What’s a vampire’s greatest good friend? On “What We Do in the Shadows,” the reply varies. For Nandor (Kayvan Novak) it may need been Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), however he has eyes now for Alexander (Robert Smigel); for Laszlo (Matt Berry), it varies since he will get together with everybody; for Nadja (Natasha Demetriou) it will be Laszlo, or maybe the doll encasing her personal ghost (anybody however Kristen Schaal’s Information); and for power vampire Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch), it’s forms.
Colin takes over Sean’s (Anthony Atamanuik) marketing campaign for Staten Island comptroller in Season 5, Episode 4, “The Marketing campaign,” written by Max Brockman & Shana Gohd and directed by Yana Gorskaya. His fast immersion in politics spurs an alliance with outdated flame Evie (Vanessa Bayer) and exposes the pair of them to the native power vampire council.
Bayer hasn’t appeared on “WWDITS” since her first look in Season 1’s “Werewolf Feud,” when Evie and Colin had been coworkers who teamed as much as drain their workplace however finally parted methods. She slips again into the function like she by no means left (one may argue that her “I Love That For You” character had some emotional vampire components), pouting and limping and tentatively telling pitiful tales that feed on everybody round her. The controversy scene shouldn’t be solely a grasp class in vampire energy performs, however in Proksch and Bayer sucking the marrow from two roles that require meticulous endurance and timing, with each pause and fumble captured expertly by Gorskaya’s workforce (Bayer deserves an Emmy solely for her supply of “stuffed with the dickens”).
It’s so masterful, actually, that they’re instantly kidnapped by the power vampire council, whose dwelling base is a basement-level doc library — a.ok.a. the worst place you possibly can consider. In a standout scene of the episode and season to date, Colin and Evie are tortuously drained as they watch the council quibble over cellphone settings, microphone ranges, and logistics — and what a council it’s; Jo Firestone, Hannibal Buress, Aparna Nancherla, Gregg Turkington, and Martha Kelly, all clearly having a blast whereas concealing it deep, deep beneath brilliantly deadpan exteriors. They affirm that forms is the lifeblood of the power vampire (or at the least a strategy to purchase mentioned lifeblood), which suggests that each one bureaucratic human establishments exist at the least partially to feed them.
The truth that there is an power vampire council at work creates thrilling prospects for Colin; which means nothing he did to date ran afoul of their authority, however that they’re now each conscious and barely cautious of his energy. Though they threaten him and Evie (“Beat Barbara Lazarro…or else”), they’ve additionally entrusted them to accumulate the comptroller seat and maintain onto it for the sake of their fellow vibe-killing kin. By episode’s finish, nevertheless, Colin might have fallen from their good graces as Evie wins the seat, however maybe the council will view a win as a win regardless. It’s actually heartbreaking to see Evie depart Colin’s life once more (is she draining ME?), however hopefully her tenure as comptroller means she’ll be again sooner somewhat than later.
Given the trove of knowledge and intentionally lengthy scenes spent with Colin this episode, the remainder of the home get pretty easy and simple tales. Nandor makes a Jewish good friend (I’m solely pointing it out as a result of he did… and due to how that finally ends up), whereas Laszlo tries and repeatedly fails to appeal Nadja’s neighborhood in Little Antipaxos. As assured and even intimidating as Laszlo is along with his fellow vampires, placing him on this surroundings reiterates that he’s, actually, an oaf — however one who handles missteps and humiliation higher than anybody, letting it merely wash over him. The Antipaxans consider him to be the most recent incarnation of an outdated folks story of a “wet-headed, wide-bodied ignorant oaf with the brains of a chewing gums…the king of pigs,” Nadja explains. “My king of pigs.” Little Antipaxos has not been notably compelling to date, however the season has additionally leaned closely on the opposite vampires. Nadja nonetheless has a curse to raise, and it’s solely a matter of time earlier than that takes the highlight.
Grade: A-
“What We Do within the Shadows” airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on FX and Fridays on Hulu.
