What happens when you take the horrors and isolation of The Shining with the likable characters and blend of zaniness and warmth from Bob’s Burgers? You get something like Haunted Hotel, a hilarious, spooky animated show with a giant heart. Season 2 delivers more of what audiences liked about the first season, while expanding the show’s world, deepening the character relationships, paying off some big mysteries, and most importantly, giving Will Forte’s Nathan the spotlight he deserves.
Created by Matt Roller, Haunted Hotel follows Katherine (Eliza Coupe), who moves into a hotel her deceased brother used to own and which just happens to be haunted and full of ghosts, ghouls, demons, and other creatures. Nathan’s ghost is still around, and his ghost helps Katherine deal with the undead residents of the hotel, including the immortal demon child Abaddon (Jimmi Simpson). Season 1 had a good balance of standalone episodes while also pushing some recurring gags and mysteries. Season 2 continues that trend, with episodes that call back to moments of the first season, returning characters, and more. And yet, what makes the show great is its episodic format, with each half-hour packing a lot of jokes per minute while also just developing the main cast of characters.
Character Growth and a Spotlight on Nathan
Much like early The Simpsons or Bob’s Burgers, the appeal of Haunted Hotel is seeing its characters in different situations that reveal new aspects of themselves. We see this in episodes like the one where Ben (Skyler Gisondo) and Abaddon are forced to spend time together and confront their animosity or one where Katherine confronts her parenting methods when her daughter Esther (Natalie) accidentally astral projects so hard she might lose her soul forever. Season 2 in particular benefits the character of Nathan, the ghost of Katherine’s brother voiced by Will Forte. Though Forte is already a big highlight of the cast, bringing excellent comedic timing in every episode, season 2 allows him to also bring in even more emotion than in the first season.
Indeed, the new episodes include a bit of romance for Nathan, which allows him to be a bit melancholic about his ghostly situation, while still allowing his awkwardness to result in very funny moments. A highlight of the season is the finale, which presents flashbacks exploring the early days of Nathan owning the Undervale Hotel and Katherine and the kids’ first visit to the hotel. The episode answers some big questions while leaving some mysteries unsolved, but it does present a very moving story about Nathan and Katherine’s relationship and the tragedy that led to him becoming a ghost.
Picture Credit: Netflix
Titmouse Animation Brings the Spooks to Life
Titmouse Animation continues to prove they are one of the best American animation studios working today, giving Haunted Hotel a visual style that’s distinct from other animated comedies, with vibrant colors and great character designs. This is a show full of references to all sorts of horror movies, and seeing creatures inspired by everything from Hellraiser to Attack the Block brought to life in the animated style of this show is a true joy and proof that you don’t need to have big action scenes to have great animation and art direction.
Though Haunted Hotel is very much an episodic show, this season does have some big continuity elements, particularly in how it solves the mystery of the “attic ghost” from season 1. The attic ghost is a character that’s been lurking around the Undervale Hotel since the very beginning of the show, and now she finally comes forward and becomes a big part of the main cast, as well as an integral part of the show’s worldbuilding.
Haunted Hotel brings fun, spooks, and a lot of heart in its second season, making it a great watch in the lead-up to Halloween.
Picture Credit: Netflix
Verdict
A phenomenal return that masterfully blends horror homages with sitcom heart. By giving Will Forte’s Nathan more emotional depth and solving lingering season 1 mysteries, the show cements itself as a must-watch animated comedy.
