Hazbin Hotel Therapist Analysis: Lucifer's Depression 

I kinda like how they don't paint him as a big, terrifying guy because at the end of the day he IS an angel.

you know the hyperfixation is bad when you start watching therapist analysis videos

My favorite part of "More than Anything" is that after Charlie's verse, Lucifer shifts into the counter-melody and harmony part, musically allowing Charlie to lead and adding his voice to support hers. It just melts my heart 😭

I love that he's literally a short king.

"You shouldn't trauma dump on your children, even when they're adults" My parents: "That sign can't stop me because I can't read!"

"Pride is not the opposite of shame, but it's source" If we look hard at Lucifer, we start to see how much that quote applies to him as Charlie's dad, leader of the Pride Ring and why he's so depressed.

As a divorced, depressed father who has been physically separated from my daughters for far too long I resonated with Lucifer so much. I'm getting a second chance with my daughters now. I'm beyond grateful for this chance, but terrified I'll mess up in someway.

Rubber Duck Theory: he had memories of Charlie being happy playing with them and is desperately trying to recapture the happiness of that time. when the family was whole. when he was enough for them. and like usual, missing the point in thinking the ducks were the actual focus of that happiness.

The “I’m grateful you’re my daughter/father” line absolutely wrecked me 😭

I liked how Lucifer was depicted as a quirky nonconformist, going through depression. Rather than the typical depiction of The Devil, that we've seen before.

"avoidancey just increases anxiety" welp called out immediately so now i gotta watch

The animation team did a great job. The moment that the weight of everything that Lucifer had to deal with hit me was during "More Than Anything". His face, his expression, his body language- he just seems so tired. Like, really exhausted

Charlie: he calls ... Sometimes... But only if he's bored or wants me to do something ( like taking over the meeting with heaven in episode 1) Lucifer: this is the first time she's called *_YOU_* in years.

The rubber duck is probably a programmer thing. We have a concept called rubber ducking, where you try to explain your code to a rubber duck to figure out mistakes you've made. Which seems like a very Lucifer thing.

I think that Lucifer placed Razzle and Dazzle as Charlie's protectors. When he entered the hotel this was the first thing (after greeting Kiki - another protector and magic enabler--> see rebuilding hotel in the finale) to check on them if they grew or not. Them growing means Charlie is in a pinch because she uses her demonic powers which she rarely does in accordance to her personality. So when she does, it equals an emergency and she might be in danger. So I believe that Lucifer got the first "telepathic sign" from them when they turned into their dragon forms and the second when Dazzle was killed. A few minutes later he appears[before he needed a whole hour to visit Charlie at the hotel]. That's why I think that he in fact watched over her by placing them as "danger markers" at her side.

As someone with depression, Lucifer hit the nail on the head. The fear of failure, being a recluse, fixation on something I feel I can control, the replay of scenarios only to mess them up anyways, everything was stuff I did. I like this depiction of Lucifer.

One thing I’m kinda surprised wasn’t mentioned was how often Lucifer would wheeze as if he was going to start hyperventilating but is able to stop it. He’s had 10,000 years to try to cope with stopping the manifestation of his anxiety but has never addressed the underlying anxiety

Rubber Ducks are a metaphor for Lucifer himself. He is the "Ugly duckling" of heaven. Nobody understood him and they didn't like his ideas, so they threw him out. That is why in the last song with young charlie sitting on his lap the magical duck floating on the table has the same wings as Lucifer when it flies up.

"More Than Anything" literally healed my inner child a little bit. Lucifer reminds me (just barely enough) of my own father and gives me hope that maybe one day we can reunite and have a moment like this one day.

There is another example in the song which shows his character. When the angels' spears are pointed at him he is indifferent and resigned, but when those spears are pointed at Charlie becomes afraid and reaches out to save her.

Lucifer, to me, describes my depression perfectly. I smile and joke so no one will worry about me, but deep inside, I'm a total emotional wreck I feel like a constant failure

Ducks could be a metaphor. Imagine a duck on water. It looks like it's just sitting there relaxing. However, underneath the surface, the duck is paddling like crazy. In lucifer's case, it could mean he's trying to maintain an appearance of being fine, while, in actuality, he's struggling.

I think alot of his depression starts from being home sick , he misses heaven and it's beauty, and he tells charlie storys about it and tries his best to re create hence the rubber duckies , but he can't , but i think this is the original depression he starts with and it just grows

In the song "More than anything" when he sings "and in the end, I won't lose it all again", he's looking at Charlie and we can see through his eyes... and all he sees are spears and danger pointing at her. He then pulls her away from it and puts him between what he saw and her while singing "you're the only thing worth fighting for".

Having suffered from depression, I took his joke about the railing, and then bending over the railing as being a sort of dark-joke about suicide. Often times when I was feeling that way I would "make light" of such topics and joke about them, not realizing that was unhealthy.

"I want to do sir pentious,no one's asking for him. Come on!" I'll ask for him 🖐️ He's one of my favourite characters

Alot of people think it doesn't really make sense for Lucifer to act the way he does since he's literally the embodiment of pride but what people don't get is that shame isn't the opposite of pride, *it's the consequence*

When the literal devil is a better father then mine. Edit: It took this video for me to figure out WHY I felt so strongly about Lucifer and Charlie’s relationship. Lucifer while flawed is doing everything I wish my own father did. Tbh my own is sadly a lot like Adam.

On Lucifer’s fascination with ducks🐥 Viv said that she needed something for him to fixate on and a friend suggested rubber ducks. She loved the idea because it reminded her of a Veggie Tales episode

I've seen some people theorize that Lucifer wasn't allowed to intervene until Adam targeted Charlie herself, since he'd previously negotiated for Hellborn demons like her to be exempt from the extermination, which means that by attacking her directly Adam broke the rules. But I much prefer your interpretation that he waited because he wanted Charlie to be able to to as much as possible by herself. Also, I absolutely want the Sir Pentious video.

I have theory about why Lucifer showed up so late was because he was giving her space and let her do her think but when Razzle was killed he knew she was in danger and went over there

As a long distance father who has dealt with alot of guilt, depression, anxiety and stress because of the situation, I was relating to Lucifer alot more then I thought I would, which made me love him even more. The "take that depression" is literally how I feel at times, whenever my kid wants to do a video call with me. Can't listen to the "Everything" song without crying. Btw, love the cosplay/costume, really well made!!

In episode 8, I feel that Lucifer's "sorry I wasn't here sooner" is alluding to Lucifer needing to overcome his own internal battle. Rather than Lucifer consciously choosing to let Charlie get as far as she could on her own, I think Lucifer was battling his own internalized belief that you can't go against heaven. And it took his daughter being in very real danger to break through that internal block he had; thus, his apology was kinda like saying "sorry it took me so long to be ready to be there for you".

There’s a theory that says according to the deal, Lucifer couldn’t attack Adam “unprompted” he allowed the extermination as long as he and his family were safe. When Adam tried for Charlie’s life, he violated the agreement thus allowing Lucifer to enter the battle. In this world, binding can sometimes be literal so it’s possible he was magically restricted from entering until the agreement was nullified.

I actually am one that loves Adam as a character. His egocentrism is what completely defines him and it’ll be interesting to see your video on him. Even despite how he acts, the fact that he is in Heaven, shows he used to be a fairly decent person but his ego slowly alters him into this terrible self important person.

I never felt more represented by a character in a show than when during More Than Anything. I was sitting there, with teary eyes, and then it shows Sir Pentious doing exaclty the same thing lmao

"a lot of people think that depression is sadness" - "for many people its that they dont feel anything at all." this is 100% accurate, when im at my worst and nothing else can reach me, i can count on music, more specifically sad music, to bring back some emotions in me. because in a way it's better to feel sad, then to feel nothing at all.

I thought Luci being distracted on the balcony wasn't so much not listening as more avoidant behavior. He's so afraid of Heaven (or more accurately, Charlie being hurt by them) that he's grasping at straws to avoid the point of the visit, and how he's afraid to help her for the possible consequences. I also thought it was so sad his 'joke' about falling off the railing. Like, that's clearly some kind of suicidal ideation, right? 'L'apple du vide', to turn a very punny phrase.

i always think it's sad that charlie wanted to help everyone but never thought about helping her father who obviously needed it

"You can do this! Now I know it..." Goosebumps when I hear that line. "While it is important to believe in yourself, a little help from others can be a great blessing." -Iroh

As someone that has depression, I appreciate Hazbin Hotel's version of Lucifer. I just really love that Lucifer is portrayed in a more humanized light and isn't the heartless monster he's usually portrayed as.

Only halfway through the video, but I (not a therapist or psychologist) get the idea that Lucifer's depression comes from a really insidious place: he tried to do the right thing by giving humans free will, and ended up indirectly causing all the sins of the world. It seems to me that his dismissal of sinners is intertwined with his fixation on his own failure. He tried to do the right thing, and accidentally created all evil, which kind of puts forth the (incorrect) idea in his head that trying to do good is somehow wrong, and that knuckling under is somehow right. I can relate to that feeling, if not nearly so extreme, and probably a lot of people can too. I think we've all had experiences where we try to do good or to help people and it blows up in our face

I think when it comes to the "what do you think about the hotel" moment, he knew what she was asking, but didnt want to tell her what he really thought because he figured it would crush her hopes. To me it feels like hes trying to baby her, keep her from actually trying because he doesent want her to end up like him.

I totally wanna see Sir Pentious! I don't think he gets enough credit for the dynamic character he actually is lol 🐍🎩

5:37 the creator of Hazbin hotel has confirmed that the reason Lucifer is obsessed with ducks is because she took inspiration from VeggieTales retelling of King David and Bathsheba, with Larry the Cucumber being obsessed rubber ducks

Lucifer's psychology was spot on, I liked the results from psychprofile as well

The way Lucifer acts to hide from himself is the way that I still do. The fake happiness I put out when in public exhausts me to no end and the effort I put in to make everyone else happy so they don't have to feel the way I do. His personality resonates so much with me in many ways.

Charlie's foundest memory and what we as the audience could probably guess as being the last time Lucifer saw Charlie and Lilith before the divorce was him showing Charlie ducks using his magic. If that is, in fact, the case, then Lucifer's fixation on making rubber ducks could be tied to his memories of his family being whole and happy.

You: getting emotional at this episode me in Husker's voice: Daddy issues?

It is theorized that Lucifer felt Sir Pentious Ascension, knowing that charlie's plan can work and that's why he showed up late.

I fully believe Luci was watching from the moment the gate to heaven opened and wanted to just make sure she was safe.

You really get to see how crushed Lucifer is, and how much he cares about Charlie, in ‘More Than Anything’. I just now realized how, when Charlie says he doesn’t know if Heaven won’t listen, Lucifer starts shaking, trying to hold in his tears. Seeing him grow past his belief that Sinners aren’t worth redemption to believing in his daughter’s dream, is so heartwarming. She gave him something to have faith in again… I’m not crying. Y’all are…

In Charlies backstory she sees him creating literal life. a Duck. As an angel he created life. Now he can only create broken approximations. A person's job can be their 'purpose' and for many of us creative endeavors can be how we bring meaning to our lives. Losing those can really supercharge some depression.

I see a lotta people talking about the out of universe explanation for ducks. But in-universe, it's probably because the last clearly, unambiguously happy memory he has of his family together, and Charlie in particular, involved him playing with her, and a rubber duck.

I love to see how good of a father Lucifer wants to be and tries to be. He might be clumsy, but he's doing the best he can. I would really like to see an analysis of Husk :3

I always saw Lucifer telling Charlie that he doesn't believe Sinners can be rehabilitated and that Heaven won't listen as him just being honest. I mean, should he have lied to her about her chances? He was kinda right about Heaven and there's clearly many Sinners who have no interest in rehab and who probably are beyond treatment. He should support her of course! But I think it is also important to give her a warning, especially since Charlie is pretty naive

5:36 Why ducks? Why not

I would like to point out some other details, especially in More Than Anything. When he says "now your the only thing worth fighting for" the illisttion of the exterminators is perfect, it not only showcases the dangers Lucifer was put through; but the weight it has on him - and how much it terrifies him knowing that Charlie is following in his footsteps. Again, before this when he turns his back to Charlie and casts away the light, it shows that he still holds his dreams dear - yet its too painful for him to do anything about it, so he just gives up. And the scene with Lilith, you can see that Lucifer wants to keep Charlie with him - because it seems like he's happy that someone looks up to him, that someone values his ideas and dreams. When Lilith takes Charlie, he doesn't hesitate because he still loves Lilith; but when Lilith walks away without a second glance, he realizes that a wall has been out up. He believes that its best for him to stay away from Charlie, all because of his own failures - and Lilith separating from him. Honestly, I hate how often I hear people say "Lucifer is a bad dad"; because he really isn't. Just because he's an angel, and a dad - it doesn't mean he perfect; thats the whole idea of pride. Its this idea of creating a false sense of worth, of trying to seem as if you're perfect when you know for a fact you're flawed. People who say Lucifer is a bad dad clearly haven't dealt with parenting, it isn't easy. Like you said, its the hardest job no-one teaches. I may not have a kid of my own, but I was the one who raised my younger siblings. Thats why Lucifer is a character I resonate with, because like him I look back on what I did as a "parent" and feel awful for not doing it "right".

"even just getting out of bed and brushing your teeth can feel like a task too hard to handle" THANK YOU!! This is what I deal with.

I like your theory that Lucifer was watching the battle the entire time incase Charlie needed him, but wasn't going to interfere unless necessary because he wanted to let her accomplish this on her own. It seems like something he would do, and it would be great parenting. However depressed he is, you can tell he really loves and cares for Charlie.

It's OK. That song made me cry too. It strikes a chord with everyone who has had a parent be absent at any point in their lives

I love your thought of why he waited so long to join. I also think from a lore standpoint we know he made a deal that the hellborn have a pardon from extermination so possibly he is not allowed to step in. He stepped in when charlie was abour to die, so he broke his part of the deal when his daughter, a hellborn, was about to die. Thus when the pardon was broken. But your idea is much more wholsome and i think is also part of it

Everything crystallized when he showed Charlie a duck that had six wings. Lucifer’s obsession with making the perfect duck is the obsession with making a better version of himself. It’s his personal therapy.

there’s a line in Hell’s Greatest Dad where Lucifer says, “usually i charge a sacrificial lamb” and my suspicion is that he was able to sense when Lute downed Razzle/Dazzle (one of those) - which meant his daughter was in grave danger. it’s probably when he chose to step in

My depression link that I'm avoiding: going back to college and getting my degree. Struggling in school, my whole life did a real number on any confidence I might have had.

Lucifer's "take that depression" hits way too close to home for me. A therapist who helped me manage my depression in the early 2000's taught me that acknowledging when I'm depressed is the first step to dealing with it. I started vocalising it otherwise I would never acknoweledge it since I'm naturally very avoidant. Now it's a habit so whenever I'm depressed I say something along the lines of "up yours depression".

A point I wanna make that was small, but missed - in the final song when he's helping to rebuild the hotel he says "A little remedial creation for me" not only is he fixing the literal damage and rebuilding, but he's rebuilding the emotional damage that he suffered. He was a creative guy who's ideas caused him punishment and pain. He found no enjoyment or spark from subsequent creations (rubber ducks), but in the end when he's supporting Charlie and doing something that matters, he feels much more healed and with meaning.

One of the worst parts of depression is when people simplify it to something like sadness or worse just write it off example my father once effectively told me that my depression doesn’t matter simply because he doesn’t see me as depressed but lazy and using depression as an excuse for not doing anything

"Take that depression!" I don't have depression, but I felt that.

...This...I understand why Lucifer is my favourite now...And I probably should talk to my therapist-

My theory for the ducks is that he was fixated on the moment Charlie first laid eyes on one of his creations, the part where she sneaked in while he was working, and so he held on to that memory of her smile despite being estranged for a long time. There's also that line he sings, "I've missed that smile."

You can tell when Lucifer is in his elemet because his wings come out. He is an angel. He is spirit. An intuitive. He is a creature of the heavens. The way Lucifer pops off in the sky -- his imagination -- is what a hyperfeeler is like around people. Adam simply can't keep up with him there and the narcissistic tactics that he uses to prey on others won't work. Every time he things he has Lucifer, the guy just melts into something else because spirit is mutable and insubstantial. "I'll destroy this idea you cherish!" "That's fine -- I'll just turn it into five other things somewhere else." -Vox- Adam may even have some intuitive talent himself, but his angelic powers are parlor tricks compared to -Alastor's- Lucifer's.

This was amazing! YOU WANT A SIR PENTIOUS VIDEO. Because EVERYONE WANTS A SIR PENTIOUS VIDEO!

I always interpreted Lucy Goosey's behavior towards Charlie's dream as a purposeful attempt to let her down easy. He pretends to not know what Charlie was trying to show him, he tried to dissuade her when Alastor did his radio demon thing, and when all these indirect things failed, he directly sung that THEIR dreams weren't worh the risk of what he stood to lose....but Charlie was open and ready to challenge that and change his mind. In the end his love for his daughter won over his fear, sadness and depression and that's kinda like a tear trigger for me

I read somewhere on tumblr that theorised that Lucifer is dealing with MAJOR dissociation. They even did like an analysis of what goes through his mind during the call with Charlie and I just cry because it made so much sense as to how and why he’s acting like so in the 5th episode

7:54 "He's created his own Hell" This is unironically one of the main themes of Paradise Lost. He CHOSE to do the things he did so in turn he now carries Hell in his heart.

i think his fixation on ducks was the fact it was probably the last happy memory he had with charlie, maybe he's trying to make a duck so amazing it will allow him to reconnect with her but his anxiety about it being perfect is making it so that none of them are perfect enough

I know that this is an analysis about Lucifer's depression, but seeing him interacting with Charlie in the end made me jealous. Even though his wasn't the best dad, he still seems better than mine.

Apparently the duck thing is because there is a story called 'The Duck and the Devil'.

Lucifer: take that, depression!

He did the duck in a magical whim when Charlie was young, a happy time, so the ability to make a duck better than that moment has been a challenge.

I immediately thought he had ADHD and depression. The hyperfixation, his obsession, and then basically forgetting his family. Getting involved then shutting down, etc, etc. It just seemed like he had more than depression going on. I'm not a doctor though. Just personally struggled with ADHD hyperfixation, feeling like a failure, feeling like i don't fit in and shutting people out, then finding them when I felt like myself again.

That hat is really well made, I love it. I never expected Lucifer to be portrayed the way he is in the show, but I love it, and it makes total sense. After trying to gift humanity free will and not only being punished for it by Heaven, but constantly reminded of the bad things people do with it for thousands of years, I'd be pretty disheartened too. But I love how much he genuinely loves and cares for Charlie through all of it and wants to be close with her again.

Theres a theory that Lucifers ADHD which can play into the him not paying attention charlies proposals and being highly anxious. Him being anxious can make paying attention incredibly hard bc hes so focused on getting back into contact with his daughter and not WHY shes asking for him to be there. He does care but he doesnt know HOW to show it and it can be hard, especially with a background like his. Rejected by HIS father for whatever reason that may be. I feel i can relate to as someone with adhd and daddy issues of my own

I want to see Sir Pentious (Sir Precious) analysis. I also love how enthusiastic and excited you are for him!

at the beginning of more than anything lucifer throws his dreams to the ground he no longer believes in. But Charlie right away goes to pick up his dreams she believes even though he no longer believes. She restore his hope

Just so we are clear - I REALLY want an episode on Sir Pentious

Lucifer finally getting to be the hero, even if just to his daughter, was so wholesome 😭

Lucifer hit me hard, because my personal life was neglectful at home. I appreciate he's shown in something of a sympathetic (heh) light, because the entire point is people can get better. In a way, it was like seeing my mom get better to me, even though she never did. Being in Charlie's shoes is so hard - when you're forced to pick up your own parent and be THEIR parent. Lucifer stepping up is a huge thing. I really do like the nuance of him.

I wanna see a take on Sir Pentious!! Particularly one examining how the process of self improvement actually was going for him, because I don't think it was just that final act that got him into Heaven.

I saw Lucifer's response to Charlie's plan as being more along the lines of "Hey, I tried the same thing you're doing - and it crashed and burned. *Hard.* And I want to spare you the pain and suffering I went through, because my job as your father is to protect you, even from yourself." That sentiment came across a *lot* more clearly in "More Than Anything". Also, I believe I asked for Sir Pentious' inferiority complex to get covered in an earlier video! And for other media depictions of Depression, I'd love to see your takes on Smile, The Babadook, or Lights Out (all film depictions of Depression as a literal monster), and BoJack Horseman, which has been widely praised as one of the more realistic depictions.

Depressed Dad. I can so relate. We love our children so much, But sometimes we don’t know how to reach out, to connect.

I’m surprised she didn’t mention “hells greatest dad” since it’s him fighting with Alastor

"And know that people don't really care everything you say, they don't even pay attention to it. The only thing that people actually care about is how you make them feel. So if you make them feel good, even if your words are all messed up, it doesn't really matter." Holy crap, that singlehandedly unpacked a lot of my fears regarding friendships. More specifically, it explains my confusion over my friends still wanting to be with me despite my flaws because, in the end, I make them feel good and they want as much as I do to keep a friendship with me. Basically, they see the goodness in me more than the negatives.

Lucifer is a great example of how depression can affect parenting and how it affects the relationships around you. And that even if you’re down you still love your kids more than anything

Me personally, I think Lucifer has made so many ducks is because it was the one thing that would make Charlie smile (19:07) and he desprately tries to recreate that wonder and happiness

I think the whole thing with the rubber ducks is because Lucifer's full angel form appears to be that of a swan, and with him being cast out of heaven into hell really feels like the whole Ugly Duckling situation, and the rubber ducks he creates are like his children and other family members who he desperately needs to have the support of

When Lucifer first showed up, I wasn't sure about him. But I quickly realized it was because of 2 things The episode came out the day after my own dads 2 year deathaversary My dad also struggled with depression my entire life and Lucifer really reminds me of him

"I'm so worried about failing the test that instead of studying I'm going to reorganize my office" Just tag me next time, dang.😑

Lucifer in this show is just a treasure of a dad. His reaction to Charlie introducing her GF had me grinning ear to ear. It is so awkward yet somehow exactly what you expect from a parent supporting their child when they come out. His just wanting to look cool in front of his kid and then botching his cool one-liner is also such a dad trope. He may have been absent from Charlie's life (except for a few calls and favors), but you can also see where Charlie got a lot of her personality from. Charlie and Lucifer both thinking, that none of the other would want to see each other makes me question what kind of parent Lilith was and what led up to their family falling apart. Such a good show 😍