FX Review: ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ Season 6 is as Terrific and Absurd as It’s Always Been

How do you prepare to say goodbye to a group of beings who are meant to live forever? In the case of FX’s What We Do in the Shadows, it feels like a variation of the classic tagline from Pinky and the Brain: “the same thing I do every night: try and take over the world!” Unfortunately for them but fortunately for audiences, the vampires in this mockumentary are incapable of any actual progress towards domination of the human species, meaning there’s much more entertainment in store for the show’s final run as they continue to try and fail to achieve even their most meager aims.

What would on any other show be a monumental development that would change how everything works isn’t really that on this show, with Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) no longer officially the familiar for Nandor (Kayvan Novak) but still living on the property and forced to observe the petty squabbles that turn into big problems for the four endlessly stubborn Staten Island vampires. Laszlo (Matt Berry) is obsessed with creating a monster much like that of the Dr. Frankenstein he’s somehow never heard of, Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) is willing to do anything to remain relevant, and Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) is constantly irritated by everything her housemates do. It’s more of the same, but just as fun as always.

This show, originally conceived as a spinoff of the 2014 film of the same name from Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, has reliably delivered a season of ten episodes each calendar year since its premiere in 2019, no small feat considering the global pandemic and two industry strikes during that time. Its final season gifts viewers a bonus eleventh episode, debuting with the first three, which were all that were provided in advance to critics. Those installments showcase the best assets of the show, which is to take present world-shifting antics in each episode and only partially resolve them by the time the credits roll, leaving its characters in roughly the same place where they started.

Just how unsubtle these vampires purporting to live secretly within human society are is a big part of the joke that has been at the forefront of the show since its start. That’s true for its final arc, as Guillermo gets a new job in the real world and, after telling the cameras that they can’t follow him in, soon learns that the financial company he’s working at is apparently the subject of a new documentary that will provide access to everyone who works there. It’s not meant to be taken literally, and it’s all worth it for, in particular, Nandor posing as a janitor to keep an eye on his former familiar and completely misunderstanding the job, including the notion that hot coffee should never be allowed to get cold and therefore should be thrown out immediately to prevent that from happening.

This cast is wholly committed to all of the craziness that ensues within the cluttered horror house where they live, and while the show offers no hint to its characters that it’s coming to an end, there is a sense of nostalgia that’s already present as anyone tuning in should be aware that the end is near. Proksch in particular feels determined to milk whatever energy is left in the group for Colin’s own draining enthusiasm, and any appearance by Kristen Schaal as the Guide is very welcome. Given the way that things have gone so far, it’s reasonable to expect not a grand finale with vampires battling to the death but rather them getting stuck in the same old rut, forced to endure each other’s company for eternity. While that may be torturous for them, it’s a boon for audiences, who should cherish the time they have left with this relentlessly entertaining group of unproductive and petty creatures of the night.

Season Rating: 8/10

Awards Buzz: That Berry is the only member of the cast ever to be nominated for an Emmy is a shame considering how terrific everyone is, but with five seasons to have considered – and three Best Comedy Series bids and six writing mentions – it’s hard to imagine that voters will finally celebrate every aspect of this show in its final season. A repeat of the same is much more likely.