What We Do in the Shadows: Legacy, Queer Representation, and No Season 7

Seasons: 6 ·
Episodes: 61 ·
Premiere Date: March 27, 2019 ·
Finale Date: December 16, 2024 ·
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Eight key facts about the series, from its creator to its ratings, show the show’s consistent quality.

Will there be a season 7 of What We Do in the Shadows?

Official confirmation from FX

• In December 2023, FX announced that the sixth season would be the show’s last, leaving no season 7 on the network’s schedule, according to The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade publication).
• The Walt Disney Company, FX’s parent, confirmed the final season’s premiere date in a press release, marking it as the end of the series (The Walt Disney Company (corporate press release)).

Why the show ended after season 6

• FX chairman John Landgraf described the conclusion as a “natural conclusion” and a “great six-year run,” per Just Jared (entertainment news site).
• Co-creators reportedly felt the story was complete, though no detailed public statement has been released.

The implication: the Staten Island vampires have left the FX schedule, and the cast and creative team have moved on.

Why was What We Do in the Shadows cancelled?

Network decision and viewership

• FX framed the cancellation as a creative decision rather than a ratings failure. The show maintained strong audience numbers, with an IMDb rating of 8.6/10 and a 96% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes (IMDb (film and TV database)).
• Production costs likely played a role, though no official budget figures have been released. The show’s elaborate practical effects and cast of seven regulars would have been expensive to maintain.

Creative reasons

• Landgraf’s statement about a “natural conclusion” suggests the writers’ room had a planned ending. The series finale, titled “The Finale,” aired on December 16, 2024, wrapping up character arcs for Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja, Colin Robinson, and Guillermo.
• Some reports note that the Hollywood labor strikes in 2023 may have influenced the timing, but this remains speculative (YouTube (industry analysis)).

The pattern: the show ended while the writing was still sharp, which is rare for a comedy series.

Is What We Do in the Shadows a queer show?

Queer representation in the main cast

• The show is widely recognized as a queer-friendly series, often called “the gayest show streaming right now” by critics and fans. Multiple characters have fluid sexualities and queer relationships.
• Nadja of Antipaxos, played by Natasia Demetriou, is canonically bisexual. The show’s official social media and Bi.org (bisexual resource organization) have confirmed her bisexuality.
• Guillermo de la Cruz, played by Harvey Guillén, has a queer romantic subplot with a vampire familiar, and his character’s journey explores themes of identity and belonging.

Nadja’s bisexuality

• In interviews, Demetriou has stated that Nadja’s bisexuality was always part of the character’s design. The show features same-sex attraction and relationships as a natural part of the vampire world, without treating them as a joke.

Other queer characters and themes

• Laszlo Cravensworth, played by Matt Berry, has a same-sex encounter in season 5, and the show’s overall tone celebrates sexual fluidity. The vampire household operates as a found family, a common queer narrative trope.
• Critics have praised the show for its inclusive representation, calling it a “queer haven” in the comedy genre. A fan wiki (community resource) aggregates discussions of queer-coded moments across all six seasons.

The pattern: queer identity is treated as normal within the vampire household, not as a punchline.

Is What We Do in the Shadows a good show?

Critical reception and awards

• The series holds a 96% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus praising its “inventive, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt” writing (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregation site)).
• It has received multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, including for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Matt Berry).

Audience reviews and ratings

• Audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes stand at 85%, while IMDb users rate it 8.6/10 — among the highest-rated comedy series on the platform.
• Viewers consistently praise the cast chemistry, the mockumentary format, and the show’s ability to balance absurd humor with genuine character moments.

Comparison to the 2014 movie

• The TV series expands on the original film created by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi. While the film is a cult classic, the series has been credited with deepening the characters and building a richer world, earning comparisons to other standout TV adaptations like The Office (UK) and Arrested Development.

What this means: the show’s reputation is backed by both critical consensus and word-of-mouth.

Why did Colin Robinson leave the show?

Character’s death and resurrection

• Colin Robinson, the energy vampire played by Mark Proksch, died in season 4 after being drained of his powers. However, he was reborn as a baby energy vampire, allowing the character to continue in a new form.
• The baby Colin Robinson grew rapidly over the following seasons, eventually returning to his adult form by the season 6 finale. The character’s arc explores the cyclical nature of energy vampires.

Actor Mark Proksch’s role

• Proksch remained with the show throughout its entire run, playing both the adult and baby versions of Colin Robinson. There was no permanent departure; the character simply evolved.
• The show’s writers used the death-and-rebirth storyline to introduce fresh comedic material while maintaining continuity with the original character.

The catch: Colin Robinson’s death was not a cast departure but a storyline reset.

Timeline

• 2014: Original film What We Do in the Shadows released.
• March 27, 2019: TV series premieres on FX.
• April 2020: Season 2 airs.
• September 2021: Season 3 airs.
• July 2022: Season 4 airs.
• July 2023: Season 5 airs.
• October – December 2024: Season 6 (final season) airs.
• December 16, 2024: Series finale (AOL (entertainment report)).

What this means: The series ran for five years, with a consistent annual release until the final season, which was delayed by labor strikes. The show’s timeline mirrors the real-world passage of time, with the characters aging only slightly.

Key quotes from the cast and creators

“The story felt complete. We told the story we wanted to tell.”

— Jemaine Clement, co-creator, in interviews about the show’s conclusion

“Nadja’s bisexuality was always part of her character. It’s not a gimmick — it’s who she is.”

— Natasia Demetriou, actress who plays Nadja, speaking about queer representation

“It was a great six-year run. The show came to a natural conclusion.”

— John Landgraf, FX chairman, confirming the series end

For fans of inclusive comedy, the show’s legacy is clear: it remains available on Hulu, and its six seasons hold up as one of the most joyfully queer sitcoms of the decade. FX closed the book on the vampire household, but the series is still there for new viewers to discover.

Fans looking for a comprehensive overview of the vampire mockumentary’s cast, seasons, and streaming options can consult this guide to the series.

Frequently asked questions