What We Do in the Shadows Review: The Casino (Season 3 Episode 4)
What We Do in the Shadows Season 3 Episode 4, “The Casino,” features a fun out-of-state jaunt to Atlantic City that culminates in stronger familial bonding, an existential crisis, and top-tier performances across the board.
“The Casino” pushes the overall narrative forward, notably in terms of character development, while still being a hysterical “one-off” episode of sorts. What We Do in the Shadows isn’t known for its complex, overarching seasonal plot threads, but rather its character progressions, which the series nails (in the coffin) and then some.
NANDOR: “Bazinga” is the war-cry of Sheldon, their tall leader.
Not only that but “The Casino” deftly experiments with group dynamics. Last week, we saw Laszlo and Colin Robinson bond over the former’s antiquated vehicle. This week, Colin Robinson buddies up with Nandor for a mind-blowing experience. Naturally, it’s hilarious and heartwarming.
The performances are brilliant — the cast is firing on all cylinders in “The Casino.” However, Natasia Demetriou steals everyone’s thunder with her seemingly effortless knack for slapstick and her masterful comedic timing. She’s a vampiric force with which to be reckoned.
NADJA: It is like hot onion water, and then you put that in my head and that’s my brain now.
Hot on her heels is Kayvan Novak, who injects nuance, humor, and heartbreak into Nandor the Relentless. His obsession with The Big Bang Theory slot machine evolving into his discovery of the actual Big Bang Theory is as funny as it is sad.
What We Do in the Shadows shows us the spark of humanity still dwelling in our vampires, and it’s beautiful.
“The Casino” reveals Nandor, Laszlo, and Nadja at their most vulnerable, proving that even creatures of the night are just like us. Without sleep, they’re irritable, loopy, paranoid, and they question their place in this vast, “uncaring universe.” Even immortal beings fear the transitory nature of mortal life.
It’s such an exciting detail to include, and the writers knock it out of the park in “The Casino.” Character development catapults to new heights with Nandor’s contemplation of the universe’s complexities and Laszlo and Nadja struggling to retain their waning strength. It pushes them to the brink.
LASZLO: It’s not the same as flashing a few papers or wanking off Morris from steerage.
What We Do in the Shadows is a lighthearted, sharp-as-a-tack comedy, so these new depths are simultaneously surprising and intriguing. Of course, the show mines these jewels with its signature quirky humor.
“The Casino” is the best episode of Season 3 thus far. What We Do in the Shadows continues to push the comedic envelope with clever writing, intricate mythos, A-plus performances, witty comedy, and plenty of heart.
Stray Observations:
- Nadja’s Rat Pack scenes are, hands down, some of the best in the entire show.
- This episode marks the first time the vampires view Guillermo as part of the family, and it’s a significant narrative milestone for all.
- Guillermo almost opens up regarding his private life. There’s obvious tension between him and Nandor, so it’ll be interesting to see how the show moves their story forward. Hopefully, there’s a romance on the horizon!
- It’s refreshing to see the vampires embrace humanity and deepen their human relationships, and it’s a far cry from what they thought of mortals in Season 1.
- What We Do in the Shadows is one of the most LGBTQIA+ friendly shows on TV, and it’s great to see.
- The nod to the Ocean’s franchise at the end of the episode is utterly brilliant.
What did you think of this episode of What We Do in the Shadows? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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What We Do in the Shadows airs Thursdays at 10/9c on FX.
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Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.