(Mild spoilers for What We Do In The Shadows Season 3)

What We Do In The Shadows is a hilarious documentary-style sitcom that follows the lives of 4 vampires and their familiar in Staten Island. Each episode they get into some shenanigans that are already interesting concepts on their own, but work even better because of the insane dynamic between these 5 vibrant, distinct, and quirky characters. It generally doesn’t have much going on plot-wise and feels mostly episodic in nature; I actually watched a few episodes of this show out of order and lost absolutely nothing. However, because of its excellent comedic writing and fantastic performances, this show always feels fresh, and Season 4 is no exception. The character dynamics have been shaken up greatly this season, and they’re all paired up this time around, which makes for a somewhat distinct but still fantastic What We Do In The Shadows season. 

The greatest strength of What We Do In The Shadows has always been its writing, but I was actually most impressed by the cast this season! Everyone’s comedic timing is exceptional, and they all nail the physical comedy required to pull off this show. Matt Berry manages to make a mundane line like “You really are the most devious bastard in New York City” the funniest joke in an episode thanks to his above and beyond delivery. Natasia Demetriou has never been better than she is in this season, with her pitch-perfect expressions and exceptional range. Season 4 happens to be Kristen Schaal's best season as well, as she finally feels well-utilized in the cast and has incredible chemistry with Demetriou, the actor she shares most of her scenes with. Kayvan Novak’s material isn’t quite as good as it was in season 3, but he still devours every line. Mark Proksch similarly doesn’t get as much to do, but he remains solid and plays off of Berry (his primary scene partner) well. The personal MVP of this season, however, had to be Harvey Guillen. Guillermo is the character who has changed the most since the start of the show, and while Guillen’s always been great at illustrating this development, he is truly the standout of Season 4. He showcases Guillermo’s frustrations and deep loyalty brilliantly, and takes us through his arc with ease without ever overdoing. There are several moments where he just snaps, and it’s so captivating to watch.

My biggest issue with this season is the limited ensemble interactions. Colin, The Guide, Guillermo, Laszlo, Nadja, and Nandor are all split up into groups of two and typically don’t interact with any other characters outside of their designated buddy. The dynamics each duo has is still entertaining, but it’s clear that the show is at its best when every character is present and bantering amongst one another. As such, the two funniest episodes of the season ("Private School" and "Go Flip Yourself") have the entire cast playing off of each other instead of in separate storylines. 

Among fans, this show’s latest season is potentially the least liked due to its lack of payoff from the shocking season 3 finale. I used to strongly agree with this criticism, as it didn’t feel like any significant consequences for anyone’s actions in the finale reared their heads in season 4 aside from a few allusions to them here or there. However, upon rewatch, I actually think this works thematically. The fourth season of What We Do in the Shadows, in my humble opinion, is about status quos. In the first episode of the season, it was jarring to see how everything is just… back to normal. Save for the introduction of Baby Colin, the show seemed to just reset. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Nadja and Laszlo spend quite a lot of time apart from one another, with Nadja pursuing her dreams as Laszlo desperately tries to raise Baby Colin in order to ensure he isn’t the draining energy vampire he was used to. Nandor actively tries to be kinder and more considerate to Guillermo (although, being selfish at his core, fails at this often). Guillermo is exhausted from the events of the first three seasons and his patience wears a lot thinner than it used to. The dynamics between each duo reflects the consequences of everyone’s actions up to this point, and they’ve shifted greatly. Laszlo is the one who’s boring Colin. Nadja now bosses the Guide around. Guillermo is the one who’s getting annoyed by Nandor, who’s trying his best to please him. These shifts kept the show deeply entertaining for me, but also work quite well thematically. Without giving too much away, the season finale sort of subverts the idea of “a return to status quo,” which left it feeling somewhat funny, somewhat depressing (similar tonally to the show’s best episode, "The Wellness Center").

I wasn’t the biggest fan of this season initially. I still had fun with it, but I didn’t like the way it all wrapped up and it left me feeling sort of empty. But after sitting with it more and giving it another chance via a rewatch, I’m quite satisfied with this season. It remained deeply hilarious, exceedingly silly, and strong narratively. However, the cast does carry the show a tad more this time around. Season 4 isn’t the best season of What We Do In The Shadows, but it’s excellent nonetheless and proof that the writers still absolutely know what they’re doing.

9/10