Having now completed five seasons, What We Do in the Shadows continues its run as one of the most criminally underrated comedies on television today. Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi’s masterpiece remains a magnification of irreverence toward the mockumentary genre by continually turning it on its ear by, you guessed it, inserting vampires. A celebration of characters and their almost deplorable ignorance, WWDITS continues to humanize Nandor, Lazlo, Nadia, Colin, and Guillermo (not to mention a possessed doll) in their almost pre-pubescent-like struggles to fit into the world around them, making fun of itself in a way that’s almost non-existent in American television today.
- Kyle Franzoni
FanSided Senior Director of Contributor Sourcing
What emotion defined this fandom this year?
The beauty of What We Do in the Shadows is that hidden in its outlandishness are the struggles we all go through. Season 5 was no different, as Guillermo dealt with his humanity. After years of being told he would be turned by Nandor (his master), season 4 ended with Guillermo taking the (spoilers) shortcut and getting turned by a friend. The season revolved around his inability to fully assume his new form and how his inner turmoil was standing in the way. The various hijinks that ensued with everyone in the house trying to cover up his choice served to accentuate the burden and allowed the audience to draw parallels to their own lives.
How this fandom is changing entertainment
Five years ago, it would be safe to say that the Office-style mockumentary format had run its course and had almost taken the sitcom with it. What We Do in the Shadows injects fresh blood into the genre, while simultaneously driving a stake through its heart. It may (hopefully) be the last vestige of a dying genre, but it finds a way to feel fresh and absurd at the same time, a parody unto itself. What ultimately makes What We Do in the Shadows a success is that it never takes itself too seriously, it never preaches to the audience, and it lets every viewer take away from it exactly what they need to. The viewer comes for the characters, the cameos, and the laughs, and there’s never a shortage of any.