The highly-awaited second season of the musical adult cartoon Hazbin Hotel debuts on the streaming platform this week, and fan speculation has been widespread.
The first season introduces a diverse group of personalities residing in Hell and Heaven, pits them against each other with musical numbers detailing their conflicts, and builds tense rivalries and angsty, affectionate connections that drive fan obsession.
The fandom's stated hopes for the new season vary widely, but certain threads recur frequently: Could a fan-favorite character escape his tormentor? Might we learn more about the mysterious "deal" constraining the enigmatic Alastor? Might certain characters' relationships evolve?
"Naturally, I don't make the show with audience demands specifically in mind," the showrunner commented earlier this year. "But I feel like me being a fan of my own show means there's a lot of it just naturally. I also want to see these things, and I hope some of these things to happen, and clearly some of these things are meant to happen in the show!"
The creator says her long-term vision is for five seasons of Hazbin Hotel. Seasons 3 and 4 have received approval by Prime Video and A24, which produce the series.
That could imply viewers have to wait years for some of the major resolutions — but they could be shocked at how quickly season 2 progresses, and how much of what they're waiting for unfolds now.
"I believe people are going to get a lot out of it," she adds. "There are several debut moments. I think we receive some incredible disclosures, some really cool origin tales, and even basic elements, [like] I hope this character gets a song. […] We're going to hear much more singing from the previously silent cast members."
The creator is well-informed of the theories and desires about the upcoming season — particularly in the format of audience prediction charts.
"I've come across a few fans make a prediction grid about the new season," she says. "Obviously I can't post it, but I've actually done some of them, and nearly every one of them have almost a bingo. I thought, Oh, if you put this [event] in this spot, it would be a bingo. So that leads me to believe we accomplish much [of what fans are waiting for in this season], because I realized, Oh, there's multiple potential bingos on this card. So that makes me happy."
Hazbin Hotel the second season premieres on the streaming service on October 29.
