Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the FX show What We Do in the Shadows.
The ongoing fourth season of FX’s What We Do in the Shadows has already introduced some unforgettable side characters like Doctor Tom and the Djinn. Like some select side characters from the past three seasons, they obviously exude main character energy and would have no trouble becoming regulars on the mockumentary.
Side characters like Topher, Charmaine, and even Aspen are memorable for their quirky personalities and comedic scenes, which flawlessly fit with the main cast’s vibe. These are characters that often become fan favorites and appear in just one or two episodes, even though they deserve to be on the show more often.
Aspen
During the trial in front of the Vampiric Council, a petty criminal is brought in and sentenced to death, with one of his crimes being adopting a hellhound without the proper license. When Aspen walks out, it shocks everyone to see that he has the appearance of a regular golden retriever.
He’s not just any old dog, though, as Aspen has the ability to breathe fire. He becomes instrumental in locating The Sire after he escapes, as Aspen carries the Baron on his back during their search. The way he finds his forever home with the Baron and The Sire eventually is satisfying, but the hellhound definitely deserves to be shown burning more things in future episodes.
Lilith
Lilith is a witch and the leader of a coven who becomes desperate and kidnaps Nandor and Laszlo. The witches need vampire semen to keep their youthful appearance, which didn’t use to bother Nadja. In fact, Lilith and Nadja were once close friends who only became rivals after Laszlo slept with the witch without his wife’s permission.
When Lilith confronts Nadja, it’s clear that the witch has some of the main character’s traits. She can be cunning and spiteful, which is emphasized by the way she transforms into Nadja’s lookalike. The scene is especially gut-busting because they obviously look very different, but Laszlo claims not to see the difference.
Charmaine
The vampire’s comical neighbor Sean has steadily become a supporting character, but his wife Charmaine remains in the background. The loud and vibrant woman is always fun to watch when she’s around, especially back when she was still complaining about her relationship with Sean.
A memorable interaction between Nadja and Charmaine proves that the side character has a similar personality to the vampire. She’s not afraid to voice out exactly what she wants and the things that have to change around her, and Nadja reminds her that she deserves so much better.
Topher Delmonico
Guillermo is immediately threatened when the wisecracking familiar Topher seems to be joining the gang for good. His appearance is refreshing because, unlike Guillermo, Topher doesn’t care about the vampires and is able to outsmart them by convincing them he’s a great familiar.
He affects Guillermo and the vampires in different ways, which is why their interactions are so interesting. Even as a literal zombie, Topher gives off main character energy, as every moment with him is humorous, especially when they border on being absurd.
Evie Russell
Colin’s criminally-underrated love interest, Evie, is an emotional vampire who feeds by manipulating others into feeling sorry for her. Colin is understandably captivated by her, even though they initially have a feud that shows off their powers.
Evie does not care who she hurts in her attempts at feeding, which is why it would have been amusing to see her with the rest of the gang. She’s certainly an underused character, as her affair with Colin was just a B-plot and a good one at that.
Tilda
It’s not at all shocking that the aptly named head of the Vampiric Council is ridiculously entertaining. Despite only appearing during the gang’s trial, Tilda manages to crack witty jokes and display her unique personality. She’s surprisingly unforgiving, as she sentences the vampires to die by sunlight.
She may be lacking in discernment skills, but her authoritative voice can’t ever be questioned. It’s hilarious to imagine what she would be like as a main character, as she clearly has the potential to be a gut-busting member of the group of housemates. She could take on a similar role to the Baron, who was initially feared but then revealed to be a chill guy.
Jan
The leader of the Wellness Center cult, Jan, lures new followers with her peculiar philosophy. Jan encourages her victims (like Nandor) that they can leave behind their identities as vampires and go back to being humans. She even goes as far as encouraging everyone to rip off their fans every day, as they regrow overnight.
She’s both terrifying and gut-busting, which are both great traits for a main character to have. She may be a side character in just one episode, but her actions have a lasting impact on Nandor’s most disturbing arc where his depression drives him to join her cult. Even after leaving, he’s somewhat convinced that he’s human thanks to Jan, who taught him all the lyrics for One Week.
Wallace
Wallace is the wily necromancer who brings Topher back to life (sort of) after the familiar has an unfortunate accident in the vampires’ garden. Laszlo doesn’t trust Wallace at all, calling him a con artist and an upseller whose main concern is making money from his services and poor-quality products.
Laszlo’s disdain makes their interactions funnier, especially since Nadja is fond of the necromancer. Wallace also cares too little about his job, which definitely screams main character energy. He hilariously botches Topher’s resurrection and causes the familiar to become a mindless zombie.
The Djinn
When Nandor and Guillermo figure out how to properly rub a magic lamp, they meet the Djinn. The cold and calculating side character offers 52 wishes but later admits that it’s part of his job to be conniving tricky. This is why Nandor and Guillermo make a mistake despite being so careful with a major wish.
The Djinn’s dry humor and intelligence make him a well-written character who would certainly fit in with the main cast. It’s not hard to imagine him getting along with Colin, who is unfortunately still a child at that point.
Doctor Tom
The vampires and other supernatural creatures are all lining up for the opening of Nadja’s new nightclub for one main reason, everyone wants to see the legendary rapper, Richie Suck. His last-minute cancellation prompts Nadja and the Guide to pay a visit to him and meet his annoying familiar, Doctor Tom.
Tom is obviously manipulating Richie into staying away from doing what he loves, even going as far as convincing him to only drink blood during certain feeding times. Nadja is disgusted by the power the familiar has over his master, which underscores how effective Tom’s tactics are. It’s a shame that he ends up being eaten in the nightclub, as he could easily be an irritating and comical main character.