If you were watching FX on a random Wednesday night in May 2019, you probably choked on your drink. It happened during "The Trial," the seventh episode of the first season of What We Do in the Shadows. Our main trio of Staten Island idiots—Nandor, Nadja, and Laszlo—are being judged by the International Vampiric Council.
Then the camera pans.
There he is. Sitting right between Danny Trejo and Evan Rachel Wood. It’s Paul Reubens. He’s got the long, stringy black hair, the goatee, and that look of utter, flamboyant boredom. For a lot of people, it was a "wait, is that Pee-wee Herman?" moment. But for the horror nerds, it was something much deeper. He wasn't just playing a random vampire. He was reprising a role from a movie that almost everyone—including the show’s creators—had tucked away in a dusty corner of their brains.
Paul Reubens What We Do in the Shadows: More Than Just a Guest Spot
The genius of Paul Reubens What We Do in the Shadows appearance is the meta-layer. The show’s internal logic is that if you have ever played a vampire in a movie or TV show, it’s because you are actually a vampire in real life. Tilda Swinton is there because of Only Lovers Left Alive. Wesley Snipes is on a grainy Skype call because of Blade.
Paul Reubens was there because of Amilyn.
If that name doesn't ring a bell, you need to go back to 1992. Before Sarah Michelle Gellar was the Slayer, there was the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie starring Kristy Swanson. Paul Reubens played Amilyn, the primary henchman to the big bad, Lothos. He was basically a 90s skater-goth nightmare with a flair for the dramatic.
The coolest part? According to series co-creator Jemaine Clement, Reubens actually brought his own wig to the set of What We Do in the Shadows. He had kept that original hairpiece from the Buffy movie for nearly 30 years. He told the crew it was the coolest he had ever felt in a role. Honestly, seeing him slide back into that skin so effortlessly was a masterclass in character acting. He didn't need a lot of lines. Just the vibe.
Why Jemaine Clement Almost Missed the Connection
Here’s a fun bit of trivia: Jemaine Clement actually forgot Paul Reubens was in Buffy.
When they were brainstorming who to put on the council, they wanted "famous" vampires. They had the big hitters on the list. But Reubens was so "in disguise" in that 1992 film that it didn't immediately click for Clement. Once the connection was made, it became a priority. Reubens wasn't just a funny guy; he was a pioneer of that specific brand of campy, weirdo humor that Shadows thrives on.
His character in the show is simply credited as "Paul." It’s a legal workaround. They couldn't technically call him Amilyn without jumping through hoops with Joss Whedon or the studio that owns the Buffy film rights. But we all knew. The goatee gave it away.
The Legendary Death Scene Connection
You can't talk about Paul Reubens as a vampire without talking about "The Death." In the original Buffy movie, Amilyn has what is widely considered the greatest, most obnoxious death scene in cinema history.
He gets staked. Most vampires just go poof. Not Amilyn.
- He moans.
- He writhes on the floor.
- He kicks his legs like a toddler having a tantrum.
- He makes "ooh, ahh, ouch" noises for a solid minute.
- He even shows up in the end credits, still dying.
When he showed up in the Vampiric Council, it felt like a nod to that resilience. Even though his character died (repeatedly) in 1992, here he was in 2019, sitting in a velvet chair in a secret chamber, judging other vampires. It’s that kind of deep-cut fan service that turned the show from a cult hit into a mainstream powerhouse.
Why It Still Matters Today
Paul Reubens passed away in 2023. It hit the comedy world hard because he was a "weirdo's weirdo." He gave people permission to be strange.
Looking back at his stint on the Vampiric Council, it’s a reminder of his range. Most people only saw the grey suit and the red bowtie. They saw the "ha-ha!" laugh. But in the Shadows universe, he was part of the royalty. He stood his ground next to Tilda Swinton, who is arguably one of the most intimidating actors on the planet, and he held the screen.
The episode "The Trial" remains the highest-rated of the first season. A huge part of that is the "Who's Who" of the council, but Reubens provided the soul of it. He represented the campy, low-budget, slightly ridiculous history of vampire media that What We Do in the Shadows loves to satirize and celebrate at the same time.
How to Spot the Easter Eggs
If you’re going back for a rewatch, keep your eyes peeled. The interaction between "Paul" and the rest of the council is subtle.
He’s the one who seems most annoyed by Wesley Snipes’ bad internet connection. There's a moment where he looks like he’s about to deliver one of those classic Amilyn one-liners—like "Kill him a lot!"—but he keeps it professional. It’s a "heightened version" of himself, which is exactly what the show asked of its guest stars.
Take Action: How to Experience the Reubens Legacy
If this trip down memory lane has you missing the man in the cape, here is how to properly dive back in:
- Watch (or Rewatch) "The Trial": It's Season 1, Episode 7 of What We Do in the Shadows. Focus on the Council scene; the chemistry between those actors is lightning in a bottle.
- Find the 1992 Buffy Movie: Ignore the critics. It’s not the TV show, and it’s not trying to be. Watch it specifically for Reubens. His performance is the best thing in it.
- Check out the 2026 Documentary: If you want the full picture of the man behind the vampire, the recent documentaries covering his life—including his private battles and his influence on Gen X—are essential viewing.
Paul Reubens' legacy isn't just a suit or a laugh. It's the fact that he could show up in a show about vampires in Staten Island, wear a 30-year-old wig, and make us all feel like we were in on the joke.