10 Hilarious Recurring Jokes That Make What We Do in the Shadows Unforgettable!

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As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but rave about the sheer brilliance of “What We Do in the Shadows.” Created by the incredibly talented Jemaine Clement, this mockumentary series about vampires started as a movie and blossomed into a full-fledged TV show. It’s a unique blend that brings together monsters and humanity in the most endearing way, with a cast of characters so lovable they could melt your heart.

Their hilarious escapades have left an indelible mark on me and countless other viewers. The recurring jokes are the icing on the cake, providing endless entertainment and making us laugh until our sides ache. Each new season has introduced fresh storylines and jokes, keeping things interesting and never letting up. Just like the characters themselves, these gags have become timeless and will never grow old.

Though the series may have come to an end, its legacy lives on in the hearts of fans like me. It’s a testament to the power of great storytelling and the enduring appeal of laughter.

The series “What We Do in the Shadows” focuses on a band of vampires and their familiar companions. After settling in America many years ago, their initial aim was to commence the takeover of the nation. However, somehow they strayed from this objective and chose instead to simply socialize. Similar to its predecessor, the show’s characters are being documented by a film crew, a storytelling technique that underpins many of the most memorable running gags.

1) Bat!

One delightful aspect of “What We Do in the Shadows” lies in its humorous twist on traditional vampire tropes. For instance, the character Laszlo Cravensworth (played by Matt Berry) always exclaims “Bat!” before transforming into a bat – a quirky routine he adheres to strictly. Despite this peculiarity, his fellow vampires seem unbothered and even tolerant of it. In fact, Laszlo instructs others to do the same when teaching them. This idiosyncrasy adds charm to the series, making it an enjoyable watch.

2) House Meetings

Some vampires appear to enjoy home gatherings, and Nandor the Relentless (Kayvan Novak) is one of them. He’s particularly keen on having regular meetings at his residence. If you’re a fan of the series, you might find yourself imagining Nandor’s insistent voice shouting “House Meeting!” until everyone in the house pays attention.

To put it simply, I’m not exactly thrilled about these house meetings, much like Nadja and Laszlo. It appears that Collin Robinson (Mark Proksch) finds them amusing, but that only adds to my reservations. One could even speculate that a vampire-led meeting would be bold, mysterious, or downright sinister. Regrettably, this wasn’t often the case, with a few notable exceptions. Typically, Nandor was just reminding us to clean up our half-consumed… let’s say “snacks” (humans), around the house.

3) Colin Robinson’s Need for Dullness

Colin Robinson isn’t the typical, cliche blood-sucking vampire you might think of. Instead, he’s an “energy” vampire who thrives on the monotony in life. Yes, he enjoys draining people’s energy to the point of boredom, but he genuinely finds it satisfying. It’s often said that if you love your job, you never work a day in your life, and Colin Robinson seems to embody this idea. The interesting part is that Colin can drain energy from anyone, even traditional vampires. He just can’t resist feeding off his vampiric roommates, which only seems to aggravate them more.

4) Gregor’s Trials and Tribulations

In the initial season of What We Do in the Shadows, we were introduced to the character of Gregor, who unfortunately hasn’t had a smooth run. Previously in his first life, Gregor was engaged in a fast-paced romance with Nadja (played by Natasia Demetriou). He was a knight who met an untimely demise in battle, thus ending their relationship. Over the centuries, Nadja has been on a quest to find Gregor’s soul, rekindling their romance whenever she locates him. However, it remains unclear whether she genuinely finds his soul or simply seeks out men who bear a slight resemblance to him and manipulates their memories, creating a fantasy for herself. Regrettably, the story between them doesn’t seem to end on a positive note for Gregor, as he seems to be responsible for Nadja’s demise in each life – a fact that was particularly evident with Laszlo.

The most recent iteration of Gregor is referred to as Jeff. Time and again, Nadja finds herself drawn to Jeff’s window, as an old affection for him resurfaces. This sets off a chain of events filled with humor and chaos, with unfortunate outcomes for poor Jeff in each instance.

5) The Neighborly Sean

In the house, though most residents seem like vampires (with Guillermo being the exception), there’s a plentiful supply of humans in the mix. It’s not just about meals. Meet Sean (Anthony Atamanuik), the neighbor. Initially, Sean’s visits served to underline the lengths the cast members were going to protect their secrets. However, as time passed, it turned into a recurring joke, with Sean’s memory loss happening repeatedly.

As Sean’s bond with Laszlo grew stronger, the need for him to have his memories reset became increasingly frequent. On one occasion, they assisted Sean in salvaging his marriage while erasing his memory, which isn’t entirely negative. However, there’s a significant risk involved that may prevent them from doing it again.

6) Pronouncian Shenanigans

The primary characters in this series have been immortal for a considerable length of time, and Colin Robinson is puzzled about how he came to be or why, which is another tale altogether. Given their age, it’s no surprise they find it challenging to adapt to the contemporary world. Specifically, Nandor and Laszlo grapple with pronunciation, adding humor to their struggles. Laszlo tries to appear refined and elegant, yet consistently mispronounces everyday expressions. On the other hand, Nando faces difficulties with words ending in “tion” or “ing.

7) Guillermo Has a Way of…Accidentally Killing Vampires

Harvey Guillén’s character, Guillermo de la Cruz, has become a fan favorite in the show, and it’s hard to argue against that. However, it’s important to note that Guillermo might be one of the few human characters who survive from start to finish. This longevity is not without reason; it all starts when he seemingly kills a crucial vampire by accident. You could say this was just a one-time joke, but it kept happening. At first, these vampire killings were unintentional, but soon enough, Guillermo started intentionally taking out vampires. While there’s a reason behind his actions, it’s still one of the most entertaining running jokes in the series.

Essentially, it boils down to the familial lineage, as any well-spun vampire tale would imply. Guillermo is a relative of the legendary Van Helsing, the vampire slayer. Consequently, his knack for eliminating vampires seems almost inherent, explaining both the unintentional and purposeful killings.

8) Nadja Doll

In the TV show What We Do in the Shadows, at one stage, Nadja and the group chose to conjure their human souls to tackle lingering problems. While Laszlo’s soul was relatively simple (though unsettling) to manage, Nadja’s proved much more intricate. In the end, both Nadjas agreed that her human soul would inhabit a small doll named Nadja. This situation persisted throughout most of the series, with the doll getting involved in various humorous and dramatic situations, such as providing a reason for Nadja to have actual arguments with herself.

9) Laszlo & Nadja’s Inability to Keep a Familiar Alive

From the early episodes onwards, it’s evident that Guillermo possesses something extraordinary. It’s not merely that viewers find him appealing – it’s due to his resilience and adaptability. Despite being Nandor’s familiar, Guillermo frequently finds himself assuming the role of familiar for the entire household. This is primarily because Nadja and Laszlo struggle to keep any other familiar alive. Their past familiars have met their end in various ways, from poisoning, accidents involving fire (a particularly sad candle mishap), being consumed by the Barron, you name it. The longest surviving one, Topher (Haley Joel Osment), received the most screen time, mainly because he managed to survive longer, though that doesn’t mean he made it out alive in the end.

10) The Cursed Witch Skin Hat

In a humorous twist, the enchanted witch’s hat in “What We Do in the Shadows” stands out as both the most unsightly and entertaining prop. This peculiar hat was crafted from witch hide and bestowed upon Laszlo under a curse centuries ago. Despite its intended malicious purpose, Laszlo didn’t seem to perceive it that way (perhaps due to the mysterious powers within the hat). Over time, he kept this cursed trinket, which turned out to be a constant source of tension, starting with Nadja’s intense dislike for the annoying hat.

Nadja’s intense dislike for the Enchanted Witch’s Cap is just the start, as another vampire, Simon the Cunning (Nick Kroll), also covets it strongly. This peculiar item has him prepared to perform some questionable actions in order to acquire it! The desire for this hat becomes a recurring joke, with the stakes growing higher each time Simon makes an attempt.

Every episode of What We Do in the Shadows is streaming on Hulu.

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2025-05-30 02:40