What We Do in the Shadows Season 4 Episode 10 Review: Sunrise, Sunset
What We Do in the Shadows Season 4 Episode 10, “Sunrise, Sunset,” closes out the season with two significant plot twists, Nadja’s arsonist era, and Matt Berry serenading us with his lovely voice. What more could one want?
Is it a perfect season finale? Not by any stretch. It’s nigh on impossible to top the high-stakes narrative from last season’s finale or even the Season 2 closer. That said, “Sunrise, Sunset” is damn entertaining, and the performances are top-tier. Plus, the song choice for the episode title is so apt, given Colin Robinson’s inexplicable growth spurt.
COLIN ROBINSON: You can’t tell me why I grew a foot and a half overnight like a human radish.
It’s been a delight watching Laszlo and not-baby Colin Robinson’s relationship evolve through Season 4. We saw Laszlo display a softer, less abrasive facet of his personality while CR physically developed from a baby to an adult in 10 episodes.
Nobody else could portray Laszlo Cravensworth like Matt Berry. His immaculate line deliveries are second to none. He could read the nutritional facts on a cereal box, and it would be hilarious. Berry also injects Laszlo with bottomless depth in “Sunrise, Sunset,” showing us how much Colin Robinson means to him without explicitly saying it. It’s gut-wrenching.
Meanwhile, Mark Proksch makes for a hysterical teenager, humorously capturing the moody, turbulent waters of adolescence, from creating mix CDs (a lost art form in today’s streaming age) for his crush and refusing to remove his headphones when someone’s speaking to him to having unexpected emotional outbursts and vehement declarations of hatred for his superiors.
LASZLO: If I’d have been told when I was your age that I’d be burdened with rugged good looks, a rapier wit, and a thick c**k, I, too, would have protested, but, uh, them’s the breaks.
Laszlo finally telling Colin Robinson he’s an energy vampire mimics every parent’s discussion of “the birds and the bees.” However, we can confidently say Laszlo wouldn’t deliver a PG version of that topic.
Nandor and Guillermo’s relationship takes a frustrating turn in the Season 4 finale, as the former seems to forget the latter exists. Nandermo doesn’t get much screen time in “Sunrise, Sunset,” and perhaps it’s for the best, considering where that narrative might go. It’ll be interesting to see how Nandor reacts to Guillermo as a vampire.
Nandor is reluctant to make our Gizmo a vamp — not because he doesn’t wish to be with him but because Nandor doesn’t want Guillermo to experience the incessant loneliness that accompanies immortality. Or Nandor fears it might be a mistake down the road. Regardless, perhaps their bond will reach new heights after Derek turns Guillermo. One can hope!
NADJA: The money from our sponsorships was dependent on total listeners. We made Guillermo listen 11 times and made 0.6 cents.
While “Sunrise, Sunset” falters somewhat from slow pacing, the last 10 minutes are thrilling, presenting an intriguing “origin story” for Colin Robinson and ending on that cliffhanger. A resolute Guillermo armed with thousands of dollars and a demand for immortality is not to be trifled with.
This finale boasts much of what we fans love: sharp-as-a-fang humor, performances you can sink your teeth into, ethereal Gothic sets fit for vampire royalty (Nadja’s club is to die for), and a few supernatural twists. Overall, Season 4 is a treat, delivering the goods while experimenting with different character dynamics and exploring new territory for our core group.
It gets four BAAATS! May Season 5 be even battier, brimming with vampiric hijinks, energy vamp tomfoolery, Nandermo (more than the occasional furtive glance), Nadja claiming her power, and Laszlo telling everyone to f*ck off because he’s better than them.
Stray Observations:
- The Powers That Be allow Matt Berry to sing in this episode; for that, friends, we are blessed. His performance of “Sunrise, Sunset” does not disappoint, nor does the ensemble version of it with the cast at the end of the episode. Brava.
- Hands down, the opening credits for this outing are the best in the show thus far. It feels like a paternal love letter from Laszlo to Colin Robinson, especially with their cute father-son photos dispersed throughout. The “You’re Dead” riff to cap them off is golden.
- Nadja would send the wraiths to Universal Orlando. Here’s hoping they don’t take all the Minions stuff too personally.
- On another Nadja-related note, the show should release a short podcast series featuring Natasia Demetriou interviewing celebrities as Nadja. Potential promo for Season 5, anyone? If the producers go through with this, don’t forget to send a smattering of compensation to yours truly.
- Watching Laszlo’s heart break in real-time when Colin Robinson claims he doesn’t recall their time together feels like What We Do in the Shadows collectively ripped out our hearts and stomped on them with unnecessary ferocity.
- Would it be so bad if Nandor and Guillermo read books together for all eternity? Now that the latter might finally become a vampire…
- When in doubt, always listen to Seanie (said in Laszlo’s voice).
- Nadja and Laszlo’s matching dyed hair is beyond adorable. Even when they’re not together, they’re still perpetually linked by their colored tresses.
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 Season 4 is now 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.