In its captivating sixth season, "What We Do in the Shadows" continues to intrigue, though it feels like an underappreciated gift. The FX mockumentary had a lot to live up to following its premiere in 2019, emerging from the shadow of the cult-status 2014 film. Despite the years that separated the two, the TV series quickly built its foundation, earning a legion of fans and 29 Emmy nominations. Each season, the series has transcended its original source material, character-driven narrative and class-act ensemble maintaining consistency in comedic performances throughout the six seasons.
In a time when shows face cancellations before establishing a strong following, it's near miraculous that "What We Do in the Shadows" have enjoyed a six-season run. The series balances comedy and horror, a combination rarely seen in the current TV landscape. As the critically acclaimed series prepares for its finale, it confronts some evident issues.
The last season opens with Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), and Colin (Mark Proksch) reflecting on their pasts while an overlooked detail - forgetting to wake up their vampire roommate Jerry (Michael Patrick O’Brien) - presents itself. Jerry's sleep, intended for 20 years since the '90s, extends to half a century. His coven's failure to rule over Staten Island disappoints him and their less ambitious life path triggers a group existential crisis. The 'midlife' crisis spurs the group to revisit their shelved passions, potentially straining their long-held bond.
While this forms the premise of a captvating final season - characters transcending their undead nature - the series begins to overstay its warm welcome. Episodes feel overweighted despite their short, 25-minute run time - an issue that emerged in the fifth season and escalates in the sixth. Plot threads dangle and new ones hastily disappear making the narrative seem directionless.
Each character's search for self-rule forms the backbone of this farewell season. However, the transformation feels hastily added and lacks impact as none of these characters truly stands independently. The success of "What We Do in the Shadows" pivoted on the perfect synergy among the ensemble cast. Their separation, despite screen time, dilutes the final season's impact.
Launching solo journeys for these characters would have been more timely a couple of seasons ago. Given that this is the final season, inevitable changes appear futile, as the characters will disappear soon. An evident lack of audience understanding surfaces as the series concludes. While it's comforting to expect nicely tied-up storylines, the series seemingly overstretches its lifespan, betraying its once-powerful momentum. The dynamic cast's charm can only support a series for so long, a reality that is sadly evident here.
The early three episodes available for review introduce the final season premiering October 21st, streamable on Hulu the following day.
