Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the FX show What We Do in the Shadows.
The fourth season of FX’s What We Do in the Shadows is well underway, with the comedic vampires from the mockumentary coming up with even wilder antics. Nandor the Relentless, in particular, is going through an interesting change in his life, with his taxing quest to find a new wife taking a toll on both him and Guillermo.
Nandor has been through a lot over the past four seasons of the series. He may act tough, but he’s lonely and wants companionship above anything else. This becomes his main goal throughout the show, which is further emphasized in his actions in the recent episodes. As new episodes reveal more of the vampires’ shenanigans every week, it’s the perfect time to look back at Nandor’s most important experiences on the show so far.
Season 1
The first season introduces Nandor and explains his relationship with his housemates, as well as with his familiar, Guillermo. He likes to think of himself as the leader of the house, even though it’s clearly Guillermo who keeps everything together. Like Laszlo, Nandor has the power to shapeshift, but he doesn’t use it very often. The one time he does use it ends up with him in a cage during a failed attempt at rescuing Laszlo.
An important revelation about Nandor’s relationship with Guillermo takes place when the familiar accidentally kills the Baron. Nandor tries to take the blame for him, underscoring his protectiveness over Guillermo. A storyline about him learning that his country of birth doesn’t exist marks the beginning of his search for his identity, which he unsuccessfully tries to control by applying for American citizenship. He’s unable to because he physically can’t recite the Oath of Allegiance, burning every time he tries to say “God.” Nandor’s longing for his place in the world is somewhat fulfilled by his discovery that he has thousands of living descendants, although he accidentally kills one of them.
Season 2
Early in the second season of the show, a dark part of Nandor’s history is brought to light after Nadja discovers that he was responsible for pillaging the village she grew up in. This causes a huge fight between the once close friends. Issues with Nandor’s relationship with Guillermo pop up, too, as the master learns that his familiar is potentially a vampire slayer. Everything gets worse between them when Guillermo decides to Celeste, who claims to have been turned into a vampire by her masters – this decision turns out to be a huge mistake for Guillermo.
For the first time in several years, Nandor experiences what it’s like not having Guillermo around. Not only is their mansion messier than it's ever been, but Nandor has a difficult time just accomplishing daily tasks like getting out of his coffin. Nandor realizes how important his familiar really is to him and they become closer after the brief period of separation.
Season 3
With everyone finding out that Guillermo is a Van Helsing, Nandor insists on not killing Guillermo, arguing that he saved their lives. Everything about the familiar is soon forgotten after the Guide appears and announces that the vampires have been chosen for the role of Supreme Leader of the Vampiric Council. Nandor and Nadja soon agree to share the position, but Nandor has a very different leadership style. He’s more ive as a leader and chooses to stick to traditional methods, while Nadja has no problem ripping a constituent’s heart out of his chest to prove a point.
Nandor also develops a crush on a receptionist at a gym he goes to, who he unsuccessfully tries to woo. The sequence highlights how out-of-touch he is when it comes to romance, which is a recurring theme that shows up in the latest season, too. He soon reunites with Gail, who is obviously manipulating him, but Nandor’s naivety makes it impossible for him to see this fact. The most significant change in Nandor’s personality happens when he meets Jan who brainwashes him into becoming a member of her cult. While he eventually escapes thanks to his housemates, he decides to enter a Super Slumber, which Guillermo dissuades him from doing, persuading him instead to travel the world with him by his side.
Season 4
Despite traveling a lot, even heading back to his home country, Nandor is still searching for happiness in the most recent season of the show. This is obvious when he asks Guillermo to be his best man, which is a strange request considering he hasn’t found a bride yet. That soon changes when Guillermo helps him find a djinn, who grants him 52 wishes.
Nandor uses most of his wishes to revive and sort through his 37 wives from long ago. His ego has obviously remained the same, as he doesn’t want a wife who’s smarter or more attractive than him. With Guillermo having something of his own going on outside the vampires’ house, only time will tell how their relationship will develop over the new season. Nandor will hopefully find happiness this time.