WhenWhat We Do in the Shadowshit theaters in the U.S. back in 2015, it became an immediate hit. Created by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, the mockumentary brought something fresh to an otherwise stagnant subgenre, and is today regarded as one of the best horror comedies ever made. The spin-off series of the same name that hit FX in 2019 enjoyed similar,if not greater success, but in between the two, there was another short-lived spin-off you may have either missed, or forgotten about completely:Wellington Paranormal.
Starring Mike Minogue and Karen O’Leary as Officers Minogue and O’Leary from the feature film,Wellington Paranormaltraces a group of New Zealand police investigators who track supernatural events, including cases of demon possession, haunted houses, and blood bank robberies. Lasting for four seasons and a Christmas special, the series maintains the mockumentary format as it introduces viewers to a new crop of hilarious threats, and while it’s been available to stream on Hulu for a while, fans can also check it out now on its new streaming home ofHBO Max.
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Also starring Maaka Pohatu and Tom Sainsbury,Wellington Paranormalfeatured Clement lending his voice to Mobot, and Rhys Darby reprising his character of Anton fromWhat We Do in the Shadows. However, it was O’Leary and Minogue who were front and center in this one, and rightfully so. Their bumbling antics and the way they approached the paranormal endeared them to viewers, who praised the series for being hilarious and wholesome as it explored ridiculous plots like zombies in a supermarket, and parodied such greats asInvasion of the Body Snatchers.
‘Wellington Paranormal’ Is About So Much More Than It Seems
Debuting on The CW back in 2021,Wellington Paranormalwas first broadcast on TVNZ 2 in New Zealand in 2018. Though it only lasted for 25 episodes, it clearly left its markon the horror comedy subgenre, as is evident by its 98% Rotten Tomatoes score. Critic Valerie Ettenhofer from Film School Rejects called it a “drolly-funny cross-genre series with all the trappings of a cult classic,” and it’s indeed become just that. Daniel Kurland from Bloody Disgusting was another who had high praise for the series, writing:
“Wellington Paranormal is more than just a hackneyed spin-off and it contains some of the best jokes and strongest writing out of the entirety of the What We Do in the Shadows universe.”
Also called “refreshingly silly and never pretentious” by critic Brian Tallerico from RogerEbert.com,Wellington Paranormalis best summed up as a blend ofThe OfficeandThe X-Files, but it’s so much more. While it’s choked full of laughs and absurdity, underneath are themes of xenophobia, bureaucratic maladroitness, and the banality of the inexplicable, all which work to create a series that’s as funny as it is thought-provoking. Trust us, the episodes may be short, but when examined under a microscope, you’ll quickly realize that Clement and Waititi have a lot to say.
All four seasons ofWellington Paranormal, including the Christmas special, are now available to stream on HBO Max.
Source:HBO Max
Wellington Paranormal
Wellington Paranormal is a comedy series that follows Officers Minogue and O’Leary of the Wellington Police as they investigate supernatural occurrences in their city. The show blends elements of crime procedural and paranormal with a humorous undertone, featuring characters who handle unusual phenomena with a deadpan approach. Set in New Zealand, it showcases quirky scenarios while maintaining a lighthearted narrative throughout the episodes.
