Reveling in the Shadows: A Recap of What We Do in the Shadows Season-Premiere Mall Walkers

What We Do in the Shadows Season-Premiere Recap: Mall Walkers

The Tension of Being Supernatural and Out-of-Touch

One tension that remains constant throughout all five seasons of What We Do in the Shadows is the contradiction between the vampires’ supernatural powers and prolific bloodlust and the fact that, beyond the monster stuff, they’re just a bunch of out-of-touch twits who can’t do anything by themselves.

The show’s central characters, Nadja, Laszlo, and Nandor, are powerful vampires with the ability to terrify and even kill, but they are utterly clueless and dependent on their familiar, Guillermo. Guillermo, on the other hand, is terrified of them despite their incompetence.

As we open season five, we see Colin Robinson terrorizing customers at the Red Rock Steakhouse, Nadja kicking her blood-booze habit, and Nandor claiming to be perfectly okay after reading a self-help book called “I’m OK — You’re OK.” The vampires’ lack of self-awareness and their reliance on Guillermo’s assistance are on full display.

Guillermo’s Secret and Desire for Vampirism

One of the central storylines in the season premiere revolves around Guillermo’s desire to become a vampire. In the previous season, Guillermo decided to ask his friend Derek to turn him into a vampire without Nandor’s knowledge. The episode draws out the reveal of what happened next, showcasing Guillermo’s internal tension and his growing frustration with his longing to be a vampire.

The reveal is both clever and poignant, as Guillermo’s desire to become a vampire serves as a metaphorical parallel to his coming-out journey as a gay man. Despite the transformation not being as dramatic or instant as he thought, Guillermo experiences subtle changes over a couple of weeks. He can still go out in the sun and eat human food, but he craves rare meat and his eyesight has improved.

Guillermo, however, is afraid to tell the vampires what has happened, as they make it clear that a familiar becoming a vampire is a serious breach of trust. Nandor even threatens to kill Guillermo if he were to do such a thing. Guillermo’s secrecy and fear are rooted in the vampires’ underestimation of him and their inability to conceive of him acting with autonomy and defiance.

Vampires in the Real World: A Comedic Touchpoint

The episode takes the vampires out of their regular environment and places them in the mundane setting of a mall. This shift allows the show to tap into its comedic touchpoint of placing ancient vampires in the present-day world. The vampires find the mall amusing, with its Shrek shirts, carousels, and tiny rainbow sombreros for mutilated dolls.

By juxtaposing the supernatural vampires with the banalities of modern life, the show highlights the absurdity of their situation. It’s amusing to see these powerful beings navigating a world of consumerism and everyday problems. Additionally, the mall setting helps to reestablish the characters and their world as we enter a new season.

Conclusion

The season premiere of What We Do in the Shadows masterfully combines comedy, character development, and social commentary. The tension between the vampires’ supernatural powers and their out-of-touch behavior provides both humor and introspection. Guillermo’s desire for vampirism acts as a metaphor for personal transformation and self-discovery.

The episode’s decision to place the vampires in a real-world setting adds an extra layer of absurdity and establishes the show’s comedic touchpoints. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Guillermo’s secret and the vampires’ underestimation of him play out.

What We Do in the Shadows continues to be a standout comedy series, offering viewers an insightful and hilarious exploration of supernatural beings grappling with the complexities of everyday life.