Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 4 “It’s a Deal’ was a powerhouse episode for Alastor that made us absolutely love his character. It gave us more information on who he was as a human, his intentions in Hell, and the limitations that he faces. But it also made it very clear that he’s in the position he’s in right now because he wants to be. Power is his main goal. And while others think they might hold the reins, he ultimately does.
“It’s a Deal’ also made it very clear that Rosie is not someone to be trifled with. She’s someone not to be underestimated. And while Vox is running around making it seem like he’s the head honcho leading the masses, Rosie is the one with real power. And I don’t think anyone in Pentagram City is ready for what she can bring to the table.
MORE: Charlie was at her worst in the previous episode of Hazbin Hotel. We explain why in our review!
Alastor’s Search for Power
I know I should have taken seeing Sir Pentious in Season 2 Episode 2 “Storyteller” as a sign that we would be getting more human versions of our favorite sinners. And Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 4 gave us human Alastor in an episode that shifted our perspective on him so much that I really want to sit down and watch Season 1 all over again with new eyes. Because his experiences as a man of color in the human world have influenced who he is in the afterlife, especially in his search for power.
Alastor grew up in a different time from our right now as viewers. Because yes, things are absolutely bad right now, especially for people of color. But we can’t discount the fact that decades ago, it was much worse. That’s where Alastor was born, grew up, and tried to make a life. And he lived a life where his experiences and what he could bring to this world was seen as less than by those around him. That affected every single part of his life, including his dreams and aspirations.
That’s why when I see him at the end of the episode, seemingly tied up by Vox, I don’t think about how Alastor needs rescuing. I think about how Alastor understands dangerous power dynamics that trap you or try to will you into believing that you are less. Alastor is not less. Alastor is exactly where he wants to be. And Vox is just like every other person during his living moments that underestimated him. He showed them and he will show Vox as well. He has the plan and he has the power.
Right now Vox is just a nuisance with aspirations that are hollow wrapped in hurt feelings. And Alastor will land on top, whether it’s against Vox or Rosie. Why? Because his search for power seems to be grounded in wanting the freedom to just be. Not to be like Vox and have the masses. Not to be like Rosie and have control over others. Alastor wants to be heard but also the ability to say what he wants without being held back by others prejudices or because they have hands on his soul.
MORE: Need a refresher of the first episode of Season 2 of Hazbin Hotel? Read our review.
Everyone Underestimated Rosie, Including Me
Looking back at Season 1 of Hazbin Hotel, I wrote Rosie off. I saw her as the head of Cannibal Town and I thought she was a throwaway character. She was stunning and had this wit about her that made you pay attention but not too much. But that’s the exact point of Rosie. You’re supposed to see her as vicious but not a threat to you. And that makes her even more dangerous because by the time you realize she’s a threat, it’s too late. You’re toast.
I also look at Rosie the same way that I look at Vox when it comes to Alastor.
Sure Rosie gave him powers in exchange for his soul. And Alastor and Rosie have that whole air of pleasantries between them that makes it seem like they have an understanding. But the only understanding that Rosie has is that she’s the one in charge and Alastor isn’t. Rosie and Vox are the same kind of domineering people the Alastor has fought tooth and nail against. The difference with Rosie is that she looks like she isn’t threatening. But she might be even nastier than Vox himself when it comes to treating people like nothing but food that she can play with because she can.
All of this together, I think that Rosie might be the real threat of Hazbin Hotel Season 2. Because I talked about in my Season 2 Episode 1 review about how Adam’s death created a power vacuum. Who’s to say Rosie won’t be taking up that mantle? She’s unexpected and unassuming. But she’s powerful enough to give Alastor the power he has. Who in turn took those powers to fight Vox and Adam himself.
Rosie wants power. But at the same time, I don’t think anybody understands how much power she has. Remember back in Season 1 where Alastor brought Charlie to Cannibal Town? There was this air of civility and gentleness to Rosie that signaled to the viewer that they could let their guard down. But that’s exactly when you should have your guard up, when something pretty with vicious teeth is smiling at you and telling you that they’re just here to have your back. Rosie doesn’t have Charlie’s back. Rosie doesn’t have Alastor’s back. She has her own back. She also has a plan that’s bigger than all of them.
Alastor and Lucifer Pulling Each Other’s Pigtails
From the very first moment that Alastor and Lucifer met there has been tension between them. Lucifer was jealous because there was someone providing for his daughter in a way that he should’ve been doing as a father. And even though we don’t know Alastor’s true motivations yet for everything that he’s doing, besides getting power, the bantering between them has nothing to do with maliciousness and more with playfulness. Basically these two are pulling each other’s metaphorical pigtails.
Lucifer can absolutely put a stop to Alastor. He’s the King of hell after all and an archangel. But he doesn’t destroy Alastor because Alastor matters to his daughter. But more importantly, he doesn’t destroy Alastor because Alastor isn’t afraid of Lucifer. It’s a tale as old as time, one person exalted for who they are and being treated like they’re the best of the best. And then another person comes in who treats them like any other person out there. That’s a shock to the system and makes the one held up on a pedestal intrigued with this new person. That’s what’s happening with Lucifer and Alastor.
MORE: Did you already watch the next episode? Read our review for Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 5!
On the Alastor side of things, he knows power. He knows that Lucifer can destroy him. But I think he is under the impression that the only reason why Lucifer isn’t killing him is because of Charlie. I don’t think Alastor realizes that Lucifer likes him because of how non-pulsed he is about him being the King of Hell. And when we look at how Alastor handled that whole scene with Vox before their friendship breakup, I don’t think Alastor has ever had a partnership that felt like it brought something to his life instead of adding another weight.
Right now, Alastor walked away from the hotel because he was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the fact that he got hurt by Adam. Overwhelmed by still being in a contract that we don’t really know the details about with Rosie. And he’s overwhelmed by Lucifer pushing his buttons, even if Lucifer is just doing it because he’s pulling Alastor’s pigtails. Whatever may come, there’s a really interesting dynamic between Alastor and Lucifer that is grounded in this banter wrapped in moments where they can be themselves with each other while knowing that the other can take it but also dish it right back.
Also, when Lucifer clocked Alastor and light up like the sun because he got to bother him… Alastor didn’t walk away. He sat down and teased Lucifer right back. That’s not nothing. That’s Alastor enjoying himself and rising to the challenge Lucifer laid out. Why? Because he likes the challenge just as much as Lucifer does. He knows it’s petty. But it’s light and fun. And that ability to be comfortable enough to let your walls down and do this, even if its bantering, it’s not nothing. It’s something.
What I want to see next is how Lucifer reacts when Charlie returns and realizes what happened to Alastor. But also I would like to see what happens when Lucifer and Alastor look at the real reason why they challenge each other and tease each other in the way they do. Because the tension between them is not the same as the one between Alastor and Vox. That connection is born out of control and dominance. And if there’s anything that we’ve learned from Alastor in this episode, it’s that he doesn’t want to be dominated. He wants power and he wants someone who will meet him toe to toe.
And I think he gets that with Lucifer.
And Then There’s Charlie
I know that last episode of Hazbin Hotel I was really harsh on Charlie. And I still stand by everything that I said. Charlie is leading this charge forward with a lot of good in her heart but a lot of privilege too. She hasn’t acknowledged that privilege yet and it’s led to her being in situations where she ignores her friends’ hurt feelings to try and prove to Hell that the hotel works.
In “It’s a Deal’ we saw her continuing to try and prove to Hell that everything works but with Katie Killjoy. And her continued effort to just be kind and try, it’s admirable. It makes Charlie who she is. But I need her to wake up. I need her to stop trying to prove to others that her hotel works and just actually do the job that she says she’s capable of. But then that runs into the problem that she doesn’t know how her hotel actually works. And that right there is what I think Charlie is running from.
But I will say everything that happened with Katie was really enjoyable. Not only is Katie Killjoy able to twist everything Charlie is saying in a masterful way. Some of the animation is also really hilarious, with the smallest detail being taken into consideration by the animators, leading to a really rich episode story-wise but also visually. Everything is a delight. And these details prove that this isn’t a show that you can just casually watch in the background. There’s intention here that needs to be appreciated every single episode.
Additional thoughts about Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 4:
- There was something sweet about the way that Angel Dust and Cherri Bomb were cuddled up on that couch. From what we’ve seen, when it comes to physical stuff with Angel Dust, it hasn’t always been their choice. But here they are sharing this intimate moment with Cherri Bomb. Nothing crazy is happening. They’re not fighting for their lives. They’re choosing to take comfort in someone else’s presence. That right there is growth.
- After “It’s a Deal” I think I want Nifty at my side if it’s a ride or die situation. She knew that Alastor needed help, literally picked up Huck and brought backup, and then she threw it down. That’s a ride or die sinner and I love how much this small detail shows how much she cares about those at the hotel, including Alastor.
- So… where can I buy these mugs that Alastor and Lucifer had? Because they’re cute and I need them.
- Love, love, love how many human flashbacks we’re getting of these sinners. It really opens up their character arcs and gives us perspective. But also gives the animators a chance to redesign the characters we’ve come to know and love. Also, it gives them an opportunity to make them hot.
- You see it.
- I see it.
- They’re all hot. Human form. Sinner form.
- Hot.
- But…
- On a more serious note, what Vox did to Alastor, making him watch as he and Valentino had sex, that crossed the line. It was a violation that personally I can’t get over and won’t get over. And it’s in the same vein as the constant violations that Valentino put Angel Dust through. So when Alastor destroys Vox, I’m going to celebrate it.
Rating the songs of “It’s a Deal”:
- “Don’t You Forget” is an underrated song because of how it absolutely shifts everything we know about power in Hell. For the longest time I thought maybe Lilith was the one who held Alastor’s soul and that Rosie was just a lady from Cannibal Town. Rosie is power. That kind of quiet power that waits, builds up community and influence, and then strikes. And her being the one that holds the key to Alastor’s power makes me feel like Vox isn’t the real threat. Rosie is.
- “Clean It Up” is visually an absolute delight and lyrically really fun. But my favorite part about this song is that this is how Nifty sees the world. Yes, they live in Hell. But her perspective on the world is one of wonder. And it strips away this assumption about Nifty that she was nothing more than the maid who likes to stab stuff. She does love that. Stabbing, I mean. But just like everyone else, she is doing the best she can to survive this afterlife. And with us getting even more previews of who these sinners were as humans, I’m really looking forward to finding out who Nifty was.
- “Don’t You Forget” was twisted… but also kind of hot. There’s power between Vox and Alastor. For Vox, his affections weren’t returned and he let his anger win out. For Alastor, he valued power first above all, no matter who got hurt along the way. And in the real world, a dynamic like this wouldn’t be hot. But in the context of Hazbin Hotel, this push and pull between them translates into a connection that oscillates from passion to hatred in the blink of an eye. Either way, Alastor is exactly where he wants to be in this song. And that’s more interesting than anything else.
Hazbin Hotel releases new episodes Wednesdays on Prime Video.
What did you think about Hazbin Hotel “It’s a Deal”? Let us know in the comments below!
Catch up on all our Hazbin Hotel Season 2 reviews below:
- Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 1 Review: “New Pentious”
- Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 2 Review: “Storyteller”
- Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 3 Review: “Behind Closed Doors”
- Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 4 Review: “It’s a Deal”
- Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 5 Review: “Silenced”
- Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 6 Review: “Scream Rain”
