I Didn’t Think What We Do In The Shadows’ Final Episode Could Deliver A Satisfying Ending, But I Was Happily Oh So Wrong

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As a movie critic who has spent a considerable portion of my life watching and analyzing television shows, I can confidently say that “What We Do in the Shadows” has crafted one of the most clever and satisfying series finales in recent memory. The writers’ keen understanding of TV tropes and their ability to poke fun at them while still delivering a heartfelt ending is nothing short of impressive.

Warning: Spoilers for What We Do In The Shadows’ series finale are in play.

For “What We Do in the Shadows”, the significance couldn’t have been more palpable – no witty play on words intended. In one of the most poignant lines from the 2024 TV schedule, Mark Proksch as Colin Robinson echoed my apprehensions since the FX comedy series announced its conclusion nearly a year ago, by stating, “Many shows falter when it comes to wrapping things up satisfactorily.

I hadn’t expected the long-loved family of vampires from Long Island, along with their overworked human companion, to conclude their story in a fulfilling manner. But surprisingly, “The Finale” managed to change my mind for the better.

For six hilarious seasons set beside New York City, the final episode of ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ focused mainly on exploring the idea of a series finale. As the documentary filming Lazlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), Nandor (Kayvan Novak), and Colin (Mark Proksch) abruptly concludes, they all appear content to continue their eternal existence.

Apart from Guillermo (Harvey Guillen), the ex-vampire hunter with dreams of becoming a vampire who finds himself distressingly human, stands alone in this scenario. Plagued by unease, the charming underdog in ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ yearns for a conclusive ending that ties up all loose ends satisfactorily. Intriguingly, despite numerous jokes centered around references and Nadja manipulating viewers into thinking they’ve witnessed the ideal finale, it is Gizmo who delivers an impeccable twofold ending to the storyline.

In the documentary, viewers will perceive Guillermo grieving over the series finale, choosing to venture alone as others prepare for retirement. However, an unexpected turn occurs in the mid-credit scene: he reappears before Nandor and is unwillingly drawn into a journey to an underground hideout. Here, he intends to combat crime.

The intricate commentary woven into “The Finale” by authors Sam Johnson, Sarah Naftalis, and Paul Simms is what makes everything fit together flawlessly.

Instead of providing a clean, comprehensive conclusion that answers all questions and resolves every character’s storyline, Guillermo’s ending is the one that carries significance, for an extraordinary reason. Unlike human characters in a typical TV series, the undead creatures from What We Do in the Shadows wouldn’t be concerned about a series finale. They are not like us ordinary bartenders (or any professionals with beating hearts) who might worry about such things.

Yet, despite the witty homage to traditional series finales in “The Finale,” we somehow experienced a unique form of resolution. It presents a rather unconventional response to a deeply human issue, reminiscent of the eternal nature of vampires.

The opportunity remains for showrunner Paul Sims to ignore Taika Waititi’s somewhat playful comments about What We Do in the Shadows being overly lengthy. However, if the ultimate decision leads to Guillermo and Nandor embarking on a crime-fighting adventure, I won’t have any complaints at all. Bravo, Staten Island vampires, you masters of entertainment, for handling the ending flawlessly.

“The television show ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ stands out as an exceptional example of cable TV shows surpassing their source material. I’ll miss it even more since it leaves me eager for more. To catch its final act, fans can simply log into their Hulu subscriptions and stream all 61 episodes at their convenience.

For those who’ve just streamed “The Finale” or watched it on television and crave more, here’s a tip: After you’ve finished the final episode, visit the “Additional Hypnosis Scenes” section. You’ll find two additional endings for Nadja there. Just be warned, she has a knack for occasionally jumbling people’s thoughts!

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2024-12-18 22:37