Top 10 Times Guillermo Was the Best Character on What We Do in the Shadows

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the moments that made us love Guillermo the Great on “What We Do in the Shadows.” This is your spoiler warning.

#10: Discovering His Van Helsing Lineage

“Ancestry”
When we’re introduced to Guillermo in the pilot episode, we soon learns that he longs to become a vampire. He’s a dutiful familiar, always taking care of his master and his master’s roommates. But in the season one finale, Guillermo finds out that he descends from Abraham Van Helsing, the legendary vampire hunter. Of course, this complicates his undead dreams. His innate skills lead to multiple accidental deaths, leaving him feeling guilty and anxious. But they also come in handy when the gang finds themselves in grave situations. Having Van Helsing lineage gave Guillermo a fascinating character arc throughout the entire series.

#9: Geeking Out over His Favorite TV Show

“P.I. Undercover: New York”
This season six episode sees Guillermo losing his mind over getting a front seat to the filming of his favorite police procedural. We’re not exactly used to him being a diehard fan of anything other than vampires. But here, we get to see him glow with excitement. While on set, Guillermo even gets the chance to meet the lead actor. Unfortunately, the star isn’t so nice to him, prompting Nandor and Laszlo to step in. In the end, they both give Guillermo their production swag, leaving him smiling from ear to ear. It’s a very relatable moment, especially for us “Shadows” fans.

#8: Rehoming His Tiny Gizmos

“Hybrid Creatures”
After Derek’s attempt to turn him into a vampire, Guillermo goes through a lot of changes — just not the ones he’s supposed to. To figure out what’s going on with the slow transformation process, Laszlo performs clandestine experiments ranging from odd to straight-up disturbing. But nothing prepared fans — or Guillermo — for the hybrids created from his DNA. While unsettled by his animal-human offspring, he can’t go through with Laszlo’s instructions to dispatch them. Instead, he finds them all a retirement home where they can provide comfort and companionship to the elderly residents. Well, except for Binky; the nightmarish fish hybrid gets to stay in the backyard fountain. We really appreciate Guillermo’s empathy and creativity in this episode.

#7: Rescuing the Vampires from Witches

“Witches”
When Laszlo and Nandor are kidnapped by a coven of witches, Nadia, Colin Robinson, and Guillermo attempt to rescue them. But instead of the usual bloodshed, Guillermo shows off his entrepreneurial prowess and turns the situation into an opportunity for him to make some cash. After all, being a familiar doesn’t exactly pay the rent. “Memo’s Man Milk” isn’t mentioned in the series again, so we’re not sure how long he kept up the side hustle. But still, Guillermo’s quick thinking was impressive. His enterprising problem-solving efforts are just another reason we can’t get enough of Guillermo.

#6: Co-Parenting Baby Colin

Various
One of season four’s main storylines involved the bizarre rebirth of Colin Robinson. With the others away for a year, Laszlo takes responsibility as the surrogate father of the boy. Guillermo, after being forgotten in a wooden crate, is ready to finally walk away from a life of being unappreciated. But when he sees Baby Colin, he knows he needs to stay and look out for the little guy’s well-being. Guillermo nurtures his budding creativity. He supports his interests, his goal to become a YouTuber, and his passion for musical theatre. Baby Colin can be a lot, but Guillermo’s care for him is charming.

#5: Taking Charge of Finding the Sire

“The Escape”
When the oldest living vampire breaks out of confinement, Guillermo steps up to the challenge of finding him. We love seeing a confident Guillermo, especially when he’s in his element. And it only makes sense for a skilled vampire slayer to lead the search for the Sire. Guillermo easily delegates different tasks to the vampire squad. Of course, they’re quick to call him out for his arrogant tone, but they all know they need him. Although it ends up being the Baron’s knowledge of the Sire’s ancient language that actually saves the day, it’s doubtful they would’ve even come to that conclusion without Guillermo’s leadership.

#4: Coming Out to His Family

“Pine Barrens”
Although Guillermo spends nearly all of his time with the vampires, we also get to see some touching scenes with his family. His struggle with telling them about his sexuality had been hinted at a few times before this season four episode. When he invites his family over to the house he thinks is empty, Guillermo pretends Nadja is his girlfriend. But being descendants of Van Helsing, the de la Cruz fam are overtaken by their vampire killing instincts. In the process of preventing them from staking Nadja, Guillermo reveals his desire to be a vampire himself, along with the fact that he’s gay. It might not be the most ideal way to come out, it’s still a sweet moment of love and acceptance.

#3: Standing Up to Nandor

“The Portrait”
Guillermo and Nandor have gotten into plenty of spats, though they always make up. But one intense and pretty hilarious fight at the end of season three gets physical. Nandor decides to leave home and travel the world, but doesn’t invite Guillermo along. With Nadja and Laszlo headed for England and Colin Robinson presumably deceased, it seems like the familiar-turned-bodyguard will be left on his own. He confronts Nandor, showing him that he’s stronger than the vampire thinks. Guillermo’s viciousness impresses Nandor, who was supposedly testing Guillermo. The fight is a standout moment in Guillermo’s arc — as well as giving Nandermo shippers out there a fantastic scene.

#2: Leaving Cannon Capital like a Boss

“The Promotion”
In the final season of “What We Do in the Shadows,” Guillermo finds a new job in the mailroom of Cannon Capital Strategies. Thanks to Nadja, he quickly moves up the ranks, becoming an assistant and then an analyst. In the penultimate episode, he dismisses Nandor’s suspicions that this new boss, Jordan, isn’t the great guy he’s made out to be. Jordan gets Guillermo’s hopes up for a bigger promotion but later backtracks and mocks him, proving he doesn’t actually value him. But Guillermo threatens to report his insider trading to the government and reveals he has tons of receipts. It’s a total boss move that leads to an endearing moment.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Inspiring His Master, “Citizenship”

We All Need a Hypeman Like Guillermo

Attending the Pride Parade, “Pride Parade”

A Brief Yet Adorable Scene

Saving Nandor, “The Wellness Center”

Guillermo Rescues His Reluctant Master from a Cult

Being Sassy, Various

He Likes to Throw Shade & We’re Here for It

Becoming a Vampire, “Exit Interview”

Guillermo’s Short-Lived but Thrilling Moment

#1: Debuting His Vampire-Killing Skills

“Nouveau Théâtre des Vampires”
Out of all Guillermo’s coolest moments, the epic reveal of his Van Helsing skills takes the stake. Nandor, Nadja, Laszlo, and Colin Robinson are all invited to the exclusive Nouveau Théâtre des Vampires event. But Guillermo’s not there to tell them this is a trap set by the Vampiric Council. The council accuses them of dispatching fellow vampires including the Hustle Dynasty family and several assassins. Of course, we know these deaths are from Guillermo’s accidental slaying sprees. In fact, most of his killings are to protect his nocturnal housemates. As always, he comes to their rescue, except this time he goes all out. It’s one helluva way to show vampires that he’s a vampire killer.



What moments made you fall in love with Guillermo? Sound off in the comments.