Television series

Wellington Paranormal

Name: Wellington Paranormal
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Horror
Released: 2018
Cast: Mike Minogue, Karen O'Leary, Maaka Pohatu, Thomas Sainsbury

A mockumentary spin-off from *What We Do in the Shadows* following two deadpan Wellington police officers investigating supernatural crimes with institutional incompetence. Gloriously dumb, absurdist, and deeply weird—New Zealand comedy at its most wonderfully unhinged. For people who find mainstream supernatural fare too serious.

TVMaze rating

3.1

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy deadpan mockumentary comedy where straight-faced cops treat supernatural callouts as routine paperwork, and you like the Shadows-style gag rhythm.

Skip it if you want genuine scares, since the horror is mostly a backdrop for jokes and the deadpan can wear thin over a full run.

What it asks of you: Half-hour episodes you can dip into, a dry and unhurried pace, and a tolerance for the same joke landing again across four seasons.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

What We Do in the Shadows2019

The parent show that shares Wellington Paranormal's tone and two main characters. A vampire mockumentary of equal wit, warmth and willingness to sit with absurdity until it becomes transcendent. Essential context and a masterclass in character-driven comedy.

But It's a vampire show, which can feel played out. The first season moves slowly; commitment required before the payoff hits.

Our Flag Means Death2022

Taika Waititi's pirate comedy with the same affectionate incompetence vibe. Ridiculous characters doing absurd things with genuine heart underneath. It knows exactly how silly it is and leans into it with complete confidence.

But Seasons vary wildly in quality. The second season lost some momentum. Tone can feel scattered between sincerity and joke.

Ghosts2019

British sitcom about a couple inheriting a haunted house full of ghosts. Similar premise—mundane characters in supernatural chaos—but leans more into heart and less into horror. Quick, clever, endlessly inventive.

But Considerably gentler and more wholesome. If you're after Wellington Paranormal's edge and weirdness, this might feel a bit safe and cozy.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Wellington Paranormal

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The Midnight Gospel2020

Both use absurdism and comedy as a vehicle to explore how people cope with chaos—bureaucratic, supernatural, or existential—while staying fundamentally human.

An animated Netflix series about a depressed podcast host who visits dying worlds with a spiritual guide. Funny, strange, and genuinely moving—about meaning and connection in the face of loss. It's utterly unique.

But It masquerades as comedy but becomes increasingly heartbreaking and heavy. Some find the animation style deliberately jarring. Not what the genre suggests.

Flight of the Conchords2007

The original Taika Waititi comedy about two hapless New Zealand musicians stumbling through life in New York. Same deadpan absurdist energy, same willingness to let silence and awkwardness be the joke. Criminally underseen.

But It's a musical comedy that hasn't aged perfectly. Pacing is glacial by modern standards. Requires patience for the mundane to become funny.

Severance2022

A mystery thriller about people working at a sinister corporation that surgically separates work and personal memory. Blends bureaucratic horror with genuine dread. Visual design is stunning and the premise is genuinely original.

But Completely different tone—genuinely unsettling rather than funny. No resolution yet and the second season took years. Not for people needing answers.

MINDHUNTER2017

Procedural thriller about early FBI profilers hunting serial killers. Slower burn but addictive, with brilliant character work and real historical depth. Feels like watching a new discipline being invented.

But Profoundly grim subject matter. Meticulous pacing means episodes crawl. Some found it slow even for a prestige show, and it's unresolved.

The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret2010

David Cross as an incompetent American trying to launch a soft drink in London. Chaotic, grotesquely awkward, and genuinely inventive. Commits fully to the premise that failure is the plot.

But Secondhand embarrassment is the entire engine—genuinely painful to watch if that's not your jam. The absurdism alienates some viewers.

The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret poster

Russian Doll2019

A woman repeatedly dies and relives the same night in New York. Darkly funny and philosophically ambitious—manages to be both a mystery and a meditation on meaning. Tonally fearless.

But Flips its format midway through and becomes something different. Second season divides fans sharply. Can feel aggressively clever.

Happy!2017

A dark comedy about a disgraced cop helped by an imaginary blue winged horse nobody else can see. Gloriously unhinged and weird. If you like Wellington Paranormal's willingness to be completely bonkers, this is its American cousin.

But It's chaotic and sometimes incoherent. Genuinely disturbing in spots. Cancelled after two seasons, so frustratingly incomplete.

Ghostwatch1992

Inverts Wellington Paranormal's formula: the same paranormal investigation setup, but played completely straight and terrifying. Shows how the same premise becomes horror when you remove the wink.

A fictional 1992 BBC live TV investigation of a haunted house that genuinely terrified Britain. Faked-documentary horror that predates found footage by over a decade. Disturbingly effective and structurally inventive.

But It's deeply, genuinely frightening—the opposite of Wellington Paranormal's comedy. Slow-burn dread rather than jokes. Some may find it dated or uncomfortable.

In a World...2013

Both are small-scale comedies that find depth and humanity in seemingly ridiculous professional scenarios—the specificity of the world IS the comedy, and it never apologizes for being weird.

Lake Bell's micro-budget comedy about voice-over acting and family dysfunction. Character-driven, absurdly specific, and funny in deeply human ways. A masterclass in comedic writing and performance on a shoestring.

But It's aggressively low-budget and indie—the opposite of prestige production values. Niche subject matter about voice-over recording feels narrow. Won't appeal to action-hungry viewers.