What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 Episode 7, “March Madness,” sees Laszlo and Nandor try to exorcise a demon out of Sean after he becomes afflicted with “March Madness.” Meanwhile, Colin Robinson helps Guillermo establish an identity at work. It’s not the strongest episode, and it struggles under the weight of odd pacing. We could’ve spent more time with the demon possession plot, but instead, the outing rushes through it. All that aside, fun character dynamics are at play, like Charmaine/Nandor and Guillermo/Colin Robinson.
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What We Do in the Shadows, “March Madness”
We open with Laszlo (Matt Berry), who is researching human anatomy. Did you know that, when assembling your Cravensworth’s Monster, the large intestine should be placed before the small intestine? This explains why his “shambolic monstrosity” can’t digest corn…
Suddenly, Laz and Nandor (Kayvan Novak) hear Sean (Anthony Atamanuik) screaming in his home. They barrel into his house. Laszlo even kicks down the front door. That’s what you do for your best human friend. They venture to the basement, where Sean yells at his TV. It’s March Madness, but our vamps don’t know that. Laz declares that a demon has possessed Seanaaay. Nandor and Laz explain to the camera crew precisely what a demon is — a malevolent spirit who inhabits a human host and can destroy their soul entirely. Nandor adds that, sometimes, the demon is just a red guy.
Demonic Possession
Charmaine (Marissa Jaret Winokur) is furious. She calls down to her husband, claiming she’s heading to Diane’s until this is all over. Laz attempts to persuade her to stay. Sean needs all the help he can get. Charmaine counters that he’s like this every year for March Madness.
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Then, Laz and Nandor tell the camera that humans often mistake demonic possession for seasonal mental illnesses like depression. So, does this mean I’m actually possessed by a demon?
Elsewhere, Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) tells the camera that he recently discovered how crucial office identities are. Makes sense — he’s never worked in an office before. Guillermo rattles off examples, such as the office sports guys, office barefoot guy and office dog lady of Cannon Capital Strategies. Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch), who’s inexplicably using a leaf blower right outside Laszlo’s wank shed Guillermo’s home, overhears Gizmo’s predicament.
Banana Jokes Are Ap-peeling
Colin Robinson offers his services as someone who’s worked in 137 offices. He helps Guillermo solidify his office identity. Is he the crossword guy? What about the funny guy? Guillermo reveals they already have the latter, and it’s none other than Nadja (Natasia Demetriou). Nadja bonds with some of her coworkers, cracking jokes to make them laugh. She starts talking into a banana like a phone, which one woman, Lisa (Alyssa Limperis), finds funny. Inevitably, though, Nadja takes the banana joke too far, and even Lisa’s had enough of it.
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Colin Robinson turns on the leaf blower again because it helps him think. Hey, my sister claims that sticking her head in the fridge helps her think. Colin Robinson offers more options for office identities, some of which are definitely racist. At the same time, Laz and Nandor enlist The Guide (Kristen Schaal) to help them rid Seanaaay of his unwanted visitor. The Guide vents about her exhaustion of late, especially since Jerry is so hellbent on devising a plan for vampires to conquer the New World.
Nandor, who’s strangely carrying a torch for The Guide, asks her to clarify her relationship with Jerry. Are they dating or merely friends with benefits? The Guide avoids answering that question. Laszlo explains that they must summon a bigger demon to draw out and defeat the smaller demon inside Sean. The Guide successfully does this.
The Red Guy
The Demon (Jon Glaser) emerges from the makeshift pentagram and immediately launches into a discussion about college basketball. He’s obsessed with it. He notices the TV is on in Sean’s basement and makes a beeline for it. Meanwhile, Colin Robinson accompanies Guillermo to work, pretending to be from HR, as he gets a sense of all the office identities at Cannon.
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Sean and The Demon yell at the TV screen in tandem. Laszlo reminds The Demon to, you know, do his job: exorcise that other demon from Seanaaay. Initially, The Demon’s eyes glow as he opens his mouth, seemingly sucking in whatever malevolent spirit is inside Sean. The sound this makes causes Sean to assume that Charmaine is yelling at him. Then, The Demon tries this a second time. Obviously, it doesn’t work because Sean ain’t possessed, y’all.
Suddenly, Sean falls to the floor, breaking a coffee table on the way down, after The Demon informs him that the player he’s placed bets on won’t fare well. The vampires assume this means the demon is leaving Sean’s body. Look at him convulsing! The Guide wonders if they should just kill Sean and be done with it. Of course, Laz won’t let them. Sean weakly asks them to call an ambulance.
Repressed Hothead
Later, Colin Robinson workshops more office identities for Guillermo. What about office loud laugher? Or, better yet, repressed hothead? Colin Robinson explains that Gizmo can have an outburst once every two weeks and then spend the rest of his time apologizing to his coworkers for said outburst. Guillermo isn’t fond of this idea.
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After this, Jordan (Tim Heidecker) calls a meeting. Colin Robinson interrupts it, asking to speak with Guillermo. He shows Guillermo a lunch menu and claims he wants to get a head start on tomorrow’s lunch orders. Then, Colin Robinson urges Guillermo to use that moment to go off on him. Be that repressed hothead. Seize it, Gizmo does, hurling vitriol at Colin Robinson in front of his coworkers. However, instead of being appalled, everyone seems impressed. Suddenly, Colin Robinson punches Guillermo in the face. CR’s the real repressed hothead.
Next, Laszlo, Nandor and The Demon stay by Sean’s side after his presumed heart attack. The doctor informs them that it wasn’t a heart attack but a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Laz mishears “infarction” and accuses the doc of saying, “F*ck Sean.” I love Matt Berry so much. Anyway, the doctor advises that Sean adopt a healthier lifestyle, incorporating a better diet and exercise. Sure, this physician knows some things — but is he a true man of science like Laszlo “Leslie” Cravensworth?
Don’t Step to Me
After the doctor leaves, the vamps dismiss The Demon. They don’t need him anymore. He slithers back into the underworld from whence he came. Meanwhile, Colin Robinson fetches an ice pack for Guillermo’s poor face. Guillermo orders Colin Robinson to follow his lead.
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Guillermo apologizes to Colin Robinson for insulting him in front of the office. He mentions the importance of mental health, which triggers another punch from Colin Robinson. CR lays the smackdown on Guillermo. Jordan orders security to escort Colin Robinson off the premises. I died when CR kept saying, “Don’t step to me!” as the guards took him away.
Later, Laz takes Sean to the gym. He vows to help Sean get in tip-top shape. As for Nandor, he decides to stick with Charmaine. Back in his homeland of Al Quolanudar, watching over a man’s wife while he recovers from his battle wounds is customary. So, while Sean convalesces, Nandor helps Charmaine around the house. He also watches her favorite TV shows with her.
Push It to the Limit
Charmaine tells the camera crew she likes Nandor but believes he’s a bit “slow.” She assumes the documentary is about Nandor as a “slow guy.” Charmaine asks Nandor if he has a girlfriend. Nandor reveals he’s developed a crush, but she (The Guide) doesn’t know how he feels. Charmaine urges him to express himself. Perhaps she feels the same way.
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At the gym, Laz pushes Sean to his physical limits by having him run on the treadmill. Laz also has Sean lift weights and throws balls at him. He loves balls. Charmaine gets a call and tells Nandor that Sean had another heart attack. They rush to the hospital.
A weakened Sean asks to speak with Laszlo alone, so Charmaine and Nandor run off to get snacks. Sean discusses mortality with his best buddy. His father and grandfather died young. He assumes he’ll die young as well. Seanaaay’s made peace with that. He doesn’t need Laz to try to figure out how to prolong his life. Instead, Sean wants to make the most of his time. It’s a touching scene. Laz gives Sean a Jersey Mike’s sub, which he munches on gleefully. Charmaine won’t be happy about this.
The Vault
Then, Jordan calls Guillermo into his office. He apologizes for what Colin Robinson did to Guillermo. Jordan realizes the optics are bad — a white man beat up a queer person of color. He doesn’t want his employees to feel unsafe. However, Jordan also doesn’t want Guillermo to sue the company. Guillermo reassures Jordan that he doesn’t plan to do that.
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Jordan pivots, revealing that he has a special project for Guillermo, one that requires discretion and, you know, turning the other way. Guillermo states that he had to keep plenty of secrets at his last job (as a familiar). Jordan gives Guillermo his office identity: The Vault. Guillermo is thrilled.
Lastly, Nandor shows up at the Vampiric Council Headquarters with roses for The Guide. He knocks on the door, but Jerry (Mike O’Brien) answers. Jerry asks if the flowers are for him. Nandor lies and claims they are, handing them to Jerry.
“F*ck it,” Nandor mumbles as he walks away.
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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