Every now and then, Crunchyroll debuts a new series that surprises us all. Most recently, that surprising series was Hotel Inhumans. This series revolves around the darker side of the world, as this hotel caters exclusively to assassins. One might imagine that a series all about assassins and those who assist them may be full of dark plots and gory events. However, that’s where the biggest surprise comes into play, as Hotel Inhumans uses this lens to teach lessons about empathy, compassion, and explore the concept of human nature. It’s probably safe to say that this is not what viewers were expecting.
Hotel Inhumans is based on Ao Tajima’s manga series, and it primarily follows two concierges, Ikuro Hoshi and Sara Haizaki. Ikuro Hoshi is the newer and naive employee, who brilliantly handles his job despite his conviction that he is not suited for this life. Meanwhile, Sara Haizaki was seemingly born for this world, wielding a discreet pocket knife cleverly disguised as a hair clip. Together, these concierges handle all requests made by their specific clientele, be it keeping rooms tidy, assembling alibies, or cleaning up the messes left behind. Despite working in an industry all about death, Hotel Inhumans has quickly proven to be a shockingly thoughtful series. Each plot arc provides a different look at human nature, offering complex lessons in empathy and more.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Hotel Inhumans Season 1!
These Assassins Are Not Faceless Villains
Right from the first episode, Hotel Inhumans has viewers questioning the nature of killers. The first assassin may have a long and bloody track record, but his desperation is painfully human. It’s his request that puts our two concierges to the forefront, as they go above and beyond to help this assassin get the answers he needs in life. More importantly, they anticipate his needs, answering questions he hadn’t dared to think of.
To put this in perspective, the premise of the first arc is that even hired killers don’t always have a choice. Sometimes they pick up weapons in the name of love, making impossible decisions because it’s the only option available.
Throughout the series, multiple assassins come and go, and Hotel Inhumans works hard to give each of them a voice. The series strips them of anonymity and works hard to make the viewers care about their individual stories. Hotel Inhumans doesn’t shy away from emotional highs and lows, and instead uses these moments to help drive different lessons home. In doing so, it forces the viewers to experience different lessons firsthand.
One such example occurs during “Dying Service,” a two-episode arc revolving around an assassin in an impossible position. Ikuro and Sara not only help him with logistical support (alibis, timing, etc.), but also by stepping in and protecting what matters most to this assassin. They never judge, they certainly do not waver.
Concierges Playing the Role of Quiet Comforters
Given the description of their roles, Ikuro Hoshi and Sara Haizaki probably sound like willing accomplices to dozens of crimes. Technically, that assumption isn’t wrong, but it isn’t the whole of their story, either. They’re quiet comforters, unable to refuse any guest request, no matter how strange or obscure.
Through this means, they are allowed to offer comfort to those who have seen the worst that humanity has to offer. They observe, gently support, and help them work through internal conflict and tackle external threats. This comes in many forms throughout the series, from finding the perfect recipe to offer a dying client to finding cheeky ways around a terrible assignment.
Transformation Through Compassion
There are a few notes that seem to keep rising to the surface, such as compassion and transformation. Hotel Inhumans tells of an assassin who finally found a slice of empathy through some art she came to love. In embracing this side of herself, she became more human. Ironically, by becoming more human, she finally gave herself a reason to live.
Interestingly, that lesson seems to have resonated with one of the concierges, Sara Haizaki, though we have yet to see that implication come full circle. Will she run with this lesson about identity, which was so carefully placed in her hands? We can only hope.
On the surface, Hotel Inhumans offers a safe space for assassins to recover between jobs. A place to run to when the times get tough. However, the longer the series goes on, the clearer it becomes that this hotel offers a very different service, as it strives to help everyone find that lost shard of humanity they’re so desperately seeking.
Hotel Inhumans is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
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