What We Do in the Shadows Season 4 Episode 9 Review: Freddie
What We Do in the Shadows Season 4 Episode 9, “Freddie,” delivers laughter and heart-stomping pain in equal measure, with Natasia Demetriou and Harvey Guillén stealing the show.
“Freddie” illustrates a significant milestone for Guillermo — he finds love! For the first time in the show’s tenure, we see him happy and head over heels for an affable fellow named Freddie. It’s so heartwarming and gratifying to witness the evolution of Guillermo. He deserves it after the Nandor fiasco.
NADJA: Most of the vampires lining up won’t get in due to general ugliness.
Guillén infuses Guillermo with an exuberance you’d be hard-pressed to find in another character. He’s luminous. Then, the actor seamlessly transitions from that vim and vigor to serrated-edge pain and searing vulnerability. It’s so natural and grounded, and his presence draws you into the narrative unfolding.
After finding himself smitten with Freddie, Nandor asks the djinn to transform Marwa into Freddie. Guillermo interprets this move as Nandor’s method of stating he can’t have anything for himself. Nandor is his master. However, their relationship has evolved enough over the past four seasons to show that Nandor now views them as equals.
This reviewer’s theory? Nandor thinks he loves Freddie, but he’s utilizing that “love” to mask his true feelings for Guillermo. He wants to be with Freddie as it’s a means of being with Guillermo, albeit vicariously.
NANDOR: Could I steal Freddie from Guillermo? Of course. But that would be cruel. And, also, sloppy seconds.
Of course, this could be wishful thinking, but nothing carried out on What We Do in the Shadows is a byproduct of chance. Everything has meaning, and it’s not unusual to witness the fruits of the writers’ labor pay off at a later date.
Will we ever see Nandor finally confront his feelings for Guillermo? Perhaps, especially after the end of the episode when he parts ways with “his” Freddie and, in turn, Marwa for the sake of Guillermo. Hey, he’s a centuries-old vampire — he can’t change overnight.
Regardless, What We Do in the Shadows allows Guillén the space to grow, play, and showcase his incredible versatility as a performer. Guillermo is the beating heart of this show, not because he’s the only human among this cast of characters, but because his genuine compassion and depth of feeling keep the series grounded.
NADJA: F*ck them kids. This is a scary, sexy nightclub for adults.
“Freddie” sets the stage for what could be a propulsive, chaotic season finale for Nandermo. Here’s hoping it bears fruit in the best way.
It’s easy to write an essay on Nandermo and how that relationship has ebbed and flowed over this season alone, but we must pay homage to the queen of comedy, Natasia Demetriou. She’s always a force to be reckoned with, but she kills it in “Freddie.” From her blood-drunk acting and laugh-inducing slapstick to her pitch-perfect comedic timing, Demetriou holds her own in a cast of men.
Season 4 gives Nadja room to find herself separately from Laszlo, and as adorable as their relationship is, it’s lovely to see her flourish without him. Demetriou injects Nadja with such verve, fire, and wit. On another note, we need to see the rest of that song-and-dance number she did while plastered.
Overall, “Freddie” is a solid outing for What We Do in the Shadows, brimming with humor, heartbreak, and plenty of bloody good fun. It aptly sets the stage for next week’s season finale. Here’s hoping teenage Colin Robinson won’t dance on it.
Stray Observations:
- The montage of Nandor/Freddie and Guillermo/Freddie features a shot of NYC from at least 11 years ago. The Camelot Starz series with Eva Green came out in 2011. That makes the use of this footage all the funnier.
- Did What We Do in the Shadows bless us with a mini Stath Lets Flats reunion? You bet they did. Now, if only Al Roberts and Natasia Demetriou had at least one scene together. Better yet, get Natasia’s brother, Jamie, to appear on the show as Stath but in vampire form.
- We need a whole reel of Matt Berry rattling off famous vampire artists. It’s comedy gold, and those names belong in the Wordplay Hall of Fame.
- Is there anything more hilarious than inebriated Nadja? Demetriou should win an Emmy for her blood-drunk acting alone.
- Including indie creatives Jim Jarmusch, Sofia Coppola, and Thomas Mars is a stroke of genius. The show brilliantly executes that running gag with Jarmusch believing “The Celebrity Special” is elaborate moviemaking magic. Not even Coppola getting decapitated is enough evidence to prove it’s all real. We’ve become so desensitized to decapitations as a society!
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 Tuesdays at 10/9c on FX, with next-day streaming on Hulu.
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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.