By Shivam Das | October 10, 2026
Spoilers for Haunted Hotel Season 2.
Season 2 of Netflix’s Haunted Hotel is giving Nathan a stronger emotional spotlight, and both critics and fans have noticed. The character still delivers the show’s goofy ghost humor, but the new episodes also spend more time on his unresolved pain, relationships and desire to stay connected to his family. That mix has made Nathan a standout for several reviewers and viewers—not an officially measured consensus, but a clear theme in the early reactions.
In a review published October 9, What’s on Netflix said the season gives Will Forte’s Nathan “the spotlight he deserves,” praising the show for expanding its world and deepening its character relationships. But Why Tho? also highlighted Forte’s performance, noting how Nathan’s cheerful energy gives way to more vulnerable, somber moments as the character confronts feelings he has not resolved.
Why Nathan’s character work is standing out
Nathan has always been a source of chaotic optimism at the Undervale, but Season 2 lets that optimism feel more complicated. His upbeat manner can be funny on the surface while also functioning as a way to avoid the harder parts of his past. As the story gives him more space to confront those feelings, the character becomes more than the hotel’s well-meaning ghost with an endless supply of questionable ideas.
But Why Tho? specifically points to Episodes 3, 4 and 6 as important parts of Nathan’s emotional journey. The review argues that learning how he died did not automatically give him peace; instead, the knowledge forces him to face unresolved struggles. That reading helps explain why some viewers now see Nathan as the season’s most compelling character.
Fans are responding to the emotional side of the ghost
In a public Reddit review thread posted after the season launched on October 9, one viewer wrote that Nathan’s character was “FANTASTIC this season” and said the show explored his depression more directly. The same commenter said Nathan had become their favorite character, overtaking Abaddon. Another fan in the Season 2 general discussion praised the greater focus on Nathan, while others talked about how emotional the finale felt.
Those are individual comments in a public fan forum, not a representative survey. Still, they echo the central point in the critical reviews: the season’s character work is landing for viewers who wanted more than supernatural jokes and hotel disasters.
Nathan’s family ties make the story more than a solo character arc
Nathan’s growth is tied to the people he is afraid of leaving behind. His bond with Katherine and the wider family gives his internal conflict real stakes: moving forward may mean facing painful parts of his life, while staying exactly as he is could keep him close to the people he loves. The series can mine that tension for jokes, but it also gives Nathan a vulnerability that the season’s larger supernatural plot can build around.
Eliza Coupe voices Katherine, Nathan’s sister, while Skyler Gisondo and Natalie Palamides voice Ben and Esther. Their performances help keep Nathan’s personal story rooted in the family dynamic rather than turning his emotional struggles into an isolated subplot.
Abaddon still matters—but Nathan is getting the deeper arc
Abaddon remains one of the series’ most memorable characters, and fans continue to praise his strange, childlike presence. The season-wide Reddit discussion even includes viewers who say Abaddon used to be their favorite but that Nathan has taken the lead for them this season. That is a useful illustration of how character preferences can shift when a show gives a familiar character new emotional territory.
Jimmi Simpson voices Abaddon, the demon trapped in a child’s body. The contrast between Abaddon’s absurd supernatural antics and Nathan’s more introspective story gives the ensemble different emotional registers. It does not mean Abaddon has become less important; rather, Nathan’s arc is currently generating a different kind of conversation.
What the early response does—and doesn’t—prove
The available evidence supports a measured conclusion: two published reviews emphasize Nathan’s stronger character work, and multiple comments in a public Reddit thread single him out as a season highlight. That does not prove every viewer agrees, nor does it establish an industry-wide ranking of the show’s characters. The season only just premiered, and broader audience data may change as more people watch.
For now, Nathan’s development appears to be one of Season 2’s most widely noticed strengths. The character’s comic optimism has not disappeared; it has gained context, making the jokes and the quieter scenes feel more connected.
Official trailer and social discussion
Watch Netflix’s official Season 2 trailer, then read the public fan threads for individual reactions. Both Reddit discussions contain spoilers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nathan the most developed character in Haunted Hotel Season 2?
Several early reviews and individual fan comments single out Nathan’s emotional arc. That supports calling him a standout, but there is no formal audience poll proving he is the consensus favorite.
Who voices Nathan in Haunted Hotel?
Will Forte voices Nathan. Netflix’s official title information lists Forte among the series’ voice cast.
Why are critics praising Nathan’s Season 2 story?
Reviews point to the way the season explores Nathan’s unresolved pain beneath his cheerful exterior and gives him more space for emotional development.
Where can I watch Haunted Hotel Season 2?
Check the official Netflix title page for availability in your region.
Bottom line
Nathan is emerging as one of Haunted Hotel Season 2’s most compelling characters. Critics have praised the added focus, and some fans are already naming him their favorite. That is a strong early signal—but not proof of a universal consensus. What is clear is that the season gives Will Forte’s ghost more emotional depth without losing the oddball humor that makes the series work.
Sources: What’s on Netflix Season 2 review; But Why Tho? Season 2 review; public Reddit fan review; Netflix Tudum. Real-person images are credited beneath each image and identify voice actors, not the animated characters.
