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Shocking Miss! “What We Do In The Shadows” Nears End with Unexpected Flop

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By Avery Sandridge

Shocking Miss! “What We Do In The Shadows” Nears End with Unexpected Flop

Photo of author

By Avery Sandridge

The Series Nears Its Close with a Few Final Twists in a Mostly Serious Episode

Second-to-last episodes have increasingly become pivotal in TV series, serving as the climactic turning points where major developments unfold, leaving viewers hanging on for the finale to resolve the chaos. In this light, “The Promotion”—the penultimate episode of What We Do In The Shadows we’re set to see—fits right into this mold. It briskly ties up the season’s ongoing plots, setting the stage for the finale. (But surely not with Guillermo and Nandor as superheroes… right?)

Coming off a high from last week’s “Come Out And Play,” this episode wraps up significant arcs, including Guillermo’s ascent at Cannon Capital Strategies and the quirky development of Cravensworth’s Monster, all in just 22 minutes. The spotlight is on Guillermo, as his boss Jordan sheds his corporate guise to reveal a deeper layer of true unpleasantness. This revelation culminates as Jordan toys with Guillermo’s hopes for a promotion, mimicking the way Nandor previously dangled the prospect of vampirism. This manipulation stirs up anger in Nandor, Guillermo, and even the filming crew, who disclose their season-long scheme of documenting Cannon’s SEC breaches. While the victory feels subdued, the highlight is the evolving mutual respect between Guillermo and Nandor, with Nandor acknowledging Guillermo as a fellow “warrior” after heeding his advice against violence.

The subplot involving the Monster is less dramatic, focusing on Laszlo and Colin Robinson’s disagreements over their paternal roles to their ‘creation.’ These interactions not only provide a touch of humor but also highlight Andy Assaf’s performance as the Monster, particularly shining in a scene where the two caretakers finally find common ground. Meanwhile, Nadja decides to leave Cannon for a dubious scheme involving foot pictures, humorously burning bridges with her former colleagues. Her scenes, though brief, are a delight, showcasing Natasia Demetriou’s knack for playing Nadja’s unbridled joy and obliviousness.

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Yet, despite these plot advancements, “The Promotion” struggles to deliver laughs. This shortfall might stem from the episode’s deep dive into the human-centric world of Cannon, which stifles the usual comedic flair brought by the vampire characters. The corporate setting, while realistically portrayed, doesn’t quite allow for the absurd humor that typically lights up the show. With the corporate escapades now behind us, the series opens up to a myriad of possibilities for the finale.

With so little established for the upcoming series conclusion, the prospects are tantalizingly open—will we see Laszlo and Colin’s Monster on tour, or perhaps Nandor and Guillermo as unlikely heroes? However, for now, we’re left with this somewhat lackluster setup episode, which, while emotionally resonant at times, didn’t quite hit the comedic mark. Not every episode leading up to a finale can be a standout, it seems.

Stray Observations

  • • Early in the episode, Harvey Guillén delivers a memorable bit of physical comedy as Guillermo struggles comically with chopsticks.
  • • Nandor’s excuse for revisiting the Cannon office involves the hilarious cover story that the fired janitor was his “slow-witted brother,” helpfully noted on his hand.
  • • “Imagine having two Guillermos—one for you, one for me. They could become friends, or even lovers. Then I could tell Guillermo to go fuck himself—and he actually could.”
  • • “Lisa, my favorite. You have a voice that’s deep, nasal, and irritating. Your entire aura screams of unmet childhood needs. You’re quite exhausting to be around.” Nadja’s farewells could have filled the episode.
  • • Matt Berry’s Laszlo is less amusing when he’s domineering, although his mispronunciations of “Cocktail” and “Patrick Swayze” are delightful as ever.
  • • Jordan assigns superhero roles to his team during a pep talk, dismissively dubbing Guillermo “I guess, Groot? Because he’s solid.”
  • • Colin’s quip as Laszlo dismisses a cheeky suggestion in the elevator: “We could kiss. We’ve still got seven floors.”
  • • The rest of the episode’s humor was sparse, save for a botched joke about Guillermo handling a long CVS receipt.

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