The FX series, based on the 2014 film by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, centers on four clueless vampire roommates — Nandor the Relentless (Kayvan Novak), Nadja of Antipaxos (Natasia Demetriou), Laszlo Cravensworth (Matt Berry), and energy vampire Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) — alongside their long-suffering human familiar, Guillermo (Harvey Guillén).
The final episode highlighted the cyclical nature of life — or immortality — for the vampires of Staten Island. "A hundred years from now, these idiots will still be in their house going through the exact same motions," Proksch shared with The Hollywood Reporter. "It’s just a hard, silly, stupid comedy. It’s not trying to teach you anything."
Guillermo, the lone human mainstay, is the only character deeply aware of the passage of time, reflecting the audience’s own bittersweet feelings about the end. "The documentary crew packing up means Guillermo’s greatest time is over," Guillén said, emphasizing the character’s fear of losing his place in the vampires’ dysfunctional family.
Reflecting on the show’s legacy, Guillén added, "People have told us, 'This is the show that got us through the pandemic.' It’s resonated with audiences in ways we never expected."
The series built a devoted following thanks to its absurd humor, star-studded cameos — including Nick Kroll, Tilda Swinton, Mark Hamill, and Wesley Snipes — and its escapist charm during challenging times. Its second season premiered in April 2020, offering fans much-needed comic relief during the pandemic lockdowns.
Despite critical acclaim and 29 Emmy nominations, the show won just one award, for outstanding costumes in 2022. FX announced its conclusion in 2023, with showrunner Paul Simms affirming, "It’s better to go out on top, and better too soon than too late."
Kristen Schaal, who plays The Guide, echoed the sentiment, explaining, "Knowing it was the last season made every moment on set feel special. Endings are hard, but it’s been a dream."
Novak reflected on the show’s longevity: "British people make eight episodes and call it a day. We did 61. It’s incredible." Guillén, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for ending the series on their own terms, adding, "We left the perfect package. It’s something fans can always look back on fondly."
Still, the cast remains hopeful for a future return. "Will these characters come back? Maybe," Guillén teased. "We love these people and look forward to any possibility of revisiting them again."
For now, the curtain closes on What We Do in the Shadows, a show that embraced absurdity, heart, and the idea that no matter how much things change, some things — and some vampires — always stay the same.
