Why Helluva Boss Is the Best Web Series Right Now
In October 2019, Hazbin Hotel’s pilot premiered and exceeded everyone’s expectations, including its creator Vivienne Medrano, also known as VivziePop. While Medrano had some success prior to Hazbin Hotel, the show’s popularity caught the attention of A24, who picked it up as their first animated series. Instead of waiting for A24 to release the new Hazbin Hotel, Medrano, through her company SpindleHorse, greenlit another project set in the same universe. Helluva Boss premiered a year after Hazbin Hotel and has become a success in its own right.
Helluva Boss follows I.M.P. (Immediate Murder Professionals), a group of demon assassins who specialize in killing targets on Earth. The show focuses on their relationships and the dynamics within the group. The characters include Moxxie and Millie, a married couple driven by their love and desire for violence; Loona, the Hellhound assistant who would rather be anywhere else; and Blitzo, the clown turned assassin and boss. Blitzo receives assistance from Stolas, one of the Goetic Princes of Hell, in exchange for sexual favors, allowing him to travel to Earth.
Unlike Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss is an episodic series that centers around its characters. It stands out among web series today due to its exceptional animation, well-developed characters, talented voice cast, captivating music, and engaging storytelling.
Medrano’s experience with Hazbin Hotel allowed her to assemble a skilled crew for Helluva Boss, which is rare for independent shows. The animation in Helluva Boss is visually stunning, drawing inspiration from early 2000s cartoons like Invader Zim and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. The distinct character designs and vibrant color palettes make Helluva Boss visually unique in the realm of adult animation.
Musicals play a significant role in both Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss, reflecting Medrano’s love for the genre. Each episode of Helluva Boss features at least one song, enhancing the storytelling experience. The show boasts a talented voice cast, including Broadway actors such as Bryce Pinkham, Alex Brightman, Barrett Wilbert Weed, Jonathan Freeman, and James Monroe Iglehart. Season one concludes with pop icon Kesha as Queen Beelzebub.
Helluva Boss also stands out for its emotionally complex characters. The show balances horror and comedy but allows its characters to explore their emotions in quieter moments. The portrayal of queer characters is refreshing, as their sexuality is a part of them without defining their entire identity. The show’s representation is casual and inclusive, with several main and supporting characters falling under the LGBTQ+ banner.
While Helluva Boss may not be suitable for children, it appeals to adults familiar with 2000s-era animations and shows like Invader Zim. The show’s animation, music, and voice acting rival those of major networks. Being an independent production, it avoids the risk of being overshadowed by corporate control. The absurd and cynical comedy adds weight to the heartfelt moments, and the honest representation of queer characters is commendable.
Helluva Boss is not just one of the best web series available, but also one of the finest adult animated series. Best of all, it can be enjoyed for free on YouTube.
When Hazbin Hotel’s pilot premiered in October 2019, no one could have expected it to be the runaway success that it was, least of all its creator Vivienne Medrano. Medrano, or VivziePop, had moderate success prior to Hazbinbut nothing to this scale. The pilot’s popularity caught the eye of several studios, with A24 picking it up as their first animated series. Instead of letting the hype die down before A24 releases the new Hazbin HotelMedrano, through her company SpindleHorse, greenlit another project that takes place in the same world.
Helluva Boss premiered almost exactly one year after Hazbin Hotel first landed and has since proven to be a wild success itself. The show follows I.M.P. (Immediate Murder Professionals), a group of demon assassins who specialize in killing targets on Earth, usually at the behest of a vengeful damned soul. The group consists of Moxxie and Millie, a married couple driven by their love and lust for violence; Loona, the Hellhound assistant and boss’s adopted daughter who’d rather be anywhere else; and Blitzo, the clown turned assassin and titular boss. To regularly get to Earth, Blitzo gets help from one of the Goetic Princes of Hell, Stolas, in exchange for sexual favors.
Unlike Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss is an episodic series that centers around its characters and their relationships. Of the web series available today, Helluva Boss is one of if not the best out there thanks to its stellar animation, characters, voice cast, music, and storytelling.
Outstanding Animation
Web series tend to be low-budget affairs, making independent animation a nightmare to work in. Thanks, though, to Medrano’s experience creating Hazbin Hotel, she had the know-how and resources to quickly pull together a solid crew for Helluva. It’s not often that independent shows have both talent and funding behind them, so, when a web series comes along that does, it’s bound to be impressive. The animation in Helluva Boss is gorgeous, with much of the designs hearkening back to early 2000s cartoons like Invader Zim and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. The thick line work, varied color palettes, and unique character designs gives Helluva Boss a look that stands out, especially in the world of adult animation.
A Talented and Musical Voice Cast
Medrano isn’t shy about her love of musicals, so it’s no surprise that musical numbers play a significant part in both series. Every episode of Helluva Boss features at least one song, with some being non-diegetic songs about what’s happening on screen and others that are more akin to a Disney musical number or a music video.
The numerous musical numbers in Helluva Boss are backed up by a superb voice cast, many of whom are Broadway actors. The one who makes the most appearances is Bryce Pinkham as Stolas; the actor made a name for himself on stage when he was nominated for a Tony and a Grammy for his leading role in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. The demon clown Fizzarolli is voiced by Alex Brightman, the actor who originated the title role in the Broadway adaptation of Beetlejuice. Stolas’ daughter is voiced by stage actress Barrett Wilbert Weed, who gained fame for originating the role of Janis Sarkisian in the Mean Girls musical. Disney fans will recognize Stolas’ father Paimon as Jonathan Freeman, the long-time voice of Jafar and originator of the role on stage. Asmodeus is voiced by James Monroe Iglehart, who appeared alongside Freeman as the Genie in Broadway’s Aladdin. Season one is capped off by pop icon Kesha as Queen Beelzebub.
Helluva Boss features several other stellar and familiar non-singing voices, led by Moxxie’s actor Richard Horowitz (the one and only Invader Zim). Millie, his wife, is voiced by Grey’s Anatomy alum Vivian Nixon, and other notable guest voices include Mara Wilson, Jinkx Monsoon, and Maxwell Atoms (creator of Billy & Mandy).
Emotionally Complex Characters
Helluva Boss is a horror comedy, but that doesn’t preclude the writers from infusing characters and situations with immense emotional depth. Between the rampant penis jokes and onslaught of curse words, Helluva Boss allows its characters to experience their emotions in the show’s quieter moments. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself tearing up in these scenes as the characters deal with topics including divorce, abandonment, and feeling unworthy of love.
The show’s representation of queer characters is a refreshing example of casual representation, which shows queer people whose sexuality is a part of them but doesn’t define them. The show allows its characters to just be, and the problems they face are usually unrelated to their sexual and gender identities. Several of the main and supporting cast fall under the LGBTQ+ banner — Blitzo is pansexual and Moxxie is bisexual, and Millie’s sister Sallie Mae is transgender, just to name a few.
Helluva Boss isn’t for everyone, and is especially not for kids, as the show makes explicitly clear with its opening advisory warnings about “rampant demon horniness,” among other things. But for adults familiar with 2000s-era Newgrounds animations and shows like Invader Zim, Helluva Boss is a recognizable update that must be checked out. The animation, music, and voice acting are on par or better than many animated series from major networks, and, because it’s completely independent, Helluva Boss doesn’t run the risk of getting vaporized out of existence by overzealous CEOs. The comedy is absurd and cynical, giving the heartfelt moments greater weight and gravitas, and the representation of queer characters is refreshingly honest.
Helluva Boss isn’t just one of the best web series right now, it’s also one of the best adult animated series, and it’s all available on YouTube for free.
