HAZBIN HOTEL Recap: (S01E05) Dad Beat Dad

Avery Kaplan

Updated on:

Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen) looks on as her father, Lucifer (Jeremy Jordan), sits atop a throne surrounded by flames on Hazbin Hotel.

In the fifth episode of Hazbin Hotel, Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen) must call her father, Lucifer (Jeremy Jordan). “Dad Beat Dad” was written by Rachel Kaplan and directed by series creator Vivienne Medrano.

RELATED: Read our recap of Hazbin Hotel’s previous episode, “Masquerade”

Vaggie (Stephanie Beatriz) awakens to find Charlie isn’t in bed beside her. She finds her partner in the hotel parlor. There Angel Dust (Blake Roman), Sir Pentious (Alex Brightman), Niffty (Kimiko Glenn) and Husk (Keith David) look on as Charlie mutters as she constructs a red-string conspiracy wall. Vaggie asks Charlie if she’s good. Charlie says she’s been up all night trying to determine why the hotel is ineffectual. She cites the looming extermination as she grows increasingly harried. Against Charlie’s protestations, Vaggie suggests Charlie ask her dad.

Charlie isn’t keen on this idea. Vaggie concedes that Charlie is loath to do it, but she says they need every possible advantage. Charlie points out Lucifer was the one to allow the exterminations in the first place, after just one meeting. This gives Charlie the idea of getting Lucifer to get her a meeting with Heaven. Vaggie points out they already had a meeting (in “Overture”). But Charlie says that meeting was with Adam. Perhaps they can go over his head and talk to someone with more authority.

Charlie opens her phone’s address book, but still hesitates. Husk asks if she has daddy issues. Charlie says they aren’t close, as he left her life after he split with her mom. Since then, he’s only contacted her when he needs something. “Daddy issues,” concludes Husk. Nevertheless, all of the Hazbin Hotel residents are keen to meet Lucifer, each for their own reasons. 

“Dad Beat Dad”

Elsewhere, Lucifer has just completed his latest creation: a fire-spitting back-flipping rubber duck. In his room filled with rubber ducks, Lucifer is initially self-congratulatory. However, he soon admits aloud that it sucks. He reacts to sadness with a picture of himself, Charlie and Lillith. But he’s excited when he gets a call on his cell from Charlie. After answering awkwardly, Lucifer asks where Charlie is these days. Charlie says the same place she was when he called five months earlier: the Hazbin. 

Looking at the duck pile, Lucifer says he’s been busy. Charlie says he might have seen their commercial. Lucifer says he hasn’t been watching much TV. However, he says the hotel sounds fun. When Charlie says she has a big ask, Lucifer says anything in his power is hers for the asking. But when Charlie asks to talk to Heaven, he immediately declines. Charlie insists she needs his help. 

RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Marceline the Vampire Queen

When Lucifer still says he doesn’t know, Charlie invites him to visit. Lucifer is overjoyed. He says he’ll be there in an hour. Vaggie orders the crew to get the hotel ready for Lucifer’s arrival. Alastor the Radio Demon (Amir Talai) watches them as they do so. 

Soon Lucifer arrives. He greets KeeKee, Razzle and Dazzle. However, he seems unsure about the hotel. Especially some of Alastor’s renovations. Alastor introduces himself, throwing Lucifer’s hat off balance in the process. Further, Alastor notes Lucifer is shorter than he imagined. Lucifer asks if Alastor is the bellhop. Alastor says he’s the hotel’s host, and asks if Lucifer has heard his radio broadcast. The pair are soon trading verbal barbs. In the process, Alastor claims credit for the name “Hazbin.”

Hazbin Hotel

Charlie comes between them and tells Lucifer that Alastor has been integral to Hazbin Hotel renovations. Alastor says Charlie has “a unique vision,” and that he’s happy to “fulfill her bizarre requests.” Charlie thanks him. Lucifer grows jealous. He pushes between Charlie and Alastor and asks to be introduced to her other friends. Charlie starts with her girlfriend, Vaggie, prompting Lucifer to declare he’s also attracted to women. He enthusiastically greets her, even if he gets her name wrong. Charlie introduces the rest of the cast.  

Alastor the Radio Demon (Amir Talai) makes his case for being a surrogate father figure to Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen) in the lobby of the Hazbin Hotel.
Alastor, Charlie Morningstar

Lucifer begins to sing. The song has sort of a techno carnival music vibe. The lyrics brag that, as the “big boss of Hell itself,” Lucifer can offer invaluable assistance to Charlie. The second verse heavily focuses on how Lucifer is superior to Alastor. But then Alastor begins his verse. This cites the myriad instances that Alastor has assisted with the Hazbin so far. Next he suggests he could be a surrogate father figure for Charlie.

RELATED: Ranking the Musical Episodes of The Magicians

Lucifer cuts back in with a golden violin solo. But Alastor isn’t so easy to get rid of. As the song climaxes, the tempo increases. Meanwhile, Alastor and Lucifer nearly come to blows. But their fight is interrupted by the arrival of the diminutive (but very loud) flapper, Mimsy (Sarah Stiles). Alastor calls her by name and welcomes her to the Hazbin. She asks how he’s been. According to Mimsy, Alastor and Mimsy knew each other when they were alive.

Alastor says they should have seen Mimsy in her heyday. Mimsy insists she’s still in her prime. She identifies Lucifer and introduces herself. Lucifer says he’s sure he’s charmed.

The Radio Demon

Alastor says as much as he’d like to catch up with Mimsy, he and Charlie have a tour to conclude. Lucifer states he’s sure Charlie can handle the tour herself. But Alastor insists that as they started the hotel together, they’ll show it off together. Alastor tells Mimsy to allow the others to help her settle in. Mimsy recognizes Husk. However, Husk isn’t pleased to see her. She recognizes Niffty, too.

Angel approaches and asks Mimsy about the nature of her relationship with Alastor. He asks if they’re friends, and Mimsy says that’s his word, not hers. Angel explains Alastor has been at the Hazbin for a while but remains “a big creepy mystery.” Mimsy recounts that Alastor appeared in Hell “suddenly, making a splash quicker than anyone had ever seen.” Soon Overlords began going missing without explanation. But ensuing radio broadcasts contained the sound of the missing Overlords’ screams. Alastor subsequently revealed himself as the Radio Demon. Anyone who crossed him joined the broadcast.

RELATED: 12 Trans Musicians Who Should Be on Your Radar

Mimsy says that while this is the story most people know, he’s really sweet underneath. Angel and Pentious look skeptical. Mimsy says Alastor hasn’t done any of that in a while. But when she asks for another drink, she finds Husk is absent.

Elsewhere in the hotel, Charlie leads Lucifer, Vaggie and Alastor on a tour. Husk arrives and pulls Alastor aside. He says Mimsy is trouble. Alastor insists he can handle Mimsy. Husk says Alastor has been gone a while and no one knows why. Alastor says not to worry about it. He implies Husk is his pet. Husk says that’s big talk for someone who’s also on a leash. This causes Alastor to lash out at Husk, scaring him into submission.

Sinners and Loan Sharks

Meanwhile, the tour continues. Vaggie brags that they’ve almost found all of Angel’s drug stashes. Charlie asks him what he thinks about the hotel. He says it looks much better. But Charlie is asking him about the plan to use the hotel to help sinners. Lucifer says he loves Charlie’s positive outlook. But he says you can only expect so much from sinners with free will. 

Husk (Keith David), Angel Dust (Blake Roman) and Sir Pentious (Alex Brightman) sit back and watch the show.
Husk, Angel Dust, Sir Pentious

Furthermore, he says Heaven is filled with rules. “And they aren’t very open-minded, as you’d hope,” Lucifer observes. He continues that he doesn’t want bad people to hurt Charlie. He indicates the loan sharks who have arrived at the door of the hotel looking for Mimsy. Mimsy admits that she’s in trouble with the sharks. Meanwhile, the sharks’ siege begins to make inroads into the hotel. Lucifer says this is just what he’s talking about. If you have faith in people, he says, they’re just going to disappoint you.

RELATED: Romeo Candido Talks Topline and His Musical Inspirations

Vaggie prepares to counter attack. However, Alastor tells her he can handle it. He transforms into a larger, tentacled form and declares this to be “a reminder to all not to mess with the Radio Demon.” He proceeds to lay waste to the advancing sharks. Mimsy cheers him on. Meanwhile, Lucifer smugly says this is what Charlie gets for putting her faith in sinners. But Charlie states that Alastor is defending the hotel (even if it’s a bit more “sadistically” than she’d prefer).

Charlie asks why Alastor can have faith in her when her own father can’t. Meanwhile, Alastor completes his onslaught. Mimsy thanks him. But Alastor tells Mimsy she should go. He says she’s welcome if she wants to take part in the Hazbin’s redemption program. But they both know that’s not the case.

More Than Anything

Inside the hotel, Charlie asks Lucifer to help her. Lucifer says she doesn’t understand. Heaven doesn’t listen. He begins an emotional song. The lyrics explain that Lucifer tried this all before. However, his dreams were too hard to defend. He fears he’ll lose everything again. But now, all he cares about is Charlie. Lucifer tells Charlie he doesn’t want her to be crushed by them, as he was.

Charlie begins her verse. She recalls her childhood, when Lucifer was a distant but admired figure. She sings that his dreams inspired her goals. Charlie sings that she needs to save her people more than anything. Lucifer begins to open to her, realizing the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. They begin to sing together, about starting again and not being pulled apart again. Lucifer says he’ll support Charlie’s dream, “no matter what lies in store.” 

Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen) looks much more enthusiastic than Vaggie (Stephanie Beatriz).

The song concludes. Lucifer says he can get Charlie the meeting, but once she’s in Heaven, she’s on her own. He asks if she’ll be OK. Charlie says she’ll be fine. Lucifer leaves after wishing her luck. Vaggie says the next part will be scary, and asks if Charlie is ready. Charlie says she’ll be ready, because Vaggie will be with her. Vaggie asks if she means “in spirit,” but Charlie corrects, “In Heaven.” Vaggie offers an insincere, “yay.”

RELATED: Catch up with all of our Hazbin Hotel recaps here!

The first six episodes of Hazbin Hotel are currently available for streaming on Prime Video. Two more new episodes will debut next Friday.

https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/spoiler-review-adventure-time-fionna-and-cake/

Avery Kaplan

Leave a Comment