The following contains spoilers for What We Do in the Shadows Season 4, Episode 7, "Pine Barrens," which debuted Tuesday, Aug. 16 on FX.
One of the most intriguing aspects on What We Do in the Shadows has always been the concept of sexuality. The Staten Island vampires have definitely been fluid, making it clear they don't believe in labels, which is why Guillermo's comfortable with them. As the show progressed, this helped Guillermo on his own journey as a queer person, reminding the familiar that no matter how frustrated or shady their kinship got, they'd always be his tribe.
Now, while it was never stated outright, his crush on Nandor, as well as Guillermo's new long-distance relationship in Season 4, already had fans knowing Guillermo's orientation. Still, Guillermo decided to finally state his truth out loud, which was a powerful moment folks waited on for years. And make no mistake, it fit the brand of the series in a comedic way that proved how deft WWDITS can be at handling nuanced topics without losing its hilarious essence.
Guillermo's big moment occurred when his family visited the mansion and ended up meeting Nadja. Guillermo lied and said Nadja was his girlfriend, but their Van Helsing blood got triggered, causing them to try to kill her. A brawl ensued, so Guillermo spilled the news that Nadja wasn't his girlfriend -- she was a vamp he grew to care for as a friend.
He also came out the closet as a distraction; however, rather than pass judgement, his family affirmed that they'd known for some time. In fact, this never changed their affection towards him, which led to a group hug and one of the show's most sentimental moments. Even Guillermo's bully of a cousin, Miguel, embraced him, letting him know "familia es familia," cementing how strong their bond was as a sentimental unit who'd always have each other's back.
What was so brilliant about this was the moment had emotional heft, warmth, compassion and empathy, yet the family was more concerned with Guillermo trying to cozy up to the vamps and be turned. To them, that was frowned upon, which continued to paint the creatures of the night as taboo -- an element the series prides itself on. Thus, rather than dwell on Guillermo, they immediately ignored him and began trying to stake Nadja again. This didn't feel cheap, cheesy or tokenized, though, because by treating him so flippantly, the show normalized Guillermo being queer, while reminding fans he'll always be ignored.
The main concern being Nadja didn't even diminish the nuance, though -- it spoke to acceptance in a funny yet poignant manner that still left Guillermo feeling like he'd always be loved and welcomed, no matter what. Of course, couching it all with chaos and attempted murder was just the icing on the cake, confirming that while it was important for Guillermo to come out on his terms, there were more important things to tend to. Ultimately, trolling fans who waited on this moment continued the show's signature running gag of never giving Guillermo the spotlight he sometimes feels he deserves, which he has accepted as the natural order of his life.
What We Do in the Shadows airs Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. on FX.