Although it originally sprang from Taika Waititi's acclaimed mockumentary film of the same name, What We Do In The Shadows is a TV series that has carved out a niche all its own. This includes a cast of lovable characters and ever-expanding lore that blends the mysticism of a world of vampires with the comedy of the clash of magic and reality.
The show's legacy also includes a large collection of running jokes for fans to enjoy as they recur over and over again in increasingly funny contexts. Although What We Do In The Shadows is only two seasons into its run, it has already accumulated a number of clever, kooky, and downright hilarious signature gags.
Disconnect From Tradition
Although Nandor, Laszlo, and Nadja seem like characters who are highly connected with their vampiric heritage and tradition, the series has pointed out several ways in which they have distanced themselves from other vampires. In particular, their conflicts with the Baron and the Vampire Council mark them as outsiders even within the vampire world.
Early on in the show, the main trio's anxiety about the Baron's visit and the fact that they have made little progress in taking over Staten Island highlight their ineptitude at doing what vampires "should" do. As this divide escalates, Nandor, Laszlo, and Nadja butt heads with the imposing Vampire Council, leading to the comedy of them being compared to the best of the best.
Poor Gregor
A recurring plotline in What We Do In The Shadows' first two seasons is that of Nadja's historical love affair with Gregor, a knight whom Nadja fell in love with and was subsequently decapitated. Gregor then reincarnated into several other people and animals throughout Nadja's life, all of whom were also decapitated.
As it turns out, Laszlo has been responsible for these beheadings, and he eventually accidentally does the same to Gregor's latest incarnation, Jeff. In the second season, Jeff's ghost appears, continuing Gregor's misfortunes across his lives when he is rejected by Nadja. While Jeff may be Gregor's most recent incarnation, the nature of the character means that his humorous misfortunes may continue.
Nandor's House Meetings
Much like Viago in the original film, Nandor acts as the affable leader of the main vampires in What We Do In The Shadows, right down to his penchant to call for house meetings. The combination of the mundane and the mystical is often the source of humor on this show, and these meetings are one such joke.
An important part of this gag is the fact that Kayvan Novak's performance as Nandor brings the perfect combination of homey warmth and sinister vampirism to the character. These creatures of the night are also just people who sometimes need to meet with their housemates to discuss issues like cleaning habits.
Laszlo's Cursed Hat
Despite only having appeared in two episodes so far, Laszlo's cursed hat made of witch skin has become a series staple that seems likely to return in the upcoming third season and beyond as a consistent returning joke. This unnerving hat is a prized possession of Laszlo's, much to the chagrin of Nadja, as the hat brings all sorts of misfortune to its owner.
Manhattan vampire Simon is also incredibly envious of Laszlo, leading to his scheming to try and get the hat for himself. This feud is a particularly funny part of this running gag, since not only is Laszlo very attached to the clearly cursed hat, but he has to fight to keep it for himself.
Shaun The Neighbor
The main group of vampires has been struck by an unlikely affection for their neighbor Shaun, as he is kind to them and does minor good deeds like taking their trash to the curb for them. Since Shaun lives so close to the vampires, though, he has borne witness to a number of supernatural happenings over the years.
Every time this happens, the vampires hypnotize him into forgetting, both a touching and humorous gesture to avoid having to dispatch their neighbor. More recently, the vampires attended Shaun's Super Bowl party and inadvertently repaired his marriage, potentially opening the door for more neighborly humor in the future.
Van Helsing Heritage
Much of the eminently likable Guillermo's storyline has revolved around the revelation late in season 1 that he is a descendant of the legendary vampire hunter Van Helsing. This Van Helsing DNA has caused the young familiar to kill quite a few vampires, often by accident, although occasionally on purpose to protect himself or his friends.
The tension between Guillermo's heritage and his role as Nandor's familiar often leads to humorous situations, such as the sudden death of the Baron by his hand. Even when Guillermo intends to slay vampires, his prowess at it is hilarious, as the normally mild-mannered familiar rages momentarily.
Only Colin And Guillermo Understand
Most of the main cast of What We Do In The Shadows are centuries-old bloodsuckers who have been mired in their historical lives for so long that they cannot interact with the modern world correctly. This is one of the main cores of the show's humor, but it also contains its own running joke involving the only two main characters who do understand contemporary life.
Nandor, Laszlo, and Nadja hopelessly bumble their way through social situations like a Super Bowl party and the New York nightclub scene while Guillermo and Colin look hopelessly on. Their fourth-wall-breaking glances at the camera and correcting comments are always a funny nod to the disconnect between worlds.
Colin Robinson's Day Job
Colin Robinson's unique role as a terrifying energy vampire has made him a fan favorite character whose energy-sapping sadism is always good for a laugh. Given his boring office job, Colin's work may be the best example of his energy vampirism, and the episodes that center on his work are some of the standouts of the series for this reason.
Even when Colin brings up his work to his housemates, though, the funny banality of his day-to-day drudgery continues to delight. The details of Colin's work life are boring enough that they aid his energy vampirism, but they are also relatable to any audience who has had to sit through similar stories.
Guillermo's Mistreatment
It has been well-established in the franchise's lore that vampire familiars are not treated well, to put it mildly, and Nandor's eager familiar Guillermo is no exception. Despite his energetic approach to the job with the hope to become a vampire, Guillermo is often the victim of Nandor's humorous insults and mistreatment.
Nandors' housemates also take their turns abusing poor Guillermo with insults and other slights, especially Nadja and Laszlo, although Nandor has occasionally stood up for his companion against the undead couple. It has been suggested that Guillermo's mistreatment will continue, although his relationship with Nandor is always evolving.
"Bat!"
Some of the most effective jokes on the show are also the simplest, as evidenced by the beloved running gag of Laszlo announcing his transformation into a bat by simply yelling out the creature's name. It's difficult to tell if this is a necessary part of his transformation process or just some added flair, but it's entertaining nonetheless.
Laszlo's theatricality is also hilarious for its repetitive simplicity, as instead of taking off with some witty catchphrase or dark incantation, he simply names his action. The announcement is also a reliable element of the show for fans, as very few episodes go by without at least one "bat!" in all its ridiculous glory.