Simon

## Simon the Devious

**Simon the Devious** is the leader of the Manhattan vampires and The Leather Skins. He appears in the *What We Do in the Shadows* TV series.

## Biography

### Early Life

Circa 1861, Simon travelled to New York on the same ship as Nadja and Laszlo, and during the journey, had a romantic relationship with Nadja. Simon parted ways with them and settled in Manhattan, where he became king of the vampires there, opening a vampire nightclub called the Sassy Cat Club. The Staten Island vampires would frequent his club during the 1920s.

### What We Do in the Shadows, Season 1: 2019

After being tasked to take over the new world by The Baron, the Staten Island vampires plan to join forces with Simon. Though Nadja and Laszlo have not seen Simon since 1976, they, along with Nandor, Colin and Guillermo visit him at the Sassy Cat Club. Simon agrees to assist them in taking over New York, but only if Laszlo hands over his witch skin hat, which he had been admiring on their journey from London back in the 1800s. Simon’s crew, the Leather Skins, intimidate Laszlo into handing it over, but Simon goes back on his deal once he has it in his possession, kicking them out of the nightclub. As they leave, Simon fires a flaming arrow and accidentally blows up his club, a misfortune brought on by the cursed witch skin hat. Laszlo steals the hat back from him after finding him in the hospital where he is recovering from his injuries.

### What We Do in the Shadows, Season 2: 2020

With his nightclub destroyed, Simon begins living in the sewers beneath Staten Island, secretly plotting to get the hat back. He lures Laszlo and Nadja down into the sewers and claims that aside from Count Rapula and new recruit Carol - a fellow vampire he befriended in the sewers - all of the other members of his crew have abandoned him. Upon hearing this, Nadja invites him into the Staten Island Vampire Residence, and he meets them there. Laszlo remains apprehensive of his presence in their home, convinced that Simon will try to steal the hat once again, but when he believes that he has caught him doing so, it turns out that Simon has instead constructed a present for the other vampires out of trash.

During this time, Simon secretly recruits Vampire Elvis, who was residing in the basement of the Vampire Residence, into the Leather Skins.

Not long after this, Simon calls a house meeting and demands the hat back. He and Laszlo proceed to physically fight each other over it, eventually flying back into the sewers where Simon reveals the rest of his crew. He admits that his desire for the witch skin hat was brought on by jealousy over Nadja and Laszlo's relationship, and states that not even leading the Leather Skins is fulfilling enough for him. Discovering that his foot had fused with the sewer grate beneath him when he transformed back into a human, he attempts to free himself, but ends up sinking into the liquid below. His crew abandons him to his fate, offended by his earlier speech.

### What We Do in the Shadows, Season 4: 2022

Having somehow escaped drowning in the sewers, Simon continues plotting to steal the witch skin hat from Laszlo, producing and starring in the TV show, *Go Flip Yourself*, as Bran Daltry. Laszlo submits a tape asking to be on the show, and Simon (as Bran) arrives at the Vampire Residence with the Leather Skins, disguised as a TV production crew. He promises a full renovation for the house, but only converts Nadja and Laszlo's room into a walk-in closet with a built-in hat rack, which he places the witch skin hat on before stealing it in front of everyone. He reveals himself as Simon the Devious, and makes his escape through the window. On a preview for the following episode of *Go Flip Yourself*, he turns on a gas stove and blows up an entire house with him in it, likely a result of the curse laid upon the witch skin hat in his possession.

## Appearances

* *What We Do in the Shadows* (TV series)
	+ **Season 1:** "Manhattan Night Club"
	+ **Season 2:** "The Return"
	+ **Season 4:** "Go Flip Yourself"

## References

Scharpling, Tom (writer) & Clement, Jemaine (director) (April 17, 2019). "Manhattan Night Club". *What We Do in the Shadows*. Episode 3. FX.
Clement, Jemaine (writer & director) (May 20, 2020). "The Return". *What We Do in the Shadows*. Episode 17. FX.