Review: Helluva Boss “Turtle Emoji/Bad Reputation/Gimpy Gimpy”
YouTuber Vivienne Medrano, or VivziePop, has undoubtedly made an impact in the adult animation community with her cultural online phenomenon, “Hazbin Hotel”. What seemed to be yet another raunchy comedy full of sex jokes, adult language, and extreme violence turned out to be surprisingly mature with its themes amid its hellish concept. It was another example of what adult animation can be in its storytelling beyond throwing out endless amounts of sex and violence and seeing what sticks. Another such example is the spin-off where running a hotel for the converted isn’t the only hell we’re enduring, “Helluva Boss”, which turned out to be just as good as “Hazbin Hotel”.
Regarding my recent experience with the first two seasons, “Helluva Boss” is just as crude, mean-spirited, and unapologetically raunchy as “Hazbin Hotel”. However, it also retains some of the best elements of that show, including the comedy, LGBTQ+ representations, and surprisingly well-rounded characters. So there was no doubt that the long-awaited third season of “Helluva Boss” would offer more of the same as the I.M.P. employees’ previous misadventures. Spoiler alert: it absolutely did. The first three episodes of season three kicked off with the team assassinating an influencer, Millie attending a wild family hoedown, and them having a hell of an adventure in the outback. At its core, though, the season is more of a continuation of the characters’ development that started in season one, especially in their relationships.
While Stolas deals with the aftermath that cost him his title and daughter, Blitzo tries to make their relationship work. However, by the end of “Gimpy Gimpy”, it turns out to be more difficult than he realized. Additionally, Millie faces impending motherhood in “Bad Reputation”, where she fears what will happen to her old life when her baby arrives. Despite the hit-and-miss approach of her estranged connection with Cassidy, that episode further highlights Millie as a badass imp whose heart is human enough to complement her ruthlessness. Like the previous seasons, the first three episodes of “Helluva Boss” retain the strength of using its seemingly “assassination-of-the-week” structure to showcase interpersonal relationships and the complexities of the characters’ motivations. Along with its effortful animation style and well-balanced comedy, season three looks poised to be another strong hit for this hellishly delightful series.
