Spoiler Warning: What We Do in the Shadows Season Three
The fate of Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) in the finale of What We Do in the Shadows season three was certainly an unexpected twist. Just when we thought things had taken a fatal turn for the energy vampire on his one-hundredth birthday, it turns out he’s been reborn as an infant version of himself, literally crawling his way from his corpse’s chest. It’s a zany concept that could only work well in a show as hilarious as What We Do in the Shadows.
Part of the fun in bringing an energy vampire (also known as a psychic vampire) to life on screen is that there isn’t much information to be found about them. They’ve had their parts to play in folk tales and legends, but, unlike their more popular blood-sucking cousins, they don’t have a rich amount of surviving text or lore to fall back on. In the case of a writer, this could prove either a royal pain or a dream come true. It seems to definitely be the latter for writers on What We Do in the Shadows. After all, innovation and creativity often spring from limitations.
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In an interview with Newsweek, What We Do in the Shadows’ executive producer Sam Johnson said:
This is where the idea of rebirth as a baby came in. From this point, the writing team could pretty much go anywhere, and there are a lot of points to consider. How do energy vampires behave when they are babies? How might their powers express themselves, especially when we’ve already seen what Colin can do when he drains enough energy. Are energy vampire babies capable of speech faster than human babies? Are we going to hear Mark Proksch’s voice coming out of a baby’s mouth? That would certainly be something else. It will undoubtedly be an amusing process to see just how creative the writers can get with Colin’s condition from here on out.
Now, of course, we are left to speculate just how Colin’s story is meant to continue and what role he might serve in season four and beyond.
In a Way, Colin Will Still Be Colin
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Everybody’s favorite energy-sapping roommate has gone through changes over the course of the series, from a man who is just trying to be as annoying as possible to somebody who has found his place within the larger group. Reflecting on Colin’s character arc as a whole, Mark Proksch told Newsweek:
So, where do you go after hitting that character development sweet spot? And where better to go in a show like What We Do in the Shadows than with a hilariously appropriate twist?
Personality developments or not, Colin is still an energy vampire and can still gain power from the emotions of others. Being turned into a baby doesn’t really change that. In fact, that makes his abilities even more apparent. Showrunner Sam Johnson agrees (as would any parent if asked), explaining to Newsweek that there really isn’t anything more energy-draining than a baby. So, even if Colin is limited in season four to crying and making a mess of himself, funnily enough, he’ll still be Colin. (And we are definitely hoping for lots of time spent with Laszlo and his baby-raising woes.)
Colin and Laszlo Could Be Anchoring Points for the Series
Outside of characters turning into babies, season three introduced fans to new developments for all of our favorite characters. Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) is now headed off to London to become a more senior member of the vampiric counsel. Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) is (involuntarily) going with her to keep an eye on her, and Nandor (Kayvan Novak) has departed Staten Island to explore the world. It is both an exciting and bittersweet season finale for characters and fans alike, as can be expected whenever the people we’ve come to care for move forward into the newest chapter of their lives.
Before the reveal at the end of season three, it looked like Laszlo (Matt Berry) would be going to London with Nadja. However, Colin’s rebirth means that somebody has to stay behind and keep an eye on him and that somebody is Laszlo. It is another delightful twist and a clever way for the writers to maintain an anchoring point to the show’s origins. While Nadja, Nandor, and Guillermo will be off on their adventures around the globe, we will always have a reason to return to Staten Island. So, even though things have still taken a sudden turn in a new direction for Laszlo and Colin, at least we still have the old homestead to remind us of seasons past.
