External links
| Film |
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| Television |
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| "The Prisoner" | |
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| What We Do in the Shadows episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Kyle Newacheck |
| Written by | Paul Simms |
| Produced by | Derek S. Rappaport |
| Cinematography by | DJ Stipsen |
| Editing by |
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| Production code | XWS03001 |
| Original air date | September 2, 2021 |
| Running time | 24 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
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"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".
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, the vampires debate on what to do with Guillermo, just as they receive important news.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.498 million household viewers and gained a 0.18 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received extremely positive reviews from critics, who praised the new status quo, potential storylines and humor.
29 days after the massacre at the theater, the vampires are still unsure on what to do with Guillermo (Harvey Guillén). Nandor (Kayvan Novak) believes they could use him to protect themselves, but Laszlo (Matt Berry) and Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) are convinced that he will kill them given the chance. Guillermo has been kept in a cage in the basement, only being provided raw chicken to eat. Unbeknownst to them, Guillermo can easily leave his cage to perform his household duties.
Having installed cameras, Guillermo leaves the basement when a ghost arrives at the house. The ghost reveals itself to be The Guide (Kristen Schaal), who claims that she has been trying to contact the vampires. She is a messenger from the Supreme Worldwide Vampiric Council, which is the leader among the councils. She shows them a video, where Viago (Taika Waititi) explains that Guillermo killed almost 70% of the vampires in the area. Therefore, he has appointed Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) to serve as leaders of the Vampiric Council of the Eastern Seaboard of the New World.
The vampires then decide to integrate Guillermo in their team, where he will serve as their bodyguard. To make sure he won't kill them, they perform a dangerous four-way hynopsis on Guillermo. They perform it, unaware that hynopsis stopped working for Guillermo a long time ago. They then visit the headquarters, where they are astounded to find the Master's Throne. She informs them that while they are all leaders, only one of them can be the Supreme Leader. The vampires then start questioning who will be in charge, as Colin Robinson tries to seize the throne.
In August 2021, FX confirmed that the first episode of the season would be titled "The Prisoner", and that it would be written by executive producer Paul Simms, and directed by co-executive producer Kyle Newacheck. This was Simms' fifth writing credit, and Newacheck's sixth directing credit. [1]
In its original American broadcast, "The Prisoner" was seen by an estimated 0.498 million household viewers with a 0.18 in the 18-49 demographics. This means that 0.18 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. [2] This was a 22% increase in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 0.406 million household viewers with a 0.17 in the 18-49 demographics. [3]
"The Prisoner" received extremely positive reviews from critics. Katie Rife of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "A–" grade and wrote, "What We Do In The Shadows successfully kept its momentum going with a focused, character-driven arc in its second season, and while the characters are still jockeying for power in these first two episodes of season three, there’s a relaxed confidence to the writing and performances that comes with not just living up to expectations, but exceeding them." [4]
Tony Sokol of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "'The Prisoner,' which was written by Paul Simms and directed by Kyle Newacheck, is a fast-moving opener to what looks to be a brisk season of transitions. Guillermo remains vertical but gets a lateral promotion. Three of the four vampires get to vie for local power, and one gets to spend more time in the potting shed." [5] Greg Wheeler of The Review Geek gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "This series has always been smartly written and that much is especially evident here, with jokes that land perfectly. The whole Colin Robinson poop bucket joke is a little drawn out though, if we're being overly critical, but it's a minor point in what’s otherwise a very good opening chapter." [6]
Melody McCune of Telltale TV gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "'The Prisoner' continues to maintain the momentum established in the Season 2 finale. What We Do in the Shadows boasts one of the best casts on TV and, while its style of humor falls on the dry side, each performer brings something different comedically to the table." [7] Alejandra Bodden of Bleeding Cool gave the episode a 9 out of 10 rating and wrote, "The new season of What We Do in the Shadows definitely started off with a bang. I am loving how Nandor has changed toward Guillermo and how their relationship seems to have gotten much better and less strained." [8]
"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.
"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".
"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.
"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 Cloak of Duplication" is the second 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 22nd 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 September 2, 2021, airing back-to-back with the previous episode, "The Prisoner".
"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.
"A Farewell" is the ninth 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 29th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Sam Johnson, executive producer Stefani Robinson, co-executive producer Marika Sawyer, and executive producer Paul Simms, and directed by Tig Fong. It was released on FX on October 21, 2021.
"The Portrait" is the tenth episode and season finale 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 30th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Sam Johnson, executive producer Stefani Robinson, executive producer Paul Simms, and Lauren Wells, and directed by co-executive producer Yana Gorskaya. It was released on FX on October 28, 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.
"The Night Market" is the fourth 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 34th overall episode of the series and was written by co-producer William Meny and executive producer Paul Simms, and directed by co-executive producer Yana Gorskaya. It was released on FX on July 26, 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".