What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 Episode 9 Review: Come Out and Play

What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 Episode 9, “Come Out and Play,” is the show’s best episode of the season thus far, featuring plenty of action, humor, and heart. The ensemble cast also fires on all comedic cylinders. It’s a welcome uptick (along with last week’s fare) in a somewhat rocky final season. Of course, I’d be remiss if I omitted mention of that cameo. What a wonderfully unexpected moment. 

The Vamily Goes on the Run 

“Come Out and Play” raises the stakes (narrative, not wooden) significantly, if only for the episode. It’s been a while since we’ve felt stakes like this on this show. While we know our favorite Staten Island vampires will survive (it would be silly to kill them off with only two episodes left), it’s a breath of fresh air to get a dose of tension to break up some of the levity. 

Action-wise, the outing cranks it up to an 11, at least by What We Do in the Shadows‘ standards. The series finally brings Guillermo’s expert combat skills and Van Helsing DNA back into the mix. Even better, it introduces his cousin Miguel to the world of vampires, and the two partake in a delightful fight sequence in a coffee shop. 

It’s rare to see the vamps admit they need Guillermo, so “Come Out and Play” beautifully subverts that norm. Sure, it’s not the first time the vampires have acknowledged Guillermo’s value, but this is only the second time they’ve all bore witness to his might as a group. The episode deftly depicts Guillermo’s growth and journey from meek, mild familiar to emboldened vampire hunter (and junior analyst). Here’s hoping this reentry into the hunter world indicates where Guillermo will end up at the series’ conclusion. 

Laszlo and Nadja and Nandor and The Guide

Matt Berry is an international treasure. Someone had to say it; it might as well be me. He knows how to tug at the heartstrings and elicit laughter. In “Come Out and Play,” Berry delivers an understated, natural performance. He’s never over the top. When Laszlo explains that he trained his monster to protect Nadja because he couldn’t live without her, you believe him. 

What We Do in the Shadows finally puts the Nandor/The Guide storyline to bed in “Come Out and Play.” Not only that, but the writers tackle it in a way that makes sense. It also organically plays into Nandor’s overarching plot — as a warlord, he’s more interested in the hunt, in the act of conquering, than the victory. In retrospect, this applies to his past romances. It’s now abundantly clear that his feelings for The Guide were meant to unlock the next phase of his development. 

“Come Out and Play” fleshes out more of this universe’s fascinating mythos by introducing multiple vampire factions. Even if it’s for more comedic purposes, it’s always fun learning more about this world. It’s enough to make one long for a spinoff of sorts … perhaps with The Baron and The Sire? 

Overall, this outing taps into what we love most about this series, from the unique action scenes and biting humor to the heartfelt beats and delightful character dynamics. And if heads start popping like Victoria Neuman’s off-screen somewhere, well, that’s just the cherry on top of the bloody sundae (RIP, Jerry and that random vampire dude). 

Stray Observations: 

• “Vamily” will definitely become a thing. Probably more so than “vampuccino.” 
• Fun fact (well, fun to me): the date on the camera feed during the subway station dance scene says “October 27,” my birthday. 
• Nadja and Laszlo are the epitome of couple goals. If Laszlo called me his “gruesome girl,” I’d legitimately melt like the Wicked Witch of the West. 
• I love that Alexander Skarsgård’s cameo feels like a full-circle moment, given his former costar Evan Rachel Wood’s appearance in Season 1. The True Blood vampires are canon in this universe. Imagine if Stephen Moyer was brooding in the corner while The Baron questioned Alex…
• Natasia Demetriou is such a badass for doing all this while pregnant. 
• Even actor and writer vampires must pay their dues by working as baristas. They’re not immune to the stereotypes! 
• The narrative in “Come Out and Play” is an homage to 1979’s The Warriors. Colin Robinson even refers to one of the vampire factions as “The Warriors” before Cravensworth’s Monster kills Jerry. 

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 Mondays at 10/9c on FX, with next-day streaming on Hulu. 

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