Resurrection (What We Do in the Shadows)

Last updated
"Resurrection"
What We Do in the Shadows episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 1
Directed by Kyle Newacheck
Written byMaika Sawyer
Produced byHarvey Gorenstein
Cinematography byDJ Stipsen
Editing by
Production codeXWS02001
Original air dateApril 15, 2020 (2020-04-15)
Running time23 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Ancestry"
Next 
"Ghosts"

"Resurrection" is the first 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 eleventh overall episode of the series and was written by consulting producer Marika Sawyer, and directed by producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on April 15, 2020, airing back-to-back with the follow-up episode, "Ghosts".

Contents

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, Laszlo and Nadja find a familiar, Topher, who now works as a servant for them. When he dies, they ask a necromancer to revive him.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.537 million household viewers and gained a 0.22 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the humor, character development and performances, particularly guest star Haley Joel Osment.

Plot

During the summer, Laszlo (Matt Berry) and Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) have found many familiars, all of which die under unfortunate circumstances. Unbeknownst to the vampires, members of the Vampiric Council have tried to kill them for the Baron's death, all of which are killed by Guillermo (Harvey Guillén). Guillermo has not revealed this to Nandor (Kayvan Novak), as he fears he will kill him.

After many deaths, Laszlo and Nandor have finally found their latest familiar, Topher (Haley Joel Osment). While they view him as a dedicated servant, he actually is a slacker who only works when they are nearby. He also privately shares with Guillermo that he is not interested in becoming a vampire, frustrating Guillermo. While Guillermo scolds him outside for his reckless behavior, Topher accidentally touches the koi pond, which was electrocuted due to a heater, dying immediately. Refusing to abandon their familiar, Nadja and Laszlo bring the corpse with Wallace (Benedict Wong), a necromancer. Wallace performs a ritual and claims that Topher will be resurrected the following day.

Topher returns to life, but as an aggressive zombie, although the vampires do not view him as such. As the sole mortal in the house, Guillermo is often chased by Topher. Despite his attempts at fending him off, Topher still does not die and tries to attack Guillermo. Topher almost kills Guillermo by drowning him on the koi pond, until Nandor stops him. They take Topher back to Wallace, who agrees to keep him free of charge, and allows them to get a free license plate key chain from the entrance. He then locks Topher in the basement, which turns out to be a workshop filled with zombies working on key chains.

Production

Development

In March 2020, FX confirmed that the first episode of the season would be titled "Resurrection", and that it would be written by consulting producer Marika Sawyer, and directed by producer Kyle Newacheck. This was Sawyer's second writing credit, and Newacheck's first directing credit. [1]

Casting

In February 2020, it was reported that Haley Joel Osment would guest star in the premiere. [2] The episode also included a guest appearance by Benedict Wong as Wallace, a necromancer. [3]

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast, "Resurrection" was seen by an estimated 0.537 million household viewers with a 0.22 in the 18-49 demographics. This means that 0.22 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. [4] This was a 25% increase in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 0.427 million household viewers with a 0.17 in the 18-49 demographics. [5]

With DVR factored in, the episode was watched by 1.08 million viewers with a 0.4 in the 18-49 demographics. [6]

Critical reviews

"Resurrection" received critical acclaim. Katie Rife of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "A" grade and wrote, "This episode was more modest in its ambitions than that season-one highlight, but I found its writing and performances to be just as excellent. If this season follows the same pattern as the last one, Guillermo's destiny should function as a loose through line in the same way the Baron's death did in season one. He does seem to be sprouting a little bit of a backbone; perhaps the Summer of Guillermo is still to come." [7]

Tony Sokol of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "'Resurrection' is a great way to bring the vampires back for What We Do in the Shadows season 2. It is how all vampires are born, and subtly nudges the mythology of the undead past the dreaded garlic of TV cancellations. The episode moves very quickly as the pace of the laughs remains as relentless as Nandor." [8] Greg Wheeler of The Review Geek gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "With some hilarious scenes involving the necromancer and a lot of well written jokes peppered throughout, What We Do In The Shadows picks up where it left off last season and continues to deliver the same style of humour alongside its imaginative stories. With a new arc for Guillermo to follow and lots of potential for the season ahead, Shadows bows out it first episode on a high." [9]

Related Research Articles

"Animal Control" is the fifth episode of the first season of the American mockumentary comedy horror television series What We Do in the Shadows, set in the franchise of the same name. The episode was written by Duncan Sarkies, and directed by Jackie van Beek. It was released on FX on April 24, 2019.

"Citizenship" is the eighth episode of the first season of the American mockumentary comedy horror television series What We Do in the Shadows, set in the franchise of the same name. The episode was written by co-executive producer Stefani Robinson, and directed by Jason Woliner. It was released on FX on May 15, 2019.

"Ancestry" is the tenth episode and season finale of the first season of the American mockumentary comedy horror television series What We Do in the Shadows, set in the franchise of the same name. The episode was written by series creator Jemaine Clement, co-executive producer Stefani Robinson, co-executive producer Tom Scharpling, and executive producer Paul Simms, and directed by executive producer Taika Waititi. It was released on FX on May 29, 2019.

"Ghosts" is the second 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 twelfth overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Paul Simms, and directed by producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on April 15, 2020, airing back-to-back with the previous episode, "Resurrection".

"Brain Scramblies" is the third 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 thirteenth overall episode of the series and was written by Jake Bender and Zach Dunn, and directed by producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on April 22, 2020.

"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.

"Witches" is the ninth 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 nineteenth overall episode of the series and was written by William Meny, and directed by producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on June 3, 2020.

"Nouveau Théâtre des Vampires" is the tenth episode and season finale 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 twentieth overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Sam Johnson, executive producer Stefani Robinson, and executive producer Paul Simms, and directed by producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on June 10, 2020.

"The Prisoner" is the first episode of the third 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 21st overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Paul Simms, and directed by co-executive producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on September 2, 2021, airing back-to-back with the follow-up episode, "The Cloak of Duplication".

"Gail" is the third episode of the third 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 23rd overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Marika Sawyer, and directed by co-executive producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on September 9, 2021.

"The Chamber of Judgement" is the fifth episode of the third 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 25th overall episode of the series and was written by William Meny, and directed by co-executive producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on September 23, 2021.

"Reunited" is the first episode of the fourth 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 31st overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Stefani Robinson and executive producer Paul Simms, and directed by co-executive producer Yana Gorskaya. It was released on FX on July 12, 2022, airing back-to-back with the follow-up episode, "The Lamp".

"The Grand Opening" is the third episode of the fourth 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 33rd overall episode of the series and was written by Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil, and directed by co-executive producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on July 19, 2022.

"Private School" is the fifth episode of the fourth 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 35th overall episode of the series and was written by consulting producer Ayo Edebiri and co-producer Shana Gohd, and directed by co-executive producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on August 2, 2022.

"Pine Barrens" is the seventh episode of the fourth 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 37th overall episode of the series and was written by producer Sarah Naftalis, and directed by co-executive producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on August 16, 2022.

"Sunrise, Sunset" is the tenth episode and season finale of the fourth 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 40th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Paul Simms, and directed by co-executive producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on September 6, 2022.

"A Night Out with the Guys" is the second episode of the fifth 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 42nd overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Paul Simms, and directed by co-executive producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on July 13, 2023, airing back-to-back with the previous episode, "The Mall".

"Hybrid Creatures" is the seventh episode of the fifth 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 47th overall episode of the series and was written by executive story editors Jeremy Levick and Rajat Suresh, and directed by co-executive producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on August 17, 2023.

"A Weekend at Morrigan Manor" is the ninth episode of the fifth 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 49th overall episode of the series and was written by producer William Meny and executive producer Paul Simms, and directed by co-executive producer Kyle Newacheck. It was released on FX on August 31, 2023, airing back-to-back with the follow-up episode "Exit Interview".

"Exit Interview" is the tenth episode and season finale of the fifth 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 50th overall episode of the series and was written by producer Jake Bender, producer Zach Dunn, executive producer Sam Johnson, supervising producer Sarah Naftalis and executive producer Paul Simms, and directed by Tig Fong. It was released on FX on August 31, 2023, airing back-to-back with the previous episode "A Weekend at Morrigan Manor".

References

  1. "(#201/203) "Resurrection / Ghosts"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  2. Cordero, Rosy (February 18, 2020). "Haley Joel Osment becomes undead in first look at FX's What We Do in the Shadows". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  3. Anderton, Joe (April 16, 2020). "Avengers: Endgame star makes surprise appearance in season 2 premiere of What We Do In The Shadows". Digital Spy . Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  4. Metcalf, Mitch (April 16, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.15.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  5. Metcalf, Mitch (May 30, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.29.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  6. Pucci, Douglas (April 24, 2020). "Live+3 Weekly Ratings: ESPN Documentary 'The Last Dance' as Runner-Up in Raw Adults 18–49 Boosts". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  7. Rife, Katie (April 15, 2020). "What We Do In The Shadows returns with horny ghosts and a pissed-off zombie". The A.V. Club . Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  8. Sokol, Tony (April 15, 2020). "What We Do in the Shadows Season 2 Episode 1 Review: Resurrection". Den of Geek . Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  9. Wheeler, Greg (April 18, 2020). "What We Do in the Shadows – Season 2 Episode 1 Recap & Review". The Review Geek. Retrieved June 28, 2023.