What would it take to redeem a condemned soul? That’s the central question of Hazbin Hotel, an adult animated musical comedy series set in the scarlet, purple and black shades of hell. Charlie, the daughter of fallen angel Lucifer Morningstar, attempts to find a peaceful solution to hell’s overpopulation problem by rehabilitating sinners through the hotel she runs with her girlfriend Vaggie. If Charlie succeeds, the souls will ascend to heaven. If she fails, the wayward souls will be subject to an annual cull by heaven’s angels.

Born out of a 2019 YouTube pilot created by animator, writer and producer Vivienne Medrano, the show will release its second season in 2025. With its cheeky premise, the series was picked up by Amazon Prime and A24 productions to general acclaim and a little hesitancy — the plot is occasionally hindered by poor pacing, and the raunchy R-rated humour isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

But rude jokes and swearing aside, Hazbin Hotel probes at some interesting philosophical and religious themes in a world built out of Judeo-Christian mythology and contemporary sensibility. The characters are sinners on a surface level, but complex and nuanced deep down. Vaggie, for example, keeps a big secret about her identity to protect her girlfriend and the other hotel guests. Hotel patron Angel Dust is constantly judged by others for his profession as an adult film star while being manipulated by his employer.

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Charlie and the Hazbin staff finally reach a breakthrough when Angel Dust proves his capacity for goodness, thereby calling the entire notion of heaven and hell into question. Are any of us inherently good or bad? If you’ve done something wrong, should you be condemned forever? Should bad people be given the chance for redemption?

The heaviness of these questions is given some levity through jokes and musicality. The series’ eight–episode first season had 16 musical numbers, two of which (“Poison” and “Loser Baby”) have topped billboard charts.

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One of the show’s most interesting decisions was to portray Lucifer, the ruler of hell, as a jester. Jesters entertained kings and queens in medieval courts across Europe, and some were likely on the autism spectrum or had learning disabilities. Lucifer shows subtle signs of autism as he misses social cues, is very honest and gets overwhelmed when trying to explain his side of the heaven–and-hell conflict to Charlie.

With two more seasons confirmed, Hazbin Hotel has found its audience. Those who are open to a different, mildly offensive spin on biblical mythology will find it darkly humorous and surprisingly thought-provoking.

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Nathalie Leveille is a recent Broadview intern.

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