There’s a temptation for sitcoms to reinvent themselves to keep from going stale. Sometimes it works – think the inspired idea to add Kryten to Red Dwarf three seasons in – with others, the playing with a winning comedy formula can be a recipe for disaster.
Shadows’ third season finale promised big changes, sending several of their number overseas and, more daringly, killing off energy vampire Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch), only to replace him with a creepy baby with a very familiar face. And while Nandor (Kayvan Novak) and Nadia’s (Natasia Demetriou) overseas adventures don’t last long, Colin’s plotline plays out over the course of the season and, although funny, the world’s most boring vampire is sorely missed.
Travel has affected the others though. Nadja needs a new challenge and opens a vampire nightclub – complete with Blade-style blood sprinklers (which don’t work) – while Nandor, having acquired a djinn, sets out to make some (largely unsuccessful) lifestyle changes. MVP Matt Berry (Laszlo Cravensworth) is still, well, very much Matt Berry, although hapless familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) gets to add a few more shades to his much put-upon character, including acquiring a boyfriend (it doesn’t end well).
Otherwise, it’s business as usual, with ridiculous highlights including a home makeover show, a wedding episode, a Mamma Mia singalong, a supernatural market, and the world’s creepiest child star. Several supporting characters reappear, including a welcome expanded role for Kristen Schaal’s Guide, and there’s more of the now-traditional fun celebrity cameos (not all of whom survive).
It may not quite hit the heights of previous seasons, but Shadows is still massively entertaining, featuring an inspired cast, inventive scripts, and lots of frankly brilliant swearing. With something this good, there’s no need to change things up.
Season 4 of WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS currently airs weekly in the UK on Disney+
