3x06 The Escape

[7.7/10] Once or twice a season, What We Do in the Shadows goes all out with some stellar effects work and legitimate horror, and I am, like Nadja, here for it. I had figure the show was saving the release of The Sire for a season finale-type thing. But bringing him here for a big time event in the middle of the season was a pleasant surprise.

I like the premise quite a bit. The original vampire getting loose on Nandor and Nadja’s watch would be enough of a setup. There’s a small but potent emotional throughline to Nandor blaming himself and lamenting his folly for The Sire escaping, while Nadja skates around the fact that she never actually told Nandor to feed him or otherwise make him responsible. It adds some character stakes to the situation, which is good writing, and Nandor’s comically over-the-top lamentations were quite amusing.

But at the same time, the possibility that if he dies, all vampires die through the laws of vampirism adds some legitimate stakes to finding him and returning him to his cell. Add in the fact that he’s unseen, but reputed to be deadly and insane, and you have one of the more dramatic and exciting plots What We Do in the Shadows has ever done!

Plus hey! The Baron is back! It’s always great to have the legendary Doug Jones in tow. And I like the weird discovery that he’s still alive, just as a half-decomposed corpse who’s slowly been regaining his strength in the vamps’ yard. Jones does great work, and it’s fun to see him riding a dog like a horse or driving around in a little kids’ car.

And again, the effects work here was super. The Baron’s puppetry and prosthesis was striking. The image of the ghostly vampire reporters was well done. The chatty gossipy gargoyles were a fun effect. And The Sire himself was well-designed and well-used with gradual introductions before we get to see him in his full glory. (I assume the brief Jaws mention was a subtle reference to that approach.)

And he’s pretty scary! The scene when they go into the abandoned big box store and are stalked by this winged beast got some legitimate scares a la the overall Jaws homages. He’s a cool looking creature, and our heroes’ interactions with him were both fun and frightening.

This is also a great episode for Guillermo. I like him throwing his weight around a little and basically ordering the vamps around for once. He has the leverage in the situation as a vampire hunter, and using that to keep his erstwhile masters in line is a good look. It’s fun to see a confident, commanding Guillermo. And there’s even some good Guillermo/Nandor material, with Guillermo slapping some sense into Nandor to keep him on track, and Nandor making himself the bait for The Sire rather than Guilermo out of a sense of responsibility. There’s some real growth on both accounts there!

Plus I love the resolution. The Baron, The Sire, and the Hellhound all living together in Nutley, NJ is such an off the wall place to land. I love the absurdity of it.

Overall, a definite highlight, with What We Do in Shadows at its silly, horrific, and thrilling best.