I think where hazbin hotel fails the most in Lucifer for me is that world building and narrative wise he just … doesn’t work.
I don’t know if Lucifer in HH is based off of much better and higher regarded works with his same name - such as paradise lost - so maybe you’ll find my comparisons unfair, but trust me.
I think my biggest criticism is, I don’t think being a dreamer or different is enough to be kicked from hell. In paradise lost, Lucifer insights REBELLION, cleverly building up the 1/3 of heaven he tempted and brought down with him when they lost the war. In HH, there’s no war, and seemingly he falls by himself with Lilith? So where did the other deadly sins/princes come from???
And if Lucifer is seriously so wimpy why is he king of hell? I can see the argument in that, no, Lilith did it! But if she’s really that evil, why didn’t she usurp him? Or like … kill him? It plays into Vivziepops common trope of ‘ pathetic dad wife ruins everything :(‘.
And really? That ruins a lot of stake in the story. Because now Charlie/the hotels biggest enemy is just heaven. Imagine how actually interesting the show was if the writers were competent with his character? In a rushed hypothetical, imagine a Lucifer who’s disappointed in Charlie because hell is his empire. He built it with Lilith after his fall and to him - he could be so strong heaven has to eliminate overpopulated sinners. And his heir threatens to ruin that.
And that’s just one of the many ideas that could’ve been used with the ‘ Daddy issues’ angle of Lucifer! He’s such a poetic and complex character in literature, and how HH portrays and uses him is a disappointment in comparison.
And while I’m aware HH isn’t aiming to be the next Devine comedy, I don’t think that excuses bad and lazy writing. I don’t know what happened in the writing room but I honestly preferred the pilot — especially the scene where Charlie is ALONE and calls her mom first because she’s so anxious that she’ll fail and it’s reaffirming what Lucifer told her.
This is getting very long winded, but in summary, I don’t think HH Lucifer works because he removes a lot of stake, interest or any potentially cool world building because he’s been reduced to ‘ ducky loving loser twink’ or a Charlie 2.0.
Just wanna say, for legal reasons, that I don't have unhealthy attraction to men that have smile fair as spring, tongue sharp and silvery and also my wishes they grant, as they swear to adore me