#but even stolas acknowledges this is true

[queernobi]

I usually don't post Feelings about properties I like, but I feel like I'm the only one who thought Blitzø was treated unfairly in Stolas' confession towards him. While Stolas rightfully understands that his arrangement with Blitzø was wrong, and made a good effort to make up for it, his decision to attach all of that to a love confession, and him getting upset when Blitzø calls him out on both that AND his proven disregard for many people beneath him in class status is. While understandable, pretty fucked up.

Not that I think the show itself is unaware of this, I just see far more people empathize with Stolas over Blitzø, and it's so weird for me given I walked away feeling the complete opposite about it. I do feel for Stolas, and recognize Blitzø was perhaps a bit too cruel in his assessment of the situation, but like. As brutal as it is to say, he really wasn't that far off the mark. In a way Stolas' reaction indicates how much more he needs to grow and reflect on how he's been treating Blitzø.

I mean, they both need to do some serious soul-searching on their relationship, but whereas Blitzø needs to learn how to accept love from other people, Stolas needs to learn how to give it, and what love actually is--and it's not a gift and a confession you spring on someone after months of essentially using them for meaningless sex and intimacy (which is exactly what he did, no matter what feelings he may have had for Blitzø).

[itsmarsss]

OH CMON STOLAS WTF

[bloop-bl00p]

“Fîls de joie” What Poison could have been.

TW: Mention of Sexual Assault, Sexual Abuse, Rape, Drugs, Addiction, Manipulation, Mention of Fetish and sex in general, mention of Sex works, Raphielle II don’t go harras him and respect his pronouns

I’m trying to be a writer and I understand writing about taboos and controversial things is difficult. I only write about what I know which is the effect of emotional and physical abuse and religious traumas. Notheless if I’m trying to do something out of my domain of expertise I’ll research it to respect the concerned part of the audience.

Vivienne Medrano said that people who’ve been sexually abused helped write episode 4. Part of me wants to believe it, it’s most likely true, it’s the best thing a writer can do, let knowledgeable people help and not just rely on sites about psychology. But, with how rape and assault are presented sometimes it really feels like she’s lying.

Angel Dust is the only character whose abuse is presented as serious.

Stolas kept belittling Bliztø and kept talking dirty even when the Man was in danger

You cannot tell me that he couldn't hear the gunshot through the phone, in this scene, he keeps making his disgusting speech. Blitzø was practically forced to make the deal as he wasn't in a situation where he could process his thoughts clearly since he was trying to survive

And it was a joke.

Angels Dusk kept harassing Husk throughout the series but he never once apologized. Yes, it stopped after Looser Baby but he should have a mindful conversation with Husk and genuinely say sorry about his behavior.

“It starts with sowwy🥺” What’s the point of having this song if the characters don’t follow through with the lesson?

Those scenes were mostly jokes.

And I haven’t mentioned Sir Pentious getting dragged while being drunk in a sex room, or Moxie being kissed by Succubus despite mentioning he didn't want any of that.

AAaaAaaaAh look at these men, being uncomfortable because they are touched and talked down despite verbally addressing their discomfort! That hilarious!

I want to believe she cares, I’m a fan of these shows, I know it doesn't look like it but I’ve been hooked since the Pilots. Not only was I disappointed at the final result but I was also shocked to learn Medrano is simply just an asshole with too much money in her bag.

Poison failed where Fîls de Joie succeeded:

Before reading any of what I wrote you should listen to it, there are English subtitles. And honestly, it's a good song on its own.

What’s the context of Fîls de Joie?

A sex worker died and her son is holding funerals for her. You can guess it with the wordplay in the title, Fille de Joie (Girl of Joy) is one of the many ways to say prostitute in French. Fîls (son) de Joie is a way to say that he’s the son of a sex worker.

While sung by the same man, you can notice that Stromae gives us four POVs in the song, the son in the chorus, a client, the pimp, and a policeman.

Everyone besides the son is a hypocrite and relatively an asshole. But even if those verses are self-centered and a pathetic attempt from these men to bring sympathy to themselves, despite never hearing the story directly from the Woman, you can guess exactly how her life was and you sympathize with her. It tells us a story, her story.

This woman was a good mother, and it shows how much the son insisted on leaving her alone, speaking proudly of her despite acknowledging her flaws, and even repeatedly calling her a hero.

But HEY! (But HEY!) Leave my mom alone Yes I know, she’s not perfect, it’s true She’s a hero (She’s a hero) And I will always speak of her with pride

The client is trying to be excused from his actions by stating he’s lonely and addicted to it.

Being alone is not easy And it’s been years since my last time

The hardest part, well, it’s the first time And now what’s hard is to decide when the last time will be

But he’s also verbally violent even stating that as long as he got the money he could pretty much do everything to her.

Maybe this time around we can do it with me insulting her. Yeah everything is negotiablе in life, if you got the money And after all, I’m probably her best customer

With that alone, you can probably guess that it’s not the only violent client she had but she has to endure it because she needs money. Considering that she has a son it’s probably to support his education or something related to her well-being and his.

Then comes the pimp, he brushed off all of his misdeeds by saying he gives them shelter and food and should be grateful for it.

Why does everyone hate me? I’m the one feeding them Their lives would be way more mediocre. Without me, their lives would be shitty

Not only that but his good actions are not for the sake of it, he should have his part of the deals. He doesn't want them to feel like princesses eventually calling them hookers in a very dehumanizing way.

That has a price, Missy. Well duh, in this life, everything comes at a price. Nobody ever told you? They say I’m guilty of human trafficking But 50, 40, 30 or 20% is not nothing

They better not delude themselves and think they’re models Ladies—or should I say: hookers!

Not only does this woman have to endure constant violent behavior from her clients she barely gets enough money despite being the one at work, receiving either 50% or even 20% of what she actually gained. The rest goes to an egocentric pimp that only sees her as merchandise.

While we can technically understand where the policeman is coming from, he’s just doing his job, he’s making a mistake apparent in the other’s verse but much more evident in his.

He doesn't see her as a human.

I know that it’s your job But I gotta do mine, don’t I?

Take back your ID and what’s left of your dignity You’re pathetic, pfft Find yourself a real job!

This song doesn't tell us the story of a prostitute but the story of a financially struggling Mother who juggles between abusing clients and a society that only focuses on the top of the iceberg, the fact that she’s selling her body.

Stromae tries to appeal to our compassion and teach us that it’s important to understand why someone will go their way to sell sex for a few pennies. And rather than rejecting them, we should help them.

Another thing I like about the clip as a whole is the Military. They don’t have a Belgian or French uniform but they wear multiple of them to show that this dehumanization isn’t linked to one country but it’s global, every countries and cultures take part in it, and it needs to be fixed.

What does Poison tell us?

Angel got stuck in an abusive situation and was forced to do sex work for his pimps, it focuses more on the sexual assault rather than his life.

He obliviously regrets his choice resulting in him blaming himself for getting into such a messy situation. A situation he’s seemingly addicted to despite himself, he knows it’s bad but he can’t help it.

What's the worst part of this hell? I can only blame myself

You're feedin' me poison Addicted to this feelin', I can't help but swallow. Up your poison

The poison can also be a metaphor for the drugs he seems to take directly from Valentino’s brand. A drug he either takes himself or is forced to inhale.

He uses the same substance to forget his situation and numbs the pain while also putting on a false Sex-addicted mask to convey that he’s fine and stay on Valentino’s good side. A direct consequence of his abuse is his addiction and his hypersexuality.

I got so good at bein' untrue I got so good at tellin' you what you wanna hear I disassociate, disappear

At the end of the song he’s waisted, traumatized, and finally breaks down as he finally has a short time to process everything that happened. Because here’s the thing, Poison is a fantasy, it’s a mask he puts in to forget the emotional and physical weight that was put on him, hence why it’s so flashy and pretty. The few glimpses of Angel being visibly distraught show that all the parts where he isn't are him disassociating.

See I can analyze stuff and I totally understand what they were trying to do with it but the difference with Fîls de Joie is, that we didn't know the life or personality of The Mother and we learn it through the song.

Angel Dust and Valentino’s relationship is highlighted throughout the shows and Poison doesn't add anything new to the table. The song is POINTLESS. Husk already looked at us and told us that Angel Dust being sexual was a whole persona he puts in.

You can say that the song humanized him since he was basically the “AaahaAH SEX” character but the locker scene already did and… I don’t like the story behind the making of it, why you ask?

Because Vivienne let Raphielle’s work affect her writing.

Visually speaking I believe you can present a disturbing concept with equally disturbing imagery, I understand that the point was to make you uncomfortable and the Dance sequence was Angel Dust disassociating while what was happening was displayed on the screen.

But… can someone explain why they let the work of someone blatantly fetishizing Angel and Valentino's relationship leak into the final product? I don’t even care that Raphielle or Vivienne have a nonconsensual fetish but we can all agree that his content depicting the two men will be inrentently for gooning purposes right? Or am I crazy for saying that?!

Okay, I wanna be clear, Raphielle can do everything he wants what I care about is that his fetishistic content was referenced in the shows.

→ Here’s one of his works. Go at 2:45 if you wanna skip the sexual stuff

→ Click here for more proof

The idea of Angels Dust being “sexy” while his image is projected on screens is from Raphielle II, his work is for sexual gratification but Medrano still referenced it despite Raph being pretty vocal about it.

And that’s not all.

Yes, Vivienne, it’s great marketing to make a cum joke about visuals displaying rape. Because in case y’all forgot all of the sex scenes in the clip are non-consensual from Angel Dust's perspective.

Am I supposed to believe that this woman cares when not only she has a double standard only showing rape and sexual assault as a whole in a bad way when it comes to her favorite character?

Am I supposed to believe that she cares when she associates herself with a fetishizer and references his work in her show?

Why did Stromae managed to make me care about an unnamed fictional dead woman in the spam of 3:57 when she just irked me in 20 minutes with her so-called “well done” representation of sex workers?

Is that really what people call a realistic presentation? How does someone manage to fumble so hard on every aspect of the series, I’m starting to believe that Hazbin Hotel is just rage-bait with the lack of respect she puts into it.

That’s all for me if anyone wants to add anything, the comments are there.

[uniquepeanutcreatorfire]

Stolas being "Nice" to Blitz

There's been debates within the fandom about Stolas being considered a r*pist involving sexual coercion. Let's go over common defenses that have been used to prove he's not.

He asked Blitz if the deal was fair- So if you re-watch the scene, notice how Stolas said it in a sly, condescending tone. As if he knew Blitz would agree and not give pushback, considering the circumstances at the time. Circumstances that the fandom will ignore and insist that Blitz gave consent.

He respected Blitz's decision when he said "No"- In regards to Ozzie's, this happen outside of their arrangement. Blitz wouldn't be obligated to have sex outside of that. The fandom also loves to use those text messages as proof. However, Stolas only gave Blitz an option on whether to come over. Also, keep in mind that Stolas already got what he initially wanted from Blitz which was sex. Him being nice now doesn't negate the fact he took advantage of Blitz before in season one. People act like abusers and r*pists can't be nice to their victims sometimes (i.e. DV situations, groomers, etc.). That they have to be mean 100% of the time. This is how victims may normalize the abuse, thinking their abuser cares about them. Unfortunately, I see this happening with Blitz.

He is nice to Blitz off-screen. Look at the Instagram posts. Pay close attention to the scene when Stolas was asking Blitz about his day in Ozzie's. Blitz seems confused as if Stolas hasn't asked him something like that before and Stolas is acting nervous and awkward. You would think if they spent time together outside of sex, they would be comfortable having a causal conversation. Now you may argue that they're acting like this because it's a "first date" and that could be true to some extent. It’s just their interactions don't hint at any form of chemistry like the Instagram posts would suggest.

The deal was a mutual agreement- This is another major problem with Stolas. He doesn't fully acknowledge his power and status in the situation. In the recent trailer, he worded it as if they both came up with the terms of the deal. This is to resolve him of some of the responsibility and make it seem like he's being the morally righteous one. When in fact, he came up with the deal on his own and has had full control the whole time, even with this new offer.

Conclusion: HB has handled abuse and SA in a very surface-level manner. Some people who aren't aware of the subtlety and nuanced forms of abuse will only go off what the narrative is telling them. This does a disservice to the sensitive topic. I also understand that this wasn’t the intent for Stolas’s character, but even some abusers aren’t aware of the harm they cause.

[chaifootsteps]

Just watched Full Moon and god I am so unbelievably angry. Stolas really tricked me into thinking he was going to do something decent for a second just to instantly get butthurt when Blitz didn't immediately process everything and respond the way he wanted him to.

Then when Blitz voiced his grievances he starts crying and guilt tripping him like a nice guy as if he didn't acknowledge that everything Blitz said was technically true himself? And again before Blitz can even say anything he just?? kicks him out??

Like. this was not even a fucking conversation he just dumped a bunch of shit on Blitz, didn't let him talk and then ran away from it like a child.

Of course everyone in the comments is saying what a great and deep character Stolas is. Can't wait for people to blame Blitz for not playing along with Stolas's delusions again.

Someone even said that this must be Blitz's biggest nightmare because he "might've gained Fizz back as a friend but he lost Stolas" lol. Lmao even. Sounds like an amazing trade for him considering Fizz is actually someone he likes being around while Stolas actively makes him miserable every time they interact.

Seriously I don't understand how Viv can expect anyone to ship them even if you look past the fucked up shit Stolas does. There is no point in the show where they're on screen together and just have a nice moment it's always just them being sad or angry and either arguing with eachother or being overly sexual I'm so tired

100% agree with all of this.

Stolas acted like the spoiled, manipulative child he is and in a kinder world, Blitz would run straight back to Fizz and they'd spend the night laughing over their celebratory drinks.

[ceaselessims]

octavia and stolas's future conversation is probably going to kill me

i think Octavia is such an interesting character because she reminds me so much of my younger self. I think her line in the trailer is probably going to be a scene that resonates with me to an uncomfortable degree because of my relationship with my mom.

My parents never fight, but i know the teenage pain of feeling like your parents don't make time to truly understand you as a person and only love you out of obligation, whether that's true or not. The feeling that your parent only tolerates you to gain something or because they "have to" is invasive.

I saw someone say that her line needs more work in the story to feel "earned" but i think it's perfectly reasonable for Octavia to feel that way. She can acknowledge that her dad is doing his best AND still feel like she is an afterthought to him. Learning that your parents have flaws SUCKS and sometimes that feels like they never cared about you.

I'm sure there will be a lot of build up and i'm thinking that maybe the build up will be stolas agreeing to banishment or something in order to be with blitz, and Octavia will read this as a complete abandonment of her, bc honestly what else is she supposed to think?

In the episodes that she has been central to, Stolas has been explicit and partial to Blitz IN FRONT OF HER. He does not hide his affair with Blitz, which makes Octavia visibly uncomfortable in all of the Loo Loo Land scenes. Not to mention that in Seeing Stars, it's not lost on her that Loona is the one to find her while her dad is (again) with Blitz after he forgot a date that was important (from her pov) to their relationship. She forgives him in the moment for that episode, but it could be another factor.

We, the audience, know that Stolas would do anything for Octavia, that he genuinely loves and cherishes her, but Octavia does not know that. Octavia left with Stella on the weekends even before the divorce was officially in motion, and i wouldn't be surprised if later in the season we find out that Octavia has been living with Stella since/or soon after Seeing Stars (since Stolas had an assassination attempt.)

From her perspective he has been distant with her, openly hostile to her mother, and openly having affair with Blitz (there can maybe be a little bit of classism in there from the fact that she might find stolas's affair with blitz is especially scandalous bc blitz is an imp/lower class as well but that's a whole other thing.) If you were a child who was already feeling insecure and emotionally neglected, if it came out that your dad was going to chose to run away with his affair partner, that would probably fucking SUCK !! it would fucking KILL ... and Octavia will probably think that she is the problem, that she is not worth staying for.

All this to say, Octavia, my girl, i will probably cry when you cuss your dad out in front of the entire goetia court :-)

[definetlyaddicted]

helluva boss is SO back

Absolute fantastic episode. Best of the season and one of the best episodes of the show period.

Fizz and Ozzie have such a sweet relationship oh my god? Viv chose wholesome and i didnt expect her to go down that route

Blitz showing true character growth and repairing his friendship with his old best friend. Acknowledging his issues and apologising>>

STOLAS STOLAS STOLAS! Even if it wasnt much we got to see Stolas doing something he enjoys just out of the kindness of his heart. He didnt need to do that for Ozzie and he did, and he was so happy for them it made me cheese like an idiot.

ANIMATION WAS BEAUTIFUL. GORGEOUS.

The confirmation that Blitz had a crush on Fizz at one point.

Stolas taking steps to destroy the "favours for favours" contract with Blitz. Thank god.

Alex's voice acting>>>>

Blitz' rant alone>>>>>>>>>>

[ec2003]

Both Blitz and Stolas Should Be Held Accountable In My Eyes.

Well, I started to change my perspective towards Blitz and Stolas. I see both Stolas and Blitz in the wrong. First off, Blitz: As much as Blitz is my favorite character and he's also someone I can relate to in terms of my problems, there's no denying that he tried to take advantage of Stolas as a distraction for the Grimore and not only that, but he's an asshole to those around him, mostly Moxxie, but luckily he has some character development. Second off, Stolas: Stolas might've probably not understood what love really mean't other then sex and it;s fair, but it's still no excuse for him to make Blitz uncomfortable whenever Blitz is not in the mood and he doesn't pay attention to his own daughter Octavia when she needs him 2 times already. Not only that, but his issues are he only acts delusional and lives in his own fantasies that Blitz cares for him when he really doesn't. It;s fair that Blitz thinks Stolas is only using him just to abuse his power because he's a little IMP and Stolas literally called him a play thing in Truth Seekers. Although, Stolas might've not think that way anymore, he's still a rich prick either way. Positives for Blitz: Blitz starts to talk to people more often like Fizz for example and they're friends while Blitz and her sister didn't go together and Barbie has the right to not let him get into her life. Blitz also tries his best to be a father for Loona which is something Stolas lacks. Positives for Stolas: Stolas can show that he loves Octavia and it;s true he's not a good father, and he tried his best but he shouldn't make his daughter think he doesn't love her because all he thinks about is Blitz. While Blitz prioritzes Loona Even if she doesn't care about him that much and is rough on the edges Even if Stella was abusive and treats him like shit, it's still no excuse to not held himself accountable for his actions. Conclusion: THey're both flawed characters but I don't want Blitz and Stolas (ESPECIALLY STOLAS) to been seen as victims and fandoms acting like they can do no wrong simply because they're their favorites. Of course, you don;t have to agree with me, but of course, I think both of them should be acknowledged to their own problems equally. Despite Blitz being my favorite, I still held him accountable.

[spotlightlowlife]

Greed is every sin

Just as openly elitist power abuser Stolas is the best villain of either series in this Helluverse, Mammon manages to be the greatest sin of all and for a similar reason, being multifaceted via many efforts made to sway our thinking, yet these two are then taken in different directions.

So much range does 'greed' have that he even encapsulates the 'sins' we have yet to meet.

Of those we have met, Ozzie, Bee and over in Pride, Lucifer, Mammon has managed to showcase actions of their sins in his own greedy way. Greed has a bit of everyone, but vise versa? Not if they're supposed to be liked.

A totally desexualised character but blamed for the sexdolls of a famous character whoes 'dayjob' is entertaining at a kinky nightclub, run by the prince of lust. Even though he markets the dolls as multipurpose, fit for everyone at a very affordable price, the sex element is his fault. The dolls were clearly a collaboration and something thought up before a reference was chosen, Ozzie catches feelings for their references and feels he should no longer able to separate business from his personal feelings, whilst Mammon manages to prosper in business in a field that isn't his.

Lust ✅

A glutton for the sake of being a glutton, no need for celebration just mindless or stress eating, which fits well as greed and gluttony often go together, taking because it's there.

There's also the deliberate fat design intended to make him more grotesque. 'Gluttony' does not need to be fat, yet the 'Gluttony' we met simply wanted the party goers indulged, however Ozzie wanted his patrons to keep it sexy and Mammon collected cash during the pageant, they did as much as eachother, only the efforts to make him piggish only took away from Bee's thing.

Gluttony ✅

Showy and performative but happy to take the backseat, is seen working and mentoring, adapts to what's new, what works and what others want but also bold enough to openly share selfish motive. As involved and inappropriate as his behaviour may seem he's all business, willing to work with those who don't like him and invest in what doesn't interest him without buckling or offsetting.

Mammon succeeds as a ruthless, confident, both proactive and passive leader who doesn't come across as someone who casually hangs with 'commoners' and whose true influence and power is unknown.

Pride ✅

Way too attentive to be lazy, but, what do people have to say about a boss who puts their feet up and fails to do what they're more than capable of doing, rather, they get others to do? Mammon supposedly 'not doing clown stuff anymore' and Fizz being 'a better clown than he ever was' as according to Ozzie are statements that means little, he wanted a prodigy, we saw imagery of training arc he showcases entertainers in order to fulfil his greed and his trade gets acknowledged. Ozzie has a seedy nightclub where those who work their or visit are expected to behave in a sexy way and Bee expects her guests to indulge, what's the difference? They meet their sin quota whilst not showing us any form of trade outside of being a host, why is Mammon condemned for as in a leading example of laziness? If we're scaling laziness, where does this leave poor, yet to be introduced Belphahor?

Relaxation pairs with recovery, research shows that the Sloth ring has the hospitals and is also responsible for 'upper' medication. Nice right? Something positive, which is where all those we are to like lean towards. That and Bee seems to be friends with her.

Sloth ✅

Spring boarding onto the next sin, Wrath, someone who has been described as attractive (by Bee) and is seen as a leader and god to the imps. It helps to be liked. This is hell where anything supposedly goes, murder is fine but not sadness, sadness isn't a sin but what else is everything, irate. Mammon was allowed to not only be big and menacing but pose a threat to someone who would be frightened of their fallout, allowed to resort to blackmail when he didn't like how things were going and allowed to vow revenge before taking off and trashing the place and maybe even killing his audience who bore witness on his way out, in a rather composed way.

Wrath ✅

Looloo land being a ripoff of Lulu land is so clearly a display of greed, especially since Looloo land is poorly maintained dispite Mammon being a perfectionist, this ripoff could easily be an example of envy, a grasp at control born from following a definitive leader who seems no leader at all, but can do what he wants because this is his realm.

Wlillingness to rip off such a superior, block effort at takedown with an impenetrable contract and still maintain (according to research) a good relationship with shows caution, calculation and willingness to fight.

Mammon even has his face on hell's currency and a banking app, yet who exactly is he supposed to be paying tax to? Lucifer, hells actual owner who doesn't seem to be a leader? Or are they answering to those 'higher up' which places Mammon in the frustrating position of second fiddle to a boss who isn't the best?

We haven't met Envy/Leviathan yet, but we have a host of main characters who live contemptuous lives and look to what others have that they don't, so envy, like wrath affects everyone, have been prominent driving forces since the start along with sadness and tragedy which aren't sins.

Envy ✅

Mammon manages to encompasses all elements of sinning even when he shouldn't really because it's by proxy as someone whose actions are portrayed as self serving and cruel with no excuses or failure to acknowledge, someone who upsets and can be harmful to those we are supposed to root for, something these series shy away from when they want us to like a character. We have a demon who succeeds in being someone you have no business getting mixed up with, in hell, a place you shouldn't want to be, where he is a crowned leader who is after your money if you're lucky.

Greed ✅

[aerodynamic-acephalic]

ok I just need to get my thoughts down because I don't see anyone else talking about this. spoilers for the new episode of Helluva Boss.

In the new episode, "The Full Moon", in relation to the Stolitz dynamic, there is a huge correlation between melody and emotions.

The duet at the start has Stolas singing the entire time, while Blitz is rapping the whole thing. Not that rap isn't music, nor that he isn't singing with deliberate pitch, but his parts of the song feel closer to spoken prose then Stolas'. In the words themselves, Stolas spend the entire time commenting on his own worries about Blitz and their meeting, while Blitz spends the song avoid his own anxieties about his relationship with Stolas, and in fact out right says he's "getting in [his] own head" when he begins to acknowledge his relationship with Stolas as "complex" before swerving out of that topic entirely.

And this is also true for their meeting at the end of the episode. The music that plays at the start is reflective of Stolas' inner emotional state while Blitz talks about what he bought. Then when Stolas brings up the Asmodian Crystal, the music turns more hopeful. And again, when Stolas states that Blitz is no longer under any obligation to do anything to/with him, the music changes to play a singular long note. This whole time, the music has changed to reflect Stolas' mental state throughout this conversation.

Then it's Blitz's turn to react and it goes dead silent. And even though Blitz could very much go "k thanks bye" and ditch Stolas, his reaction is "Am I not working hard enough? I can do better". Blitz, unlike Stolas, is not addressing the underlying emotions of his care for the other, defaulting to trying to bring back their status quo rather than (work to) resolve the issues in their relationship to make them both happier.

The music come back when Stolas answers with how much he truly cares about Blitz and he doesn't want a relationship built on a power imbalance the way theirs currently is.

Blitz, once again, swerves from the conversation as the music, once again cuts out, defaulting to assuming that he's not being serious.

This, obviously, hurts Stolas, with the music following in tow, where it cuts out (with the exception of a sustained chord this time) at Blitz realising that Stolas was being serious about genuinely caring about him and ever so slightly touching on how that makes him feel.

Music revives briefly for Stolas to verbalise how Blitz's dismissal and inability to believe his care for him when it cuts out at Blitz screaming at him. Here again it's Blitz not directly addressing why or what hurt him, but rather him angry that Stolas is dismissing his attempts at trying to understand and deal with the situation (rightfully so), though doing so through screaming and generalising ("you royal fucks think you can do this every time") as a way to bring back a semblance of control.

The music rolls in with Stolas being upset and crying and fades out when Blitz is teleported away.

This entire episode where these two are on screen (so, like the first 3min and the last 5min) has the music emphasising not only what the characters feel, but also how in-tune with and aware they are of how and why they feel the way they do, with Stolas able to do so much more than Blitz.

I saved the best for last, as there are exactly two exceptions to the "Blitz has no music but Stolas does" observation.

The first (and the less interesting and implicative of the two) is right after Blitz dismisses Stolas' feelings. Here, though Stolas does talk, he is very much building walls and pushing Blitz away through both his generally dismissive tone and him actively trying to walk away from them conversation. Also a thing to note is how when Stolas thanks Blitz for making him as happy as he did, the music is there, but everything but the sustained chord leaves when Stolas blurts out "I wish you the best with your business" while walking away, and completely ignoring anything Blitz has to say at all about how he feels. It only comes back when he talks about his own hurt.

The second is after Blitz is teleported away. The "feelings" character is off-screen. We shouldn't be hearing any music at all. And we don't, initially. But as Blitz screams to the sky two note play. And these two notes are the only notes that start playing while Blitz speaks in these 5 minutes, and they are the only notes (I'm pretty sure) in this scene that play where we don't immediately see/hear what could be causing the emotions that the music implies. It is here where everything Blitz has been doing to maintain the status quo breaks down. It is here that Blitz has nothing to think of to not think about him and Stolas. It is here where Blitz grapples with his own feelings about Stolas and his relationship with him.

can you see why I've been going insane for the past few hours...?

[lizzzybooo]

Ok this is going to be a controversial hazbin hotel take (or maybe not I wasn't in the fandom when it peaked maybe it's everyone's take) but I just really don't like the way Charlie is treating Vaggie.

I mean I think they're super cute and I love them both but Charlie sometimes acts so self centered with her. Like putting her on the spot asking her to lead the trust exercise, but immediately making her feel bad for the way she does it. And ok fine whatever I can kinda overlook that part though it immediately felt iffy to me, but the way she was mad at Vaggie for not telling her about her past (which is a valid reason to be mad!) but then was saying "I tell her everything, how could she do this to me?" or something like that, I mean?? Vaggie loves her SO much I think Charlie definitely sees that even in the middle of this, and the fact that she didn't ask herself once in those scenes "how is it possible I never asked her enough about herself all these years we've been together to find that out?" Because I mean if you tell a person everything and they share nothing about themselves that should be a point for concern along the way, and I'm pretty sure Vaggie would have told her if Charlie took enough interest in her life.

And generally throughout entire season, Vaggie just loves Charlie so much and sees it as her duty to make her dreams come true- which is of course, something she put on herself and is not Charlie's fault, but Charlie seems more than happy with this arrangement, either so oblivious to it (which is part of her self centered behavior) or worse, is aware of that and is too comfortable with their dynamic to do anything about it. Charlie shows like almost zero interest in who Vaggie is, what her dreams are, what she thinks or how she feels. And I really don't think she has any bad intentions, and I know a lot of other things are going on, but it really rubs me the wrong way.

And even after that, there was no acknowledgement of how hard it probably was for Vaggie to lose everything she knew, everyone she probably considered her family that were so quick to cast her aside, and instead her trust issues were treated as a ~quirky~ little personality trait (and I know they probably didn't have time to delve into that, but they took the time to show how caring Vaggie was towards Charlie and her family problems, they could've shown some reciprocation at least).

And honestly I wouldn't have a problem with that necessarily, for example I don't have a problem with how toxic Blitz and Stolas are in Helluva Boss, because I see how it contributes to the story and to their personal character development, and it's very much acknowledged and is part of the narrative, but here it feels like Charlie x Vaggie are treated like this perfect power couple and their only problem is Vaggie lying, like, no???

Maybe they'll dive deeper into it next season idk, but it just left a bad taste in my mouth

[artofhazbinhotel]

I agree with what you said about Stolas but things need to be addressed with blitzø too. How this whole thing started was stolas dad buying him and blitzø father making him steal from Stolas getting him to his house when he was older to steal the book but instead felt guilty and decided to give Stolas a pity fuck before getting caught.

Obviously it’s none of their fault but it was weird from the beginning and only got weirder due to Stolas perspective on their relationship. Throughout everything it was really Stolas toying with Blitz thinking it was love but it was evident in moments where Blitzø was in denial about his feelings but how the relationship work was obviously the issue especially how he was treated.

I wouldn’t call Stolas a bad father compared to what he dealt with. He’s really lovingly towards octavia and it’s only til later that things start becoming bad in her household. Stella isn’t a bad mother either it’s shown but Stella was abusive towards Stolas something he had gotta used too and stayed for Octavia until she was grown enough for him to start being able to free himself from Stella which Octavia viewed as him leaving for blitzø.

Obviously confessing your feelings in that manner was Stolas complete fault but what came after wasn’t his. Blitzø kept visiting and texting things he would usually avoid with Stolas and his only excuse was that he felt that he needed “to earn his way towards earth” which wasn’t true. Blitzø felt guilty again but decided to take his anger out to prove a point to Stolas that he wasn’t a bad guy for not caring until later he realized that he was wrong they both were and had different views on what they had.

While I think Stolas done very stupid things and missed at lot when it came to Blitzø. Blitzø also made bad choices and often hurt people due to him not being able to open up. It’s both their issue and I would rather then not end up together as well so they both see their error of their ways.

Oh I completely agree with you, blitz used him as a date, flirted with him to get the book, insulted him instead of communicating how he's hurt, and tried to use sex to fix their relationship. Neither one of them is a saint, and okay about the father thing, I don't think he's a bad dad exactly? Just not a good one. You can love your child but not be the best parent y'know? Imagine how she felt, her dad is very publicly cheating on her mom and what is supposed to be her spending time with her dad is interrupted by him focusing on that guy. He said "the only man who can fuck me" in FRONT of her 😰 he's great compared to his dad, but wouldn't be? Yeah the whole apology tour plot was just blitz being an asshole, but i really don't think in the beginning of the episode stolas saying "when have I ever done that?" And "just like striker" are good things, he isn't acknowledging blitz's feelings with the first thing and with the second blitz was with his daughter and did send the help he could. It's like Stolas makes blitz feel guilty for things that aren't even his fault, and the "do you feel remorse for anything you do?" Places more blame on blitz than himself, he was doing so good with realizing the deal was wrong and then he did all that, if he had just asked why blitz felt lower than him and found out what he did was insulting they could have come to an understanding at the very least but instead he was like "nuh-uh, never did any of that youre crazy"

[the-l00ker]

Stolas Short

BUT it's him waking up after the Apology Tour night being conflicted

Like he feels TERRIBLE because all of what Blitzo said in his rambling argument about him not being able to fathom the thought of intimacy WAS TRUE

But then again, he'd put so much effort into trying to prove Blitzo wrong and it didn't even matter, because (to him) Blitzo is a motherfucker who didn't even care at all

He's conflicted because he slept with a guy and he feels loved but not in love like he did with Blitzo

He feels cared for, but he can't bring himself to care for the guy he literally just slept with because he doesn't feel anything more for him

He's ABSOLUTELY LOST in his own feeling because he can't move past what he's done, he'll acknowledge everything in the argument instead of running away from it

It will stab his heart just as much as the stinging feeling of rejection Blitzo felt at Ozzie's

It'll fade out with him growing and knowing he's still in love, but instead of chasing it, maybe he can just walk behind him.

To see if he stops and waits. To see if he loves him too❤️~

[kityana]

there's something that's so weird to me about how some fans talk about a potential relationship between stolas and vassago (or anybody else for that matter, but let's face it, vassago is the most likely candidate).

i'm not going to even address the incest allegation seriously because it's just stupid. we have no indication they're related. that's it. anything else is extrapolated from your own mind.

but some of the other arguments i've seen floating around are just...

i do think stolas is going to have a romantic relationship with someone who's not blitzo to gain experience and perspective about serious romantic relationships. what i don't think is that stolas is going to step out into the world, think to himself, hm, i need to gain romantic experience points, better start grinding to get my romantic rank up! because that's not how people work. and one of hb's strengths has always been the realistic way its characters are written.

no. i think that stolas, as he'd shown and openly stated in the show, wants a romantic relationship. in an ideal world, he'd have one with blitzo. but blitzo is not yet at a place where he can give stolas what stolas wants- as far as i can tell, at the end of apology tour tour, blitzo has just come to acknowledge he has feelings for stolas and that he's open to working on himself to do something about it. he's not even yet at a place where he can tell stolas that, much less in a place where he can offer stolas the type of relationship stolas wants. and, stolas? as far as stolas is concerned, blitzo hadn't reciprocated his feelings, and have stated multiple times that he's not interested in the kind of serious monogamous relationship stolas is after.

and you know what someone who want a mutual, serious, monogamous, romantic relationship does when the person he wants to have it with rejects them?

they go and find someone else to have it with.

stolas isn't going to end up with someone else because he'll figure he needs experience before he moves on to blitzo. he's going to do that because he wants a romantic relationship. that's just what people do. he wants a serious romantic relationship, he doesn't think he's going to get one with blitzo, and if someone else shows interest in having it with him, he's going to give it a chance.

"but isn't it a rebound? isn't it unhealthy?"

you know, it probably will be! and it won't be super healthy! but since when do characters on this show only choose the healthy options in their lives?

"but the merch! stolitz endgame!"

i'm still pretty sure stolitz is going to be endgame. stolas having a romantic relationship with someone else doesn't mean it's going to last forever. as stated above, considering it's probably going to be a rebound situation of some sort, it probably won't! but that doesn't mean it isn't going to happen.

"isn't it unfair to the other guy to be a stepping stone on the way to stolitz?"

if the other guy is aware that he's a story device in a romantic narrative, sure. but because characters on this show are written like people, and stolas is generally a kind person, i doubt that's how it's going to be portrayed. truth is that if you're going to simplify things, we're all stepping stones in someone else's life on the way to something else, and vice versa. not every relationship ends up in a happily ever after and that's okay. it's fine. it's life.

"but it'll make blitzo sad!"

sir, this is the "blitzo is sad" show. the guy's life is a train wreck and it's mostly of his own doing. i don't want to make blitzo sad, but it's going to happen.

"blitzo is the main character and if stolas ends up with someone else he's going to get written off the show!"

again, stolitz is probably still endgame. but even if we pretend for a moment that it isn't- that's just not true. blitzo is the main character, and the show is about people he has relationships with. all kinds of relationships, not just romantic ones. blitzo just admitted to himself he has feelings for stolas. even if stolas moves on, those feelings are not going to disappear. stolas would still be someone important in his life. sure, we may not see as much of stolas as we have thus far, but that doesn't mean he's going to get written off. as long as he has some relevance to blitzo's life, he's probably still going to be around.

and honestly, if the writers decide to have stolas exist blitzo's life and write him off the show... it's their right and their choice and it's just what's going to happen. i love stolas, but it's not my show. if the writers felt that's the best course of action, who am i to tell them otherwise?

but i really doubt that's going to happen.

i love stolas. i love blitzo. i love their relationship. i want to see them together because they clearly want to be together. and i'm not afraid of the road they'll take to get there, even if it includes spending some time apart and with other people. i trust it'll make sense for their characters and be worth it.

[wolf-tail]

Once again Helluva Boss continues to improve and mature as a series.

I haven't talked about it for a while but the series is making leaps and bounds of improvement in writing quality. A common complaint i've heard about the show is that it seem to function on what's called protagonist centered morality, essentialy " whatever the main character does is morally justified because he's the main character" but the more you look at the show the more untrue this is.

Even if Blitz is sympathetic, his actions are not justified, and his behaviour makes people he cares about hate him. Sure, it makes him sad but he deserves to feel sad, he's the one who keeps hurting people. "Apology Tour" really makes that point shine.

An excuse he makes for his own behaviour is that he was born and raised in literal Hell, he's "supposed" to be shitty. This line reminds me of the kind of immature and media illiterate behavior some vivziepop fans display when it comes to her work. When her shows have South Park levels of dumb edginess, they'll excuse it with "Duh it's Hell they're supposed to be bad people!" then turn around and gush over how sweet and kind those same characters are. That line, and how the show immediately refutes it, Is also showing me that the team is capable of self-criticism and change, because their work almost seems to use that same excuse. But the whole point of both Hazbin and Helluva Boss is that those are not valid excuses, and that characters in Hell have both the ability and responsibility to change and be better people.

Another common criticism of the show is the inherent toxicity of Stolitz, but that's also the point of the show. The way the characters are when they get together and where they are currently do not make for a healthy relationship. Whils a lot of critics point to Stolas as the source of the toxicity, I feel that's unfair to his character. The show initially sets him up as the selfish hedonist who uses Blitz for his own pleasure, which is how Blitz sees him. But the show continues to show us that that's not who he is. He's a hedonist only in the sense that he's been denied happiness and pleasure his entire life, of course he'd seek it out. He was the child of an emotionally neglectful father, a repressed gay man forced into an abusive relationship because of compulsory heterosexuality, and a father struggling to connect with his teenage daughter through the haze of bitter divorce. He eventually has enough character growth to realize the unhealthy power imbalance he has with Blitz and attempts to solve it. But when he does, we see the true source of toxicity in this relationship.

Blitz is a violently traumatized man who developed some really unhealthy coping mechanisms, and essentially allows his trauma to control him. He's manipulative, rude, possesive, impulsive, and prone to lashing out against the people who care about him the most. Stolas went from "he makes me happy" to "I want him to be happy", but I don't really think Blitz knows how to be happy.

And that's why he has an entire room full of people whose hearts he broke and hate him enough to throw a party about it every year.

Another thing I liked about this episode is that it really embodies the concept that the opposite of love is not hate. Stolas put at the best, the "Fuck Blitz" party exists because so many people loved him, loved him enough to be hurt when he betrayed them, loved him enough to hate him. The show validates and justifies that anger and pain, and acknowledges that Blitz is just the protagonist, not the good guy.

And it forces him to realize that, too.

[chaifootsteps]

that just an oreo vid pointed out yet more ways the episode doesn't work that I didn't even pick up on at first

specifically he points out the episode frames Verosika as being in the right for being mad at Blitz breaking up with her and it being OK for her to be endlessly hung up and bitter at him over it

but when Blitz is rightfully upset that Stolas starts making out with someone else right in front of him after acting like he wanted to work things out between them, Verosika tells him to stop and that being a better person means just letting go of all his anger immediately

besides Verosika knowing nothing about what actually happened between Stolas and Blitz, it's another double standard - Verosika, Stolas and a whole party full of people can be angry at and hung up on Blitz for as long as they want for whatever petty reason they chose (Dennis is there, after all) and it's totally a therapy group session and not petty at all

but Blitz isn't allowed to be frustrated with or annoyed at Stolas for ditching him to make out with someone else literal seconds after he gave Stolas the apology the owl had been psychologically battering him for all episode???

it feels dumb even analysing it, because the answer is so obviously: anything anyone wants to do or say to Blitz is fair game, even if they weren't actually dating (naming no names, Stolas) but any feeling he has in return is invalid - in fact it's proof of his immaturity and fear of commitment

I already thought Apology Tour was bad but I was willing to look at the Verosika scene as the high point of the episode. in hindsight that was just because it was the one part of the episode outside of the apology montage that didn't have Stolas in it.

It really feels like Blitz is in an abusive relationship with both the show itself and his own creator. his feelings just don't matter anymore; they're only ever proof of how bad he is that he doesn't just sacrifice his autonomy immediately to shove himself down into the small space of being Stolas' romantic fantasy that the show has decided is the only acceptable path for him and the only way he can have character development that's good or acceptable

It's all true, and it makes for a completely joyless viewing experience. Not only will Blitzo never escape his abusive relationship, he won't even be allowed the respite of having his feelings acknowledged as valid. He's just unequivocally wrong, and if you feel otherwise, then Viv doesn't like you as an audience member much and she doesn't care who knows it.