REVIEW: ‘What We Do In The Shadows’ Season 6 Delivers A Messy Finale

In large part, What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 is perfectly fine as a standalone. However, considering it’s the final season of the FX series, and the last time we’ll see these characters, it’s a bit of a dud when stacked against some of the better offerings the series has delivered us in years past. While the Staten Island vampire roommates end roughly where they began, with only a few notable differences, there’s comfort in the recognizable settings and characters. It’s a shame that, unlike previous outings, the series failed to push the boundaries of either the mockumentary format or the vampire genre. It was simply a hang-out comedy.

At the very least, it’s a good cast to hang out with. Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), Lazslo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) are endlessly entertaining, even when throughout their many mundane escapades. And, for the most part, the cast continues to deliver lively and fun performances, aided by a comfortable camaraderie that sings with easy, chemistry-fueled comedy. But, sparing a few episodes, What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 doesn’t always capitalize on that chemistry.

The biggest problem the series faced was its divided attention. There simply wasn’t enough time spent with the group as What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 introduced new characters and companies with whom we spent our time. While some, like Lazslo’s monster, worked hilariously well, some, like the entire Cannon Capital Strategies storyline with Guillermo, fell flat. The latter, in particular, is a sore spot for the season as it invested time into a dull storyline that fails to deliver anything new or noteworthy.

It is, essentially, an attempt to show just how quick Guillermo is to fold when faced with authority figures, slipping quickly back into his more demure mannerisms. The arrival of Nandor and Nadja compounds this. It’s a waste of time and energy, with insufficient jokes to make it worthwhile. The storyline is tedious, even. While it’s first funny to see Guillermo get the chance to fail upwards, especially given Guillén‘s affable charm, the joke runs dry. It’s not so much that it suspends disbelief — this is a show about vampires, after all. Instead, it’s the fact that the punchline never develops.

What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 fails to hit previous high notes.

When we reflect on the best episodes of What We Do in the Shadows, we think of non-stop laughter or Berry’s immaculate gift of line, word, and even syllable delivery. It’s why “On the Run” stands out, as Lazslo adopts his alter-ego, Jackie Daytona. The series is also at its best when it runs with a heightened concept, such as the incredible “Go Flip Yourself” in Season 4 when their mansion gets a makeover. Or even episodes such as “Witches,” where our expectations of these characters are flipped (this is where it’s implied that Nandor and Lazslo hook up.)

The entire arc of baby Colin Robinson is one of the funniest storylines the series has ever accomplished because it played with unexpected absurdity. And then, when it wants to get dark, it also reminds us of the cruelty of the world of vampires with “Urgent Care” in Season 5.

But, for the most part, Season 6 doesn’t have that standout episode. The closest it gets is with Episode 5, “Nandor’s Army.” The reason is twofold. First, the direction by Yana Gorskaya is incredible, highlighted by the ability to escape the confines of the mansion. With a greater expanse of set to work with, Gorskaya heightens these characters’ nighttime escapades while allowing the world’s visual scale to grow.

The second is the hilarious punchline. Nandor, dejected after Guillermo fires him, has run away to New Hampshire. When the others arrive to fetch him, he tells them that he’s amassed an army to lead to fight Cannon Capital. The others believe this army consists of the mannequins assembled in the warehouse he’s staked out in. It’s the central joke of the entire episode, and how it pulls the rug out from under us is brilliant.

The actors shine even in the weaker moments.

These brief moments allow for the actors to shine, even if they’re not given enough to do. Certain characters, like Colin Robinson, have threads of a storyline as he deals with his bizarre place in the world, with one foot being in the world of humans and the other of vampires. Lazslo certainly gets the lion’s share of bit storylines from his relationship with his neighbor Sean, the appearance of his father, and the creation of his life’s work, his “monster.” Granted, Berry is less engaged, with less enthusiasm funneling through his typical drawl.

Nadja, forever fed up with those around her, gets nothing to work with, though Demetriou is expectedly delightful, and her costumes are continually superb. But the heart of the series, Nandor and Guirellmo, is in this awkward middle space of closure and not enough. Because while they reached an agreement and formed a partnership (though not that type of partnership), we needed more of them together. Novak and Guillén share tremendous chemistry, so any moment between them works. However, the divided storylines fail to capitalize on the series’ most significant relationship.

Novak is undoubtedly the MVP of the season. He always keeps Nandor’s reactions fresh while keeping them in character. Even the most ridiculous versions of Nandor work because Novak plays him with such hilarious sincerity. It’s why he’s the character who we feel for the most. While Berry is most lauded for his line delivery (deserved), Novak is close behind him, usually in his tone rather than pronunciation.

Ultimately, What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 works because we love these characters and the actors playing them. It might not reach the singular heights of previous seasons, but it allows for a charming, if eroded, farewell to these lovable vampires. It’s a shame we couldn’t go out on the high we met them on, with too much time spent on highlight reel-style bits, but the performers maintained their brilliance even if the writing lacked some of its original spark.

What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 is out now on FX on Hulu.