From Paradise Lost to The Powerpuff Girls to The Binding of Isaac to Cuphead, the devil has always been one of the most interesting characters in media. Every grad student has a lightbulb moment when they realize Satan is the best part of Milton, and from there on, he just keeps popping up to make stories more interesting. And if Lucifer is so interesting, what’s the rest of Hell like? Hazbin Hotel, a series created by Tumblr darling Vivienne Medrano, wonders just that, and in the process, it questions the difference between evil and righteous good.
Medrano, who goes by VivziePop on social media, has been making animations of her original characters for years—and built up a huge following in the process. Now, Hazbin Hotel has a professionally animated series distributed by Amazon Studios, and it’s rocketing up the streaming charts. I watched the entire (albeit short) first season in two days, and it’s easy to see why the series is resonating with fans.
The biggest thing that sets Hazbin Hotel apart from other adult animation shows is its use of music. The show is a musical, and it makes no apologies for the absolute bops it includes in every episode. Songs don’t just set the atmosphere, they establish important plot points. Characters move the narrative forward in music to great effect. Oh, and all the actors can SING. Instead of casting famous actors who have never carried a tune, Hazbin Hotel employs equally famous actors who have extensive Broadway experience and chops. Alex Brightman (who originated the role of Beetlejuice on Broadway) plays Adam, the first man; Stephanie Beatriz (of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Encanto fame) voices Vaggie; Erika Henningsen (who originated the role of Cady in the Mean Girls musical) plays Lucifer’s daughter Charlie. Other notable cast members include Jeremy Jordan, Christian Borle (an absolute legend), James Monroe Igleheart, and… the list is too long to detail.
And the music slaps. There wasn’t a single song I didn’t find stuck in my head at some point. This makes perfect sense, considering Sam Haft of The Living Tombstone contributed heavily to the lyrics and composition.
Beyond great production, Hazbin Hotel questions what it means to be good by introducing a cast of sinners seeking redemption. Each year, Adam and his team of exorcist angels descend to Hell to permanently execute as many sinners as possible, erasing them out of the afterlife entirely. But…is that right? Lucifer’s daughter Charlie questions Heaven’s plan and fights to create a hotel where people can be redeemed, earning entry to Heaven by correcting their sins in life.
And really, once you get to know the characters, the sins don’t seem that bad, or they seem so long ago that it doesn’t matter anymore. How long should punishment last? And can we believe in the very idea of Heaven and redemption if Hell is forever with no exceptions?
The show is not overly concerned with philosophy, even if it brings up valid points for viewers to consider. There are a ton of dick jokes and crude sexual humor. There’s a character who’s a porn star (and stripper) in Hell. One of the most interesting characters is a serial killer and potential cannibal named Alastor. Even so, the show questions what it means to be a good person, and if people who do bad things can truly be redeemed. According to the end of Season 1, they definitely can.
I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but take this as a ringing endorsement of Hazbin Hotel.