in pacing. But overall? It’s top-tier television. A must-watch if you like absurd comedy, horror tropes, and characters that will slowly (and hilariously) win your cold undead heart.