adding what i contributed to this in a reddit comment:
Charlie’s a heavily neurodiverse-coded woman who’s been sheltered and isolated for much of her life. She has an abandonment complex over her parents split, her mother leaving, and her father pushing her away. She wants to prove herself to a Hell that ridicules her for being pacifistic and optimistic, and feels the weight of living up to expectations her mother put on her. She craves connection but her ND-coded struggles with empathy can throw a spanner in the works. Repressing her own mental health and traumas while trying to push through with being a therapist, redeeming any of the sinners in her care, and proving herself to her naysayers means she unintentionally overlooks others or hyperfixates on the “priority” issue. Having been entirely alone and unsupported for around 4 years, it’s no wonder she’s used to trying to go it alone when she does things, and why she reacts so badly when Vaggi pushes back against her way of doing things for the first time. As of the end of Season 2, a lot of her mental health stuff is left unaddressed (likely for Lilith’s return to unravel), but Charlie has learned some humility, to be more open to letting her trusted found fam handle things, and ceded some of the Hotel-running responsibilities to her girlfriend
Vaggi‘s a former soldier, and it’s heavily insinuated she was created (as an adult) for the sole purpose of being an exorcist no more than 7 years ago, which is obviously going to mess someone up if they literally don’t have a childhood. Yet she had an innate sense of empathy and morality. She realised she was taking part in a genocide with no one else prompting her, and chose to stop of her own accord. With her military indoctrination and the trauma of being mutilated and cast out, it’s no wonder she imprints on and latches onto Charlie for being maybe the first person to show her unconditional empathy and care. Her self-loathing over her past as an Exorcist, and shame for lying to Charlie about her past, prompts her to put her entire self-worth into her ability to serve and protect Charlie, particularly with making redemption happen which she sees as making up for all the sinners she killed. Her codependency has also made her passive when she critiques Charlie‘s ideas and strategies – and the first time she does actually stand up and call her girlfriend out, Charlie’s bitterly shunning response causes Vaggi to throw herself even harder into proving herself by running the Hotel. Embracing her love for Charlie instead of stewing in hating herself has helped Vaggi heal from some of her trauma and given her her wings back, reclaiming how her name is both pronounced and spelt has given her a stronger sense of identity, and Charlie trusting her with the duties of managing the Hotel is indicative of her improved self worth.
Millie is an overlooked elder child who seems to have been treated as either “too much” (her neighbourhood kill count) or “not enough“ (her leaving home to do ‘freelance’ assassination work). She internalised the prejudices against imps owning businesses or being successful in work “above their station”. But meeting Blitzø and becoming part of I.M.P. showed her those prejudices were wrong, and gave her a much better sense of self esteem + did good things for her emotional and mental health. Meeting Moxxie, someone who loves her for who she is, is also incredibly important to her, and we see that it troubles her when he doesn’t tell her about his abusive family past, and especially when he prioritises his own self esteem over hers in Unhappy Campers. She is liable to get lost in her emotions (bloodlust, regular lust, and anger), and being the most detached about killing clients while Blitzø, Moxxie, and Loona have had moral epiphanies is gonna cause conflict in the future. With her pregnancy, it throws into jeopardy the very physically demanding job she’s had and considers so important to her self esteem – will she have to go back to her family and face ‘i told you so‘s or more criticism for her choice of husband and job, plus more pressure to conform to traditions that she felt stifled by or unable to live up to? will she confront her flippancy about killing kids and families? there’s a lot going for her.
Loona shares a lot of traumas with Blitzø – abandonment at the Hellhound adoption centre; being overlooked, ignored, and blamed for things that were others’ faults (e.g. her attacking other hellhounds who were already being aggressive towards her); being told she was a lost cause. While Blitzø does try to give her the care and attention his inner child would‘ve wanted, Loona does grate under how just how overbearing Blitz can be when he treats her like she isn’t a capable adult in her 20s. Like with Vaggi, she reacts badly to Blitzø’s attempt to criticise her/discipline her in Seeing Stars, and like Charlie she is isolated and a social pariah. However she has very high emotional intelligence, builds a secure circle of friends outside of work, is capable of caring when she considers it safe to be vulnerable (e.g. with Octavia in Seeing Stars, or taking care of Blitz at the end of Queen Bee), and when she’s confronted with nearly losing her adoptive father, suddenly is much more willing to show that vulnerability and open care and love. Her repeated calling Moxxie ‘fat’ seems to be symbolic of other traumas that haven’t been explored yet, and the mission in It’s Orphan Time shows she still has issues around the circumstances of her adoption and seeking care and validation from parental-ish figures
These characters are as deep as their male counterparts. People just don’t look for the depth in the same way they do for male characters.
and I think that says a lot about how widespread and engrained systemic misogyny is, and how these people project and/or scapegoat to avoid self-reflection.
These are GOOD TAGS and now I really want more Loona and Millie exploration especially with whatever Millie goes through with her pregnancy/being a parent
Lost Childhood & Adult Responsibilities in Helluva Boss
There's something to be said, about Stolas and Blitz and being forced to grow up too fast.
When Stolas as a kid, with a bed full of stuffed animals...
When he was JUST old enough to find out what his FUTURE job would be, and start training for it...
Blitzo was already working as a circus-performer.
Blitzo (and Fizzarolli, and Barbie) were, at this age, doing multiple shows per day.
They are, at this age, already starting to be sent out to entertain at private parties, if the price is right.
They are children, playing pretend, making jokes, and goofing around. Playing with toys they made while at work, trying to entertain the crowds and put on a good show.
At this young age, Blitzo is told that it's HIS RESPONSIBILITY to work, to steal, to take on odd jobs, to make sure that he & his family have food and shelter.
They're kids. They're just kids.
But, When the Goetia Prince, Stolas, is just starting to LEARN about what his job WILL BE...
The little imp-kid, Blitzo, already has a job.
He's already working to provide for his family, just like his Papa taught him to. They've gotta work to keep food on the table, after all!
.
Then, on the OTHER hand... When Blitzo was still in braces, when he was going on dates, attending concerts, and having fun...
Prince Stolas was preparing to take on his full responsibilities as part of the Goetia family.
He was getting married, to a beautiful woman that his Father picked out for him when they were both per-pubescent little nestlings.
The closet-door was closed, and locked from the outside.
Fifteen years ago, Blitzo and Fizzarolli were celebrating a Birthday Party with their friends, family, and co-workers.
By this time, Stolas, who is about the same age as Blitzo & Fizzarolli, was already a father to a 2-year-old daughter.
Let me say that again.
15 years ago, when The Fire happened, Blitzo was still in his braces.
Blitzo and Fizz were just coming of age. Experiencing first loves, life-altering physical & psychological traumas, etc...
They're at the start of their adult careers.
They've got years of change, exploration, relationships, and breakups ahead of them.
They're in their early twenties!
They're at that age when everyone is making questionable relationship decisions!
Everyone is making questionable and potentially life-altering decisions about their love-lives, their careers, and their futures!
But at this age, Stolas is ALREADY married, with a kid to look after.
In the end, they all grew up too fast. Just in different ways.
maidens if you are going to flee dramatically from my castle in the middle of the night once i reveal my true nature to you please leave your candelabra on the little ledge by the portcullis we are running out of them
starting to think these maidens are stumbling in soaked through from the rain just to steal my beautiful gowns and homewear are any of you actually lost
At the checkout in Home Goods loading the belt with nothing but candelabras in all shapes & sizes while the cashier watches sympathetically and asks if it’s the maidens again
The best part of that video is that the owner found the ORIGINAL plush later on the beach and took another video with it after their grandmother stitched it back up
stormborns
theartofmadeline
ellievsbear
annaxmalina
baratheonpilled
pixelskylines
