Review: Hazbin Hotel, Season 1

Source: Hazbin Hotel (TV Series 2019– ) - IMDb

It's not like February to have my first post of the year, but here we go. And this one is perhaps a bit unexpected. 

What started was "experimenting" with a new series, turned into a new obsession, that I feel will only start to meld if I put my thoughts about it into writing. 

Kicking off 2024, we have the premiere of Hazbin Hotel, an R-rated animated series, which went from a small 2019 YouTube pilot by YouTuber Vivienne Medrano (aka, Vivziepop), to a fully animated 8 episode season picked up by Amazon Prime. 

And this is 100% R-rated, do not let your kids anywhere near it. It's not like Central Park, which has a humour similar to The Simpsons which older kids would enjoy. Noooo, this 100% adult through and through. 

The Hazbin Hotel can be found in Hell, set up by Hell's Princess, Charlie Morningstar 

The purpose as such, is to "redeem" sinners in the hopes they will ascend to Heaven, and escape the yearly extermination, taken place by a team of Heaven's exorcist angels

(And yes, I know it's liturgically... interesting. But I am taking the same approach as The Book of Mormon. It's a piece of art at the end of the day.)

The concept itself is amazing, the story outline is engaging. But Hazbin's biggest problem (getting this out of the way) is the pacing. I'm not sure if Vivziepop only thought she would only get 1 season (good news is that Season 2 has been greenlit), but the pacing is a little bit rushed for an only 8 episode season. It would have made an even greater impact perhaps to take more time with some of the characters to get to know them even better. If it was either a longer season, or the promise of the 2nd season earlier, then I think the breathing space the show needed would have been given easily. 

When it does get it right though, OH it gets it right. Episode 4 is the perfect example of this. No spoilers of course, but it takes its time, we get so much character development, and it gets dark. Here's hoping that the show takes the opportunity to tackle heavy issues like this with such grace as it did with Angel's story in future seasons. 

Like Central Park and Schmigadoon, Hazbin Hotel is a musical series, with about 2 songs per episode (written by Andrew Underberg and Sam Haft), stock full of Broadway talent. 

And when I say stock full.... Erika Henningson, Stephanie Beatriz (Encanto), Jeremy Jordan, Alex Brightman, Keith David, Blake Roman, Christian Borle.... and that is just a few! 

The voice acting is amazing, Henningson in particular as Charlie sounds just like a classic Disney Princess, well, one that occasionally swears that is. This is the kind of cast though that has the calibre to make Hazbin feel like a true musical.

And that's because, the songs are absolutely the best part of Hazbin

Every single song, in some voice advances either plot or character, even though some may be better than others. And this soundtrack is what I have not been able to get out of my head since I saw the show. 

From the cheerful satirical "I Want" song, Happy Day in Hell; to Hell is Forever which folks are calling one of the best villain songs since the Disney Renaissance; More Than Anything showcasing an emotional father/daughter moment; to my personal favourite, Poison. That one is such a devastating masterclass in song writing. 

They are the extra little push you need to fall in love with the characters when the story can sometimes let them down. I dare you not to adore Charlie after Happy Day in Hell, Husk after Loser Like Me, and especially Lucifer (voiced by Jeremy Jordan!!!) after his two songs in episode 5. (Again, just a couple of examples there)

If you do nothing else, or are unsure of whether or not you'll enjoy the show, then listen to the soundtrack. 

If you have Amazon Prime, I would 100% give this show a chance. It's not only engaging, funny and lovable in its own way, but I also love that it's a small independent pilot being picked up for a full blown series. I'm looking forward to news on Season 2... let's see it makes a Hell of a splash as the 1st season did.