The Hazbin Hotel, an adult animated musical created by Vivienne Medrano (known as VivziePop online) was released on YouTube in 2019 as a plot, with A24 picking up the show in late 2020, the first season which is made up of 9 episodes releases on Amazon Prime Video on January 19 and I got to watch the first 5 episodes of it.
Before I started watching this, I had low expectations. The reason being, I had seen the spin-off series to the Hazbin Hotel plot called ‘Helluva Boss’, and I wasn’t a fan of the show’s constant swearing and sex jokes. However, Hazbin Hotel was actually better than I expected.
Hazbin Hotel is the story of Charlie, the princess of Hell, as she pursues her seemingly impossible goal of rehabilitating demons to peacefully reduce overpopulation in her kingdom. She opens a hotel in hopes that patients will be “checking out” into Heaven. While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggie, and their first test subject, adult film-star Angel Dust, stick by her side. When a powerful entity known as the “Radio Demon” reaches out to Charlie to assist in her endeavors, her crazy dream is given a chance to become a reality.
The musical aspect of this show is definitely its best and strongest point. It has some of the best musical numbers I’ve seen in a long time. Episodes 1, 4, and 5 have my favorite songs of the series so far. I also love the story, which involves trying to save and see the best in everyone, along with a certain mystery element that I can’t spoil.
The show not only has great animation but also a fantastic cast of characters. The main characters, Charlie (Erika Henningsen) and Vaggie (Stephanie Beatriz), really stand out in the series. They have amazing chemistry and some of the best scenes.
If you’re a fan of the plot or simply love musicals, you should definitely check it out. Even if the story isn’t your cup of tea, the musical numbers in this show are absolutely worth it.
There are a few scenes and dialogues that can be a bit problematic. While it doesn’t happen too often, some of the musical numbers and scenes tend to be overly busy, which can be distracting. This was actually a concern raised by some people when the trailer was released. Additionally, there are moments where the dialogue includes excessive swearing and sex jokes, which may feel unnecessary and added solely for shock value. It can detract from the overall enjoyment of the show.
Despite its flaws, the Hazbin Hotel is a fantastic musical that is sure to captivate. The show’s creator, Vivienne Medrano, has done an incredible job of bringing her vision to life with stunning animation, catchy musical numbers, and a unique storyline that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Hazbin Hotel releases on Prime Video on January 19.
