DISCLAIMER: This recap of What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 Episode 4, “The Railroad,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril, humans and familiars.
Episode four of What We Do in the Shadows‘ final season sees Laszlo and Colin Robinson being entrepreneurs for an evening in the name of helping a friend. Meanwhile, Guillermo must fire Jandy the Janitor (Nandor), and Nadja scores big for her employer. Everybody’s on that 9 pm to 5 am grind, and, as usual, hilarity ensues. While I feel the three-episode premiere is a bit stronger, “The Railroad” is still a fun watch.
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What We Do in the Shadows, “The Railroad”
We open with Jerry (Michael Patrick O’Brien) and The Guide (Kristen Schaal) introducing their plan for conquering the New World. Firstly, they seize control of the tristate area. Then, they head west. Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) falls asleep, with Nadja Doll (also Demetriou) nudging her awake. Laszlo (Matt Berry) pretends to take a call on his “mobile phone,” but it’s just his hand. This bit made me giggle. Nandor (Kayvan Novak) also looks bored. Only Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) takes in-depth notes.
Nadja informs Jerry and The Guide that she and Nandor have a hard out at 9 pm for their jobs at Cannon Capital Strategies. Before they leave the room, Nandor lingers to bid farewell to The Guide. He seems to have developed a crush on her (but that won’t sink my Nandermo ship).
Thriving Instead of Merely Surviving
Later, at Cannon Capital, we see Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) thriving. He’s in his element, thanks to Nadja. Nadja explains that she’s determined to keep the spotlight on Guillermo, even making one of his coworkers choke on an accessory from her dress so Gizmo can save him. Meanwhile, Nandor is also thriving instead of surviving as Jandy the Janitor. He loves the camaraderie of the office environment. He also loves cleaning sh*t off toilet seats.
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Jordan (Tim Heidecker) brings the team together for an exciting announcement: Cannon has officially acquired Hancock & Sons. Nadja yells words like “Business!” and “Money!” to express her excitement. I didn’t hear “Synergy!” though, which any business person worth their salt knows is the most important business term. Business. Nandor pulls Jordan in for a big bear hug. Hugs are a crucial part of the janitorial trade.
Next, Guillermo explains to the camera that working under Jordan is equal parts rewarding and demanding. Jordan pulls Gizmo aside to share he’s not a fan of Nandor. He wants Guillermo to fire his former Master. Ouch.
A Request
Then, we see Laszlo and Colin Robinson make adjustments to Cravensworth’s Monster (Andy Assaf). Nadja informs the boys that Sean (Anthony Atamanuik), aka Seanaaay, is here. Laszlo and Colin Robinson conceal CM before Sean enters the room. The fellas pretend it’s a laundry room, not a lab used for scientific advancements. And that foul smell? Nadja insists on using all-natural detergent.
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Anyway, Sean asks if Laz and “Dilbert” still work at the railroad. Laszlo and Colin Robinson explain that that’s the cover they used to rationalize the odd hours they keep. Sean reveals the TSA sh*t-canned him, so he needs a new job. He wonders if the boys can help him snag an interview. Laz agrees to lend a hand.
After Seanaaay departs, Colin Robinson wonders why Laz doesn’t simply glamour him to forget the interview. Laszlo explains that Sean has been glamoured one too many times. He doesn’t have a lot going on in the noggin department anymore.
Staten Island & Southwestern Railroad
Meanwhile, Jordan wonders why Guillermo hasn’t fired Nandor yet. If Guillermo isn’t ready to step up and work his way to partner, Jordan needs to know now. Elsewhere, Laszlo and Colin Robinson open up Staten Island & Southwestern Railroad, their fake railroad company. They rent out an entire floor of a building to decorate the “office” for the SISR.
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Apparently, staging a fake interview is the best option. They also hired actors to play the role of SISR employees. Colin Robinson even picks two actors to act out an “office romance.” Sean will be thoroughly convinced. At the same time, Guillermo works up the courage to fire Nandor. However, he simply instructs our favorite janitor to be “invisible” per Jordan’s wishes. After this, we see Nandor flatten himself against the wall whenever a few employees walk by. A warrior must excel at hiding when necessary.
Later, Sean asks Laszlo questions about Staten Island & Southwestern Railroad. Nadja pulls her hubby aside to ask about his new business venture. Laszlo hopes this staged interview will help Sean find a new career (not in the railroad industry, obviously). After he explains his methods, Nadja insists that Sean is lucky to have a friend with a brain as big as what’s in his knickers. Nadja and Laszlo are, as always, couple goals.
Greg Smith
Next, at the SISR office, Sean meets the big boss, Greg Smith, aka Cravensworth’s Monster. Laszlo and Colin Robinson observe the interview from the back of the room. They’re on hand in case CM gets too rowdy. Colin Robinson believes CM is ready to mingle with humans.
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Then, we see Guillermo having dinner with his fellow Cannon coworkers to celebrate the company’s acquisition of Hancock & Sons. His coworkers ask what his deal is; Guillermo went from the mail room to an analyst in no time flat. I’m not saying Nadja is almost exclusively behind this meteoric rise up the career ladder…
Anyway, Jordan delivers a touching speech and asks Guillermo to say a few words. Nandor watches outside the restaurant, looking the picture of forlorn. It’s tough, as a warlord, watching your soldiers revel without you.
The Cut of Sean’s Jib
Meanwhile, Sean is acing his interview. Color Greg Smith impressed. Cravensworth’s Monster gets up from his chair, which makes Laz and Colin Robinson nervous. However, CM tells Sean that this railroad company is about more than transporting freight — it’s about connecting with people. He likes the cut of Sean’s jib. CM hires Sean on the spot. Move over, Hollywood A-listers; CM is about to replace you in all the high-profile, accolade-accruing films.
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Later, at the house, Nadja expresses her disbelief that Cravensworth’s Monster hired Sean for the fake railroad company. Not only that, but he made Sean the vice president. Guillermo saunters into the living room to boast about Cannon acquiring Hancock & Sons. Nadja gets irritated because, to her, Gizmo has forgotten that she made him who he is.
Ever the alpha, Nadja reminds him that she could easily send him flying backward down the ladder again. She’s better than all the shed dwellers of the world. It’s fun watching Guillermo stand up to the vampires. He never would’ve done such a thing in Season 1.
Nadja Saves the Day
The following evening, Nadja presents an idea to Jordan. Why not invest in Staten Island & Southwestern Railroad? It’s real estate ripe for the taking. Jordan humors her. Meanwhile, we learn that Laszlo and Colin Robinson’s “positions” in SISR are deputy senior director and railroad consultant, respectively. They claim that Sean, as the VP of operations, ranks higher than them.
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Sean wonders what he should do first: make a spreadsheet or visit the trains. Colin Robinson suggests they check out the trains, knowing full well there aren’t any. Laszlo admits he doesn’t want to disappoint Sean. Aw.
However, Nadja brings in some Cannon analysts to survey the office space. The analysts learn that SISR is a fake company and that Laz only shelled out $3,500 for the floor for the month. That’s cheap, they claim. Even for Staten Island. Nadja and Laszlo explain to the camera that the property is significantly undervalued, so Cannon could snatch it up easily. The analysts congratulate Nadja for the great lead. She probably saved her job.
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Downsizing
Laszlo sees this as a win for everyone. Sean got hired by a railroad company and then said company went under, as railroads are wont to do (Do they open and close within an evening, though?). Sean is furious about this, declaring that SISR doesn’t deserve him. That’s right; know your worth. At Cannon, Guillermo finally bites the bullet and fires Nandor on behalf of Jordan, claiming that Cannon must “downsize.” Nandor tells the camera he’s not embarrassed about getting canned by his former familiar.
Eventually, though, he pivots, ordering the camera crew to stop following him as he storms out of the building. Meanwhile, Sean is hitting the career pavement, seeking out vice president jobs in the transportation sector. In the meantime, he’s making ends meet by helping folks out via TaskRabbit.
You know what? Sean Rinaldi’s gonna be okay. (As long as Laz doesn’t glamour him ever again.)
Favorite Quote: “Do you like trains? ‘Cause I know your mom does.” — Nadja
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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