After five and a half years, the vampires’ reign over the kingdom of Staten Island is unfortunately coming to an end. Although it doesn’t have quite the same bite it used to, What We Do in the Shadows remains a charming, funny sitcom buoyed by lovable characters and excellent performances by the entire ensemble.
What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 Review
Season 6 of What We Do in the Shadows follows the vampire roommates (Matt Berry, Kayvan Novak, Natasia Demetriou, and Mark Protsch) and their former familiar, Guillermo (Harvey Guillen), as they have existential revelations that send them on a quest to find their purpose in their unique ways. With this being the show’s last season, it’s clear that the writers are trying to set up these characters to go their separate ways, but they get off to a rocky start.
For Lazlo, Nandor, Nadja, and Colin Robinson, season six is much of the same. They get into their typical fish-out-of-water antics, failing to conquer Staten Island — much less the entire world. Unfortunately, many of the situations that the characters are put in this season feel stale, being little more than new versions of story beats we have seen before in previous seasons. There are still laughs to be found, but nothing as gut-busting as the show’s heights.
As for their former familiar Guillermo, his storyline seems much more focused on closure than the vampires’. This season picks up after Guillermo has been turned back into a human and follows him as he attempts to get a regular human job. Although the prospect of the world of vampires clashing against the tropes of a workplace comedy seems intriguing, the direction the show takes feels too comfortable to be satisfying as a spoof. Guillermo remains the emotional backbone of the show, but his ending feels so telegraphed that it’s struggling to connect.
Still, what has made What We Do in the Shadows such a popular show is its committed cast, all of whom are at top form as always. Everyone has found their rhythm in their characters, and they are clearly having the time of their lives with their last hurrah. Matt Berry, in particular, shines as bright as ever with his distinctive sardonic wit.
What is missing from this season — at least in the first few episodes — is memorable celebrity guest stars. Perhaps in giving a send-off to the characters, the creators wished to keep the focus firmly on the central band; however, there is still plenty of the season to go, so these morsels could be saved for the final few episodes.
Despite all the shortcomings of this season, What We Do in the Shadows remains charming and funny. Naturally, it doesn’t feel as fresh as it once did, and the feeling that the creators were running out of ideas that fans started to feel last season has become even more pronounced now. However, as we noted last season, it always takes some time for this show to find its footing with all its storylines, and to dismiss it based on three episodes alone hardly feels fair.
Is Season 6 of What We Do in the Shadows worth watching?
However, if these three episodes do indicate what is coming for the rest of the sixth (and final) season of What We Do in the Shadows, this may be an underwhelming end. It’s hard to see what the fan-favorite comedy is building to. Granted, this season offers a slightly longer 11 episodes than the past seasons’ 10, but it’s still hard to see how the series will wrap up in just four more hours. It’s a bittersweet beginning to the end, but the story will have to pick up like a bat out of hell if it wants to deliver a satisfying ending.
What We Do in the Shadows premieres on FX at 10 pm ET/PT on October 21. Three out of eleven episodes reviewed.
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