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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
This week’s episode of Jemaine Clement’s What We Do in the Shadows shifts the dynamics of its beloved characters a bit, setting in motion the events to come in the latter half of this new season.
The fifth season’s fourth episode is titled, “The Campaign”. It is written by producers, Max Brockman and Shana Gohd, and is directed by co-executive producer, Yana Gorskaya.
In this review, I will discuss FX’s What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 Episode 4. As the title of this article suggests, there will be no spoilers present here. Some details of previous episodes will be referenced throughout. Please read ahead with caution!
What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 Episode 4 Logline
According to FX Networks, here is the logline for What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 Episode 4 — “The Campaign”.
Colin runs for office, Nandor makes a new friend and Nadja reconnects with her roots.
FX Networks Press Room
Discussion
“The Campaign” is a decent episode from the What We Do in the Shadows writers’ room that I enjoyed as much as the season’s previous three episodes. Its teleplay holds a great amount of jokes, but it isn’t without the cast to execute certain lines of comedy with perfect timing. As usual, Laszlo Cravensworth (Matt Berry) is the prime culprit when it comes to exactly that, such as when he enters a room with a “Four Score and Seven Beers Ago” green t-shirt or when he tries to assert his superiority over the patrons and employees of the Antipaxan diner. Moreover, even the little details in the episode like Guillermo de la Cruz (Harvey Guillén) speaking to his master, Nandor the Relentless (Kayvan Novak), about a specific surgical process have me laughing out of my seat. Let’s not forget the stan name for Colin Robinson’s (Mark Proksch) campaign followers, which is just genius writing!
Exterior to the screenwriting aspect of this episode, I cannot help but admire production designer Shayne Fox’s various set pieces. The juxtaposition between the debate stage and the Supreme Council of Energy Vampires headquarters is merit-worthy when looking at the prolonged time spent in both locations as well as the open spaces in the room. Colin Robinson being on-stage in front of a crowd is one thing, but to see the tables turned and he becomes one within the audience shows that he is not the strongest energy-draining vampire in the state. This could easily prove a challenge for the future, especially considering his dynamic with Evie Russell (guest star Vanessa Bayer).
What Does What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 Have to Offer?
Outside of Guillermo’s subplot regarding his vampire transformation, could there be anything else to gain from this current season? What I feel makes Season 5 stronger than the series’ previous seasons is its pivoted focus on comedic lines of dialogue rather than a concrete story to follow. Last season, Nandor found himself with a Djinn’s genie lamp, which contained fifty wishes. However, that could only last as long as it could.
This current season relies more on individual episodes telling what story they could. Colin Robinson was never going to be a restaurant waiter for a whole season, and it seems that he is searching for his rightful place in the world once again after being “reborn”. After having run a vampire council and then a vampire nightclub, Nadja of Antipaxos (Natasia Demetriou) knows what kind of woman she is, yet she is yearning to establish her roots, which is why she finds herself at Little Antipaxos.
The Guide (Kristen Schaal), despite being upgraded to series regular, does not have as much to do this season. Although, if the show’s writers played their cards right, then it might suggest that she has a larger role in the grand scheme of things as she finds her footing in the group.
The Crew of What We Do in the Shadows
What We Do in the Shadows is created for television by Jemaine Clement. The series is based on the feature-length film of the same name written by Clement and Taika Waititi.
Clement, Waititi, Paul Simms, Garrett Basch, Eli Bush, and Sam Johnson serve as the executive producers of the show. Yana Gorskaya, Kyle Newacheck, and Marika Sawyer act as the co-executive producers.
Sarah Naftalis is the supervising producer. Jake Bender, Zach Dunn, Max Brockman, Shana Gohd, William Meny, Zach Hagen, Tyson Breuer, Todd Aronauer, and Ingrid Lageder are the producers. Lauren Wells serves as a staff writer.
Gayle Keller serves as the casting director; while Allison Jones and Ben Harris are credited as original casting directors. Jenny Lewis and Sara Kay are the Canadian casting directors. Allison Kirschner is the casting associate, while Krista Fraser is the extras casting director.
David A. Makin and Kim Derko serve as cinematographers.
Dane McMaster is the editor, while Rajat Suresh and Jeremy Levick are the executive story editors. Peter Cabadahagan does additional editing for the episode. David McCloud and Harlan Doolittle serve as the assistant editors.
Mark Mothersbaugh, John Enroth, and Albert Fox score the music for the series. Nora Felder is the music supervisor. Steve Griffen is the music editor.
Shayne Fox is the production designer. Kerri Wylie is the set decorator. Aaron Noël and Jody Clement serve as the art directors.
Laura Montgomery is the costume designer. Sarah Milk is the makeup department head, while Tamara Harrod is the hair department head. J.R. Kenny is the special effects coordinator.
Stephen W. Pugh is the visual effects supervisor, while Malorie Moriana is the VFX producer. Thomas Calderón is the VFX editor, while Vince Filippone is the VFX assistant editor.
The Cast of What We Do in the Shadows
Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, and Natasia Demetriou portray the series’ three primary traditional vampires, Nandor the Relentless, Leslie “Laszlo” Cravensworth, and Nadja of Antipaxos, respectively.
Harvey Guillén portrays Guillermo de la Cruz, Nandor’s familiar-turned-vampire hunter-turned-bodyguard-turned-best man-turned-vampire. Mark Proksch portrays Colin Robinson, the household’s energy vampire. Kristen Schaal portrays The Guide.
Vanessa Bayer reprises her Season 1 guest role as Evie Russell, an energy-draining vampire. Anthony Atamanuik appears as Sean Rinaldi, the vampires’ next-door neighbor.
Martha Kelly guest stars as the head of the Supreme Council of Energy Vampires. Hannibal Burress plays a member of the Supreme Council.
Marceline Hugot returns as Barbara Lazarro, the comptroller of Staten Island. Robert Smigel portrays Alexander, a friend that Nandor makes at the gym.
Performances and Character Developments
Judging from what I have seen in the season’s sixth episode, the likelihood of there being an imbalance or falling out in the dynamic between Nandor and Guillermo is quite high. In fact, it is going to be an inevitable event when it does eventually happen. Guillermo hiding his transformation from his master is coming from a place of fear, that is to say, the possibility that he will be hated. Nothing is worse than the absence of love between the two characters. If Nandor attempting to impress Guillermo by flying into space were any indication of such love, then we will just have to wait for the latter four episodes of the season to show what is truly bound to occur.
Nandor’s relationship with Alexander (guest star Robert Smigel) is one that was never going to last, even briefer than that which Guillermo had with a man from another country last season. The vampire’s longing for a companion is evident from previous episodes in the series, such as his crush on a gym employee, a werewolf woman, and his handfuls of wives. In this current episode, I find it hilarious the changes Nandor is willing to undergo to fill that void. Still, there must be more in this season to show what his certain needs are.
Final Thoughts on What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 Episode 4
While it does not last as long as we would think, “The Campaign” does bring the show’s characters back to their roots, one way or another. Colin Robinson is reminded that he is not the only energy vampire around and that the hierarchy of power still exists. I like his references to romantic films such as Love, Actually, Brokeback Mountain, and Titanic, but do any of them mean anything of substance? With Nadja, home is where the heart is, and it is home that is healing for her. I mean, how else will she rid herself and her doll of the hex?
More than anything, fans and viewers of the series can only trust that the writers will time Nandor and Guillermo’s personal story properly. Their romance is a long time coming, and it would be a crime to make us wait even longer. This does have me anxious about what the second half of the season will have in store for these two characters and how this dynamic affects the others in the household. Next week, we will start bidding farewell to what was and look forward to what will be.
Jemaine Clement’s What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 is now airing via FX on Thursdays and streaming the next day via Hulu!
Have you seen Clement’s series? If so, then what are your thoughts on it so far? Let us know! For more What We Do in the Shadows updates as well as comedy, fantasy, and horror-related news and reviews, do not forget to follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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