Kayvan Novak stormed the stage in the Westin Peachtree Ballroom on Friday at 1PM, arms raised, and vampire fangs bared. Behind him, Harvey Guillen slinked past, sat, and waited for the applause to end. Guillen quietly deadpanned: “Anywhere he goes, I go.” Applause erupted again, because if you know What We Do in the Shadows, you know this entrance captures the award-winning show’s sweet core: the relationship between Novak’s Nandor the Relentless and his long-suffering human familiar, Guillermo, played by Guillen.
Created by Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi and based on their 2014 film of the same name, Shadows follows the lives of a several old vampires residing on Staten Island as they navigate a modern world. Emmy nominated in 2020, 2022, and 2024 for Outstanding Comedy Series, it’s funny, campy, and often gross, but as Guillen said, it’s a “comedy with heart.” Novak said he was “delighted every time” he opened a new script. The writers spoiled them with twists and turns and kept the humor central. So did the actors. Novak and Guillen’s chemistry, comradery, and genuine friendship color an electric rapport, and they effortlessly jumped in and out of character. When Novak’s name card fell, he nicely told the moderator—Sammi Doneff—that he would get it, then handed it to Guillen because once a familiar, always a familiar.
Talk about a treat of a panel.
Novak and Guillen discussed stunts, guest stars, the set, and of course, a vampire’s appetite for virgins. Guillen, whose character descends from Van Helsing, recounted being tested on whether he could do his own stunts, which started with showcasing his normal walking skills, and Novak called Haley Joel Osment, who guest starred as Topher, a great actor.
Across the board, Guillen said they had a “cool set, cool clothes.” He especially loved his original coffin and Nandor’s room, from he which kept a lamp alongside Guillermo’s signature glasses, some sweaters, and his original Cassio watch. He can now cosplay as his character, though people have called him out for doing a half-ass job while not realizing he was the actual Guillermo. Novak obviously loves his fangs, and, slipping into Nandor’s Eastern-European inspired voice and staring out at the audience, said he “might get peckish.”
Shadows just finished filming its sixth, and final season (premiering October 21), and joking, but not joking, Novak referred to Guillen, saying, “Guess I’ll miss him most of all.” Both were emphatic in their love of the cast, crew, and the shared joy they found in cracking each other up while ad-libbing thousands of hours of improv, an act they called “funsies.”
“It’s hard to have a bad day on our set,” Novak said, but noted that the last they shared was a sad one.
Guillen called it a “very happy, fun, bouncy” set and found it great that fans not only see that, but take comfort in the show. He talked about finding that same type of comfort from Novak when doing takes while sick.
Guillen also gave thoughtful insight into Shadows queerness and addressed the hope for romance between Nandor and Guillermo. While all the characters are clearly queer, they just live their lives, and its never made into an issue. He talked about the need for this type of open-hearted and open-mindedness in the world because the toil and turmoil associated with coming out isn’t about expressing one’s self, it’s about letting others in. Those shipping Nandor and Guillermo await answers from season six, but either way, Guillen emphasized the importance of normalizing non-sexual same-sex friendships. This type of love has a place on screen, and he likes when Guillermo and Nandor do express their feelings.
When asked about their vampiric inspirations, both Novak and Guillen talked about Interview with a Vampire. Guillen went further back, citing Carmilla, a gothic novella published in 1872. Sadly, they did not get to meet any of the guest actors who played Vampiric Council members: Tilda Swinton, Wesley Snipes, Evan Rachel Wood, etc.—all chosen for having played vampires in other works.
Novak said, “Nandor has been such a gift for me as an actor,” and Guillen praised his skills as an impressionist. While he didn’t do any for the audience, he did play human beat box to Guillen, who said he would want to be a merman, and they joked about luring sailors with song.
They also competed over who could scream “Dragon Con 2024” better or the most times, asked the audience if they would watch a Nandor and Guillermo spin-off or podcast, and perfectly captured their characters when listing what they’d be in therapy for.
“How to say no,” Guillen said.
“Co-dependency and mass-murder,” Novak said.
This panel may have been about showing love to Novak and Guillen, but they gave that love right back. Backstage, Guillen, who attended Dragon Con previously suggested Novak join this year, called Dragon Con people “by far the most loving.” Novak agreed when asked about how Dragon Con stacks up in a world overrun with Cons, saying enthusiasm is next level and this may be the best Con of the year.
Dragon Con agrees. And guests like Novak and Guillen make Dragon Con.
