Unveiling the Secrets of 'What We Do in the Shadows' Season 5: Guillermo's Epic Journey and Deceptive Vampires

What We Do in the Shadows season 5 introduces new elements to the vampire world. Guillermo's decision to seek vampire transformation from someone else causes disruption in his household, leaving Nandor feeling hurt. Meanwhile, Colin Robinson finds himself embroiled in politics and faces a threat from a secret organization. To add to the chaos, Nadja explores her origins much to Laszlo's displeasure. With the return of Kayvan Novak, Natasia Demetriou, Matt Berry, Harvey Guillén, and Mark Proksch, along with Kristen Schaal's promotion to a series regular, the ensemble cast promises an emotional and hilarious experience. This new chapter takes the hit horror-comedy show on an exciting and unpredictable journey.

Harvey Guillén & Kristen Schaal Talk What We Do in the Shadows Season 5

Screen Rant: Kristen, how did you feel when you learned that you were being promoted to a regular cast member this season? It must have been exciting to see yourself in a more prominent role, including being featured in the opening credits, especially after making recurring appearances before.

Kristen Schaal expressed her excitement upon discovering her inclusion in the opening credits of the show. Despite not having a deal for season 6, she hopes that her character, The Guide, will not be killed off. Harvey Guillén jokes that being part of the credits gives her leverage and protection.

Kristen Schaal: [Laughs] Grant, I really admire this show, I'm a huge fan, and I'm overjoyed to be included in the opening credits. It's like a dream come true.

The characters are fantastic, like The Guide, and Gizmo here is always a joy to watch. This season, in particular, his storyline has been captivating. Harvey, how did you feel when you first read the scripts and realized you were finally going to move in the direction Guillermo had been wanting, but not quite reaching that point yet?

Harvey Guillén expressed his excitement about the first day of shooting for the new season, which included the transformation process. The seamless continuation from the previous season made it feel like no time had passed. However, Guillermo's life is never simple, as his years of servitude to his master have shown. This is where the comedy stems from - Guillermo is a human just trying to live his best life, but things never go as he wants.

In addition to the comedic moments, this season also brings some emotional scenes for Guillermo. It takes viewers on a roller coaster of emotions, including a Pride episode where Guillermo embraces his true self. Throughout the season, Guillermo experiences various ups and downs in his day-to-day life, which overall creates an exciting and fulfilling journey.

The scene featuring you and the actor playing Derek slipping and sliding everywhere is truly mind-blowing. How did it feel to film that and deal with all the blood in comparison to previous seasons?

Harvey Guillén revealed that although he is typically accustomed to being covered in a little bit of blood while collecting victims for Nandor and the vampire gang, this particular experience was unlike any other. The amount of blood involved was unprecedented, with approximately 15 minutes of non-stop gushing blood contained in a tank. With the knowledge that this was a carefully planned setup, precautions had to be taken to avoid any mishaps. Consequently, the floor, ceiling, and entire back room of the convenience store had to be meticulously cleaned.

Describing a memorable moment during filming, Guillén recounted an improvisation that involved gliding on the blood alongside his co-star Chris Sandiford, who played Derek. Their synchronized movements resembled those of classic black-and-white film duos such as Abbott and Costello, evoking a sense of nostalgia. This physical comedy element added an enjoyable aspect to the scene.

We often have the opportunity to do it on the show, but in that particular scene, we had the chance to engage in physical comedy. Witnessing his transformation through his eyes was an incredibly surreal experience because he has been requesting this for five seasons, repeatedly. It felt like a significant breakthrough, and I was taken aback by it. I am genuinely enthusiastic for everyone to watch the series.

Kristen Schaal: How did it feel wearing those teeth?

Harvey Guillén: I greatly admire you and the other vampires for the challenges you faced. Personally, I find it difficult due to the limitations of my mouth size. It certainly alters the way we speak and adds a slight lisp.

Kristen Schaal: Absolutely. And if you already have a lisp... I thought you did well, it suited you since it was your first time trying out fangs. [Laughs]

Harvey Guillén: The initial attempt to mold my teeth for the show didn't go smoothly. Unfortunately, the first mold got damaged during the process and couldn't be used. I had to go back to the special effects department for them to recreate the mold, which was a quick turnaround. The second attempt also didn't work, adding to my surprise and frustration. It aligned perfectly with Guillermo's storyline, where nothing comes easy. It helped me get into the mindset of my character, so I embraced the challenge.

Witnessing Guillermo undergo his captivating transformation is a truly enjoyable experience. However, equally captivating is witnessing The Guide's steadfast determination to truly become a part of this unique family. It evokes a mix of amusement and compassion when she goes to great lengths to convince these vampires that she is one of them. Kristen, how does it feel for you to portray these scenes where you interact with your co-stars and convey the complex emotions that The Guide experiences?

Kristen Schaal: It requires a great deal of effort. [Laughs] It's always disheartening to portray a character who is unwanted or dismissed. There are times when I go home feeling a little down, only to realize that it's because I've been subtly rejected for 12-14 hours. I remind myself that it's all make-believe and shake it off. However, playing The Guide's role is enjoyable and relatable to many, including myself. It reflects the desire to be accepted by a group that isn't necessarily receptive.

I believe many people can relate to trying to fit into a social group at school or work where they aren't accepted. It consumes a lot of energy and is incredibly challenging, especially when circumstances don't offer other options. It's a common and unfortunate social experience, despite society's mantra of "being kind" and "being friendly." I'm grateful that this story is being told, as it may bring some comfort to those who feel isolated. However, it's important not to give up like The Guide does.

The Pride storyline, in particular, is something I felt a great sense of pride in witnessing come to life. What were your thoughts when you first read the script for that? And did you play a role behind the scenes in ensuring that the representation felt authentic?

Harvey Guillén: Not particularly. In the past, I have assisted in writing some scenes in Spanish with my family members, helping them in that way. So, I have written scenes in Spanish with dialogue involving my mom on the show, but not for the Pride episode. Our intention was simply to have Guillermo attend the Pride event and parade, and I believe the writers room did an excellent job in portraying that.

At one point, there were discussions about the possibility of involving different drag personalities in the fun, without revealing too much. It was enjoyable to be part of those conversations because I am friends with some incredibly talented drag queens, and it would have been fantastic to have all of them participate. However, that remains a separate dream and show. Nevertheless, it was great to discuss the idea of incorporating performers like Trixie, Katya, and Jinx, who are all phenomenal.

The timing felt perfect in terms of showcasing that drag is not a crime, but rather an integral part of gay and queer culture. It's entertaining, enjoyable, and beautiful. Fortunately, we were able to seamlessly blend many elements of queer culture into our already joyous comedy, adding a touch of queerness that was the perfect finishing touch.

How is a lot of the filming done, as far as scripts go? Because as a mockumentary, you want it to feel as natural as possible.

Kristen Schaal believes that great acting is the key to making written content appear natural. However, she quickly jokes that she is actually referring to the outstanding quality of the writing itself. The show's writers skillfully capture every character's voice, making it effortless for the actors to deliver the lines. While they do have the opportunity to improvise and explore during additional takes, Kristen finds it exciting to have jokes written specifically for her. She contrasts this with her experience on other shows where she is expected to come up with something funny on the spot, which can be challenging. Being a part of this show has been a dream for her, as the jokes are consistently humorous and she is allowed to expand on them. Kristen acknowledges that all of the comedic actors on the show are incredibly talented, working hand in hand with writers who truly understand the essence of their characters. This collaboration results in a truly exceptional show. With that, she playfully passes the conversation over to Harvey, bidding goodbye with a laugh.

Harvey Guillén: Goodbye! [laughs] I completely agree with everything you said. We are extremely fortunate to be part of the show and work with such a talented team of writers who are exceptionally creative. We are grateful for the opportunity to have a dedicated writers' room because we understand the significance of their words.

Kristen Schaal: It's interesting to note that they have their own room and sometimes visit the set. It's been a delightful experience! [laughs]

Harvey Guillén: It's a wonderful experience to have the freedom to collaborate in such a way. We start with a scripted version and then have the opportunity to do a "funsies" take, where we stay within the same world but have some room to tweak the wording or add a different joke. Having this level of freedom is quite rare, especially on a scripted series. It's not the norm to be able to visit other sets and play around with improvisation. So, we're incredibly fortunate to work on a show that encourages and supports us in this way.

About What We Do in the Shadows Season 5

In the fifth season of What We Do in the Shadows, Nandor notices a distance growing between him and his familiar, Guillermo. Guillermo is spending more time with Laszlo, who uses his skills as a gentleman scientist to unravel the mystery behind Guillermo's unusual and secret changes. Nadja, plagued by an undiagnosed supernatural hex, reunites with a family from her past. Colin, following in the footsteps of energy vampires before him, enters the world of politics by running for office. Meanwhile, The Guide, a newcomer to the group, tries to find her place among the tightly-knit vampire roommates who have known each other for centuries.

Stay tuned for our upcoming interview with Kayvan Novak, Natasia Demetriou, and Mark Proksch.

Catch the latest episodes of What We Do in the Shadows season 5 every Thursday at 10 p.m. EST on FX, with the episodes becoming available on Hulu the next day.

Source: Screen Rant Plus