Could What We Do in the Shadows 4×09 be listed as the most hated episode of the series? Possibly. In this episode, none of the vampires win. Guillermo, especially, loses more than he ever had before. This episode has the fandom in shreds and leaves everyone with the hopes that something good will come out of the finale. But with most good writing, something bad must happen for something good to come out of it. So here’s the good, the bad, and the “Freddie.”
BOYFRIEND ENVY
Nandor has spent the entire season looking for the love of his life. He found Marwa, the only person out of his 37 wives that he wanted to stay with. He wished for her to be the perfect person for him, and he even tried to change himself for her. Now, he would rather she be a different person entirely.
When Guillermo’s long-distance boyfriend Freddie shows up, Nandor wants him, so he wishes for Marwa to be turned into Freddie. It is another time that Nandor disregards Guillermo’s feelings. Similar to kids fighting over toys, Nandor wants what Guillermo has, but doesn’t want to admit it. Up until now, everyone wanted Guillermo and Nandor to be in a relationship, but after this, it’s hard to want them together.
Nandor has always been the selfish one of the group. He is the only one with a familiar. Nadja and Laszlo had a familiar at the start of the series, but they didn’t last. Only Guillermo was the one to put up with Nandor and stay for so long.
This season, Guillermo got to a point where he was starting to build a life of his own. Of course, when things go too well for any character, they get a rude awakening. Despite the fandom wanting to erase What We Do in the Shadows 4×09 from existence, it’s not possible. This episode is setting up a redemption arc for season five. It’s not just Guillermo’s redemption, but Nadja and Colin’s too.
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
What We Do in the Shadows 4×09 spends less time with Nadja, Colin, and Laszlo, but still leaves big implications for the series. Laszlo waits until club business is booming to develop a contract deal for Baby Colin. Really, it’s just Laszlo wanting to make more of a profit off of Colin.
When Nadja says no to the contract deal, Laszlo takes Colin’s business upstate to Binghamton, where there’s another vampire nightclub. He doesn’t expect any issues with his plan — that is, until Colin goes through puberty. I never thought I would say that I was thankful to see Mark Proksch back to his normal self, but I am. There was only so much of the CGI bobblehead I could continue to take.
The answer we’ve been waiting for is here. What happens when Baby Colin is no longer a baby? Well, Colin has explosive hormones, and an attitude and now lacks the ability for musical theater. There goes Nadja’s club down the drain. Unfortunately, not even her blood sprinklers can save her.
Colin’s energy vampire powers have yet to return, but with his new outlook on life, Colin is definitely becoming the soul-sucking vampire we all know and love. Perhaps the negativity from everyone in the house will empower him to grow faster. If that’s the case, Guillermo might have good cause to get away from the Staten Island clan.
JUSTICE FOR MARWA AND GUILLERMO
Fans are outraged for Marwa and her sudden change to Freddie. Did the creators not think of how it would look to see a woman of color turned into a white man? This is disappointing, given she wasn’t my favorite character until the last episode. Up until now, Marwa didn’t have any autonomy. She was programmed to be Nandor’s perfect wife. She appeared to have a sliver of it when she picked the man cave for herself in “Go Flip Yourself.” In the end, the man cave was still Nandor’s decision because whatever he likes, she likes.
Let’s hope Marwa makes a return in the season finale or in the next season to get revenge on Nandor. For her sake and Guillermo’s, Nandor needs to be put in his place.
Guillermo is now without a boyfriend. Nandor sent his Freddie away so he can travel, but belatedly (like most of Nandor’s revelations), he realizes what he did to Guillermo was wrong. However, Nandor’s Freddie ends up moving to London to be with the real Freddie. The look on Guillermo’s face after he realizes that the Freddies have fallen in love with each other is enough to break any heart. Once again, Nandor has ruined something for Guillermo. Nandor strung Guillermo along for over 13 years, saying he would change him into a vampire. And Nandor doesn’t defend Guillermo when he needs it. Finally, when Guillermo finally has a love interest for himself, Nandor takes that from him. If Guillermo doesn’t snap in the finale, it will be a surprise. Perhaps this would be the breaking point for him to finally leave the house and start a real life of his own.
Let’s just say Nandor is now on my shit list. He’s always been selfish, but this is simply taking it a little too far. There needs to be justice for Guillermo and Marwa — sooner rather than later.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
- Other than I hate Nandor now?
- There have been calls for a Nadja-focused episode. I agree. How will she bring the club back?
- I used to think Colin-focused episodes were the worst. What We Do in the Shadows 4×09 may top it for me. It wasn’t terrible, just frustrating.
- Maybe it would be better if Nandor was always single.
- Colin reaching puberty was something I expected from the middle of the season, not the near end.
