Review: What We Do in the Shadows, “Pride Parade” / Season 5, Episode 3
Body-swaps, space travel, a day at the beach, a pride celebration…this hit-and-miss episode probably tried to pack in too much
Maybe I had my hopes up too high. When this season’s What We Do in the Shadows episode titles were announced, my eyes were drawn immediately to “Pride Parade,” wondering what our proudly pansexual perverts might do marching alongside the Staten Island LGBTQ+ community. (The vampires would definitely be part of the “plus.”) But while I laughed a lot at this episode—kind of a given with this show it also felt like a missed opportunity. The premise is great! But not much comes of it.
The Residence’s neighbors, Sean and Charmaine, are responsible for the parade. It seems Sean has entered politics—jumping into the race to become the borough’s next Comptroller—and in an effort to appeal to the broadest spectrum of Staten Islanders, the couple have decided to let everyone know they’re cool with the gays. Heck, Charmaine even had a lesbian roommate at SUNY New Paltz, who will be performing rhythmic gymnastics at the parade.
They’re raising money for the event—and awareness for Sean’s campaign with two T-shirts, reading either “Yas Sean!” or, “Ay, I’m Bein’ Gay Over Here!” As soon as Laszlo sees the shirts, he announces, “We’ll buy the lot!” He also insists that the vampires design and build the Pride float.
Comic convention suggests one of two directions this story could go next. Either we get deep into the weeds on the float construction, riffing on the creative differences and wildly inappropriate ideas that ensue; or Laszlo and company immediately forget about the assignment and end up having to throw together something hilariously half-assed at the last minute. Initially, it seems like this week’s credited writers Jake Bender and Zach Dunn (responsible for past Shadows winners like the Superb Owl party and last year’s “Freddie” episode) are inclined toward the latter.