Emmy Catch-Up: What We Do in the Shadows

Every year, I watch the six submitted episodes of every series I don’t regularly watch that’s up for one of the Emmy series prizes. This year, I’m watching the entire season of every series nominated in the top category.

What We Do in the Shadows: Season 2, Episode 6 “On the Run” (B)

This episode is one of three from this show nominated for its writing, and it’s clear that Emmy voters are all about the humor that comes from vampires trying to pretend to be human and how little that gets questioned, as a mere toothpick could fool even other vampires into thinking he was human. I couldn’t peg who Jim the Vampire was, and it makes total sense that he was played by Mark Hamill who, after launching his career as Luke Skywalker, didn’t appear too widely in movies and television until recently, when he’s found a niche playing parts like this (see “Brigsby Bear” for a great example). He was having a blast here, showing up to duel Laszlo because he hadn’t ever paid him for the rental in San Diego, and that confrontation lasted just a moment before Laszlo scurried away and embedded himself as a popular bartender in Pennsylvania (because it sounds like Transylvania). I recognized Madeleine Martin from “Californication” as his loyal employee Lucy, and it was fun to see the whole town rally around him as the arriving hero and champion of their community. Jim showing up to order a “human alcohol beer” didn’t arouse suspicion and Laszlo played it cool, but he couldn’t help standing in front of a mirror to eventually out himself. Giving the fish to him and getting him to replace him as the volleyball coach was a fitting if absurd resolution, and he was welcomed home with open arms. Colin trying to drain by creating unwanted sexual tension with Nadja was typically awkward, and I more enjoyed Guillermo trying to explain to the vampires that they were not playing a game but instead fixing a very serious problem.