Four years after first giving fans a taste via a YouTube pilot, Hazbin Hotel has finally arrived on Prime Video for its first full season. Created by Vivienne ‘VivziePop’ Medrano and produced in collaboration with A24, this adult animated musical comedy series brings all the violence, mayhem and heart to fans everywhere. With some stunning animation and a fresh take on the Paradise Lost concept, Hazbin Hotel is a fun excursion, even if it does not nail every aspect of the show out of the gate.
Centred in Hell, Hazbin Hotel follows Charlie, the princess of the underworld, as she attempts an unusual experiment to redeem demons and reduce overpopulation. With the support of her girlfriend Vaggie, Charlie converts an old hotel into a rehabilitation center, promising any demon who checks in a chance at being sent to Heaven.
As this is set in Hell, no one believes this is possible. Not the demons, not the other royalty of Hell, and certainly not the angels. But Charlie is determined, endlessly optimistic, and willing to try just about anything to make her dream a reality. As the first season unfolds over eight 25-minute episodes, the series explores Charlie’s attempts to rehabilitate an endearingly psychotic cast of characters. All while handling a disapproving father, an interfering overlord, a skeptical public, and the many challenges of running a fledgling business in the underworld.
While a fun concept, out of the gate, it does falter a bit, especially for people who have not seen the pilot episode. The first episode on Prime Video takes for granted the viewers will have seen that intro to the series and forgoes much of the ground laying needed to get us into the heads of its cast. While this is a minor note—anyone can jump over to YouTube and watch the episode there—it does take away from the momentum of the show, serving as both a reintroduction and an attempt to move the series forward and only managing to slow down the progression of the series a bit.
“Hazbin Hotel has one of the most wildly entertaining ensembles I’ve seen in years.”
Thankfully, for fans who do know the series and have seen the pilot, the series builds wonderfully upon the pilot’s groundwork, diving deeper into the characters and Hell’s sociopolitical landscape. The long-awaited context for the show’s setting and characters gets teased out organically over the course of the season without excessive exposition dumps.
The writing adeptly handles worldbuilding, a fictional version of Hell that blends the familiar with creative surprises. Hell is every bit as chaotic, dysfunctional, and absurd as one might imagine, yet grounded by socioeconomic structures and ruling classes that parallel the living world. This allows for plenty of satire and social commentary without losing sight of the story and characters. There are plenty of questions about how this hellish society functions, but the series manages to present it in a way that makes sense, at least enough to suspend disbelief.
Speaking of characters, Hazbin Hotel has one of the most wildly entertaining ensembles I’ve seen in years. Anchored by the endearingly optimistic Charlie and his fiercely loyal girlfriend Vaggie, the hotel’s staff and patients form a memorably bizarre, dysfunctional odd couple. From pure-hearted Charlie to morally bankrupt serial killers like Angel Dust and Sir Pentious, the core cast has no shortage of colourful personalities. These aren’t stereotypical ‘good’ and ‘bad’ archetypes; the characters are flawed, nuanced and sympathetic in their own way despite their criminal backgrounds. Even the enigmatic Alastor, the Radio Demon, manages to fit in well with the hotel’s band of misfits, even if there are still plenty of secrets waiting to be revealed.
No review of Hazbin Hotel would be complete without highlighting the spectacular music. Musical numbers punctuate every episode, ranging from Charlie’s upbeat introductory song to a heart-wrenching ballad performed by Angel Dust. The songs do more than just entertain; they allow characters an additional medium for expressing themselves. This pays off beautifully for character development, especially for characters like Angel Dust, who, like many of us, hide inner trauma behind flippant attitudes.
Hazbin Hotel takes the adult animation genre to new heights with its blend of comedy, tragedy, vulgarity, and heart. This is no boilerplate adult cartoon relying on shock value; it’s an expertly crafted redemption story populated by lovably messed-up characters. The writing consistently finds the humour and humanity in even the darkest situations. And while the series explores some heavy themes, it handles them with nuance, avoiding trivializing sensitive topics. Fans of shows like BoJack Horseman that skillfully balance comedy and drama will feel right at home here.
“While aimed at adult audiences, Hazbin Hotel sets itself apart from other animated series in just how much charm it has.”
In terms of production value, Hazbin Hotel checks every box. Beyond a few odd camera works in early episodes, the visuals are stunning, with fluid animation and detailed character designs bringing Hell to twisted life. Clever references and background jokes reward repeat viewings. Even though changed from what fans saw in the pilot episode, the stellar voice cast delivers powerhouse performances, especially lead actress Jill Harris as the ever-optimistic Charlie. And did I mention the musical numbers? Because the music adds a whole additional dimension of quality. Songs ranging from 80’s rock to heartbreaking ballads leave an impression, with many of the songs living rent-free in my head since I watched the episodes.
While aimed at adult audiences, Hazbin Hotel sets itself apart from other animated series in just how much charm it has. The series believes wholeheartedly in the redemptive power of compassion, forgiveness, and mutual understanding. But it’s no saccharine morality tale; redemption requires brutal self-reflection from characters sunk deep in denial and self-destruction. The result is a story that’s uncompromising yet deeply hopeful. Eight episodes isn’t nearly enough time to explore the relationships between this lovably dysfunctional found family. But if the two-season renewal is any indication, we’re just getting started. Hazbin Hotel’s first season exceeds every expectation, laying the groundwork for still more chaos and emotional turmoil to come.
