Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 6 “Scream Rain” is everything that I’ve been waiting for. It’s the payoff for all of this buildup that we’ve been seeing. It also sets up some really horrifying things that make one character irredeemable. More than anything, this episode emphasized how layered the writing is for Hazbin Hotel is and how a little bit of patience can get you a long way. And that patience with Charlie, has finally paid off.
MORE: Have you read our previous review? Check out our thoughts of Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 5!
I Prayed for Times Like This
I have not been shy about the fact that Charlie Morningstar has annoyed me to death with her actions. She’s ignored Angel’s boundaries and been burying her head in the sand. And it’s all because she ultimately doesn’t know what to do next. This big crazy thing happened with her hotel and she helped Sir Pentious to heaven. And “Scream Rain” finally brings it all together and shows that there was purpose in telling this story for Charlie.
I feared that Charlie was going to be alone for a couple episodes as she figured everything out after yelling at Vaggie and Lucifer. But even during the difficult times, she is not alone. Vaggie is there for her. She’ll always be there for her, even when she’s mad at her and tells her off for ignoring the hard work that they’ve been doing. That’s true love. It’s not just sticking with someone during the good times, it’s sticking with them during the hard times. And right now, things are getting really really bad. But they have each other to ground each other.
Also special shout out to the animation department because their song was stunning. It had a little bit of a sensual nature to it, because they are girlfriends. I feel like shows shy away from showing same-sex couples having sex unless it’s salacious like we’re some sideshow. We’re not. We’re normal. Vaggie and Charlie are normal. Their song was sentimental and warm wrapped up together with this understanding that they are it for each other. And I’ve been so long without a sapphic couple to cheer for, that I practically melted everywhere when they came back together in their song.
Writing wise, I do think we need to learn a little bit more about their relationship. I want to know what were the starting beats with them? What was their first date like? Ohhhh and what about when Charlie first found Vaggie after an extermination and took her in? I want to see that, and not just in fanfiction. Because those moments matter. And it’ll make Charlie and Vaggie stronger for it.
Never Going to Forgive This, Vox
There is nothing Vox can do to make me forgive him for what he did to Angel Dust in “Scream Rain.” Because he was this kind of jokester of a villain in Season 1. And in Season 2 he stepped it up. But in this episode he revealed the unhinged true monster that has been waiting there all along. And I don’t care what Vox does on this show in Season 3, 4 or 5. What he did to Angel Dust was a violation of his body and mind. It was cruel, cold, and honestly difficult to watch.
Angel Dust has worked so hard to find their place in this world. They have contemplated if they even should get redemption while dealing with a truckload of self-harm, self abuse, and self-worth issues. And all along there was someone watching all of that and taking advantage of that hurt. That makes Vox one of the cruelest enemies I’ve ever had the misfortune getting to know on my screen. It’s disgusting how he doesn’t care that he’s violating Angel Dust over and over again. He has a goal in mind. And everyone is expendable.
The way that Vox behaved with Angel Dust also makes me think of what he did to Alastor when he captured him. That was a violation of Alastor’s space and body, especially when he has been continually coded as being ace. The scene with Angel Dust also makes me contemplate who else Vox’s done this too. Has he tried this on Alastor? Has he tried to mess with his mind and found that he can’t control him?
Personally, I can’t wait until Lilith comes down and steals everything from Vox. Because writing like this on Hazbin Hotel is just dropping little clues that Lilith’s return is imminent. And if he got the masses together under her name, why would she need Vox? She can rule herself. And wouldn’t that be a cruel but deserving fate for Vox. Irrelevant and forgotten. Destroyed by his own hubris and abandoned by Velvette and Valentino, who are clearly seeing who he is in “Scream Rain.” Even then, I have no sympathy for Valentino and he could go with Vox as well.
Give Us More of Vaggie
The more that I think about Vaggie, the more that I realize that her character is the weakest on this show. In a lot of respects I think I know more about Nifty than I know about Vaggie and Vaggie is the girlfriend of our lead Charlie. And I know that Season 1 had to deal with the whole big secret of her being an angel, but now Charlie knows. So the show has to explore who Vaggie is more.
I’m also really interested in the other exorcist that we saw being dragged away from Vaggie. Because Hazbin Hotel is really really good at dropping little hints and clues that they pick up later on. That angel that was pulled away from Vaggie, who was protecting her and comforting her. That speaks of a clear history where Vaggie led a life, had friends, and a family. And with the doors to heaven slowly but surely opening and us getting glimpses of various sinners in human form, the options when it comes to Vaggie are vast.
Whatever may come, I want to make sure that Hazbin Hotel takes the time to strengthen my main power couple aka Charlie and Vaggie. I don’t have enough sapphic relationships on my TV right now. And after witnessing their song, I want them to survive in whatever comes next. Because Vox is the bad guy. But just like they set him up in Season 1 to be where he is now, the show is setting up heaven as the next big bad. And I want to know what a life in heaven looked like for Vaggie and what would happen if she returned to her sisters, friends, and family.
Additional thoughts about Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Episode 6:
- Carmilla… choosing the winning side over and over again means you stand for nothing. Yeah you’re protecting your girls. But you’re choosing nothing when it really matters. And your girls will remember that.
- Terrorizing their own angels. As if Adam and Lute couldn’t get any worse.
- Alastor once again being a troll. A win is a win.
- Especially because Valentino is cracking.
- But so is Velvette.
- Is this Nifty and Baxter?!?!
- Also congratulations on the innovation Nifty with that band!
- I need to know everything about this duck show.
- Because one of the ducks flew away.
- BUT THEN THEY CAME BACK!
- And they were making out.
- And Lucifer missed it all.
- But guys… I’m worried about Lu. He’s the angel. And Vox wants to use him.
Rating the songs of “Scream Rain”:
- “Love in a Bottle” was really catchy but also really sad. The crew is spiraling. And I think I was so focused on everything else going on that I forgot about him. But he’s been carrying the weight of everyone’s problems. That has to weigh on him. It would weigh on me.
- “Losing Streak” was HOTTTTTTTTT! Angel Dust had me fanning myself and thinking back to the first time I saw the drag queen Jujubee. That was a game-changing moment for me as a queer person. And I know this was a game-changing moment for Husk and everyone in the lounge.
- “Easy” had me kicking and screaming. It was what Charlie and Vaggie needed. It’s what we needed. It’s what the world needed. It was unapologetically warm, understanding, considerate, and had this back and forth grounded in them knowing each other intimately. I kept pausing over and over again to just take it in every detail. It was perfect.
