This show is a comedy-horror mockumentary about four vampire roommates. They stumble through modern life in Staten Island. Based on a 2014 film by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, it has a cast that nails the absurdity. Horror meets humor here, creating something you cannot look away from. Well, you could. But why would you?

Meet the characters from What We Do in the Shadows

Nandor

Oh man, Nandor is the absolute chaos king of ancient dignity — he calls himself “the Relentless” like every five minutes and then gets wildly offended if you rearrange his pillows. He’s this weird, desperate blend of imperial swagger and puppy-level insecurity, always trying to boss everyone around while also Googling “how to make friends” (I might be exaggerating but also not). He loves the idea of conquest more than actual conquering, and is simultaneously very old-school and baffled by an ATM, which is adorable and tragic. Also he has these little domestic habits — maybe collects spoons? — and then will randomly wax poetic about his homeland for ten minutes.

Laszlo Cravensworth

Laszlo is the sort of narcissistic, rakish antique you want to both clap for and slap, in the best way; he’s endlessly suave, weirdly tender with Nadja, and also a total goof who will play guitar at three in the morning. He’s theatrical, loves a good boast about his glamorous past (which may or may not be entirely true), and treats everything like an elaborate anecdote, including his own flirting techniques. You can tell he thinks he’s a tragic romantic hero but also secretly enjoys binge-watching trash TV — very complicated, like if velvet were a person. He drinks, he smokes, he makes mischief, and yes, he probably has a comically oversized hat somewhere.

Nadja

Nadja is fire and velvet and lead singer energy, she just walks into a room and history trembles — also she will tell you seven versions of how she once saved a village, none of which line up, and you’ll love every single one. She’s fierce, hilarious, devoted to her past and ridiculously affectionate toward weird modern things (pizza? reality TV? maybe all of it), while also being terrifyingly practical about life as an immortal. She rules her space with sarcasm and a flourish, smacking people down then making them tea two minutes later, and there’s a soft, almost maternal side she denies but absolutely has. Little random fact: she pronounces some words like they’re tiny tragedies and also has a habit of stealing tiny souvenirs from people’s lives.

Guillermo de la Cruz

Guillermo is the forever-loyal familiar who’s like five different archetypes at once — dutiful son, secret vampire-hunter, long-suffering best friend, and low-key emotional rock, and somehow he pulls it off while being exhausted, like always. He’s endlessly patient and kind but also has this surprising competence with weapons and research and also really good lasagna recipes, so don’t underestimate him. He wants to be a vampire and also, plot twist, cares about human decency more than most other humans, which is the loveliest contradiction; he’s both hungry for change and weirdly grounded. Also he keeps very detailed lists (of fears, chores, vampire rules) and then occasionally loses them under a pile of takeout boxes, classic.

Colin Robinson

Colin Robinson is the ultimate office horror and also the most relatable one-liners — an energy vampire who drains you with boredom, passive-aggression, and painfully detailed anecdotes about his commute, and honestly it’s brilliant. He’s dry, procedural, loves spreadsheets and meetings like a man in love, and will emotionally flatten you by describing a form in exhaustive detail, which is both hilarious and somehow devastating. He’s surprisingly human for an energy vampire — annoyingly reliable, enjoys being social in the most tedious ways, and occasionally gets actually animated (like, full-on rage mode) which is terrifying and rare. Tiny quirk: he’s suspiciously proud of his ability to nap anywhere and also really cares about his houseplants, which is oddly sweet.