Hazbin Hotel – Episode 5 “Dad Beat Dad” Recap & Review

Dad Beat Dad

In Hazbin Hotel Episode 5, Charlie realizes her dad could get her a meeting with Heaven so she can plead her case with angels higher up than Adam.

Lucifer, who seems to have little purpose in his life and no idea how to interact with his daughter, is thrilled to get Charlie’s call. He accepts when she invites him over to sell him on her hotel project.

During the tour, Lucifer and Alistor have a showdown regarding who is more of a father figure to Charlie. They’re interrupted by the arrival of Mimsi, an old friend of Alistor’s who insists she’s there just to see him.

Mimsi tells everyone the stories about the radio demon. After his sudden appearance in hell, overlords started going missing, and their screams were broadcast over the radio. Underneath it all, however, she insists Alistor is a “total sweetie.”

Husk warns Alistor that Mimsi is only there to cause trouble. When Alistor dismisses him and calls him his pet, Husk responds that it’s “big talk for someone who’s also on a leash.” Bad idea. Because the radio demon then reminds him just how much power he has over the former overlord. If he disrespects him again, he’ll broadcast his screams.

Lucifer doesn’t believe in Charlie’s plan to save sinners. Heaven, he informs her, isn’t as open-minded as she thinks. But Charlie still has to try.

Loan sharks arrive at the hotel and are after Mimsi for stealing from them. This just proves Lucifer’s point that demons will only disappoint Charlie. But Alistor steps up to remind others why they shouldn’t mess with him. He scares off the loan sharks and tells Mimsi to leave.

“How come he can have faith in me,” Charlie asks, referring to Alistor, “but my own father can’t?”

Lucifer tells her he doesn’t want her to be crushed by Heaven like he was. He wants to protect her. But he’s proud to find more about who she is and wants to start over with her. So, he’s going to support her dreams however he can. He’s going to get her the meeting, but he can’t go with her.

The Episode Review

Hazbin Hotel is really utilizing its musical numbers well, usually to wrap up conflicts neatly while still packing an emotional punch. That’s the case too with “More Than Anything” in this episode, which showcases Jeremy Jordan’s beautiful voice.

I’m a fan of Lucifer’s involvement in this episode, but the show’s treatment of Alistor, on the other hand, is a shame. He’s written off when convenient and brought back in for certain arcs for little other purpose to remind us that he’s a force to be reckoned with. We haven’t yet been shown why we should care, but I suppose that’s waiting on some grand reveal.