So from what I gather, and I can be wrong here, the crerative team at Viziepop created Hazbin Hotel based off of Hell lore, and had it produced through A24 and Bento Box production. This would normally not be something to lead with, but in this case, it seems to be part of the problem. Anyway, this is on Amazon Prime video, and it is an animated series with some great stylization and a well thought out graphic novel universe. The pilot and characters have been floating around a while on Youtube as a very independent project that has spawned a really great show called Helluva boss. Anyway, this is a thing. I didn't hate it. I liked it, but I did not find myself excited by it. It might be me because I really loved the characters, art, and universe of helluva boss along with the introduction of the cast of hazbin hotel like Angel Dust, Charlie, and Alestair. I have only seen the first four episodes, and maybe it will get better. But for now it is just there. I will give it more of a chance because I do have faith in the universe and like the art. It did give me a few chuckles, but the premise is just who the fuck cares. What is worse is the only real depth the show has is the depravity of Angel Dust's self destruction and addiction, and that is just put on display so graphically that it makes the whole thing cringy. I think this is something that comes from the corporate production rather than Viziepop. Because you can see the stuff produced by Viziepop for Hazbin Hotel, and you can see how they made the characters likable while still being shitbags. When you get to the Amazon release you get something really stripped of any decency and then you are just left with the brutal depraivity without any real humorous buffer. Yes, it is hell, and yes that is what hell would be. It would be painful and degrading and make you a loser if it were to be punishment. However, you are romanticizing the bad parts, so your undermining the audience's enjoyment of the show. I hope it gets better than the first four episodes that I have seen at this point.
OK, watched the second half of the first season and it gets better. The battle with heaven ends up being pretty cool, and the motivations seem to be better on that front. I still think it is a little odd they are not playing more into those who want to be in hell. The whole we want to get out of this place thing seems to just make the characters seem dishonest in their sinning. The characters who tend to do better are those who are not trying to be redeemed, or become more pure. if you have amazon plus and like animation with a dark side I would say give all the episodes a chance and then decide if you want to continue with the next seasons. The episodes are only thiurty minutes, and there are only 8 and the arc does at least close and becomes worth it in the end. It is not the awesome that is helluva boss, but it was worth the watch.
Haven't seen the back half of the show yet but I think the biggest issue many have of too many plots crammed into such a short amount of time could've been resolved with a ten episode run. Hopefully the high demand for the show will get them that for season 2.
Some of the things are not meant to resolve, but the end did make it much more worthwhile. They weavbe a pretty good multifaceted character driven story in the writings and helluva boss. I think Charlie's motivation is a bit absurd, but once they get into the let us do this shit area, the characters startreacting with each other in good ways. I think they needed to show a little more of heaven outside of Adam so that I could get a grasp of why even bother trying to get there. In the second half they do show there is a decency to heaven and that it is not just full of dicks.
