What We Do in the Shadows Recap: Running a Train

As a long-time fan of this captivating show, I’ve been enthralled by its unique blend of humor, horror, and human drama. The characters are complex and intriguing, each with their own quirks and secrets that keep us hooked episode after episode.


In Staten Island, the local vampires maintain a peculiar bond with their human counterparts. Their main goal is to conceal the true nature of activities at the nearby manor, as it’s questionable whether humans would even be concerned about the presence of vampires in their midst. However, after interacting for an extended period since the “Superb Owl” event a few seasons ago, there appears to be genuine affection between them too.

It’s clear that Laszlo, the fellow next door, holds Sean in high regard: This week, he went to great lengths (unintentionally humorous dick pun, but I’m sure he’d find it amusing) to boost Sean’s spirits after losing his job at the TSA. Laszlo’s loyalty towards Sean is endearing, yet there’s a hidden sense of guilt fueling his duty, which he admittedly confesses when he mentions feeling remorse for hypnotizing Sean so frequently that his mind has turned mushy like oatmeal. The narrative then unfolds with an amusing wit in the vein of the mind-wiping gag from “Sleep Hypnosis,” as Laszlo and Colin secure a workspace, decorate it, create props, and hire actors to stage a phony interview for a railroad company they claim to work for. The ruse is convincing, especially on Colin’s part. Choosing the railroad was strategic, as its monotonous nature would discourage curious inquiries, and the sight of Colin sipping his “I Heart Trains” coffee cup brought a smile to my face, symbolizing our ordinary, beige buddy. However, Laszlo, with his restless character reminiscent of an aristocratic libertine, struggles to find satisfaction in a desk job. Even this elaborate charade fails to stimulate him: He introduces an element of risk by incorporating his reanimated creature (and a cattle prod) into the scenario.

It takes a lot of energy to maintain a falsehood, which leads one to wonder why vampires would opt for employment when they don’t require it. The topic has never been explicitly addressed, but I suspect the mansion is no longer subject to a mortgage. As long as humans inhabit the earth, food will be available. However, we’ve previously discussed that eternal life can become monotonous, and one needs to find ways to fill all those endless days. In last week’s season opener, Laszlo characterized Nadja as exhibiting a “human-like curiosity” – a charming oddity, similar to someone who collects insects instead of merely squashing them. However, Nadja’s employment at Cannon Capital is less about anthropological exploration and more indicative of her character development. She has always been eccentrically cheerful, but her recent efforts to aid Guillermo’s career at Cannon represent a significant shift, considering she could not remember his name until recently. This support only ceases when she feels Guillermo is insufficiently grateful for her assistance. At this point, she becomes aggressive, revealing her fangs and threatening him, causing him to fear for his safety. Despite these changes, Nadja remains fundamentally the same.

It appears that Guillermo hasn’t experienced significant growth or transformation as he had anticipated. Instead, he seems to have traded one oppressive authority figure for another. He is gradually recognizing this fact, as evidenced by his facial expressions when he finds himself addressing Jordan as “Master.” However, he remains obstinate and unwilling to acknowledge it.

Craven Mirth

• “It’s got insane brand equity out the ass!”

Audience members primarily active on the internet, often referred to as “Onion” enthusiasts, should stay alert for Jeremy Levick and Rajat Suresh, two associates of Jordan, at Cannon. These two – ex-writers from Clickhole who garnered viral attention approximately five years ago with videos like this one – became part of the WWDITS team last season as executive story editors.

Guillermo’s statement, “That’s why they give you the money,” can be interpreted as a subtle comment. He isn’t referring to the “big bucks” but rather simply, the money.

• “Do you like trains? I know your mom does.”

• “Bitch, I am the team!”

Read More

2024-10-30 17:54