“Hazbin Hotel”: A Visually Striking Yet Disjointed Animated Comedy
In the realm of animation, “Hazbin Hotel” stands out as a visually captivating and unique series. Created by Vivienne Medrano, the founder of the popular YouTube channel VivziePop, “Hazbin Hotel” garnered immense popularity with its initial pilot episode, amassing over 90 million views. Now, the series has been picked up by the prestigious studio A24, expanded into an eight-episode season, and is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video.
A Grim Premise with a Feel-Good Backstory
“Hazbin Hotel” presents a grim premise: a horde of demons endure eternal damnation in Hell, facing periodic mass exterminations led by armies from Heaven. However, the series attempts to counterbalance this bleakness with a feel-good backstory.
The protagonist, Charlotte Morningstar (voiced by Erika Henningsen), is the Princess of Hell, born from the union of Lilith and Lucifer. Lilith, Adam’s first wife before Eve, and Lucifer accidentally unleashed Hell upon the world by introducing free will to mankind through the tree of knowledge.
With their parents MIA, Charlotte takes it upon herself to establish the titular Hazbin Hotel, a halfway house for rehabilitating wayward souls, offering them a chance to earn entry into Heaven. This noble endeavor seems at odds with the antagonistic relationship between Heaven and Hell, raising questions about its feasibility and Heaven’s willingness to accept Charlie’s converts.
Visually Striking Animation with Gothic Maximalism
“Hazbin Hotel” showcases stunning animation, reflecting Medrano’s background as a veteran of DeviantArt. The series embraces a Gothic maximalist aesthetic, characterized by striking silhouettes, a stripped-down color palette, and intricate character designs.
The characters themselves are visually captivating, featuring exaggerated features and vibrant colors. The hotel’s bartender, a winged, talking cat voiced by Keith David, is a particularly memorable example of the series’ creative character design.
Hazy World-Building and Character Motivations
Despite its impressive visuals, “Hazbin Hotel” falters in establishing a clear and cohesive world-building framework. The series introduces various concepts, such as demons, sinners, and anti-saints, without adequately explaining their roles and relationships.
The motivations of the main characters, particularly Charlie, remain unclear. Her plan to rehabilitate demons and grant them entry into Heaven seems unrealistic given the adversarial relationship between Heaven and Hell. The series fails to explore this conflict or offer a compelling justification for Charlie’s actions.
Furthermore, the musical numbers in “Hazbin Hotel” often lack irony or irreverence, which could have provided a unique perspective on the series’ dark and macabre setting. Instead, they come across as straightforward anthems, leaving viewers confused about the intended tone and emotional response.
Conventional Morality in an Unconventional Setting
Perhaps the most puzzling aspect of “Hazbin Hotel” is its adherence to conventional morality, which seems at odds with its setting in Hell. The series presents a stereotypical redemption arc for Angel Dust, a porn star in the thrall of an abusive pimp. This trope, reminiscent of Victorian serial melodramas, feels out of place in a series set in the underworld.
The show’s portrayal of Heaven as cruel oppressors and Hell’s inhabitants as inherently sinful reinforces a binary view of morality that undermines the potential for a more nuanced exploration of human nature.
Conclusion: A Promising Start in Need of Refinement
“Hazbin Hotel” exhibits great potential, boasting visually stunning animation, a captivating premise, and a talented voice cast. However, the series struggles to translate its grand ideas into a cohesive narrative, resulting in a disjointed and confusing viewing experience.
The lack of clarity in world-building, character motivations, and tone prevents “Hazbin Hotel” from reaching its full potential. While the series has come a long way from its bootstrapped beginnings, it still requires further refinement to function effectively as a full season of television.
With a more focused narrative, clearer character development, and a more consistent tone, “Hazbin Hotel” could evolve into a truly compelling animated series that explores the complexities of morality and the intricacies of human nature.