WELLINGTON PARANORMAL: WHEN THE SPINOFF SURPASSES THE ORIGINAL

When Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement’s story of vampire housemates in New Zealand, What We Do In The Shadows, pulled an immediate cult following, there was the predictable demand for more. What followed initially looked like a quick pet-project that Taika put together just as he was being asked to help correct the course of the Thor franchise on the other side of the ocean.

Wellington Paranormal has been summarized as “X-Files, but in a town where nothing happens.” Being that it is based in the quiet city of Wellington, the southern-most on the north island of New Zealand. The first season was six-episodes featuring the bumbling police officers from What We Do In The Shadows, Officer Minogue (Mike Minogue) and O’Leary (Karen O’Leary). Except instead of being hypnotized by incompetent creatures of the night, they are drawn into the wider world of the strange and silly by their over-enthusiastic boss, Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu). Their generally mis-guided professionalism and cluelessness ricocheting off the weird and often ineffectual supernatural entities that casual permeate Wellington creates an hilarious combination that hits the same tone and humor that fans of Taika and Flight of the Conchords have come to expect.

Officer Minogue regularly ends up out of his depth.

Meanwhile another spin off, being a series version of the original movie, more focused on the vampires rather than the location, is made by Jermaine Clement. Now based in America, it was surprisingly good, especially considering how poorly American-based spin offs of comedy shows tend to turn out. This production, having a lot more backing and advertising, while still retaining much of the original creative team had every advantage to succeed. Meanwhile Wellington Paranormal had less of the original team and much less exposure, and I feel is the better show irrespective of it.

Mike Minogue and Karen O’Leary, considering they are literally extras brought back to be stars of the show, have an amazing natural talent for the awkward, silly and clumsy humour that the series demands. They also have an impressive chemistry and a natural feeling dialogue akin to a perpetually dumbfounded Mulder and Scully.

Maaka Pohatu, as Sergeant Maaka, runs the paranormal division of Wellington Police, is an absolute joy to watch and just dominates the scene whenever he’s there. He also helps with the exposition when a monster or event relates to Maori mythology and lore.

Sergeant Maaka, possessed by the ghost of an elderly, psychotic golfer.

The variety of story fluctuates between the popular to the obscure, where ghosts, vampires and werewolves are just as likely as Maori sea creatures, possessed clothing and invisible monsters. On top of these are also the stories styled as puns on known horror themes, like a fatberg-blob, a Maori sasquatch, and the discovery of a ‘white-person burial ground’ beneath the police station itself. Every episode is fresh and new, even the repeated use of ghosts as regular antagonists is never predictable.

This ‘monster of the week’ format has helped draw in the fans of X-Files (and similar supernatural shows) , so the show doesn’t necessarily rely on just the fans of What We Do In The Shadows and Taika’s fanbase, and has a much broader appeal. This has helped it become independent as its own thing rather than sit in the ‘Shadow’ of its predecessor forever (As the American series is likely to remain, since it shares the name).

The Kurangaituku, Bird Woman, from Maori mythology

Now in its fourth season, and it’s still keeping its light tone mixed with punchy black-comedy, and clever use of the various common and obscure mythologies. The last episode could be the perfect finishing point, being the classic time-travel plot, calling back on previous stories as they alter the timeline, there is currently no news to confirm whether there are future plans or if they’ve moved on to other things for good. I hope there is more to come, provided they can keep the quality up to the same standard.

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