When the vampire mockumentary “What We Do in the Shadows” hit theaters in 2014, even its most ardent fans probably could not have guessed that its subsequent FX television adaptation would become one of the most popular comedies in a crowded television marketplace. But now, almost a decade later, the “What We Do in the Shadows” brand remains as strong as ever, and fans are ready for what season five will have to offer their favorite band of misfit vampires.
READ MORE: See Where ‘Shadows’ Ranked Among Our Best TV Episodes of 2022
In case you’re unaware or living under a rock, “What We Do in the Shadows,” based on the aforementioned feature film by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, documents the nightly exploits of vampire roommates Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) as they navigate the modern world of Staten Island with the help of their human familiar, Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), and their vampire bureaucrat acquaintance, The Guide (Kristen Schaal).
In season four, the vampires of “What We Do in the Shadows” found themselves on Staten Island, with characters undergoing transformations and rebirth. The first trailer for season five hints at the fallout for characters like aspiring vampire Guillermo or resurrected energy vampire Colin Robinson.
Over the past four seasons, “What We Do in the Shadows” has become the darling of television comedy, building on the success of the original film – and the endless social media appeal of Matt Berry – to cement its place near the top of Best Of television lists. But the show has also flexed its muscles at times, pulling in one star-studded guest episode and taking big narrative swings with its cast. The show has even outlasted its spinoff series, “Wellington Paranormal,” which concluded after four seasons in 2022.
And while series creators Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement seem more in demand than ever these days, so far, their dance cards have always had room for the little vampire series that could. In our review of Season 4, we noted that the show remains fresh by offering its characters the unexpected and digging into richer and more complex story arcs. We will see if Season 5 continues that trend – perhaps, like their characters, “What We Do in the Shadows” can make immorality work.
The new “What We Do in the Shadows” season will premiere on Thursday, July 13, on FX.