Hazbin Hotel Review: Hello Rosie! / The Show Must Go On (Season 1 Episodes 7 and 8)

Hazbin Hotel Season 1 Episodes 7 and 8, “Hello Rosie!” and “The Show Must Go On,” serve as the show’s action-packed season finale, delivering a wallop of emotion, incisive humor, and spirited vocal performances. It’s a damn near perfect closer to a solid freshman season. 

Hello, Rosie (Dolly)!

“Hello Rosie!” is a cheeky nod to Hello, Dolly!, with the titular Rosie even dressing like Dolly Levi. Charlie finds herself in a precarious and vulnerable situation following her disastrous trip to Heaven in “Welcome to Heaven.” She feels betrayed by Vaggie and utterly hopeless after Adam moves up the Extermination date. 

Instead of keeping Charlie and Vaggie apart or catering to the awful “Bury Your Gays” trope, Hazbin Hotel ensures our favorite lovebirds find their way back to each other by episode seven’s end. Then, we get that sweet, soft, gorgeously harmonic “More Than Anything” refrain between Charlie and Vaggie in “The Show Must Go On,” along with that precious kiss. It’s comforting to know our main queer couple is safe. 

Speaking of relationships, Lucifer swoops in to save his daughter in “The Show Must Go On,” and it’s an immensely gratifying moment. It also allows Lucifer and Charlie — inherently pure, earnest (some might say wholesome) characters — to showcase their ferocity in battle. We’ve been waiting all season for Charlie to tap into her Hell princess powers, and the wait is worth it. 

Lucifer and Charlie 

On another note, it’s abundantly clear that Lilith kept Lucifer and Charlie from bonding. This season makes room for relationship development on that front and certainly tugs at the heartstrings. Plus, Erika Henningsen and Jeremy Jordan boast excellent chemistry, and their voices blend together so beautifully. 

Performance-wise, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer is the perfect choice for Rosie. She injects Rosie with a boisterous, motherly energy that starkly juxtaposes her cannibalistic nature. It’s as hilarious as it is fascinating. 

Alex Brightman once again proves his versatility as a performer as both the voice of Sir Pentious and Adam. These two characters couldn’t be more different. He steals the proverbial show in “The Show Must Go On.” Sir Pentious’ sacrifice is heartbreaking, mainly thanks to Brightman’s work. On the flip side, Adam’s death is a moment of triumph. Ultimately, he proved he couldn’t be redeemed, whereas the so-called “sinner” found redemption. 

Redemption 

That redemption is proof positive that Charlie’s endeavors paid off. Sir Pentious boasts one of the best character arcs in Hazbin Hotel. It’s well-rounded, fully realized, and touching. That’s what makes his death all the more painful. 

As for the tracks, “Ready for This” and “The Show Must Go On” are easy standouts, with the latter sprinkling in the “Happy Day in Hell” refrain in the song’s final bars for a lovely full-circle moment. The harmonies in these two songs are particularly tight, seamless, and resonant. “Ready for This” is your typical marching band-esque, upbeat rallying cry one might hear in a musical’s second act before a conflict’s resolution, while “The Show Must Go On” infuses a new energy into the narrative. It’s a melodic transition into the next chapter. 

Narratively, both episodes move at a steady clip. There are no throwaway moments or scenes. The musical bits feel like an organic shift from speech to singing, where the characters are so emotional that they must sing how they feel. Speech is inadequate. “The Show Must Go On” features an epic showdown between Hell and Heaven, which the story naturally builds to while providing ample stakes along the way. It’s gory, violent, and emotionally investing for viewers. 

Don’t Mess With The Radio Demon 

If we’ve learned one thing from these two episodes, it’s how terrifying and formidable Alastor is. Amir Talai is a seasonal highlight, giving Alastor that razor-sharp, conniving edge needed for The Radio Demon. His fight with Adam is one for the books. Even the animation is goosebump-inducing. 

Hazbin Hotel‘s depiction of angels and demons has always been fascinating. As mentioned above, demons like Sir Pentious and Charlie are sincere in their endeavors to improve. The angels, on the other hand, are vindictive, judgmental, and haughty. Their masks slipping during the final fight is wonderful commentary (and criticism of) narrow-minded Christians who judge what they don’t know. 

“The Show Must Go On” leaves plenty of loose narrative threads to explore in Season 2. It appears the Vees will join forces to fill the power vacuum, thinking Alastor has vanished again to lick his wounds in solitude. Sir Pentious is now in Heaven. Will he try to return to Hell, or will he attempt to acclimatize himself in his new home? Lilith has been hiding away in Heaven for years. Will she show her face in Hell and reunite with her daughter and estranged husband? 

What Comes Next? 

While the denizens of Hell celebrate, under the impression the Exterminations are over because Adam is dead (Thanks, Niffty!), that might not necessarily be so. Heaven might decide to retaliate in the name of Adam’s death and crack down even more on slaughtering demons. Regardless, the story possibilities are as endless as they are exciting. 

Overall, “Hello Rosie!” and “The Show Must Go On” are fulfilling in every way. They’re immersive, hilarious, devastating, and uplifting. Who knew a show about Hell could be so wholesome? You can’t help but root for these characters to succeed. The heart of Hazbin Hotel is beating strongly in these final episodes. It’s triumphant. Our demon babies have grown considerably, both morally and as a family.

This version of Hell is a vibrant, fast-paced, technicolor fever dream from which we, hopefully, will never wake. 

Stray Observations: 

• Charlie’s battle outfit is the epitome of adorable. The sleeveless red dress and heart shield are perfect for Valentine’s Day. 
• With the appearance of Lilith, Charlie’s mother, we’ll undoubtedly see or at least hear Eve in Season 2. Eve is trapped in Lilith’s subconscious. I’d love to get flashbacks to the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. 
• Sir Pentious dying broke me. Little did I know when I started this journey that I’d like him as much as I do now. It’ll be interesting to watch him navigate Heaven in Season 2. 
• Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer is one of my favorite Broadway stars. I saw her perform in 2009 in Off-Broadway’s Rooms: A Rock Romance, and she blew me away. Side note: I love that this is a mini Beetlejuice reunion with Kritzer and Brightman in “Hello Rosie!” 
• I’m just glad Fat Nuggets survived. I was going to riot if anything happened to that little fella. 
• Thank you, cannibals from Cannibal Town, for laying down your lives to protect Hell. 
• Lucifer is a cutie patootie. He must remain in my pocket for safekeeping. 
• Angel Dust gives “1930s gangster” vibes during the battle with Heaven. I dig it. 
• That “ace in the hole” remark regarding Alastor is A-plus perfection. No notes. 

What did you think of these episodes of Hazbin Hotel? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Hazbin Hotel Season 1 is now streaming on Prime Video. 

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