If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
While vampires will forever be my favourite, I’m also a fan of a good vampire hunter. And Guillermo de la Cruz from What We Do in the Shadows is a great one. Keep reading to find out why…
5. He earns the vampires’ respect
Guillermo starts out as vampire Nandor’s familiar, which he describes as being a cross between a best friend and a slave. At first, Guillermo is overlooked, disrespected, and taken for granted. Vampire Laszlo usually can’t even be bothered to use his name, calling him Gizmo instead. By the end of Season 4, Guillermo is a vampire hunter, Nandor’s bodyguard, a parent figure to baby Colin, and is essential to running vampire Nadja’s nightclub. As a human, he’ll never be seen as an equal, but when it comes to the vampires who live with him, he’s as close as any human can get.
4. The Vampires Would Be Lost without Him
Although (adult) Colin Robinson seems fairly competent, it’s Guillermo who keeps the vampires’ lives running smoothly. He maintains the household, takes care of the vampires’ (sometimes bizarre) needs and requests, is their liaison to the modern world, protects them, and more. When Guillermo leaves for a few weeks, Nandor ends up begging him to come back. He can also dismember a body, which is a handy skill to have when you live with vampires.
3. He’s a Survivor
Guillermo might be one of the only familiars to not die prematurely. Nadja and Laszlo’s familiars never last long; meanwhile, Guillermo has been with Nandor for ten years. He’s also (presumably) the only survivor of a group of familiars who are ambushed and slaughtered. He also makes it through a gladiatorial-style setup at the Night Market, where familiars are pitted against one another for entertainment (and again, don’t seem to last long). Nandor does have an older familiar who apparently retired, so maybe he’s the only vampire to take care of his familiars. Still, he’s not always around, and yet Guillermo endures.
2. He’s a Van Helsing
When he gets the results of a DNA test, Guillermo finds out he’s a distant descendant of Abraham Van Helsing. At first he thinks it’s a funny coincidence, but quickly realizes there might be something to it, in part because he’s already killed two vampires. While those deaths could reasonably have been called accidents, Guillermo tests the theory by practising with stakes, before moving on to killing the vampires who keep showing up at the house to kill Nandor, Nadja, and Laszlo. And he’s good at it. Really good. Guillermo can take down an entire room of vampires without breaking a sweat. When he’s forced into a gladiatorial match against Nandor, he proves that he could take down Nandor too (he doesn’t, though). Apparently Guillermo is a natural born vampire killer.
1. He’s Not Your Usual Hero
One of the best things about Guillermo is that he’s no typical superhero. He’s soft-spoken, wears glasses (because he needs them– not as a disguise) and sweater vests, is on the chubby side, and isn’t overly tall. And he kicks ass. You’d never have to worry about a vampire attack if he’s nearby. Buffy was also supposed to be an unconventional hero because she’s– gasp!– a girl! Okay, it was a big deal at the time (and much needed), but Buffy still ticks all the other usual hero boxes: she’s conventionally attractive, fit, fashionable, wisecracking– she’s supposed to be a teenager but never even gets a pimple. She’s basically Miss Stereotypical All-American. Well, Guillermo is American too– just not what people tend to think of, which is, of course, the point. Toward the end of season 4, Guillermo also comes out as gay– another attribute not generally associated with heroes (Marvel/DC are only just starting to introduce LGBTQ+ supers, and somehow it’s considered controversial). Is Guillermo what most people think of when they picture a vampire hunter? No, and that’s awesome.
Bonus: Guillermo wants to be a vampire, even after realizing he’s a born vampire hunter. If he ever gets his wish, it’ll be interesting to see how those two opposing sides of him fight it out.
What do you think of Guillermo, or vampire hunters in general? Share your thoughts in the comments…
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Considering how much of it exists in the world, it’s surprising (or maybe not) that blood banks are perpetually short of their key product. Blood and blood components are needed to help people with various medical conditions (including those with blood cancers), for surgery, and for emergency situations, like during childbirth or after a car accident. When there isn’t enough blood to go around, the consequences are devastating. So today’s post is to ask you to please consider donating blood, if you can– it takes only about 30 minutes. You’ll be rewarded with the warm sense of having done some good in the world (and a treat).
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Aspasía S. Bissas 