What We Do in the Shadows Recap: The Salazar Short

As a movie reviewer with a penchant for unraveling the complexities of modern television, I must say that “What We Do in the Shadows” has been a rollercoaster ride of vampire shenanigans and human folly. This week’s episode, “The Promotion,” was no exception.

As I reflect on the intricate six-season journey – or more accurately, four-and-a-half years – of Guillermo’s tale, I ponder: When does fate reign, and when is it persistence? For a while, in season one, Guillermo seemed content with his role as an unpaid servant to Nandor. Yet, for six seasons, he has been yearning for escape, only to find himself slipping back into familiar routines each time.

My prediction that Cannon Capital would turn out to be a den of literal bloodsuckers, with Jordan as their vampire king, turned out to be incorrect (although I suppose they could reveal themselves in next week’s series finale). Instead, Guillermo’s boss turned out to be something far more common: just a regular old selfish human willing to take advantage of an ambitious but naive underling. Jordan is a creature of pure instinctual self-interest who says whatever the person in front of him wants to hear with no consistency from moment to moment. If he contradicts himself, or lets someone down, who cares? It’s not like words have consequences.

Does it continue in the series of “The Promotion” that the cameras, either openly admitted or not, which have been tailing our vampires since day one, are ultimately handled in a fulfilling manner? Over time, much like Guillermo, you become accustomed to their presence and they blend into the background. However, just as Guillermo is always there, so too are these cameras, ever-vigilant. (If Guillermo were a superhero, he’d be The Accountant due to his knack for keeping records.)

In this scenario, Jordan’s disdain towards his subordinates and his inflated ego could lead to severe repercussions: We’ve got plenty of evidence of Jordan engaging in financial misconduct thanks to Guillermo, not only from the latest episode but throughout the entire season. This guy seems incapable of speaking for over five seconds without admitting to a white-collar offense. Whether Guillermo will ultimately report him to the SEC or if his report will make a difference is yet to be determined, but just the threat appears to be shifting their power balance. To drive home his point, Jordan even demonstrates a touch of vampire superhuman strength.

In this week’s episode, even though these eternal bloodsuckers are notorious for their ruthless nature, they managed to maintain a certain level of style. Despite being heartless killers, they seem to uphold some standards. Last week, the concept of loyalty within vampire society was emphasized through the bond between the gang and their leader, Baron Afanas. However, respect isn’t just a one-way street among them; it trickles down the hierarchy as well. Nandor, the most traditional of the bunch, takes offense at Jordan for not acknowledging Guillermo’s diligent work, even if it is menial tasks.

Nandor might recognize some similarity between Jordan’s strategy of continually assuring Guillermo a promotion yet never following through, and his own past actions of leading on his former familiar for over a decade without turning him into a vampire. Moreover, it seems that Nandor harbors regret for letting go of the familiar who was also a significant figure in his afterlife; this underlying sentiment became more apparent earlier in the series. The subtle hint in Nandor’s joke about there being two Guillermos who share affection might not have been a casual remark.

Even though he can only give him a supporting role, similar to Robin in relation to Batman, we’re essentially back to the original setup but with new titles. It seems that Nandor needs Guillermo, not just emotionally, but also because he can’t trust him not to endanger himself unintentionally. However, I’m not so sure this is what Guillermo truly desires, which makes his reappearance at the mansion towards the end of this week’s episode somewhat anticlimactic.

Another element that didn’t totally come together for me in “The Promotion” was the subplot developing the dynamics between Laslzo, Colin, and Cravensworth’s Monster. There are clear parallels between the Monster’s anxiety about pleasing strict daddy Laszlo and Guillermo’s attempts to impress his indifferent boss. There’s also an attempt here to use the Monster to resolve an unspoken resentment between Laszlo and Colin I didn’t really realize was there — at least not to this extent. But Colin’s compassion for the monster was out of character for an energy vampire, who you’d think would thrive on the unholy thing’s social awkwardness. I did enjoy Nandor’s demented grin when the Monster demanded that his daddies kiss, though. Nadja didn’t seem that into it, which surprised me.

She was thoroughly enjoying herself by causing as much chaos as she could, ensuring that the vampire team would never be able to return to Cannon again. This was part of her understanding of a typical human farewell ritual when leaving a company specializing in creating or selling massive lamps. A notable aspect of “What We Do in the Shadows” is the portrayal of the vampires falling for schemes targeting the elderly, and Nadja’s action of sending $10,000 and photos of her feet to someone who called her at her work landline fits this pattern. (It’s worth noting that she didn’t seem to mind, as she had a new head for her mantelpiece on her way out.)

Vampires’ vulnerability makes it necessary for them to have a protector like Guillermo, but it remains unclear whether that’s what he desires. It’s also uncertain if he knows his own wishes, which I’ve pondered before in these recaps. With just one more episode left, Guillermo must make up his mind soon.

Craven Mirth

A humorous aspect that stood out to me in “The Promotion” was how Harvey Guillén skillfully manipulated his chopsticks during the opening scene, allowing only a few grains of rice from the takeout container to find their way into his mouth.

The expression “not tonight, Josephine” is said to have been first used by Napoleon Bonaparte, a small French man, who reportedly struggled to match the intimate prowess of his more skilled Empress. Tori Amos composed a song inspired by this tale!

Matt Berry confidently saunters in, winning the line-reading contest yet again, by landing a double hit with “He’s no Patrick Swayze” and “Why don’t you go grab yourself a cocktail?” (emphasis added)

• That being said, I love the deep Midwesternness of the way Mark Proksch says the word “monster.”

Even though you may outshine him in many aspects such as success, wealth, intelligence, attractiveness, and overall charisma, it’s important to remember to treat him with respect.

• Their bizarre bar orders really underlined the vampires’ nonhuman nature.

• “He really takes after his daddy. Horny little freak.”

It seems quite unusual for a television series to include plot points about the targeted elimination of corrupt wealthy individuals this week, doesn’t it?

2024-12-10 22:54

What We Do in the Shadows Recap: The Salazar Short

Craven Mirth

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