‘What We Do In The Shadows’ Season 5 Premiere Non-Spoiler Review – “The Mall” & “A Night Out With The Guys”

Our beloved vampires of Staten Island are back with a fifth season of Jemaine Clement’s What We Do in the Shadows. This summer’s storyline of FX’s comedy-horror fantasy mockumentary series brings about a layer of uncertainty never before witnessed. In last season’s finale, we saw the return of one Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch), the fall of Nadja of Antipaxos’s (Natasia Demetriou) vampire nightclub, and the much-awaited transformation of Guillermo de la Cruz (Harvey Guillén) from a vampire familiar to a vampire hunter to a vampire bodyguard to a vampire’s best man to, finally, a vampire. The Cinema Spot was fortunate enough to screen the first four episodes of the season ahead of release, and there are definitely great laughs in store for fans and viewers alike!

The premiere episode is titled, “The Mall”. It is written by co-executive producer Marika Sawyer and is directed by co-executive producer, Yana Gorskaya. The second episode of the two-part premiere is titled, “A Night Out with the Guys”. It is written by executive producer Paul Simms and is directed by co-executive producer Kyle Newacheck.

In this review, I will discuss FX’s What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 Episodes 1 & 2. As the title of this article suggests, there will be no spoilers present here. Some details of episodes from previous seasons will be referenced throughout. Please read ahead with caution!

Overall Plot Synopsis for What We Do in the Shadows Season 5

According to FX Networks’ Press Room, here is the synopsis for What We Do in the Shadows Season 5.

In season five, Nandor feels his familiar (and sometimes friend) Guillermo slipping away as he seems to be spending much more time with Laszlo, whose skills as a gentleman scientist are put to the test as he tries to solve the mystery of the strange and very secret changes Guillermo is going through.

Nadja, suffering the effects of a previously-undiagnosed supernatural hex, reconnects with her family — or at least, a family — from the Old Country, Colin pursues the path of so many energy vampires before him by running for political office and The Guide tries to figure out where she fits in as the relative newcomer to this tightly-knit group who’ve known each other for centuries.

FX Networks Press Room

What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 Premiere Episodes Loglines

According to FX Networks, here is the logline for the What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 premiere episode — “The Mall”.

The vampires discover the mall.

FX Networks Press Room

Also, here is the logline for the second episode in the What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 premiere — “A Night Out With The Guys”.

Nandor and Laszlo have a night out with Sean and his friends. Nadja discovers the source of her bad luck.

FX Networks Press Room

Discussion

Since 2019 and with forty episodes, Jemaine Clement, his brilliant writing staff, the amazing production crew, and the talented cast have managed to keep What We Do in the Shadows afloat. Within half a decade, many cable television programs came and went, a profound number of them suffering the highly contagious disease of cancelation. Yet, thus far, that is not the case with this FX series. Instead, the show has been propelled into a different fate, one which further solidifies its unique identity as a comedy, a fantasy, and, at times, a horror. As we enter its fifth season (and have no idea what to expect with its sixth), Shadows reminds us that they are not done and are not going anywhere anytime soon.

“The Mall” and “A Night Out With The Guys” make for a stronger season premiere than what viewers have seen last June with the Season 4 opener. The comedy has not lost its essence and the line delivery — primarily from Laszlo Cravensworth (Matt Berry) — has gotten better. In fact, a lot of the timing in these first two episodes is fantastic, to say the least. What feels different this time around is Shayne Fox’s production designs. The vampires are not just hanging around in their Staten Island home. What always made the series tremendous is its ability to explore and experiment. Such is the case with a basketball game, a mall, and even a large police precinct. The open spaces that Fox provides only corroborate this idea of a world or a universe beyond the mansion, and how Gothic is that?

Whenever I find myself watching a film or television episode three or more times, it is usually because I am at a loss for words. With this premiere, I allowed myself four viewings, and perhaps it is because there is something here that I cannot quite place my fingers on…

The Season Opener

“The Mall” continues briefly where things left off at the conclusion of Season 4. It is a given that Guillermo will eventually have his life-long wish of becoming a vampire fulfilled, but how? The new season’s first episode offers a non-linear narrative of the cause and effect of the human character’s actions. Special effects coordinator J.R. Kenny’s use of blood is both a comedic and dramatic tool. While it is not as frenetic as, say, the blood seen in Prime Video’s The Boys, just a sufficient amount of it accomplishes about the same feat of shock and awe.

Colin Robinson’s character development in this premiere, as well as the two episodes that follow, currently appears uncertain. It isn’t that he is past his prime — and he has had a handful of it in the first four seasons — but it seems that he is reacclimating to life as an energy-draining vampire. He has some great moments in this season, although fans may not see that in this premiere.

This first episode makes for a neat transition from the fourth-season finale to the fifth season’s second episode. However, that is all I can manage to say about it. I do have issues with the episode title — one-third of the episode actually has to do with a local mall — but other than that, I enjoyed it for what it is.

Wine and Dine

As an episode title, “A Night Out With The Guys” might look redundant, especially given that we already have episodic narratives of this description in “Pine Barrens” and other episodes. However, there is a sense of absurdity absorbed in this second fifth-season episode. For starters, we do get a glimpse at the mockumentary crew, which is not as important to the main story of the show but just reminds viewers that there are actual human beings in the room with the vampires.

Sean Rinaldi (Anthony Atamanuik) continues to ruin his life in a manner that is not as accentuated as others. If you are not invested in the character, then it will mean nothing. On the other hand, his head has been messed with on numerous occasions, such as Season 2’s “Brain Scramblies” or Season 4’s “Private School”. Still, the progression of his time on the show is subtly taking a turn for the worst. It is just a miracle that he has not developed a brain tumor by this point.

Between the two episodes, “A Night Out With The Guys” has more layers to peel back in terms of story, character development, production design, and comedic kairos. With that said, the next two episodes up the ante, but that will be a discussion for another time.

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.

A.J. Dickerson and Liza Cardinale serve as the editors, while Rajat Suresh and Jeremy Levick are the executive story editors. Dane McMaster does additional editing for the premiere 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.

Chris Sandiford guest stars as Derek, a vampire hunter-turned-vampire.

Doug Jones plays Baron Afanas. Anthony Atamanuik portrays Sean Rinaldi, the vampires’ next-door neighbor. Ivan Martin also guest stars.

Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll co-stars as Trevor. Madison Seguin plays a sales associate. Angel Lo plays a cashier. Pearl Sun plays an employee. Alison Deon plays an optometrist.

Andy Hull and Gavin Fox play Mikey and Frank, Sean’s long-time friends. Andrea E. Grant plays a wine bar manager.

Angeliki Giannakopoulos plays Yia-Yia Susan. Laz Geronikolos plays Georgios, Jimmy Makris plays Gus, Aris Tyros plays Konstantin, Alexandra Augustine plays Tasia, and Marianthi Evans plays Christina.

Jean-Michel Richaud voices The Sire, while Vaios Skretas portrays The Sire. Justin Landry appears as Jonathan the Vampire.

Performances and Character Developments

Guillén’s development as de la Cruz in this season premiere is full of reflection — literally and figuratively — and it is commendable to see how his frustrations with his master and the resulting actions he has made have led him to choose to become a vampire through another. His dynamic with Nandor the Relentless (Kayvan Novak), then, is deeper than we realize. For fans who are hoping for the romance between the two to be concrete, all we will get are more teases. Of course, that is not without purpose. There is a scene in the season opener that could tease the potential death of someone in the household, but for the time being, it is just a hypothetical.

Schaal’s upgrade from guest star to series regular proves worthy. However, the pacing and the build-up to whatever role she may ultimately play is rather slow. From the first four episodes of the season alone, her role appears to be akin to that of Ken Jeong’s Benjamin “Ben” Chang in Community. That is to say, the Guide is an outsider who is going to need a little longer before she can be fully accepted as a member of the group. She, along with Colin Robinson, deserve more potent progression as characters.

Final Thoughts on the Two-Part What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 Premiere

Overall, “The Mall” and “A Night Out With The Guys” make for a delightful introduction to the new season. Despite characters missing some steps on their individual paths, for the most part, it looks like they are maintaining their footing. If the peak of the series is to be anywhere, then I would say it would be here. It does not get better than this… Or does it? Stay tuned next week as Pride Month gets another day for celebration, with major involvement from our Staten Island housemates as they tread Fast and Furious territory!

Jemaine Clement’s What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 makes its return via FX on July 13th and streams 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!