It’s no secret that io9 is basically a Doug Jones Fan Club: we loved him in Star Trek: Discovery as Saru, and his turns in classic movies like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Hellboy, and Hocus Pocus showcase a performer able to convey subtle emotions even when covered in prosthetic make-up. But Baron Afanas, the ancient bloodsucker Jones plays on What We Do in the Shadows, might be our all-time favorite Jones character, just because of how hard he makes us laugh every time he’s on screen.
This week’s What We Do in the Shadows, “Come Out and Play,” is structured around the Baron receiving an “Eternal Lifetime Achievement Award,” then veers into a blend of The Warriors (that title’s no accident) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Needless to say, it’s top-tier episode, and we were not going to miss the chance to talk to Jones all about it.
Mild plot spoilers if you haven’t watched “Come Out and Play” yet!
Cheryl Eddy, io9: Episode nine, “Come Out and Play,” is my favorite of the season so far, and is definitely on the list of all-time great What We Do in the Shadows episodes. Not coincidentally, season one episode “Baron’s Night Out” is also on that list. What do you think it is about the Baron that just ups the comedy when he’s part of the story?
Doug Jones: From an audience perspective—I shouldn’t speak for them, but what I hear from the audience when I do the convention circuit, for instance, I’ll hear a lot of feedback from fans. I think people love vampires and they love vampire tropes and we are just making ruthless fun of them. And so here comes the Baron who would be sort of like the Nosferatu of this group. He’s the kind of the daddy-o of them all, of this particular family of vampires. And the fact that he’s every bit as doofus-y and stupid as the rest of them is like, well, that’s just genius, right? None of us know our way around.
And I have not helped them conquer anything outside of Staten Island anyway. But he’s so full of himself. He thinks that he’s all that, but he’s a massive underachiever. So there’s something funny about that. And [the way he speaks], bumbling his way through the English language, has been a joy for me personally. And it seems to land well because people quote me all the time when I see them.
io9: What do you think of the Baron’s leadership skills? Do you think he has what it takes to unite the vampires and take over the world, as he claims in “Come Out and Play”?
Jones: I don’t know. He sure thinks he does. But I think, if anything, this gathering of all the vampires in the New York area probably was a little wake-up call. Have we been doing all that we set out to do? We did get comfortable. We did get awfully comfortable for a minute there. And maybe we need to conquer more. So asserting his power and getting rid of Jerry and then getting all the other vampires to support him now—I think he’s taken the reins, finally. Maybe.
© Russ Martin/FXio9: We almost always see you in roles where your face is covered in prosthetics and make-up, including Saru on Star Trek: Discovery. What’s it like getting to play the Baron a lot less of that as part of your performance?
Jones: Well, I am known for my rubber bits over the 38-year career I’ve had so far. But the Baron has had four different looks throughout the series. We had the wrinkly version with the pointy ears at the beginning. That got burned to a crisp and broken in half, so then there was that little charcoal briquette version of him. And then he gets revived to me with a wig, basically. That gets burned again—but this time just a slight crispy with no hair. And then, rejuvenated back to myself again because of my precious little froggy babies and what they secrete. So it’s been such a journey with all the looks with him.
I do enjoy just me with the wig probably the most for comfort’s sake. And I think the Baron with platinum white blond hair and the beauty makeup they throw on me and the bows and the hair and the fabulous clothes—he is like vampire plus, you know what I mean? And even Matt Berry [who plays Laszlo], the first time he saw me rejuvenated on set, I think was the wedding episode in season four, when I when I was revealed and kind of upstaged the bride at her own wedding, as the Baron would want to do. Matt was looking at me and he said, “You look like more like a vampire than any of us.” So I think he does have a very classic sort of vampire look to him with my rejuvenated self. And I do love the fabulousness of him.
io9: His costume in episode nine, right down to the shoes, was very nice.
Jones: Did you love the gold shoes? I actually wore those gold shoes in the wedding episode in season four, and the costume department let me keep them. And so for this one, they were constructing this beautiful outfit for me to present to all the vampires in episode nine, and they sent me an email: “Can you bring those shoes back?” “Yes, yes, yes.”
io9: I love the Baron and the Sire’s relationship. We don’t see too much of it, but we know a cozy situation going on there. What do you think daily life is like for them and what’s the cornerstone of that relationship other than they’re both vampires?
Jones: Right? And one’s a complete monster with wings! I get an Ozzie and Harriet vibe, if you’re going to go way back to classic television. I think that’s what makes it so funny, is that we are two ridiculous characters that are living a simple, happy life in a country household. You know, our AirBnb, where we eat our guests. So I think when you have these fantastical, powerful monster beasts living a simple life and just doing daily tasks and making lunch for each other and petting the dog, that’s what makes it funny. Aw, the Hellhound is such a sweet golden retriever. How could you be afraid of that?
io9: The Alexander Skarsgård cameo in “Come Out and Play” is hilarious. What was filming that like?
Jones: I’m a fan of the entire Skarsgård family. And in fact, Bill Skarsgård is going to be playing Nosferatu in December with that movie. And I did a Nosferatu movie that just came out recently on Amazon and Apple TV. But actually instead of feeling competitive, I’m very excited to see what he does with the same character that I played.
So Alexander is this strapping, tall, handsome man who we all know from the vampire world, and nobody in this entire arena of all of our background actors that played all these different gangs of vampires—no one knew he was coming. So when he showed it up, everybody was like [imitates excited noises]. And there he was looking like his gorgeous self from True Blood.
You expect a tall, handsome leading man type to come in and be good. But he was hilariously funny. We’re all encouraged to go off script and boy did he, and the banter we had back and forth was just delicious to ping pong with him. It was a lovely surprise all around and a treat for anyone who knows vampires.
© Russ Martin/FXio9: What’s been your favorite thing about being a part of What We Do in the Shadows?
Jones: Over my 38-year career, I’ve had so much time in rubber bits, and I’ve been in a lot of dark material. When you add comedy to it, it changes the game entirely. You’re doing all this for the funny instead of for the scares. Now the show does have its scares, but they end up being funny, you know? So it’s like it still comes out with a different vibe for me personally.
Because I’ve been through so much transformation in my career over the years, there’s only been a few times that I’ve looked forward to going to work because it’s going to be such a great day. And this show has—every time, every day on this show, no matter what my look has been over the years—I look forward to going to work every day because we get to laugh all day. That makes all the difference for me.
io9: And I’ve got one Star Trek question for the end here. Do you see a future for a return to Saru after Discovery‘s end, like in Starfleet Academy or another show, or are you satisfied with where you left the character?
Jones: Both of those things. I’m very satisfied with where we left Saru. His career and his love life are happily ever after now. It’s a great place to end for him. But the number one question I get now is, “Will we see Saru again?” Everybody’s asking. The one show that he could guest star on would be Starfleet Academy because it takes place in the same timeline. But that call’s not come yet. If it did, I would be akin to hearing them out. Yes.
What We Do in the Shadows airs new episodes Mondays on FX; they stream the next day on Hulu.
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