These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for What We Do in the Shadows.
Representation / casting choices
Casting includes varied ethnic backgrounds (Latino, Greek-Cypriot, British, white American) that fit the vampire premise of immortals from different historical periods living in New York; producers publicly noted pansexual framing for characters and the series features a prominent queer actor in a major role, creating visible LGBTQ+ presence without race/gender swaps, mismatched logic, or marketing emphasis on diversity.
35 / 100
Political / ideological dialogue
Almost no explicit political or ideological dialogue; humor occasionally pokes at modern annoyances like social media or office life in a silly, non-lecturing manner with no activist messaging.
6 / 100
Identity-driven story themes
Core stories focus on vampire house dynamics, immortality boredom, and absurd conflicts rather than identity politics or social-justice arcs; background queer-inclusive interactions and heritage nods exist but stay secondary to comedy and do not shape plots or character growth.
A mockumentary comedy TV series that follows four ancient vampire roommates and their human familiar as they bicker, scheme, and struggle with modern life and supernatural rules on Staten Island. The show aired for six seasons on FX from 2019 to 2024, expanding the 2014 New Zealand film by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi into an ongoing ensemble sitcom with absurd humor about immortality, bureaucracy, and house dynamics. Diverse casting fits the premise of vampires from different eras and origins without identity signaling or story emphasis, while light queer-inclusive character elements appear as background comedy rather than thematic drivers.
Satirizes vampire council bureaucracy and the clash of ancient beings with contemporary rules through broad absurdity; no modern activist framing of patriarchy, capitalism, whiteness, toxic masculinity, or Western institutions.
7 / 100
Legacy character or canon changes
Not relevant.
0 / 100
Anti-woke backlash / 'too woke' complaints
Virtually no anti-woke or right-leaning complaints treating the show as pushing DEI or identity politics; evidence is weak and limited to isolated neutral or positive fan notes on casting.
4 / 100
Creator track record context
Key creatives include figures with liberal or left-leaning public records (Taika Waititi’s social themes, Jemaine Clement’s anti-Trump commentary, Ayo Edebiri’s justice defenses, Rajat Suresh’s self-described woke stance, Tig Fong’s queer-inclusive advocacy, Jason Woliner’s Trumpism satire); the majority are comedy veterans with no activist patterns, keeping overall emphasis moderate and humor-focused.
