Welcome to this week’s installment of Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week, wherein we shine a spotlight on strong women who inspire us. These ladies are a prime example of female empowerment and how crucial it is for youth to have said example to follow.
DISCLAIMER: The following article contains spoilers for Hazbin Hotel season 1.
Charlie Morningstar
Fast Facts:
Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen) is the Princess of Hell. She was born to Lucifer Morningstar (Jeremy Jordan) and Lilith, Adam’s first wife. An idealistic and friendly individual, Charlie is motivated by a deep desire to help the sinners of Hell improve their situation.
To this end, Charlie establishes the Hazbin Hotel. A sort of “recovery program” for sinners, the Hazbin Hotel aims to allow the souls consigned to Hell to redeem themselves. Charlie hopes that this will allow them to escape Hell and instead ascend to Heaven. This mission is made more urgent by the reality of Heaven’s annual extermination of Hell. Each year, Exorcist angels schlepp from Heaven down to Hell in order to reduce Hell’s population via genocide.
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Charlie is assisted in her mission by several close allies. First and foremost is her loyal and protective lover, Vaggie (Stephanie Beatriz). And while his true motivations remain obscured, the Hazbin Hotel gets a significant boost (and a name) thanks to the efforts of the powerful and enigmatic Alastor the Radio Demon (Amir Talai).
The Hazbin Hotel
Most of Hell’s denizens are incredulous that Charlie’s plans to redeem sinners can prove successful. This is because, in Hell’s 10,000 year history, no sinner has successfully ascended from Hell to Heaven after their death. However, Charlie’s deep-rooted faith that such redemption can be accomplished motivates her to undertake and maintain her endeavor. This is in spite of the skepticism of the media, her allies and even the first participant in the Hazbin Hotel program, spider twink demon Angel Dust (Blake Roman).
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In addition to his powerful magics and not-insignificant influence, Alastor also brings two additional staff members to the Hazbin. These are the surly but gold-hearted bartender Husk (Keith David) and the chaotic and horny hotel maid Niffty (Kimiko Glenn). And it isn’t just these staff members that Alastor draws to the Hazbin. Thanks to an old grudge, the Radio Demon’s presence also attracts the attention of the megalomaniac snake demon, Sir Pentious (Alex Brightman).
The Real Deal
Charlie is the real deal. Inspired by the optimistic stories she heard during childhood from her now-misanthropic father, she refuses to cede her dream of redemption for Hell’s sinners. This is true even when she must face Heaven’s obnoxious middle manager and extermination leader, Adam (Brightman).
Adam mocks her goals and motivations, refusing to let her get a word in edgewise when she approaches him in “Overture.” However, in spite of his abrasive and dismissive manner, Charlie’s tenacity persists in the face of a situation many would categorize as “hopeless.”
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Furthermore, Charlie’s faith in redemption proves contagious. After teaching him about apologies in “Radio Killed the Video Star,” Pentious begins working his way to redemption. And unbeknownst to Charlie and company, Pentious completes this journey when he ascends to Heaven in the season 1 finale, “The Show Must Go On.”
Why She Matters
Why does Charlie Matter? She shows us that maintaining faith in ourselves and those around us can be an invaluable asset, even (or perhaps especially) when the situation seems utterly beyond hope. She demonstrates that we don’t need to be defined by the expectations others have for us, whether those expectations were established by our lineage, appearance or demeanor. And she shows us that it’s just as important to forgive those on our side as to forgive those in the opposing camp.
RELATED: Catch up with all of our Hazbin Hotel recaps here!
So, be like Charlie. Recognize that military might and brutal violence are less powerful than forgiveness and connection. Be persistent in achieving the goals you know are right. Don’t give up in the face of skeptical criticism from friends and enemies alike. And never forget that, just because the song you’re singing has fallen on indifferent ears so far, it doesn’t mean there isn’t an entire town populated by ravenous flesh-eating cannibals waiting patiently for those lyrics to reach them.
All eight episodes of Hazbin Hotel season 1 are currently available for streaming on Prime Video.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/hazbin-hotel-season-1-favorite-songs-best-prime-video-poison-loser-baby/
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