2x08 Collaboration

[8.2/10] I enjoyed both the A-story and the B-story on this one. I particularly appreciate that the show is actually advancing and dealing with the Nandor/Guillermo dynamic in a meaningful way. The arrival of Nandor’s former familiar, Benji -- an old man who was turned out, hypnotized, and all but abandoned when he got too “pushy” about becoming a vampire -- is a great wake up call for Guillermo to see living proof of his master’s broken promises.

That makes for a good conflict and provides reason for Guillermo to challenge his master about being turned into a vampire and leave when he doesn’t get what he wants. Honestly, it’s really encouraging to see Guillermo standing up for himself like that, and it’s just as encouraging to see Nandor not taking his familiar for granted when Guillermo’s absent and he has to see what life is lie without all the little things that Guillermo takes care of and makes look easy.

There’s also plenty of great comedy apart from the strong character development going on in that corner of the episode. For one thing, the way that Nandor pronounces “jolf” is a hoot. For another, I got a big kick out of Celeste doing the new age-y, almost Silicon Valley creative cohort routine, contrasting the “nothing ever changes” vibe of the Staten Island vampire residence with the ultra-modern vibe. The fact that the whole thing is a ruse and Celeste was never a vampire is the perfect kicker to the whole thing. (I also got a big kick out of one of the familiars being a cat who can supposedly do both plating and charcuterie.)

But honestly, the end of their storyline is a little bit touching. Nandor earnestly asking what he can do to win Guillermo back and convince him to come “home” is strangely sweet. Guillermo demanding to be respected and extracting a promise that Nandor will turn him into a vampire is very cathartic. And the post-credits capper, where you see a sign that Nandor is, if not changing for the better, at least moving a little thanks to Guillermo’s influence, by actually turning Benji into a vampire, is the best kind of twist.

The B-story is not nearly as momentous, but plenty hilarious. Lazlo having written several hits of the past hundred years or more and trying to revive his musical collaborations with Nadja makes for some big laughs and the chance for two of the show’s comic performers to riff around a la This Is Spinal Tap. The fact that Colin Robinson is setting them up to bomb so he can suck the resulting energy is a really fun bit. Their array of amusingly terrible songs is a winner, and the fact that they nonetheless tear the house down with a rendition of “”Kokomo” is a superb punchline.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable episode that advances the Guillermo/Nandor relationship with humor and grace, and finds a really funny subplot for the other three members of the core group.