What We Do in the Shadows Recap: The Warriors

As a fan who has been following What We Do in the Shadows since its inception, I can confidently say that “Come Out and Play” was a delightful throwback to the series at its best. The episode’s lightheartedness and silliness were a welcome reminder of why I fell in love with this show in the first place.

Have you heard this tale before? It goes like this: There are some vampires residing on Staten Island, and they receive an invitation to a vampire gathering. Eager to attend, they don their finest vampire attire and head out to the event, where all the New York City vampires have gathered. The variety is astonishing – from leatherette vamps to Coney Island carnival vamps, mimes, punks, and Madonna-esque wannabes from Desperately Seeking Susan. Even the intimidating Manhattan private school for girls’ vampire clique is present. However, the gathering turns out to be a trap, leading our Staten Island vampires to make a hasty escape as the entire NYC vampire horde pursues them, being the main characters of the story. (By the way, Desperately Seeking Susan is a fantastic movie.)

Throughout the six-season journey of “What We Do in the Shadows”, scenarios similar to the one presented in “Come Out and Play” have recurred, such as “The Trial” from season one and “Nouveau Théâtre des Vampires” from season two. If this series wasn’t nearing its end, I might express a bit more frustration about revisiting this theme again. However, with a touch of nostalgia creeping in, let me say that I found this episode quite enjoyable. The incorporation of the concept from the legendary film “The Warriors” added to the fun, and if you haven’t watched it yet, I highly recommend giving it a try! Reflecting the series at its best, this week’s episode was filled with lightness, silliness, and pure entertainment.

Nadja’s character shone brightly in “Come Out and Play,” demonstrating her resilience and feistiness, making her stand out among the Staten Island group. On three separate occasions, she showcased her loyalty, agility, and eventual superhuman strength to safeguard her vampire kin (I understand if you find “vamily” distasteful). It was heartwarming when Laszlo expressed his inability to live without her. However, his sudden protective instincts seem questionable, considering his recent preoccupation and detachment from their relationship throughout the last few seasons. Regardless, I’m relieved that they seemed to have resolved their disagreement earlier in the episode, so I’ll just be content knowing they are content. If our beloved fictional TV duo can maintain their bond, then there’s hope for us all in the real world.

Despite some doubts about Cravensworth’s intentions towards Nadja, it is confirmed that his Monster has been fully trained and stands ready to protect the Staten Island vampire coven. However, the Monster tends to act impulsively, much like an overzealous dog unaware of its strength, sometimes causing accidents such as squeezing a vampire so hard their eyes pop out. Jerry’s fate was sealed, really, due to his ingratitude towards Baron Afanas and the fact that he had outlived his purpose in contrasting the apathetic ambition levels within our primary vampire characters.

Given the current situation, the group is in search of a replacement protector since Guillermo has been expelled from the family. Interestingly, he’s starting to feel a strong sense of missing out (FOMO) lately. To be honest, it was unlikely that he would have been invited to the ceremony as a familiar anyway. Furthermore, his own relatives seem to not fully understand him – even his cousin Miguel, who is supportive of Guillermo’s gay friends, doubts their vampiric nature until a supernatural confrontation with the barista-turned-vampire group at the 24-hour coffee shop where they are temporarily employed.

It’s always wise to have contacts who own unique custom dune buggies, especially if they happen to be pushy, physically aggressive individuals with a mysterious Van Helsing lineage in their blood. Miguel may not be the most pleasant individual to be around, but he could prove useful in an emergency. Including him and Guillermo, who is always ready to help his friends, strengthens the Staten Island vampires’ power, as does the Baron reclaiming his authority over the New York City vampire society. (You could say they are his special allies with privileges.)

Despite Gizmo receiving a reluctant compliment from Nadja for his fighting abilities, it’s Nandor who ends up the sole loser this week. His attempts to woo the Guide, following Jerry’s head being decayed in the vampires’ entrance hall, only serve to make him look foolish. Nadja is well aware of Nandor’s intentions and adds herself to the list of winners by maintaining her dignity and self-respect, rejecting his advances. She lets him know that such actions reveal desperation – not to mention the vivid memory of her last boyfriend’s head being exploded in front of everyone she knows. It’s time for Nandor to move on.

Craven Mirth

• You can currently stream “The Warriors” on Amazon Prime, but it appears it will be removed by the end of this month, so I’d recommend watching it promptly!

Kudos to the Baron and the Sire on their extraordinary progeny. I won’t inquire about the supernatural means by which these offspring came into being, as it would be impolite. Moreover, they are vampires, so anything is conceivable.

I’m guessing you’re familiar with the name of the fancy pink fabric accessory tied around Laszlo’s neck, correct? It’s known as a “pussy bow.” Ha!

Since that incident when one of the members of the Lower East Side vampire band spit at me in 1983, I haven’t had a chance to catch their performances again. Back then, such actions were just part of our shared experiences.

Furthermore, mentioned this week were the following characters: The Hamptons’ vampires, the Rockaway’s surfing community, the night-shift workers at JFK Airport, the vampires of the Meatpacking District, and, sadly, the Riverboat Gambler (rest in peace).

In this week’s episode, I enjoyed two minor yet intriguing moments: the Guide’s glance at the dice when Nandor mentioned love being “right under his nose,” and Mark Proksch’s odd action of tonguing the top of his coffee treat’s round dome lid. What a quirky character!

In the series “Come Out and Play,” Colin stands out as the “Featured Character of the Week.” He subtly conveys throughout the show that among all the vampires, he is one of the most twisted and depraved, particularly with his clever use of puns.

• The best line reading of the week comes from Doug Jones as the Baron, asking “what the hhzphfell” the gang was thinking.

• Yes, that was Alexander Skarsgård at the end there. He can’t let his little brother take all of the vampire glory this month.

2024-12-03 23:54

What We Do in the Shadows Recap: The Warriors

Craven Mirth

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