What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 Episode 10, “The Promotion,” is the series’ penultimate outing. It’s hard to believe we’re so close to the end. While it’s not the show’s strongest episode, “The Promotion” offers development in spades for Guillermo, giving us a clearer picture of where he’ll wind up in the series finale. It’s gratifying watching Nandor defend Guillermo so openly, too.
Sigh. I’m gonna miss this wacky and batty show.
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous What We Do in the Shadows episode, “Come Out and Play”
What We Do in the Shadows, “The Promotion”
We open with Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) kicking ass and taking names at Cannon Capital Strategies. Guillermo kills it during a presentation. Then, he plays squash with Jordan (Tim Heidecker) and murders that, too. We also see him crack jokes with his new friend circle, including Lisa (Alyssa Limperis), Nadja’s work BFF. Jordan compliments Guillermo on a job well done and informs him that Nelson, the company’s founder, is quite impressed with him.
Jordan claims that Guillermo’s work performance and the “do whatever you can get away with” attitude exemplify that of a full-time analyst. He proposes they throw a party in Guillermo’s honor. Giddy at the prospect of a promotion, Guillermo invites Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) and Cravensworth’s Monster (Andy Assaf) to the party.
Former Chief Supreme Janitor
The gang tries to distance themselves as friends of Gizmo’s, but they’ll attend regardless. Well, Nadja works there. Nandor will pop by as part of his healing process after Cannon fired him for being too good of a Chief Supreme Janitor (CSJ). Laszlo wants Cravensworth’s Monster to mingle among the humans now that he’s in his final form. Nadja urges CM to put on pants, though. (It’s one thing to swing it around the house, but it’s another to do so in public…)
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Later, Colin Robinson helps Cravensworth’s Monster dress for the occasion. He asks CM if he likes it. CM insists that, ultimately, it’s up to Daddy Laz. If Laszlo approves of the outfit, then all is well. Colin Robinson reassures CM that they don’t have to attend the shindig; they could stay home and binge-watch United States of Tara. I feel like this USOT reference was specifically dropped for me.
Next, the crew hits up Guillermo’s promotion party. They meet Jordan, who recognizes Colin Robinson as the guy who beat the snot out of Gizmo. Guillermo tries to persuade him that that’s a different bald man in glasses and a beige ensemble. Jordan also clocks Nandor, who makes up an excuse. Jordan fired Nandor’s “slow brother,” not Nandor himself.
Burning Bridges
Then, Guillermo’s coworkers pull him away for drinks. Jordan asks Nandor how he met Guillermo. Nandor claims that Guillermo used to be his righthand man. Jordan admits he wishes he could have four Guillermos, to which Nandor cracks a joke about telling Guillermo to go f*ck himself.
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At the same time, Nadja gets a fortuitous phone call about a new job opportunity. After accepting said job, Nadja proceeds to partake in the time-honored human tradition of burning all her bridges at Cannon. She dumps water on computers, smashes windows with her vampire screaming and scatters crucial files all over the place. She even empties someone else’s desk.
Meanwhile, Cravensworth’s Monster practices his Latin for Guillermo’s coworkers, which doesn’t impress them. Laszlo orders him to recite pi to the 50th decimal place. When CM messes up, though, Laz chastises him. Colin Robinson urges Laszlo to ease up on CM. He only wants to win Laz’s approval. There’s a bit of a toxic dynamic between CM and Laszlo. After this, Laszlo demands Cravensworth’s Monster dance for the party attendees. He loves a good boogie.
Human Alcohol Beer on the Rocks
Elsewhere, Nadja continues burning bridges by insulting her soon-to-be-ex coworkers. Nandor and Jordan get to know each other after Guillermo fetches beer (one human alcohol beer on the rocks for Nan). Jordan reveals that he needs Guillermo to do all the grunt work, as it were. He asserts you always need one person who’s immensely needy. They’ll do anything for you.
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Nandor confirms that Jordan won’t take advantage of Guillermo. “Not officially,” Jordan says, looking at the cameras. (Remember, the Cannon team is also getting the documentary treatment.) Nandor tells the camera crew that he’s been suspicious of Jordan from the get-go, but this conversation proves Gizmo’s boss is a bona fide a-hole.
Later, Cravensworth’s Monster finally establishes a rapport with Guillermo’s coworkers. Well, that is until he breaks something and panics after one man tries to give him a fist bump. Said coworkers disperse after that. Colin Robinson urges Laszlo to be gentle with CM; he has emotions like they do. Laz insists that CM is a monster and nothing more.
The Avengers
Meanwhile, Guillermo practices his speech in the breakroom. Nandor interrupts, voicing his concerns about Jordan. Guillermo won’t hear it, though. He believes Nandor is merely envious that he’s becoming more successful. He’s climbing that ladder, and Nandor is green with envy.
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Jordan speaks to the crowd before spotlighting a crucial asset to Cannon. Thinking it’s him, Guillermo moves toward Jordan. However, Jordan is referring to the company’s founder, Nelson. After giving a few words, Jordan tries to cast Cannon’s MVPs as the Avengers, dubbing Nelson as Captain America and himself as Tony Stark. Unfortunately, Guillermo is left out of the conversation. My poor baby.
Nadja hijacks the microphone to inform the office about her quitting. Her new job requires a $10,000 deposit and feet pics, but after that, she’ll be riding high on the Benjamins. Lisa and the others ridicule Nadja for falling prey to a pyramid scheme. Lisa calls her a b*tch, spurring Cravensworth’s Monster to almost smash the red-haired coworker’s head like a watermelon. Well, like Jerry. However, Laszlo and the other vampires talk CM out of it.
A Picture (and Not Enough Glitter)
Later, Guillermo confronts Jordan about not publicly promoting him. Jordan didn’t even mention him by name to the staff. He gives Guillermo a framed photo of the two of them, reminiscent of Nandor’s present to him in the pilot. The parallels between early seasons Nandor and Jordan are undeniable. He asks Jordan how long it’ll take for him to get promoted to full-time analyst. Jordan reveals a timeline of a few years.
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Guillermo refuses to accept this. He puts his foot down. Guillermo’s funneled all his blood, sweat and tears into this job. Jordan fires back that Guillermo’s doing critical work — he’s bending over backward to ensure that important people can remain successful. He corners Guillermo threateningly.
He Has Receipts
Nandor steps in to defend Guillermo. He holds Jordan by the neck, preparing to kill him. However, Guillermo prevents Nandor from doing so. Instead, Guillermo plans to call the SEC to disclose what he knows about Jordan’s shady dealings. Jordan’s always going on about insider trading, for one.
Secondly, Guillermo has been keeping receipts (and not just the overly long CVS ones). We see a brief montage of Guillermo motioning to the documentary camera crew to document all the illegal stuff, from emails to paperwork and more. Boom!
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Later, the vampire gang leaves the party. Cravensworth’s Monster claims he’s now Robinson’s Monster until Laszlo and Colin Robinson agree to raise CM as dads on equal footing. CM wants them to kiss to seal the deal. He’s a horny fella, just like his vampire papa. Colin Robinson reaches for Cravensworth’s Monster’s hand as they leave the building. Aw, we love to see Colin Robinson in his daddy era.
Batman the Relentless and Robin
Outside, Nandor and Guillermo talk about their future. Nandor asserts that Guillermo doesn’t belong in the human world; his place is in the vampire world. He’s a warrior. Nandor proposes they team up to ensure that Nandor’s more selective on whom he feeds. Perhaps he can only drain bad people. They’ll be a vigilante team like Batman and Robin. To celebrate this newfound alliance, Nandor picks up the sign outside the building and hurls it through a window on one of the upper floors.
Then, in the mid-credit scene, we see the crew return home to Staten Island. Nadja carries a box of her belongings from her time at Cannon. One of said belongings happens to be Lisa’s head. She really was Nadja’s work bestie. Guillermo heads to Laszlo’s wank garden shed, but Nandor urges him to join him inside so they can brainstorm ideas.
Maybe they can wear capes on their fronts instead of their backs.
RELATED: Read our What We Do in the Shadows recaps
What We Do in the Shadows airs new episodes every Monday at 10 pm on FX, with next-day streaming on Hulu.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
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