After the explosive premiere last week of the first two episodes of season two of Prime Video’s Hazbin Hotel, fans have been eagerly awaiting the continuation. The release of episodes 3 and 4 teases some major lore drops and leaves fans with more questions than answers–which is just what we want.

Without getting too into things before our spoiler warning, keep reading below for our thoughts on episodes 3 and 4.

**Spoilers below**

The premiere ended with Emily (Shoba Narayan) popping through a portal from Heaven into the Hazbin Hotel to alert Charlie (Erika Henningsen) that redemption is possible. Sir Pentious (Alex Brightman) is successfully redeemed and in Heaven, but because of his sudden and inexplicable appearance, Heaven is in chaos. Sera (Patina Miller) is getting ready to close it off, but Emily doesn’t want that to happen before she can tell Charlie what’s going on.

In episode 3, “Hazbin Hotel: Behind Closed Doors,” Charlie, who is eager to show Hell that the hotel does work, contacts Vox (Christian Borle). She wants him to send his top reporter to the hotel so she can prove that what they’re doing there does matter. Unable to resist the temptation himself, Vox and Velvette (Lilly Cooper) head to the hotel personally.

However, Charlie cannot produce actual evidence of Pentious being redeemed. She has no way to contact Heaven, and no evidence that Emily was here. Desperate, she tells Vox and Velvette that she can redeem somebody live on air. That surety is one of Charlie’s biggest weaknesses, because it often impedes her ability to see past the current situation. She is so certain that they can recreate a redemption that she doesn’t stop to think about how it even happened in the first place.

In the midst of this, Cherri Bomb (Krystina Alabado) is still coming to terms with the news of Pentious’s redemption. Though she insists she doesn’t care about him like that, everybody knows that she does. Meanwhile, up in Heaven, Pentious is going through the same thing.

Angel Dust And The Speedrun To Redemption

Though the hotel has an actual roster of guests this season, the best bet at redemption is still Angel Dust (Blake Roman). Though reluctant, he is eventually worn down by Husk (Keith David) and agrees to give it a shot. Unfortunately, it does not go well. Charlie’s failsafe is tampered with by Vox, and Angel is prepared to sacrifice himself for Husk before Vaggie (Stephanie Beatriz) steps in.

The major reveal of Angel’s earthly sin that got him sent to Hell is surely setting up for season 3. We find out that he killed his dad, but are not told why. With the passing glimpses we’ve gotten of his brother, Arackniss (seen in the season 1 episode “Finale” in Hell), and who we are sure is his sister, Molly (in season 2, episode 2 “Storyteller” in Heaven), it does not seem coincidental.

We know that Angel is the sinner who is most likely to be redeemed next. His existence in Hell has been difficult purely by circumstance. Throughout his stay at the hotel, we have gotten to see his authentic self, and his budding friendship with Husk has certainly helped. While not much has happened so far this season, the small moments we are given have been more than enough at advancing their story along. Will they? Won’t they? I need to know!

Alastor’s Own Chain Around His Neck

Episode 4, “It’s A Deal,” reunites our favorite rivals: Alastor (Amir Talai) and Lucifer (Jeremy Jordan). Alastor is still feeling the effects of the battle with Adam, which has left him with an open wound and a shaken confidence. After an altercation with Lucifer, Alastor quits the hotel and leaves.

We also see that he still has the roach crown that Niffty gifted him in “Finale.” It’s a rare display of sentimentality and further proof that, of everybody at the hotel, Niffty is the one Alastor cares about the most. However, the leaves us with the burning question: Who is Niffty to him? In the original YouTube pilot, he pulls her from the fireplace, but we do not know the extent of their relationship. Whatever it is, it is clear that Niffty cares a great deal for him.

This episode also gives us a major Alastor reveal. Not only do we lean how he died, we also learn just exactly how he became one of the most feared Overlords in Hell. Rosie (Leslie Kritzer) owns Alastor’s soul thanks to a deal he made while he was alive, in exchange for letting him continue his fun (see: murder) once he died. (I should not love him as much as I do but I do, I love my little Hannibal Lecter.)

It is one of the most shocking reveals of the season so far. In season 1, their relationship was painted as if they were friends–equals, even. This episode upends a lot of fan speculation, emptying it for more speculation to fill its place. Alastor also references that Rosie is the reason why he disappeared, but we do not find out why.

Rosie’s Motivation

Another story thread that is yanked in a new direction this episode is why Alastor is at the Hazbin Hotel in the first place. Though he had said in the past it was because he enjoyed watching people struggle and fail, this episode gives us a different story. It is implied that the quest he is on with Rosie involves something at the hotel, but as to what that is, we do not know. Could it be Lillith? There are some visual cues that point in that direction.

We are also shown where Alastor got his influence from, judging by the symbols in his murder shack. Voodoo being influential is something fans have known from a mention in the pilot, but it has never been something really shown. And while we did not get much on it, hopefully more will be revealed.

Making A Deal: Alastor And Vox

After being shut down by Rosie, Alastor seeks out the Vees in the entertainment district. It is clear he has a motive for the public altercation, because Alastor is nothing if not incredibly meticulous. We also are finally given full confirmation that Vox and Valentino (Joel Perez) are in a sexual relationship (please note: I did not say romantic because I’m not sure if either of these characters are capable of feeling love).

The ensuing confrontation that spans across the Pride Ring is some of the most expressive and smoothest animation of the series yet. That has been one of the joys of seeing this new season: There is so much more expression and fluidity, and this scene is a fantastic example of it. A running joke in season 1 was that no one really knew if Alastor’s ears were actual ears. In this season they are just as expressive as the rest of him.

Another major reveal this episode was the backstory between Alastor and Vox. Their rivalry has been well-documented throughout the series so far but never fully explained. Now, we know: Once, Vox asked Alastor to be partners, and Alastor shot him down. The romantic implications of his request are clear, but it is obvious Vox also wanted them to rule Hell as equals.

So now that Vox has Alastor in the spinny chair of captivity, what are his next plans? And what exactly is Alastor’s endgame?

This Episode Is All About Duets

A recap would be remiss without talking about the songs. Sam Haft and Andrew Underberg continue to impress us every week, but we also have to give credit to the vocal performers as well. Alabado, especially, shines on the yacht rock duet “Piss (A Love Song)” alongside Brightman. It’s a beautiful callback to those passionate eighties songs and visually a perfect way to showcase how their relationship has evolved throughout the years. Haft also mentioned on the Hazbin Hotel Pod about how “Piss” is “one of the monumental achievements of [his] career.”

“Don’t You Forget,” the duet between Kritzer and Talai, is one to surely worm its way into your brain to surface at odd hours of the day. We got a taste of them together in the season 1 song “Ready for This,” but a full song is an entirely different beast. It gets an equally-as-catchy reprise in the form of a duet between Talai and Borle, with a throwback to their season 1 duet, “Stayed Gone.” Honestly, one of the best moments in the episode and further proof that they should get at least one duet a season.

The second season of Hazbin Hotel consists of eight episodes, with two episodes rolling out weekly through November 19. The series will be available on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Let us know what you think of season 2 so far! And for more Hazbin Hotel news and episodic reviews, keep checking back to THS.

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