Hazbin Hotel: LA Premiere Recap and Review
The powers that be graciously secured my attendance at the LA premiere of Hazbin Hotel’s first three episodes, with two screenings presented in collaboration with GLAAD and ScreenRant respectively. I would go onto watch the fourth episode on Prime the next day. Releasing the initial four episodes together was the right move with regard to putting the show’s best foot forward on technical and writing aspects. Which I’ll say now has me see Hazbin Hotel as a very necessary evil. The initial episodes immerse us in the hell the cast lives in, accompanied by some truly outstanding songs which will surely find themselves in your Spotify playlists. The song I’d play to get friends hooked would undoubtedly be "Respectless" from Episode 3. The Youtube based Pilot and Episode 1’s commitment to paying homage to Lotte Reiniger had me eagerly anticipating Grammy-nominated Carla Patullo's documentary on the influential animator, but I digress.
Upon viewing the fourth episode, I saw how this show fits in with A24’s filmography as well as being a well-crafted queer narrative that made me a misty-eyed believer in Hazbin Hotel long term. While I initially didn’t get Keith David's casting as Husk, the fourth episode made it make sense in a big and truly wonderful way.
Two Q&A sessions took place the night of the premiere, one hosted by GLAAD (which I attended) and another by ScreenRant, populated by enthusiastic cosplayers. While part of me, from a 4D and reactionary perspective, wished to join the lively fans, the GLAAD screening's Q&A elevated my experience significantly.
During the GLAAD-hosted session, we heard from showrunner Vivienne Medrano, Erika Henningsen (voice of Charlie), and Stephanie Beatriz (voice of Vaggie). They shared insights into the show's journey, characters, music, and themes. Medrano, also known as Vivziepop, revealed that the show began as a passion project after college and grew into a phenomenon with the support of A24 and Amazon Prime Video. She expressed surprise at the positive response to the pilot and praised her partners for allowing the show to maintain its uniqueness and edge. Henningsen and Beatriz discussed their characters, emphasizing the joy of portraying queer characters in a supportive relationship. They commended Medrano for creating strong and inspiring female characters.
The trio also delved into the music and genre of the show, a blend of comedy, horror, drama, and musical elements. They marveled at the variety and quality of the songs by Sam Haft and Andrew Underberg, highlighting how the music enhances the emotion and humor of the show. They expressed admiration for the adult animation genre, appreciating the creative freedom it affords. The overarching message of the show, centered on chosen family, redemption, and acceptance, resonated with them, and they expressed gratitude for the support (from fans and production alike).
What struck me most about this Hazbin premiere was the sheer amount of fans in impressive cosplays assembling at a theater next door to Amazon Studios. Witnessing the celebration of Viv's vision from a YouTube pilot to a widely acclaimed series debut was awe-inspiring. It’s reminiscent of the times that I saw Guillermo Del Toro at most any premier or screening for his movies. Not leaving till the last fan got their item autographed. These essential creators remind us that icons are still out in Hollywood and they are just as in love with the creative process as they are with the culture their art creates.
While this information has already been covered by several news outlets, it's worth noting that Season 2 has been confirmed by Amazon. The release schedule for Season 1 includes the first four episodes on January 19th, episodes 5 & 6 on January 26th, and episodes 7 & 8 on February 2nd to close out season 1. All available on Prime Video. Hell is forever whether you like it or not… I mean, um- please watch it :)
