Loo Loo Land

"Loo Loo Land" is the second episode of the first season of the adult animated web series Helluva Boss, following Goetia demon royalty Stolas as he hires the assassination company I.M.P to accompany him and his daughter Octavia to the titular theme park. It premiered on YouTube on December 9, 2020, and was written by series creators Vivienne "VivziePop" Medrano and Brandon Rogers. It was directed by Medrano and Rick Zieff.

"Loo Loo Land"
Helluva Boss episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 2
Directed byVivienne Medrano
Rick Zieff
Written byVivienne Medrano
Brandon Rogers
Original air dateDecember 9, 2020 (2020-12-09)[1][2]
Running time16 minutes

Receiving a universally positive critical reception, "Loo Loo Land" was also nominated for the 2020 Ursa Major Award for Best Dramatic Series.[3][4]

Plot

In the opening scene, a young Octavia cries for her parents. When her father Stolas gets to her room to see what is wrong, she tells him about a nightmare. Stolas comforts her by singing her a lullaby, and she falls asleep peacefully ("You Will Be Okay").

In the present, a now 17-year-old Octavia is awoken by her parents fighting, who are in the midst of a divorce after her mother Stella discovered Stolas had slept with Blitzo. After Stella storms out of the room, Stolas asks Octavia if she would like to go to the theme park Loo Loo Land, which she enjoyed when she was younger. Octavia expresses that she doesn't want to go, but Stolas ignores her and takes her anyways. He hires I.M.P to serve as bodyguards for him and Octavia at the park.

While at the park, Stolas takes Octavia around to many different attractions, and flirts with Blitzo while doing so, making Octavia uncomfortable. Eventually, while at an animatronic show, Octavia runs off in a fit of emotion, and Stolas chases after her ("Loo Loo Land"). After Stolas leaves, Blitzo engages in a fight with the lead animatronic performer, Robo Fizz, whom he is hinted to have a backstory with.

Stolas catches up with Octavia in a funhouse, and the two have a serious conversation about their feelings. Octavia expresses that her parents' constant arguments have ruined their home, and that she fears Stolas will run off with Blitzo and leave her alone. Stolas assures Octavia that he would never do such a thing, and tells her that his relationship with her mother is complicated. Stolas apologizes for taking her to Loo Loo Land when she didn't want to go, and the two leave the park. I.M.P leave as well, with Blitzo's fight with Robo Fizz having burned down the entire park.

Production and release

The episode stars Brandon Rogers as Blitzo, Richard Horvitz as Moxxie, Vivian Nixon as Millie, Erica Lindbeck as Loona,[5] and Bryce Pinkham as Stolas. Guest starring are Barrett Wilbert Weed as Octavia, Alex Brightman as Robo Fizz, and Georgina Leahy as Stella. Sam Haft wrote the song "You Will Be Okay."

The animation was produced by SpindleHorse Toons. The storyboarding was done by Seth Anderholm, Zach Giering, Jess Sims, and Paul Villeco.[6] Horseless Cowboy voice directed the episode. A teaser for "Loo Loo Land" was released on June 9, 2020,[7] with the episode premiering on December 9, 2020.[1][2]

Reception

Critical reception

Amari Allah of Wherever I Look lauded the episode's exploration of the "softer side to [the] usually explicit" Stolas through his relationship with his daughter Octavia, turning a character that "seemed like he'd be a permanent running gag" into an "eye-opening" figure whose presence "isn't solely about shock value."[8]

Hope Mullinax of The Geeky Waffle marked "Loo Loo Land" as a turning-point where one "really start[s] seeing how fleshed out these people are," in particular complimenting the episode's expansion of the "nuances" with Blitzo's and Stolas' relationship. She states that "the creators succeed in building their feelings."[9]

Comic Book Resources ranked the opening scene of "Loo Loo Land" as 1st on their list of the "Greatest Musical Performances In Cartoons," lauding "the stunning visuals of the cosmos [accompanying the] incredible performance" of Bryce Pinkham.[10] Brendan Kachel of Flayrah similarly stated that "it can't be stated enough how important the opening scene and number [is] to this series [in displaying that] this show had more to offer than just abrasive humor." She described the relationship between Stolas and Octavia as "the highlight of the episode."[11] On visually referring to the opening scene of "Loo Loo Land," Zoe Dumas of MovieWeb complimented how the "horror comedy" premise of the overall series "doesn't preclude the writers from infusing characters and situations with immense emotional depth[…] allow[ing] its characters to experience their emotions in the show's quieter moments [as they] deal with topics including divorce, abandonment, and feeling unworthy of love."[12]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2020 Ursa Major Awards Best Dramatic Series Helluva Boss for "Murder Family" and "Loo Loo Land" Nominated [3][4]

References
  1. Medrano, Vivienne (December 9, 2020). Helluva Boss – Loo Loo Land // S1: Episode 2. VivziePop. Retrieved December 9, 2020 – via YouTube.
  2. Helluva Boss [@IMPmurderpros] (December 9, 2020). "EPISODE 2 IS HERE!! This is a big one so ENJOY!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. "Voting". Ursa Major Awards. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  4. dronon (March 14, 2020). "Voting opens for the 2020 Ursa Major Awards". FurteanTimes.com/Flayrah. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  5. Mullinax, Hope (June 24, 2023). "Helluva Boss Episode Review: Pilot". The Geeky Waffle. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  6. Milligan, Mercedes (October 7, 2020). "'Hazbin Hotel' Creator Vivziepop Teams with Horseless Cowboy on Devilishly Twisted 'Helluva Boss' Series". Animation Magazine. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  7. Nichols, Ashley (June 9, 2020). BLM Helluva Boss Charity Stream. VivziePop. Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via YouTube.
  8. Allah, Amari (December 10, 2020). "Helluva Boss: Season 1 / Episode 2 "Loo Loo Land" – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)". Wherever I Look. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  9. Mullinax, Hope (February 25, 2023). "You Should Be Watching Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss". The Geeky Waffle. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  10. Appelgate, Jaclyn (March 26, 2022). "The 10 Greatest Musical Performances In Cartoons, Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  11. Kachel, Brendan (June 30, 2023). "'Helluva Boss' Season 1 episodes ranked". Flayrah. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  12. Dumas, Zoe (July 2, 2023). "Why Helluva Boss Is the Best Web Series Right Now". MovieWeb. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
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