[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for What We Do in the Shadows, Season 6 Episode 9, “Come Out and Play.”]
Before its final season came to a close, What We Do in the Shadows got epic. As you might have guessed from the episode title, “Come Out and Play” paid homage to the classic 1979 film The Warriors, enlisting hundreds of background actors to chase the show’s Staten Island vampires through the streets of “New York” (as played by Toronto, Canada). Plus, the show added to its roster of cameos from other fictional vampires with an appearance from True Blood’s own Alexander Skarsgård.
Last April, during Consequence’s visit to the set, star Kayvan Novak was teasing the scale of what was to come: “The Warriors episode is pretty huge,” he said. “It’s always fun getting out and about, and there’s some amazing sets, and loads of people. It’s going to hit the spot, if you’re a fan.”
It was a huge challenge for costume designer Laura Montgomery, beyond outfitting the various vampire gangs: Not only did she have to make duplicates of each costume for the main cast’s stunt doubles, but she had to make additional versions that reflected the “various stages of blood and dirt and the things that they encounter throughout the night.”
Added Montgomery, “There would’ve been more [versions], but we managed to get them to agree to use the stunt doubles as the photo doubles. Otherwise, we would’ve had to make 10.”
One actor who did not require multiple costumes was guest star Doug Jones, reprising his role as The Baron. “It read big,” Jones says of the script. “But when I got on the set, and it was this huge arena full of hundreds of background actors all in these different gangs… I mean, it must have taken the costume and makeup departments weeks to figure all this out. To have a crowd that size — there’s an energy that comes with that that’s really exciting.”
Jones was actually a bit intimidated by acting in front of that crowd, because “I had to get up on stage and take a glorious spin in my fabulous outfit and just own it. The Baron is very used to that. He loves being a narcissist and being the center of attention. Doug Jones doesn’t always.” He laughs. “I have imposter syndrome, and so I don’t feel that I’m worthy to be there. I had to channel the Baron, for sure, to take all that in.”
According to Jones, the arena sequences were shot in just two days, and getting to see the full scope of the assembled vampire gangs, he adds, was “hilarious.” He also complimented the background artists on their excitement for the shoot: “They were all so sweet. By the time you get to Season 6 of a show, most of your background actors are there as fans as well.”
The background actors didn’t know about Skarsgård’s cameo until he arrived on set, but for the rest of the cast, Jones says, “the anticipation of his arrival was palpable. He came in walking like he did on True Blood, this beautiful, tall, strapping, brooding vampire — everything that our show is not. So to take that vampire lore and mix it with our goofy comedy vampire lore was such a delicious mix. He was such a good sport to show up for us. And I was very honored that I got to be the one to banter back and forth with him.”
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
For Jones, “the surprise about all of this was how funny he was. We’re encouraged to go off script — we do takes as scripted and then we’re given the fun run. During the fun run, Alexander Skarsgård and I bantered back and forth much more than was used in the final cut. I would love to see an outtake of how long we bantered back and forth, and how long it went on. I fought giggling in the middle of my scene with him. That’s how good he was.”
Jones also says that Skarsgård’s exit from the scene — calling out “Human!” and running away — “was all his bit.”
Via FX, Skarsgård himself made a statement on his appearance: “I’m afraid I have no recollection of shooting this episode as Dr. Laszlo Cravensworth apparently hypnotized me at the wrap party. But I did wake up with an intense physical attraction to Dr. Cravensworth and found his extraordinary wit, charm and intelligence absolutely disarming. I have since started a YouTube fan page for him. It’s called ‘Because you’re Cravens-worth it.’ Please like, follow and subscribe.”
Jones, meanwhile, will remember his time on What We Do in the Shadows fondly, especially since “I was never meant to last this long on the show” — The Baron was initially supposed to be gone after the show’s very first episode, but instead creator Jemaine Clement kept finding ways to bring him back, saying each time, “Doug, this is going far too well.”
Like many, Jones is sad about the show’s upcoming conclusion, saying that “We use the term bittersweet, but I’m having trouble finding the sweet. The bitter part being obvious — like, oh, I wish this show could go on longer.”
Jones does come up the sweet, eventually: “This has been a six-season ride for me that has been so, so lovely.”
What We Do in the Shadows is streaming on Hulu.