What We Do In The Shadows: Nadja’s Transformation Over The Seasons (In Pictures) (2024)

Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the FX show What We Do in the Shadows.

The ongoing fourth season of the hilarious mockumentary, What We Do in the Shadows, continues to showcase the vampires’ wacky antics. Nadja is having a particularly challenging time in the latest season, as it’s not easy running a nightclub full of disgruntled wraiths. The fan-favorite vampire has been through a lot over the years, but has only become an exaggerated version of herself in the process.

There are some constants about Nadja’s character that have stayed the same, which include her loving relationship with Laszlo, her insistence on always being right, and her witty insults and shocking outbursts. Some minor changes mark important moments in her character’s development, like the way she’s more open to helping Guillermo or how she has become more powerful in the latest episodes.

Season 1

Nadja’s unique brand of humor and gut-busting personality is established in the first season, with one of the first few things fans learn about her being her long marriage to Laszlo. They’re undoubtedly the best couple in WWDITS, but that doesn’t stop Nadja from occasionally straying for her long-time lover, Gregor. The unforgettable storyline with Gregor has made him an irreplaceable recurring character in the series, as he brings out a different side of Nadja.

Aside from her romantic exploits, the first season also shows how important her reputation and standing within the vampire community are to Nadja. When they’re tasked with hosting that year’s orgy, she does everything she can to make sure it’s perfect and avoid eternal embarrassment – it predictably fails. Her arrogance and short temper are highlighted through that arc, which also shows that she’s not always impressed by Laszlo’s actions and decisions. Finally, a few episodes highlight the beginning of her tumultuous relationship with the Vampiric Council, which sentences her and the housemates to death before the season is over.

Season 2

Nadja knows a few weird characters in the supernatural community, which is displayed when she manages to contact the necromancer Wallace when the gang runs into a problem with their new Familiar. Her ability to make new connections is also highlighted when she summons her own ghost and then gets along so well with her that she becomes a permanent fixture in the show. That said, she also makes a lot of enemies, which is why she’s quick to scream at her elderly neighbor Joan when she learns about her stolen necklace.

Another enemy, Lilith the witch, prompts Nadja’s most iconic scene in the series, as she recounts how her rival deserves “five spits for an enemy.” The arc further explores the imperfections in Nadja and Laszlo’s marriage, which is once again strengthened when Colin convinces them to perform their hit songs in a bar. Nadja’s sensitivity about her childhood is also revealed when a rift between her and Nandor is formed after she finds out that he pillaged her village. She is fond of talking about her humble roots, even if it sounds like a horrific experience for regular humans.

Season 3

The beginning of the third season of the series revolves around the powerful Guillermo who is a Van Helsing, which makes Nadja furious about the fact that her housemates don’t want to immediately kill him. Her quick decision highlights how unappreciative and brutal she can be, which is again displayed later on when she kills a disobedient vampire to prove a point for the Vampiric Council. Her back and forth with Nandor about which of them should rule the council is a major plot point of the season, which also happens to emphasize her callousness.

When the Sire is accidentally released, Nadja manipulates Nandor into thinking it’s his fault, even though she played a part in it. All her stress and busy work has left her ghost feeling neglected, which causes a dramatic sequence when she runs away from home. The messy circ*mstance helps Nadja realize that she has been ignoring her needs, too. This idea is thrown out the window when she receives an invitation to join the Supreme Vampiric Council in London, though, which is an offer that only a select few gets.

Season 4

In the fourth season of the series, Nadja is more powerful than ever, with her tantrums and outbursts having physical effects and shattering objects around her. Everyone knows at this point that what she wants, she gets, so when she demands to start a nightclub, the gang rallies behind her to make it happen. Her latest antics have to do with running the business, which has already encountered challenges like the Richie Suck situation and the increasingly dissatisfied wraiths.

An important part of her character development this season has been her bizarre kindness towards Guillermo. When she sees how stressed out he is over Nandor’s wedding, she actually decides to help by taking on some of his tasks. This is totally uncharacteristic of her, which is why it’s weird to see her follow up by supporting him again when his family comes over. She swallows her pride and pretends to be his girlfriend so that he doesn’t get in trouble and then hypnotizes his family to forget his confession about being a Familiar. It’s interesting to see her warm up to others while still keeping her ruthless and unpredictable side.

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