6 Reasons You Should Already Be Watching What We Do in the Shadows

If you would have asked me whether or not a show about vampires in Staten Island would work, let alone be funny, I would have immediately said no. Yet somehow, it does. Whether they have the group trying to blend in at a "Superb Owl" party, Nadja and Lazlo fighting over a cursed witches hat, or Lazlo hiding out from a vampire debt collector as a human named Jackie Daytona, each storyline is more ridiculous than the next. They have to be in order to keep up with the character growth that Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja, Guillermo, and Colin Robinson have had over the show's first two seasons.

What We Do in the Shadows doesn't shy away from its source material: it embraces it. A few times throughout the series we see the original film's cast of Taika Waititi as Viago, Jonathan Brugh as Deacon, and Jemaine Clement as Vladislav the Poker, who are all now a part of the vampiric council. Also a part of the vampiric council are famous movie and TV vampires like Tilda Swinton, Evan Rachel Wood, Paul Reubens, Wesley Snipes, and Danny Trejo — although they're playing fictionalized vampiric versions of themselves to get around copyright issues.

The show also includes guest appearances from big name stars like Mark Hamill as Jim, the debt-collecting vampire, and fan-favorites like Beanie Feldstein as Jenna, a LARPer turned vampire, and Nick Kroll as Simon the Devious, the vampire overlord of Manhattan who wants Lazlo's cursed hat. And these are just some of the best cameos and guest stars from the first two seasons. We can't wait to see what's in store for season three!

Guillermo, expertly played by Harvey Guillén, is Nandor's familiar who just wants to be turned into a vampire like his master. After 10 years of being his faithful servant, Nandor gifts Guillermo with a glitter-painting, which is more than Guillermo usually gets. Guillermo typically has to clean up after Nandor, Lazlo, and Nadja's shenanigans, including burying a sh*t ton of bodies in their backyard. Without him, the group would fall apart and he's STILL treated like dirt. Everyone can relate to Guillermo in some way or another, whether a friend has taken you for granted or a boss hasn't shown you appreciation. It isn't until he leaves Nandor for another vampire that he gains any power in the group.

The chemistry of Harvey Guillén, Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, and Mark Proksch is amazing. They really feel like friends-slash-roommates that have been together for centuries. "It's different and it's very free," Berry previously said in an interview with Collider about improvisation with his costars. "It's a luck thing. It's not only a show. Certain performers don't necessarily wanna work like that, or feel comfortable working like that, and I understand that. It's not for everyone. But for this, it's got to look natural, to an extent." It's hard to know what's improvised and what's scripted, everything seems so natural and as if there's actually a documentary being filmed.

While there's a general comedic vibe to the show, thanks to input from creator Jemaine Clement, you can still find a little something for everyone. It doesn't matter if you only giggle at Colin Robinson's lengthy monologues or bust out in a laugh every time Lazlo goes "Bat!," you will be laughing at some point in time. Are there slow moments? Yes, but most mockumentary shows take a moment to find their footing. Trust me, even if you're not a fan of the first few episodes, the show will definitely grow on you.

My favorite thing about the show is that you never know what to expect. One episode Nadja is trying to find the reincarnation of her lover Gregor, and another, the whole group is tripping on drug blood. There are heart-wrenching moments, like when Guillermo is deciding whether or not he should stick with Nandor, and plenty of surprise deaths — most in iconic vampire slaying style. This is largely in part to the ridiculous storylines and the fact the cast gets to improvise. The combination certainly keeps you on your toes.