You know, folks, with this company, I really wanted to prove that we're capable of doing the same things anyone else can. Like killing people.
— Blitzonote
When an imp tries to start up an assassination business in Hell, things sure do happen.
Follow Blitzo (the 'o' is silent) as he attempts to run the Immediate Murder Professionals (I.M.P for short) in a very competitive market, along with his weapons specialist Moxxie, his powerhouse Millie, and his receptionist hellhound Loona. With the help of an ancient book obtained by one of the princes of Hell, they manage to make their work possible and together they attempt to survive each other while trying to keep their business afloat.
While the canonicity of the pilot was debatable for some time and was eventually declared by Vivzie to be non-canon to the rest of the series, certain references in later episodes indicate that a version of this episode happened to some extent.
Recap
Once upon a time, in Imp City, a red/white imp named Blitzo (voiced by Brandon Rogers) is working alongside three others, a hellhound named Loona (voiced by Erica Lindbeck), a weapons expert (Moxxie) and Moxxie's wife Millie, who is skilled in melee combat.
Tropes for this episode include:
- Ambiguous Situation: When I.M.P crashes through the hospital window with Eddie, it's not clear if they jumped or were thrown out.
- Asshole Victim: As it turns out the kid I.M.P accidentally shot really was their target after all. Despite being a kid, he turns out to be a complete asshole. The moment they realize they have the go-ahead to kill him, they waste no time finishing the job.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Before chewing out the staff at I.M.P, Eddie (who almost was killed earlier) begs for death because he's sick of being around them while pretending to be paralyzed. Once the staff realizes that he is indeed their target, he gets his wish courtesy of Blitzo.
- Black Comedy Rape: Well, sexual harassment, so a Downplayed Trope. Blitzo is so horrified to receive Stolas' obscene phone call that he gives a Thousand-Yard Stare and runs his phone though a blender. It's funny both because of the over-the-top reaction and because it's the result of Blitzo seducing Stolas to get the grimoire and then realising he bit off more than he could chew when Stolas wants more.
- Bloody Hilarious: Child murder has never been so cartoonishly funny as when Blitzo shoots Eddie after finding out that the kid's a total jerk.
- Brutal Honesty: Landing half-dressed in the middle of Stella's tea party, Blitzo doesn't even try to sugarcoat why he just fell out of Stolas's bedroom window.Blitzo: Sorry I fucked your husband.
- Burn the Orphanage: For the ad promoting I.M.P, Blitzo uses an image of himself in a Dastardly Whiplash villain outfit burning down an orphanage to illustrate a person who's "a piece of shit" that got themself sent to Hell. The deviousness of the act presented is turned up to eleven as the orphanage being burned down is an Orphanage for Elderly Blind Newborn Dogs.
- Censored for Comedy: While all forms of swearing are completely uncensored, any time Stolas goes on a tirade about what kind of sexual stuff he wants to do with Blitz, the "naughtier" words are completely bleeped out, usually resulting in a Cluster Bleep-Bomb. Blitzo gets so weirded out by the call that he hangs up and promptly destroys his cell phone thrice over.
- Characterization Marches On: Almost all of the characters have different portrayals here compared to later episodes:
- Blitzo is shown as a goofy incompetent leader that cares more about maintaining I.M.P as a sort of family than actually succeeding at his business, while also being a major optimist to contrast Moxxie's more grounded realism. The series proper has it where, while he still views I.M.P as the closest thing he has to genuine family, he's generally much smarter about keeping his business afloat, is willing to outright threaten Moxxie and Millie when they risk ruining their reputation or screwing up a job, and has swapped his viewpoints with Moxxie, seeing all people as parasites from the moment they're born in contrast to Moxxie's hopeful belief in there being more good people than bad.
- Moxxie is completely unconcerned about the innocence or guilt of a target, only caring about whether they are the target, something shared with the other I.M.P members, to the point where he's completely unperturbed by joining the others in killing Eddie once they found out he's both a jerk and their target. In the first episode proper, he heavily dislikes the idea of killing innocent people even when they are his targets, greatly preferring to only kill people that deserve it.
- Millie is pretty much a Satellite Character for Moxxie here, with her interactions mainly being with or about him in some way. While later episodes still have this to some extent, she has gotten more character interactions and received Hidden Depths that show her having an existence outside of being Moxxie's wife.
- Loona is a lazy and misanthropic secretary, apathetic to her co-workers, selfish, ungrateful, and a generally unpleasant alcoholic. The series proper retools her to a moody teenager by toning down some of her nasty personality, making her much more mellow and giving her some Hidden Heart of Gold moments while still keeping the angry goth teen aesthetic. Additionally, while the pilot implies that Loona has slept around through her asking if Blitzo's giving her a cure for syphilis, her lack of a social life coupled with her getting very flustered whenever she's attracted to somebody in the series proper suggests that she's inexperienced sexually.
- Stolas is introduced as a casual-sadist, commissioning I.M.P's services to kill a politician trying to fight global warming to ensure more people die in the future. While he's still pretty cavalier about I.M.P's casual murder in future appearances, he is portrayed more of a Punch-Clock Villain who is a decent person once you get past his sexual depravities starting in "Loo Loo Land", and has no connection to their business beyond his relationship with Blitzo.
- Stella had a completely different design and color scheme than in later episodes to the point where only her eyebrows and crown remained mostly unchanged.
- Cheating with the Milkman: One of I.M.P's clients murdered his wife because he caught her cheating on him with their deliveryman.
- Continuity Nod: A few supplemental details confirm that this show takes place in the same universe as Hazbin Hotel, and at around the same time.
- During the interview part of their commercial, there is a billboard of Katie Killjoy and 666 News in the background.
- Loona is seen watching Charlie's "Inside Every Demon is a Rainbow" song in one scene.
- You can also see "Happy Hotel" and "Always Chasing Rainbows" written on a dumpster.
- Creator Cameo: The people in the church
that I.M.P accidentally enter are actually all cameos of the crew that worked on Helluva Boss. - Cruel and Unusual Death: One of I.M.P.'s targets is burned alive.
- Dastardly Whiplash: Blitzo dresses the part for a still photo in the I.M.P commercial (to depict "a piece of shit who got sent to Hell"), donning a monocle, two top hats worn over both his horns, and a fake mustache that he twirls while setting fire to an orphanage for elderly blind newborn dogs.
- A Deadly Affair: The demon who hired I.M.P featured in their ad explains his wife fucked a delivery man which is why he "lovingly" killed her.
- Destination Defenestration: When Blitzo reveals they don't have any insurance to pay for Eddie's operation, the doctor proceeds to boot both them and the kid whose life he just saved out the window.
- Early-Installment Weirdness:
- While I.M.P always had a spotty track-record and are particularly reckless in regards to the Masquerade, "Spring Broken" would establish that it's more due to the lack of disguises and that at least Blitzo follows a policy of killing any humans that might expose them. Here, they're much more careless about keeping a low profile, openly talking to a human doctor in a hospital and later dumping Eddie's corpse near his mother in broad daylight right in front of a news camera and a reporter.
- After I.M.P gets thrown out of the hospital, they bring a still-alive Eddie back to Hell with them. Depending on how you interpret Viv's statement regarding the pilot to the series proper, this either is a giant no-no in of itself due to the Masquerade, or it's impossible to do so in the first place.
- At the end of the pilot, the imps open a portal in full view of a news camera and a reporter to dump the Eddie's corpse to his mother. This moment isn't referenced again by anybody, with the D.H.O.R.K.S in "Truth Seekers" somehow not having the video in their possession and needing more evidence to convince corporate (and possibly the world at large) that demons are real.note
- Stolas is introduced commissioning Blitzo for a hit, wanting an environmentalist candidate on Earth assassinated so that Global Warming persists and more people die in the ecological collapse. While this certainly sounds in-character for a demon, Stolas doesn't really do anything as evil in later episodes, all future moments of his "Card-Carrying Villain" schtick coming off as more theatrical and reactionary than anything genuine. The affairs of demons and humans are also depicted as largely distinct beyond isolated groups of the former profiting off the latter in small ways, rather than a systemic issue as portrayed here.
- Because Hazbin Hotel would be picked up by A24 while Helluva Boss became a free independently supported series, characters from one series are not allowed to appear in the other. The Pilot of Helluva Boss was made before this became an issue, so it had a clip from "Inside Every Demon is a Rainbow" in full view on Loona's monitor and a billboard showing Katie Killjoy in the background during I.M.P's ad. In the series proper the cameos were much smaller, such as a poster of Angel Dust in "OZZIE'S" that is half-out of frame and only shows part of his silhouette.
- Even Evil Has Standards: I.M.P only deals with their intended target and avoid collateral damage whenever possible. They managed to save a child who became an unnecessary casualty, only to finish him off when they learn he is the intended target.
- Flashback: About half the pilot consists of flashback sequences as I.M.P discuss their problems at a staff meeting.
- Filching Food for Fun: Loona has a habit of stealing Moxxie's lunch, judging from the note on the break room fridge visible as she's taking his avocado salad.
- Flashback Within a Flashback: When the sequence of the trouble Loona's caused for I.M.P gets to her accepting a call from Stolas, it flashes back to when Blitzo slept with him and stole his grimoire, then the initial flashback picks back up with the prince's obscene phone call.
- Flipping the Bird: Loona flips off Moxie with her right hand after he insults her, and Millie later flips Loona off with both hands after she insults Moxie.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus:
- The person I.M.P are hanging in their ad has a sketch of Sir Pentious on the wall of their room - most likely an artist working on Hazbin.
- Charlie's song, "Inside of Every Demon is a Rainbow" can be seen on Loona's computer at one point; most likely, thanks to the live interview she was on at 666 News.
- The break room refrigerator has a note from Moxxie asking Loona to stop stealing his lunch, as she's taking his avocado salad.
- The photos and posters throughout I.M.P's office offer little tidbits of information, such as:
- Blitzo used to work in the circus, and he has two sisters named Barbie Wire and Tilla.
- Moxxie and Millie's wedding photo is visible in some scenes; Blitzo has added himself into the photo hugging the other two.
- Blitzo is apparently investigating some kind of conspiracy involving a mysterious stranger in the news (Their picture and title are ripped off of the article), with Stolas being involved somehow.
- A couple of portraits in Stolas' bedroom reveal he has a daughter.
- Visible on the dumpster behind I.M.P while they're putting Eddie's body in a sack is graffiti saying "ALWAYS CHASING RAINBOWS" and "HAPPY HOTEL", both references to Hazbin. There also seems to be a drawing of Cherri Bomb's face.
- Fun With Blenders: After Stolas calls him, Blitzo puts his phone in a blender, then orders Loona to eat the resulting electronic smoothie and shit it out off a bridge over a freeway.
- Global Warming: Stolas is aware of this existing on Earth, and requests I.M.P to assassinate an activist campaigning against it. He believes less awareness of Global Warming can lead to more of the unaware/ignorant masses dying from the possible future consequences. Plus, less death makes Stolas rather "lonely".
- Hypocritical Humor: The doctor claims with determination that he will "not lose another [life]" just before getting Eddie stable. However, when he finds out the imps don't have any insurance, he's more than happy to let the kid die. Or more accurately, kill him himself by chucking him out the window.
- Impossible Insurance: When the hospital asks what insurance the I.M.P members have, Blitzo doesn't even know what insurance is, implying that it, rather unsurprisingly, doesn't exist in Hell.
- Insane Troll Logic: The pilot features a previous client of I.M.P who is confused about his damnation. Why? Because he considers murdering his wife for cheating on him with a delivery man to be a loving, husbandly act.
- Jerkass Has a Point: For all of the accusations and insults Eddie throws at I.M.P near the end, he is at least right about one thing: The company does act like total assholes toward one another.
- Joggers Find Death: One of I.M.P's clients hires them to kill the jogger who caught him trying to hide his adulterous wife's corpse.
- Kick the Dog:
- The ending shows Eddie's mom crying and asking for help finding him. The imps then open a portal and drop a bag containing his dismembered body. During this time, a news caption takes a jab at her crude drawing of Eddie.
- Loona literally kicked a baby demon outside of I.M.P during one of her moods in a flashback.
- Kitschy Local Commercial: The I.M.P commercial we see is cheaply made, features a cheesy musical jingle, and even keeps running to include the company's then biggest mistake ever where they shot the wrong target (or at who they thought was the wrong target) before they get thrown out the window by the hospital staff. For added effect, it's then aired for three hours straight on a TV station nobody watches.
- Larynx Dissonance: The female nurse at the hospital they take Eddie to is voiced by Brock Baker, who makes no attempt at actually sounding like a woman whatsoever.
- Magical Defibrillator: And it seems like maybe they know it. "Holy shit, it actually worked."
- Never My Fault: The ad Blitzo ran for I.M.P is specifically targeted towards these kinds of people. Considering it's in Hell, there's probably a healthy market.Blitzo: Are you a piece of shit who got yourself sent to Hell? Or are you an innocent soul who got FUCKED over by someone else?
- Never Suicide: One of the lines in the commercial's jingle says that they can make a death look like suicide; indeed, we see Blitzo hanging a guy while Millie is shown having just finished writing a fake note.
- Noodle Incident: A flashback shows Loona asking if the "Adoption Day" gift Blitzo offered her has a cure for her syphilis, only to find out it contains spiders. It's unknown how she contracted it or if she still has it at present.
- No Sympathy: During the "Loona is a terrible secretary" montage, Millie calls her in a panic to say that she got stabbed and she needs to call Moxxie. Loona hangs up the phone before Millie can even finish saying her husband's name.
- Pass the Popcorn: Blitzo right before playing an ad of the I.M.P members unleashing some carnage.
- Pink Girl, Blue Boy: The two nurses helping to revive Eddie with the doctor are this — The male has blue hair and the female has pink.
- Playing Possum: The bratty kid I.M.P accidentally shot during a hit survives, and continues to play dead so they wouldn't kill him.
- Pun: In the French dub, Loona's magazine is titled "Le Figarou", which is a mix between "Le Figaro", a French newspaper, and "garou", the French prefix for were-creatures such as werewolves.
- Purple Prose: The French dub changes the "Mom sucks at drawing own kid" headline to "Mère qui ne susse pas esquisser sa progéniture", which is a fancy and flowery way of saying "Mother who doesn't know how to draw her child". Translating the French headline back to English would result in something like "Mother whom canneth adumbrate her offspring".
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Eddie ends up giving a scathing one to just about everyone; comparing Blitzo to a Monster Clown, insulting Moxxie for his spinelessness, and Slut-Shaming Millie for simply being married to Moxxie. And Loona? For the reason being that he's a cat person and doesn't talk to dogs (though it still ends up pissing her off). This ends up backfiring as the crew deems him an asshole and offs him the second they get the word that he was the intended target after all.
- Rewatch Bonus: The oblivious woman in the park when Eddie gets shot turns out to be his mother, as seen in the last seconds of the episode.
- Riddle for the Ages: It is never revealed who set out a hit on a child like Eddie.
- Sarcasm Failure: Loona's more than ready to insult anyone nearby, with or without provocation, and answers every barb with another of her own. Except when Eddie hits her with "I don't talk to dogs. I'm a cat person". That one just leaves her staring in blank-faced offense before turning back to her phone, clearly seething.
- Shout-Out:
- A framed paybill for The Phantom of the Opera can be seen in Moxxie and Millie's bedroom.
- The weight-loss ad Loona faxes Moxxie is for Chub-B-Gone.
- The reporter at the end resembles Flint Dicker, the newscaster from Brandon Rogers' video "A Day at the Beach".
- In the French dub, Blitzo's untranslatable spoiled butter wordplay has been adapted to resemble one of Kadoc's nonsensical quotes.
- Stock Scream: Part of the Insane Tantrum Scream can be heard early in the pilot after Blitzo watches footage of I.M.P killing people.
- Take That!: Towards politicians who don't wish to do anything about Global Warming, which will end up killing more people, and healthcare systems that are willing to let people die if they don't have insurance.
- Terrible Artist: Near the end of the pilot, we get a newscast where Eddie's mom puts out a missing person report on him. The title of the news bumper, rather than saying anything important, instead just points out that the mother sucks at drawing her own child.
- That Poor Cat: After Blitzo uses his desk telephone to smash his mobile phone to pieces, he tosses it off screen, causing a 'cat screech' sound effect.
- There Is a God!: Blitzo declares this when he finds out the asshole kid was their target all along.Blitzo: Well, Christ on a stick, I guess there is a God! (shoots Eddie)
- There Is No Kill Like Overkill:
- After a call with Stolas in which he quite graphically describes what he wants to do with Blitzo, Blitzo breaks the phone in half, smashes it to pieces with a landline phone, then runs the pieces through a blender, feeds them to Loona, and tells her to shit it off a bridge onto the freeway.
- After they find out Eddie was their target after all, Blitzo shoots him. Then the whole team kicks his corpse. And then take turns brutally dismembering the corpse and stuffing it in a bag.
- Thousand-Yard Stare: Blitzo as he hangs up on Stolas, snaps the phone in half, smashes it, and runs it through a blender; only breaking out of it when he feeds the resulting plastic and silicon slushie to Loona.
- Threatening Shark: One of the images in the montage of kills shown in I.M.P's ad features the imps riding a shark, using it to take out a target.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight:
- Besides calling them freaks, the human doctor that talks to the imps doesn't seem to find their appearance that odd, despite them being obviously demonic, being more interested in their insurance information.
- The kid who turns out to be I.M.P's target doesn't seem too disturbed about pretending to wake up in hell in the company of imps and a hellhound. Actually, he's more pissed about having to listen to them bitch at each other than anything.
- Verbal Backpedaling: After accidentally shooting a kid who wasn't their target and getting kicked out of the hospital they took him to, they cover their slip-up by claiming they do it for free.
- Vocal Dissonance: The very girly-looking nurse in the hospital speaks with a very deep, manly voice.
- Voice of the Legion: One of I.M.P's previous clients briefly lapses into this twice as he recounts how he murdered his cheating wife and ended up in Hell.
- What You Are in the Dark: A group of morally bankrupt imps take care of a possibly dying child when they could've left him seemingly dead in the regular world. Proves that they're not wanton killers.
- Worst Aid: When the doctor at the hospital tries to save Eddie, who just got shot in the head, he and his nurses use six defibrillators at full power to revive him. The doctor is very surprised when that actually works.
- Worst News Judgment Ever: A child goes missing, but the story the news runs while interviewing the distraught mother is that she sucks at drawing her own kid. The fact that a boy has disappeared is relegated to the Crawl.
- You Are Fat: Indirectly; Loona faxes Moxxie a weight loss ad as a means of passive-aggressively mocking his weight. When Moxxie asks who or why someone would do this, she responds with a offhanded "You know why".
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: Moxxie's reaction after catching Blitzo recording him and Millie having a romantic moment at home is a frustrated "Are you fucking filming us right now?!".
