Doug Jones Talks Baron Afanas Award Moment and Surprise Guest Star in What We Do in the Shadows
In a recent episode of What We Do in the Shadows, the eccentric Baron Afanas (Doug Jones) was set to receive an Eternal Lifetime Achievement Award, but as expected in the world of FX’s hit mockumentary, things quickly spiraled into chaos.
The Baron’s prestigious moment took a turn when his “kids” – the Staten Island vampires Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Lazslo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) – joined him on stage. When presenter Jerry (Mike O’Brien), a disgruntled former roommate, took the mic, he didn’t hold back, criticizing the Baron for failing to fulfill his grand ambitions of conquering the continent. The confrontation escalated when Lazslo’s monster responded by crushing Jerry’s head, setting off a wild, gang-like chase around New York City, reminiscent of The Warriors. The vampires, now on the run, are forced to rely on Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), their former familiar, for help.
Doug Jones, who portrays Baron Afanas, shared with TV Insider that the character’s ego and self-absorption were key to his reaction. “The Baron knows he’s kind of right,” Jones explained. “It was a wake-up call for him to realize that, yes, he has leadership skills, but he has not been using them all this time.”
While the Baron eventually acknowledges Jerry’s critique, he uses Lazslo’s monster to reassert his dominance and lay down the law. Jones noted that this revelation marks the Baron’s acceptance of his love for a quieter life in New Jersey with The Sire and Guillermo, living in peace and running an Airbnb.
Jones also reflected on the episode’s transformation, where the Baron begins to look more like himself, saying, “To have the Baron go through a transformation where he’s looking more like me is a perfect transition.” Known for his extensive career in prosthetics and special effects makeup, Jones appreciated the rare opportunity to appear without layers of makeup for this role.
The episode also featured a surprise appearance by Alexander Skarsgård, best known for his role as Eric Northman on True Blood. Skarsgård’s appearance added a comedic twist to the show’s usual absurdities. While it’s unclear if Skarsgård’s character is meant to be Eric, Jones spoke fondly of their time together on set. “He pulled the funny out too... We played a lot on the show, and he came up with some brilliant little bits,” Jones shared.
Skarsgård also offered a humorous statement via FX, joking that he had no memory of shooting the episode, attributing it to being hypnotized by Dr. Laszlo Cravensworth (Matt Berry) at the wrap party. He even started a fan page for the character, declaring, “I have since started a YouTube fan page for him. It’s called ‘Because you’re Cravens-worth.’”
This memorable episode of What We Do in the Shadows continues the show’s tradition of mixing supernatural chaos with hilarious moments, with Jones’ portrayal of the Baron once again proving to be a fan favorite.
