Is Guillermo a vampire now?
The phenomenon of transformation from human to vampire has been a staple of vampire lore across cultures, literature, and media. In the popular television series "What We Do in the Shadows," this transformation is usually depicted as a rapid process, occurring over a few hours or days. However, in the case of Guillermo, the devoted familiar longing to join the ranks of the undead, his transformation into a vampire has been intriguingly protracted. This deviation from the norm begs the question: "Is Guillermo a vampire now?" In this article, we will dive into the scientific principles that govern vampire transformations to elucidate Guillermo's unique case.
Vampire transformation, as represented in popular culture, is often a two-step process: the human is bitten by a vampire, which introduces the vampiric pathogen into their bloodstream, and then the human must drink the vampire's blood. This exchange of fluids is believed to activate the transformation by altering the human's genetic code at a cellular level, causing dramatic physiological changes like enhanced strength, speed, and longevity, and an insatiable thirst for blood. Guillermo seems to have undergone this procedure successfully, yet his transformation appears to be incomplete or, at the very least, delayed.
One possible explanation lies in Guillermo's ancestry. As a descendant of the renowned vampire hunter Van Helsing, it's plausible that his genetic makeup might interfere with the vampire pathogen. His lineage might have provided him with some form of natural defense mechanism, an evolutionary adaptation designed to resist vampiric transformations. The mechanics of such a genetic defense could theoretically involve certain proteins or enzymes in Guillermo's blood that identify and neutralize the vampire pathogen before it can enact changes at a cellular level. Such a genetic immunity could explain why Guillermo's transformation has been unusually prolonged and why he can still endure daylight, a condition typically fatal to vampires.
However, this notion of genetic immunity also raises an interesting dilemma. If Guillermo's Van Helsing blood is actively combating the vampire pathogen, it's uncertain which will prevail. Will his human cells continue to resist, maintaining his status as a quasi-human, quasi-vampire hybrid? Or will the vampire pathogen eventually overcome his natural defenses, culminating in a complete transformation?
Furthermore, the source of the vampire pathogen might also play a role in the transformation process. In Guillermo's case, he was bitten by Derek, a vampire who isn't his master. Traditionally, in vampire lore, the transformation is often overseen by a "master" vampire, which might imply some form of compatibility or resonance between the pathogen of the master vampire and the familiar's biological system. Derek's pathogen might not be entirely compatible with Guillermo, resulting in a slower transformation process. This hypothesis, while speculative, could provide another layer of understanding of Guillermo's situation.
In conclusion, answering the question "Is Guillermo a vampire now?" is complex, and the answer remains uncertain, hinging on a battle at a cellular level between his inherited Van Helsing defenses and the vampire pathogen. Moreover, the possible mismatch between the vampire source and Guillermo's system could be another contributing factor. While we wait for a definitive answer, Guillermo's journey provides a fascinating exploration of the intricacies of the mythos of vampire transformation. Whether his transformation completes, or he remains in a state of limbo, one thing remains certain: Guillermo's case adds an intriguing twist to the rich tapestry of vampire lore in "What We Do in the Shadows."
