The adult animated sitcom genre has been thriving since The Simpsons first aired in the 90s. With its popularity, the genre has become over-saturated with cheap animations and lacklustre storylines to the point that there’s little room for new titles to thrive. So why should you watch Haunted Hotel?
Hotel Is Where The Heart Is
Haunted Hotel follows Katherine, a single mum who recently inherited a hotel after the passing of her brother, Nathan. The only problem is that the hotel is not only haunted, but it’s also a breeding ground for all kinds of supernatural activity. Accompanied by her two children and the ghost of her brother, Katherine is doing her best to make ends meet, but is often thwarted by the hotel and its many inhabitants, especially her brother.
The plot hinges on Katherine’s relationship with Nathan, which is often strained, yet tender. Nathan had no issues with his hotel being haunted and was widely regarded as a bit of a failure, and this doesn’t improve with his death. By coming to terms with his death and the reason he is unable to pass on, Nathan realises his failings within their relationship, leading to lots of smaller moments that build into the whole. It’s a really lovely story that’s woven among the slapstick and toilet humour.
Although the series follows a simple “monster of the week” formula, the regular cast of characters slowly builds and develops. The eldest child, Ben, is awkward and has low self-esteem, causing him to date one of the residents and join a cult. Meanwhile, the youngest, Ester, quickly adapts to her new environment, becoming a supernatural expert in her own right. It’s all dumb fun, but there is a lot of heart hidden beneath the chaos.
Then there’s Abadon, the demon trapped in a child’s body. He was a tiny ball of hatred and quotable one-liners, with a really fun character arc.
This Room Is Occupied
I wasn’t expecting much from Haunted Hotel, but I was happily surprised to find myself fully watching as opposed to glancing at it over my phone. I’m prone to binge watching, but it’s been a while since I inhaled anything quite as diligently.
It was also nice to see a solid style throughout the hotel and the characters. The animation and style veer more towards the Rick and Morty side of the spectrum, and Haunted Hotel has the potential to become a strong rival if nurtured correctly. Even the cast is top-tier and is littered with voices I recognised, including Eliz Coupe and Skyler Gisondo. Jimmi Simpson as Abadon was also a perfect casting, and showcases his range in almost every scene.
*Knock Knock* Room Service
Netflix has already confirmed the return of Haunted Hotel in the near future, and I’ll be interested to see what direction the story goes. There have been some hints towards helping the ghosts finish their business and move on as a greater goal, but I suspect it would be used to finish the series rather than as a season finale.
These first few episodes reminded me of the early Rick and Morty episodes, where they just threw things at the wall and made an adventure out of it. It’s funny, engaging, and reasonably shallow in terms of overarching plot, but it’s well written with a lot of room for it to grow.
Check-Out By 10.30
As we all wind down after summer and reach for our winter wears, a spooky supernatural comedy was just what I needed. Haunted Hotel was the perfect palate cleanser in a sea of meh, and I will be extending my stay as long as possible.
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