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It's A Deal is the fourth episode of the second season of Hazbin Hotel and the twelfth episode overall. It premiered on November 5, 2025, on Prime Video.[1]
Synopsis[]
- Charlie tries to do damage control by going live on television! Meanwhile, Alastor reaches his final straw.
Plot[]
In their room at the Hazbin Hotel, Vaggie tries to talk Charlie out of doing a review with Katie Killjoy. Charlie hopes that a live interview that can't be edited will help repair the hotel's reputation, but Vaggie reminds her that the news station is owned by Vox and they will twist her words like he and Velvette did. Vaggie wants Charlie to stay at the hotel and spend time with her (and the guests, as she quickly adds), but Charlie presses on and leaves, taking Niffty with her.
Alastor is then seen in his room with an open shirt, a cigarette and a glass of whiskey, obviously still frustrated over his chest wound and broken staff. He later dresses himself and heads to the lounge, walking past Lucifer, Angel Dust and Cherri Bomb, who are sitting on the sofa. Angel Dust receives a bizarre casting proposal in his phone from Valentino, which irritates Cherri Bomb; the casting is for a movie where an explorer has sex with dinosaurs.
Alastor sits one one of the lounge's seats and questions why Lucifer is still at the hotel. In response, Lucifer mocks him by calling him "Mr. Useless", and says that someone has to help Charlie run the hotel. Lucifer then asks what Alastor’s role in the Hotel is, prompting Alastor to respond that he is the host. Skeptical, Lucifer retorts that he thought Vaggie was the host, since she has been single-handedly running the entire place herself, much to Alastor's annoyance. He says Alastor is doing a poor job as a host, then pushes him over the edge when he brings up how he lost to Adam and how Lucifer himself had to save Charlie when she was in danger. Fed up, Alastor snaps and Quits Lucifer replies, "That’s it, Bambi. Walk away." But Alastor isn’t finished. Using a shadow hand, he tilts Lucifer’s coffee as Lucifer drinks, causing it to spill over his chest in retaliation.
The scene then cuts to Charlie at 666 News, getting ready for the interview by rehearsing with Niffty when Velvette catches her attention. Charlie tells her she knows what she and Vox did and she’s there to undo the damage they did by setting the record straight. Charlie is then reintroduced to Katie Killjoy, who is as bigoted and passive aggressive as ever. The broadcast then begins and after Charlie’s eyes adjust to the brightness, she reveals she’s come onto 666 news to talk about the Hotel. Katie argues Vox’s Special on the Hotel reveals everything there is to know about it, which she shamelessly plugs but Charlie tries to explain how Vox lied about everything, making Katie dodge her points via meaningless statements and innuendo.
Meanwhile, Alastor is seen walking through Cannibal Town in a pink and white coat and with a box in his right hand. He approaches Rosie's Emporium and picks a bunch of flowers from a nearby shrub as he enters. Rosie who is wearing a white and pink gown strolls down the stairs and sets up some tea as the two sit down. Alastor then tells her about the "good news" that he has quit helping the hotel much to Rosie's surprise. Alastor continues by claiming he was simply finding it not needed for him to stay around any longer with all the "help" he's providing, however Rosie cuts him off and tells him how it wasn't his decision to make due to the deal they made. Alastor then berates how he was promised to be the strongest sinner in hell. Rosie corrects in that while he is the most powerful sinner in all of Hell, he still could not ever hope to defeat an archangel.
Rosie chuckles and recalls the day they first met when Alastor was still alive on Earth, much to Alastor's dismay, who demands that she not remind him to no avail. With a series of flashbacks to Alastor's life on Earth as visuals, Rosie explains that Alastor was a gentleman who became the star of his own radio studio and got along quite well with others, however his true colors would come clean if anyone were to mess or mock him resulting in their demise. Alastor would then commit a ritual to contact the souls of Hell to which he was able to contact Rosie. He would explain how he knew what his fate would be once he died and that he wanted to continue his fun killing others in hell wanting to be ranked among the highest of demons. Intrigued, Rosie agrees to fulfil his wish but on the condition that until Alastor had done a certain task for her, his soul would be hers to which the radio host agrees, and they seal the deal. It is then revealed the next day; Alastor was killed by a hunter whose dog mistook him for a deer as he was hiding a body and stopped in front of a tree which made it look like he had antlers above his head.
Rosie laughs in hysterically once she finishes the story and Alastor grumpily laughs strained. He then tells her that she could do whatever she wanted but he has been doing her bidding running around hell working for years, then went to work at the hotel at her behave do her and that he is now lacking power. Before he can reveal detail of why she made him do all those, Rosie then begins singing about how Alastor shouldn't forget that she is the one calling the shots and that he is her pet, during which Alastor reveal that Rossie is the reason behind his 7-year absence. Frustrated over not being able to influence her, Alastor paces back and forth stressed over his situation and that there had to be a way for him to break free from his deal and suddenly he gets an idea.
We cut back to the news Station, in which Charlie still can’t get through to Katie or make anyone in the studio understand the truth of the Hotel, and everyone is all too happy to follow Vox’s words about Charlie and her business. As a last ditch attempt at clearing her name, Charlie tries to make Niffty say something positive about the Hotel. When she stares into the camera and freezes, Charlie tells Niffty that the camera is actually a big roach, and to tell it what she thinks about the Hotel. Niffty then starts singing about how she loves the Hotel because it’s so dirty and she gets to clean it up. Unfortunately, the positive things she said about the hotel were all sung in Japanese which most of the denizens of Hell did not understand while the negative things she said about the hotel were all sung in English which the people of Hell did understand, causing the hotel's reputation to be damaged further. After she’s done, Charlie is emotionally drained and face plants into the desk.
In the entertainment district, Alastor (who has changed back to his usual attire) calls out Vox who he knows is watching. Vox goes, to meet Alastor, asking if Alastor is there to him to stop messing with hotel. Alastor, however, remarks that he's bored of Vox's slander, and revels that he's there to finish the rivalry between them. Valentino and Velvette show up as well. Alastor makes the first move, and the four Overlord the engage a deadly fight with the Vees clearly having the upper hand over the Radio Demon. Alastor tries to fight back but his wound and barely functioning staff prevent him from using the full extent of his powers. However, he still endures most of their attacks and fights back, subduing Valentino, and knocking Velvette.
At 666 News, while Charlie and Katie bicker back and forth, Niffty notices Alastor on a screen and rushes back to the hotel to grab Husk and the two rush into the battle. Vox catch and pin Alastor against the wall, ripping out the stitches holding his wound together. Niffy and Husk arrive, with Niffy chucking Husk at Velvette. While Husk is annoyed that Alastor is still dealing with the Vees, Velvette is enraged at Husk accidentally ruining her hair and Husk uses his cards and magic to fight back. Meanwhile Niffty takes on Valentino, being able to land a few stab wounds on the moth demon. With the other two distracted, Alastor continues his showdown with Vox. Despite their efforts Husk and Niffty are then pinned down by their opponents but just before the Vees can finish them off, Alastor strikes a deal with Vox and offers to join them as their prisoner on the condition that they let Niffty and Husk go and that Vox was to not lay his hands on Charlie Morningstar. Overjoyed by the chance at finally beating his rival, Vox more than willingly accepts the deal and the two shake hands.
After kicking everyone out of V Tower, including Charlie, Vox celebrates his victory by humiliating Alastor publicly in several ways, such as tying his arms with wires and forcing him to wear a frowny gag, organizing a victory parade, verifying that Alastor has no tail on a broadcast of 666 News, and taking Alastor to a mock date at a diner. After forcing Alastor, who is now tied to an office chair, to look over him and Valentino in bed, Vox asks him what's his deal with Charlie, though Alastor denies to tell him and instead tells him that he depends of other people to have power, and reminds him his history with him.
A flashback reveals that in his his earlier days in Hell, Vox, saw Alastor as a friend, having knowing each other for years. Vox viewed Alastor as inspiring, and asked him to join him and rule Hell together. However, Alastor only responded by laughing at him and mocked Vox, referring to him as weak. Deeply hurt and embarrassed, Vox admitted that he thought they were friends, only for Alastor to mockingly note to Vox, even calling him by his real name, Vincent, that there are no friends in Hell.
In the present, Alastor remarks that he had to put Vox in place back then, and that he relies on others for his power. Seething with spite, Vox reminds Alastor he is in his territory and he will follow his rules from now on. Alastor bites back that Vox will "lose his marbles in act three," and that he hasn't won, yet. Vox and Alastor get in each other's faces, with the episode ending when Valentino remarks that they both should just fuck already and asks if he can film it.
Features[]
Characters[]
- Employees of the Hazbin Hotel
- Guests of the Hazbin Hotel
- Angel Dust
- Cherri Bomb (cameo)
- Baxter (pictured)
- Egg Boiz (pictured)
- Hell's Royal Family
- Lucifer Morningstar
- Lilith (pictured)
- Overlords
- 666 News staff
- Emily (mentioned)
- Sir Pentious (mentioned)
- Adam (mentioned)
- Porn Studios staff (non-speaking cameo)
- Travis
- Tiffany Titfucker (name only)
- Mimzy (flashback; non-speaking cameo)
- Ethan (cameo)
- Susan (name only)
- Vox's pet sharks (pictured)
Locations[]
Objects[]
- Alastor's microphone staff
- Valentino's Moneyshot
- Velvette's bow and arrows
- Velvette's phone
Events[]
- Extermination (mentioned)
Music[]
Songs[]
Instrumentals[]
Trivia[]
- This episode was co-outsourced to DogHead Animation in Florence, Italy, who assisted SpindleHorse, Princess Bento and Toon City on animating the episode.[2]
- Katie reveals it has been a week since the events of the previous episode.
- It is revealed that part of Alastor’s demonic power comes from his staff, which was broken by Adam in "The Show Must Go On", limiting his powers.
- According to Katie, the Exorcists have been killing Sinners for seven years.
- This means that Vaggie participated in the exterminations for about four years, before meeting Charlie as, according to her in "Hello Rosie!", they have been living together for three years.
- It's revealed that when he was alive, Alastor contacted Rosie using a ritual and made a deal with her to become the most powerful Sinner in Hell when he died, but on the condition that she would own his soul until he repaid his debt, the details of which are not revealed. However, it is hinted to be related to Charlie and her hotel, as Rosie forbade Alastor from quitting his job there.
- Additionally, it is revealed that he was shot in the head (hence the "x" on his forehead) for being mistaken as a deer.
- It's also revealed Rosie is the reason why Alastor went missing for seven years.
- It is also revealed that Rosie is pursuing a specific goal connected to Charlie Morningstar.
- This is the first time Alastor, as a human, speaks a bit of French.
- This is also the first time Alastor has broken the fourth wall in the Don't You Forget (Reprise).
- As mentioned in "Masquerade" by Angel Dust, Valentino has bad eyesight, which is showcased during Valentino and Alastor's fight where outside his glasses' view is blurry.
- It is revealed that Niffty can also speak Japanese in her song, Clean It Up!.
- During the final few moments of Don't You Forget (Reprise), Vox and Alastor's shadows are seen cast onto the floor. Alastor's shadow is shown frowning.
- Vox's name as a human is revealed to be Vincent.
- It's shown that Valentino doesn't have feet, but rather insect legs like Niffty.
- Vox once had a bigger, older TV model as his head, which shows he is currently the only confirmed Sinner who can modify his body.
- Vox also reveals that his feud with Alastor had been going on for at least seventy years, having started after the latter refused to work together with the former, while also breaking his heart (as Vox was showed having a crush on Alastor).
- Vox saying that Alastor does not have a deer tail, followed by Katie remarking that said fact would piss some people off, is a reference to a popular fan question that's been directed by Vivziepop.
- This is the first time Alastor and Vox have been seen smoking.
- In Vox's case, smoke comes out of his gills when he exhales.
- It is revealed that, in addition to potions and witchcraft, Velvette is also adept at using the bow and arrow.
- One of the contacts shown on Charlie's phone is the creator herself, Vivienne Medrano.
- This is the first episode in the series where it's fully seen a deal made by two demons.
- During the bar scene with Alastor and Vox in the past, Alastor was seen wearing his pilot clothing.
- While at Rosie's Emporium, Alastor eats one of the severed he brings her, and during the flashback of in his shack when he was alive, some of his victims were missing body parts. This could mean that Alastor is a cannibal.
- After Vox exhales from smoking Valentino's cigarette, smoke can be seen the coming out of his gills. This could mean that Vox can breathe through them.
- Vivziepop explains that, even though the episode reintroduces Katie Killjoy, due to the pilot spiritually being canon, she likes to think that Katie just doesn't remember she's met Charlie already and barely remembers her name.[3]
- On July 26, 2024, Prime Video released a video on their YouTube channel of Erika Henningsen in the booth during recording sessions for Charlie for Season 2. The sessions shown in the video were all meant for this episode, specifically the scenes of Charlie on 666 News.
- Skye Henwood wrote Velvette's stream messages for the Vees' fight against Alastor.[4]
- Skye Henwood wrote all of the news ticker script in a day with a fever.[5]
- According to Amir Talai, while he was recording one take of the line, “Your unwilling audience when you lose your marbles in act three” during Don’t You Forget (Reprise), he reportedly did a little shoulder dance. Later, it was animated into the scene when Alastor sings the line.
- The news ticker at the bottom during Charlie's 666 News interview throughout the episode reads
:
This is the teleprompter text that you can't really see because it's on such a small screen. This is Skye. I'm being forced to write t—— ompter script! Send help. Holy shit balls did Charlie Morningstar actually just say that that's crazy like literally insane. As a sinner I'm offended and outraged and everyone else should be too. Literally nothing she could say could change my mind. I'm fucking done with this bitch. So upsetting I used to like Charlie but now I can't even stand her. She was sweating for a reason she is a bad person. This just in, Niffty the Adam Slayer and local bug eater has joined the princess in her slanderous ways. What more could this deadly duo do to insult us? Haven't they done enough? Speechless. She has nothing to say. Classic Hazbin Hotel. I heard that Charlie strikes people when they talk shit so I get why this little bitch ain't saying shit. Try all you want bitch you can't manipulate her anymore. She's not afraid of you anymore! Uhh what the fuck was that? Was that Japanese? This just in, our sources confirm that she just insulted the crap out of the Hazbin Hotel, and confirms that it is an "unsanitary cesspool" as Velvette stated in her recent livestream." |
- When asked about the Black Hatter mentioned in the news ticker in a late-2025 inverview, Vivziepop explained that its an inside joke from when she and her crew were trying to figure out what Hell's version of Chistmas lore would be, stemming from how old black and white films would have villains in black hats and heroes in white hats. Vivziepop says that they were trying to come up with the weirdest-sounding storybook-esque character, who has some lore relevance, which would have been used to scare Charlie to go to bed as a child, and they came up with the idea of Lucifer saying to "Go to bed on time or the Black Hatter will come and get you". Vivziepop's design for the Black Hatter is entirely compired of hats.[6]
- Vivziepop explains that she didn't have to direct Christian Borle to do anything differently for his flashback, Borle just played him differently to the rest of season 2, making him sound very innocent.[7]
Cultural References[]
- Alastor and Lucifer's mugs reading "Duck Season" and "Deer Season" respectively might be a reference to the classic Looney Tunes gag where Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny keep tearing off posters that say "Duck Season" and "Rabbit Season" respectively.
- Additionally, the crossed-out head of the deer on Lucifer's mug resembles Disney's Bambi, which he highlights by taunting Alastor.
- Charlie telling the livestream broadcast to stop comparing her to Hitler is a reference to the real-life historical figure, Adolf Hitler.
- Additionally, Hitler (alongside Jeffrey Epstein) was first mentioned in Helluva Boss by Mrs. Mayberry in the episode, "Murder Family".
- During the "Clean It Up" song sequence, the characters were shown designed and animated in akin to Studio Trigger anime properties such as Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, Space Patrol Luluco, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Little Witch Academia. Niffty's little dance at the beginning of the anime part of her song is a reference to the opening sequence of Mashle: Magic and Muscles. At the end of the sequence, Niffty also struck a pose from Sailor Moon.
- The scene where Charlie thinks that people would take the statement "I think Sinners deserve the extermination cuz they're bad people" out of context, in which Katie Killjoy does, is a reference to the "I think Coolsville sucks" scene from Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.
- The scene where Vox arrives and murders a sinner is a reference to where Thor Odinson massacres Sigrid's family in the Netflix adult animated series Twilight of the Gods.
- One of the users in Velvette's chat, "DOWNWITHTHEICKNESS" may be a reference to the song "Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed.
- Alastor and Rosie’s outfits bare resemblance to Bert and Mary's outfits while they are in Bert's drawing, specifically during the sequence "Jolly Holiday" from Mary Poppins.
- After Vox kicked the studio doors from 666 News Studio open, while screaming "HOLY FUCK!" is a reference to the "MOM HOLY FUCK!" Phineas and Ferb meme.
- During Vox's flashback sequence when Alastor laughs at Vox's partnership proposal, he briefly did the "Wheezing" internet meme, which was implanted by character pose artist, Fernanda Rodriguez.[8]
- Additionally, his "oh wait, you're serious!?" Before laughing harder could be a reference to Bender from Futurama saying the same thing to Leela, with the addition of "let me laugh even harder!".
Continuity[]
- Lucifer recalls having to save Charlie during the events of "The Show Must Go On".
- Alastor has a scar on his chest from having been struck by Adam's axe guitar.
- Charlie and Velvette recall the news broadcast from the previous episode.
- Angel tells Cherri she should have moved into the hotel sooner, also a callback to the previous episode.
- Alastor's deal with Rosie had already been mentioned both in "Dad Beat Dad" and in "The Show Must Go On".
- While Alastor is telling Vox to come out on speaker with his staff's microphone, several shots from "Stayed Gone" make a comeback.
- Vox also makes another callback to "Stayed Gone" in "Don't You Forget (Reprise)".
- Alastor telling Velvette that Vox wouldn't want to be put in his place a second time is a reference to "Radio Killed the Video Star".
- When Niffty is sprinting across town to get Husk, she runs past the exact same street that "Loser, Baby" was sung on.
- On the top right side of Alastor's mirror is the roach crown Niffty gave him in "The Show Must Go On".
- The image of Lucifer on 666 News is the same image of him during him and Adam's fight in "The Show Must Go On".
- On a certain bench in Cannibal Town where Alastor sits on after leaving Rosie's Emporium, there is a plaque on it that reads "In Memory of Susan I wish She'd die again". However, in Vivziepop's reply to Amir Talai's Bluesky post, she clarifies that Susan is not actually dead.[9]
- Katie incorrectly referring to the hotel as the "Hashbrown Motel" is a callback to the non-canon announcement video of Helluva Boss coming to Prime Video where Blitzo is also heard incorrectly referring to the Hazbin Hotel as that as well. This is a nod to how Blitzo & Katie are both voiced by Brandon Rogers.
Errors[]
- In one of the shots of Cherri Bomb and Angel Dust snuggling, Cherri's ponytail is outlined on both sides. The left one has the correct gradient and the right one is matte despite seemingly being the intended one based on other shots.
- When passing by Lucifer, the tips of Alastor's hair are the same red as the rest of it, rather than their normal ashy black color.
- When Rosie summons the collar and leash holding Alastor, the outline for the side of her face overlaps the outline of her eyelash.
- While in Vox's bed, Valentino is seen with an extra hand.
- When Human Alastor summons Rosie from his ritual, his sleeves go from being rolled up to being loosened.
- Between 25:06 and 25:09, the black outline of Vox's right eye disappears.
- In Clean It Up!, "犯罪者 (hanzaisha)" actually translates to "criminals/the guilty" rather than "sinners".
- Sam Haft explained that they had a native Japanese consultant, who was also present for the recording and approved the compositing with an ear out for pronunciation, and told them linguistic liberties are often taken in Japanese songs.[10] Additionally, he says the team had a conversation with the consultant about "hanzaisha", who told them it was an unconventional word but that it was thematically appropriate to refer to sinners in that way.[11] Haft also confirmed that they dummy-checked their vocal comp with an American born Japanese translator who was more stringent on pronunciation in ways and they corrected for as best as they could.[12] However, Haft also says there's a possibility that this was his own error from looking at possible words to put in, but doesn't remember due to it being written so long ago.[13]
Transcript[]
View the episode's transcript here.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
References[]