WELLINGTON PARANORMAL
The truth is Down Under
UK Sky Comedy/now, streaming now Creators Jemaine Clement,
Taika Waititi
Cast Karen O’leary, Mike Minogue, Maaka Pohatu, Thomas Sainsbury
New Zealand-set vampire comedy What We Do In The Shadows has become quite the franchise-spawner since its 2014 release, birthing not only a loosely rebooted TV series but also this mockumentary show following two coppers on the beat in the tiny city of Wellington.
Both popped up in the original film and make a welcome return in these 20-minute tales. They’re a little more clued-in to the supernatural world now (even joking that they’re Mulder and Scully), but they’re still just as impotent when it comes to dealing with it… Mainly because they’re both really bloody stupid.
The matter-of-fact Officer O’leary (Karen O’leary) is the true star. “Stop that, it’s a bit scary,” she politely asks a demon in the first episode, and remains relatively unfazed as the show goes on – despite facing everything from alien clones to sea monsters to Satan (who, in a Christmas special, turns up in a shopping mall dressed as Santa).
Her partner is Officer Kyle Minogue (“The ‘e’ is silent”), played by Mike Minogue. His sheer stupidity sometimes grates, but he’s also genuinely funny (much of the dialogue is improvised). Rounding off the cast is Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu), who sends them on their missions but can’t resist getting involved himself.
As is the nature with an improvised show, not all the jokes land, and things don’t really hit their stride until season two – which also seems to have a bigger effects budget. But the combination of laid-back Kiwi humour and the down-to-earth attitude of these loveable mooks quickly becomes addictive. Jayne Nelson
Look up “New Zealand Police” on Youtube for a series of silly Covid-19 information films hosted by the show’s characters.