Collaboration (What We Do in the Shadows)
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Episode 8
| "Collaboration" | |
|---|---|
| What We Do in the Shadows episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 8 |
| Directed by | Yana Gorskaya |
| Written by | Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil |
| Cinematography by | DJ Stipsen |
| Editing by |
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| Production code | XWS02008 |
| Original air date | May 27, 2020 |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
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"Collaboration" is the eighth episode of the second season of the American mockumentary comedy horror television series What We Do in the Shadows, set in the franchise of the same name. It is the eighteenth overall episode of the series and was written by Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil, and directed by Yana Gorskaya. It was released on FX on May 27, 2020.
The series is set in Staten Island, New York City. Like the 2014 film, the series follows the lives of vampires in the city. These consist of three vampires, Nandor, Laszlo, and Nadja. They live alongside Colin Robinson, an energy vampire; and Guillermo, Nandor's familiar. The series explores the absurdity and misfortunes experienced by the vampires. In the episode, Guillermo quits his position as familiar after not feeling appreciated, while Laszlo discovers a song he wrote has been plagiarized.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.443 million household viewers and gained a 0.17 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received positive reviews from critics, who praised the humor, musical numbers and Guillermo's storyline. The episode was nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards.
While attacking a jogger, Laszlo (Matt Berry) overhears a passing car with "Come On Eileen" playing in the radio. He tells the vampires that he composed the song in 1852, along with "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow". The vampires are also visited by Benjy Everett (Jack O'Connell), who is a familiar of Nandor (Kayvan Novak) and will be turned into a vampire, frustrating Guillermo (Harvey Guillén).
Guillermo accompanies Benjy to a familiars meeting, where he runs into an old friend, Celeste (Greta Lee). Celeste has been turned into a vampire, and she has decided to turn all her familiars within eight months to build a community. She offers him the same treatment, but he would need to stop serving Nandor. He confronts Nandor over his hesitation in making him a vampire, to which Nandor says he can leave and become a servant to Celeste. Guillermo quits his position and moves in with Celeste, who gives him better treatment than Nandor. Laszlo and Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) go to a comedy club to perform their songs, all of which are poorly received. However, they win the crowd with "The Seafaring Song", which is their version of "Kokomo". They finish their act by killing some of the crowd.
With Benjy not up to the tasks of a familiar, Nandor visits Guillermo, but he reiterates he is happy with his new environment. Nevertheless, Guillermo and other familiars start feeling frustrated that Celeste is not keeping her part of her agreement in turning them into vampires. Celeste is then called by her Master, revealing she is not a vampire. As the Master and her group attack the familiars, Guillermo flees. He is approached by Nandor, who expresses that he still wants him back. Guillermo accepts to return, but wants to feel respected and appreciated. Nandor agrees to his terms, promising that he will eventually turn him into a vampire. Later, they drop Benjy on a gas station, after having turned him into a vampire.
Production
Development
In April 2020, FX confirmed that the eighth episode of the season would be titled "Collaboration", and that it would be written by Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil, and directed by Yana Gorskaya. This was Johnson's first writing credit, Marcil's first writing credit, and Gorskaya's second directing credit.[1]