#hb meta

[aspoonofsugar]

Society's Sins

@laughingsour: You mentioned before how Mammon is the only one of the sins who doesn't sing a song to introduce himself and his character during his own first apperance, rather his introduction is by him stealing songs from more talented performers. You noticed how Satan stands in between as he does steal Stolas and Blitzø's song but unlike Mammon he's actually singing himself?

Thank you so much for this ask! It gives me the chance to share some thoughts I have about the episode (which I loved) and the series, as a whole. So, the focus will be the Sins and their thematic role in the story.

First of all, some considerations about the Sins in general.

So far, Ozzie, Bee, Mammon and Satan are the Sins, who have been properly introduced.

Lucifer is a Hazbin Hotel character, so he will most likely not appear in Helluva. However, he is referenced multiple times and his character is very important, even if he is absent (precisely because he is absent tbh).

Leviathan and Belphegor have appeared, but they have yet to speak, so we know very little of them. They will probably get a proper introduction later on in the series.

So, let's focus on the 4 Sins that got at least one episode dedicated to them:

Season 1 has Ozzie and Bee appear - They are positive characters and helpers, as Ozzie gives Blitz the crystal and Bee is kind with Loona at her party. Even in Mastermind, they are the only Sins, who speak in I.M.P.'s favor.

Season 2 has Mammon and Satan appear - They are negative characters and antagonists, as Mammon mistreats Fizz and Satan punishes Blitz and Stolas. Mastermind has them being the most vocal against imps, in general.

At the same time (and here we come to your ask), each Sin gets an introductory song about their vice. Let's go deeper.

SINGING SINS

Asmodeus, King of Lust, has House of Asmodeus:

Asmodeus: You singing love songs in my lustful lounge? Fizzarolli: Ozzie's ain't the place for sentimental sounds! Asmodeus: What'd you expect from a proprietor like us? Fizzarolli: Your demon host, Asmodeus, the embodiment of lust! Asmodeus: Give me a thrust! Fizzarolli: Bwabwabwabwa bwaaaah- Asmodeus: Show me some lust From the groin to the bust In desire, we trust In the house of Asmodeus

The song is an exploration of lust (FizzXOzzie) vs love (MoxxiexMillie) and it's solved by Moxxie and Millie winning and kissing. The final message is that romantic love doesn't weaken lust, but makes it stronger. Later on in the series Ozzie himself embraces this idea and sings the song "Crooked", which empowers his "lust" with "love".

Beelzebub, Queen of Gluttony, has Cotton Candy:

Hey! I'm whatchu need, I'm watchu want I got it all, a carnival I'll bring you up, I'll take you down I'm sticky sweet, stuck in your teeth Like cotton candy Cotton candy (Ah-ah, ah-ah) Cotton candy (Ah-ah, ah-oh) Cotton candy (Ah-ah, ah-ah) I'm whatchu want Not watchu need (Ah-ah, ah-oh)

The song is Bee introducing herself as "cotton-candy". She is an "eye-candy", who loves partying and sharing food with her guests. In exchange, she enjoys others' emotions of happiness and fun, in a virtuous cycle. She basically likes eating healthy, at least emotionally speaking :P

Mammon, King of Greed, sings no song, but has his debut episode called: "Mammon's magnificent musical mid-season special (ft Fizzarolli)".

In other words, all the songs featured in the mid-season special are Mammon's songs. They do not directly say anything about greed, but they comment on this sin in a meta-narrative way. The Sin of Greed is a talentless performer, but he steals others' talents, so his songs are stolen songs. Loo Loo Land is the perfect example of this:

I have a dream (He has a dream) I'm here to tell (He's here to tell) About a magical fantastic place Called Loo Loo Land

After all, the song itself is about Mammon profiting of Lucifer's Lu Lu World theme park. It's sung by RoboFizz, which is Mammon's way to exploit Fizz's voice and body. As a cherry on top, it is a rip off of Charlie's Inside of Every Demon is a Rainbow. It is the perfect embodiment of greed.

What about Satan, King of Wrath?

Satan is just as special a case as Mammon is, but in a different way. As you said, he sings, but not his own song. Rather, he steals Stolas’s. Why? I think that he sings someone else's song to convey he is trying to pass up as someone he isn't:

Satan: I am the mastermind, and here I am the law I've ruled the endless dark Since long before the golden angel's fall

He claims he was the First King of Hell, before Lucifer's fall. However, Word of God clarified this is a lie. So, Satan isn't the Master of Hell, but he acts like him. Similarly, Mastermind is not his song, but he takes it over to affirm his authority. Not only this, but his stanza is pretty ironic:

So you see Next to me, your master plans all look so small Little mice When you break my rules You pay the price!

Satan says he is able to see through others' plans, but throughout the episode he is tricked by everyone.

Andrealphus sets up the whole rigged trial by foreseeing how Satan will react to the whole situation

Striker lies to Satan about who the instigator of Stolas's murder is

Blitz convinces Satan to let the rest of I.M.P. go

Stolas tells Satan he is the one behind everything, when it makes no sense

So, Satan insists that he is a mastermind, but he isn't. That's the point of the song. He presents himself in a way, which is false, hence why the song isn't really his own. Maybe, just like it happened with Ozzie, Satan too will get another song, where he will sing his true heart out (I sure hope so because Patrick Page's voice is wonderful). This would work also because Mastermind is different from the other Sins' songs, in the sense it isn't really about the Sin of Wrath. Why is that so?

SATAN, SIN OF WRATH

Satan: I am the mastermind, and here I am the law (Deadly Sins: He is the law) I've ruled the endless dark Since long before the golden angel's fall So you see Next to me, your master plans all look so small Little mice When you break my rules You pay the price!

Satan's section of mastermind introduces the Sin as the law, so he embodies the wrath against trespassers and rule-breakers. In this sense, he is the physical personification of a draconian law system, which is why he is... well, a dragon :P

Still, this is a very specific interpretation of the Sin of Wrath, which gets weakened by Satan being the only Sin, who doesn't thrive into his vice:

Ozzie owns a sex club, mass produces sex toys and enjoys a healthy sexual life with Fizz. He joyfully sings how he embodies lust and is proud of it.

Bee organizes parties, gives everyone alcohol and food and even shares her own Bee-Juice with others (Verosika), so that they can have fun at their own gatherings. She is the best Queen of Gluttony ever.

Mammon is obsessed with money and is able to market and profit of everything and everyone. He steals from imps, other Sins and even the King of Hell himself. He is a douche bag, but he lives up to the expectation of what Greed is.

Satan is instead shown to try and keep his Sin in check:

Yogirt: Um, Satan? Sorry. W- wh- what did we say about negative energies in our mind temple? Yeah, remember to take deeeep breaths.

He even needs to, if he wants to be functional as the Judge of Hell. This ties with Satan's contradiction: his name means "accuser", not "judge". In a fair trial, the person, who makes a judgement shouldn't be the same, who accuses. However, Satan is uninterested in listening to the different parties:

Satan: Why don't we take a vote. Who wants to listen to hours of testimony? Who wants to kill this imp bastard and get home for lunch?

And he focuses on finding someone to punish:

Satan: You dare try to tell me how to PUNISH!?

He is an "accuser" forced into the role of a "judge". This is why he doesn't sing much about wrath. He is trying to step into the role of another Sin.

I wouldn't be surprised if it were revealed Satan himself is a little bit frustrated by this. Who knows? Maybe the Sin of Wrath is so prone to bursting into rage because deep down he is angry at a certain someone :P:

This is a headcanon of course - During the episode, we see a door with all the Sins' seals on it. However, Lucifer's seal is broken. This could be just a symbol of Lucifer's absence and loss of influence. However, wouldn't it be interesting if in canon someone broke it? And who could be both big enough and so prone to anger that he would lash out against an absent king? Maybe the Sin of Wrath himself.

Whatever the case, it is obvious Lucifer's absence has progressively messed up the balance among the Sins. This is why the episode draws a lot of attention to the missing Sin of Pride.

LUCIFER'S ABSENCE

Mastermind offers us a pretty clear idea of the Sins' political standing:

Ozzie and Bee are sympathetic towards the lower classes. They date respectively an imp and a hellound and would like to hear Blitz defend himself.

Satan and Mammon are classist and racist. They look down on the lower classes and are the most eager to kill Blitz.

Leviathan and Bellephagor are more difficult to pint-point, but I think there are two possibilities: 1) They are both neutral, as Levy's two heads can't agree on a political stance (she can't make up her mind :P) and Belle would just sleep throughout most of the discussions 2) Levy is more on Mammon and Satan's side, as she sits closer to them, whereas Belle leans more towards Bee and Ozzie, as her sit is closer to theirs.

In any case, it is probable most of the Sins' disputes would end up in a tie (either 3 vs 3 or 2 vs 2 vs 2), which means a 7th vote is key for deciding. As a result, Lucifer (and Lilith)'s presence was probable pretty important to make the group work. Now that Lucifer is inactive, Satan is using his power and influence to impose himself in every discussion, hence why Ozzie and Bee are annoyed:

Still, there is more to Lucifer's absence. For example, isn't it interesting that so far he has been mostly referenced in two episodes? The first is Loo Loo Land and the second is Mastermind.

In Loo Loo Land, Lucifer is mentioned directly:

Octavia: Is it true this park is just a really shameless spin-off of Lucifer's far more popular Lu Lu World?

And both his face and symbols appear here and there:

This checks, as Mammon's Loo Loo Land is a rip off of Lucifer's own park. Mammon is so unimaginative that he keeps the apple as a mascotte and Lucifer's head, as one of the attractions. You can also read a sign, where Mammon claims he did not copy Lucifer's ideas.

In Mastermind, Lucifer's name comes up twice:

Stolas: Oh, my Lucifer! What are they doing?

Satan: What in LUCIFER'S HELL IS THIS?!

He is called the Golden Angel by Satan, several symbols related to him appear in the courtroom and his empty seat is shown:

These details are there to remind everyone that he is the true King of Hell. After all, Hell Nobles and the Sins themselves use his name as a swear word and it is implied he is the one who built the courtroom they are all in.

Why is Lucifer so heavily referenced in these two specific episodes? It's because they show two Sins trying to take over Lucifer's Kingdom in different ways.

Mammon copies Lucifer's most commercially successful ideas and takes advantage of Lucifer's depression to evade his lawsuits. He makes cheap rip offs of the King of Hell's greatest hits and grows richer and richer.

Satan takes Lucifer's spot as the leader of the Deadly Sins and rules Hell in his stead. He presents himself as the legitimate King of Hell and imposes his will on the other Sins, who can do nothing, but accept it.

In short, Mammon is taking over Hell's economy, whereas Satan is taking over Hell's politics. They are spreading their influence by using the power vacuum left by Lucifer. Basically, they are trying to become Lucifer. Hence, why they end up referencing Lucifer so often. At the same time, they are clearly creating a society, which stands in opposition to Lucifer's old dreams.

This is obvious in Mastermind, where Stolas's situation is clearly meant to be compared to Lucifer's own one:

Some villain's grand design To use the book To breach the world of man!

Stolas describes his crime as using a dangerous artifact to mess with the world of man. This is exactly what Lucifer and Lilith did, which is why it is not by accident Lucifer's symbol is in focus, as Stolas sings this part.

Not only that, but Stolas's punishment echoes Lucifer's.

Lucifer is banished from Heaven by the Six Elders:

He is condemned to spend the rest of his life in Hell, with beings considered inferior by angels.

Stolas is stripped by Six Sins of his title and power:

Satan: STOLAS! I hereby strip you of your status, your power, and your title for the next hundred years.

He is condemned to spend 100 years as a normal citizen of Hell, with beings Hell Nobility sees as inferior.

It is basically the same punishment. So, the irony and tragedy of Lucifer is that his own Kingdom ended up becoming a grotesque copy of Heaven. And he actively contributes to it by staying inactive.

At the same time, I don't think it is a chance that the two Sins, who are thriving in this environment are Satan (Wrath) and Mammon (Greed). Rather, I think this ties into Helluva Boss's social commentary.

GREED AND WRATH - SOCIETY'S SINS

Hell is a society where Greed rules the economy and Wrath rules politics. This is why it is a hellish society :P Of course, this doesn't mean every problem society has can be tracked back to Mammon and Satan. Rather, it means these two Sins are so influential because society as a whole lets them. Both the Ars Goetia, who support them to keep their privilege and the lower classes, who adore them. For example, many imps and hell born demons:

Refer to Satan as a deity and idolize him

Love Mammon and buy his merchandise

Moreover, the influence of these two sins comes up in different plot-lines. That's because all the recurring villains so far are motivated by either wrath or greed.

I.M.P. have two recurring villains getting in their ways:

Striker, who is introduced in the Ring of Wrath and is mostly motivated by his resentment for both Hell Royals and Blitz

Crimson, who is introduced in the Ring of Greed and is mostly motivated by money

Stolas has two main villains, who target him:

Stella, who hates him and is mostly motivated by anger

Andrealphus, who wants Stolas's assets and richness

Earth has two recurring groups of antagonists:

The Cherubs, who by this point are bursting with anger against I.M.P.

The Dhorks, who are using their investigation on I.M.P. to get more fundings and technological gadgets

The Cherubs and Dhorks aren't connected to this theme perfectly, but it checks, as they are not part of Hell's society.

That said, Blitz's personal villains and foils (Striker and Crimson) and Stolas's ones (Stella and Andrealphus) all fit the pattern. This was shown also during the trial:

Blitz and Stolas are defeated by their dark foils:

Striker is who Blitz would be, if he gave in to his wrath towards the system and the world, in a destructive way. He is an imp, who hates society, but is so weak and exasperated he can only lash out against those like himself. All to feel some satisfaction and power.

Andrealphus is who Stolas would be, if he only thought about his privilege as a Goetia. A person, who is so sexually repressed everyone can see it and who is motivated mainly by a thirst for power and material gains.

So, Hell Society is broken, but it is broken because both the higher and the lower classes are animated by wrath and greed.

The highest classes are so greedy, they only think about enforcing the status quo. Moreover, they punish violently, who tries to change things.

The lowest classes are so angry, they would lash out against any scapegoat, who is offered to them (see imps hating on Stolas, even if it's obvious he has just saved Blitz). At the same time, they are so blinded by greed, they would do anything for a quick buck, even if it is detrimental for them in the long run.

These are my thoughts on the Deadly Sins so far. Obviously, I may be wrong and things may change as the Sins get explored more. As for now, though, I think this is their thematic meaning and importance for the series as a whole!

Thank you and have a nice day!

[justanotherhh]

with fizz being word-of-god demi (and tbh i'd just read him that way regardless, but now they oughta make it show canon, thems the rules), thinking about whether he'd ever had sex before he met asmodeus, about how the first person he was in love with was blitzø and that clearly didn't work out, and also about him as disabled and also him as a sex object in hell, there's a lot to unpack

and then on the flipside, it seems so far as if asmodeus hasn't ever been in a romantic relationship prior to fizzarolli, and of course he does have casual sex, that's his whole job, but that's also interesting -- how does asmodeus relate to sexual attraction, when his job is about reading and reacting to others' sexual desires, and how that pertains to reading his relationship with fizzarolli as about building something more longterm that deconstructs both of the ways their public image as sexual ideals rely on what others can get from them (rather than what they feel and want)

essentially they're both in sex work or related to that work in some way, they both understand the world of desire and how to operate in that world, but their relationship to each other (romantic and sexual) is something brand new, it's something not defined by normative relationship structures (for that matter, a sin and an imp, as metaphor for all of this, is that something brand new as well?)

but yeah asmodeus is aspec too, in my mind, which i think would be just the kind of deconstruction of "the sin of lust" that would work in this kind of story. definitely somewhere on the aro side of things, fun to think about also from the ace perspective, and that's one of the (many) reasons he and fizz understand each other so well -- they're not coming at this with an innate "this is the way things are meant to be" set of ideas. there are no assumptions of who they're supposed to be when they're together (well, there are when they're in public, but once those have been challenged head-on and they come out of the closet in s2, so to speak...), so they get to build that brand new identity together in their own way

i just think that concept would be neat

[aspoonofsugar]

Some Millie and IMP Thoughts

I love Helluva Boss's new episode for all the reasons everyone else does! In particular, my favorite part is Millie getting fleshed out more.

I have always liked Millie and I disagree with people saying she is badly written. That said, the focus she got this episode adds a ton of depth to both her, her role in the series and the dynamics within IMP.

BLITZ AND IMP

Blitz is the titular character and protagonist of the series. He is the boss in Helluva Boss. As a result, everyone else is in the story for his sake. In particular, IMP is Blitz's found family:

Blitzo: Look, the point is, Loona is a valued member of our family, and we don't get rid of family. Moxxie: We aren't a family, sir! You are the boss! We are the employees!

Through them (and Stolas) Blitz gets to explore his ghosts and to heal. How is that so?

Loona and Moxxie seem to me two sides of the same coin:

-Loona is like Blitz, as she is told by the world she has no real value:

Adoption Center Lady: Oh, her? That's just Loona. What a nightmare. Serious attitude problems. She'll be out of our hair next month when she ages out. Good riddance, if you ask me. She'll never amount to anything much.

So, Blitz latches on her and adopts her. He showers her with the love he never got from his father.

-Moxxie is like Blitz, as he is abused by his father and loses his mother. As a result, he grows up unsure of himself and in need of love and approval:

Blitzo: Well, I'm glad everything ended up okay. Good to know we both have daddy issues, Mox.

However, Blitz often treats him poorly, downplays his abilities and mocks him.

So, Loona and Moxxie are Blitz's mirrors, as he projects on them in opposite ways. He treats Loona like he wishes his father treated him. He treats Moxxie similarly to how his father treated him. Obviously, Blitz isn't an abuser like Buckzo. He loves Moxxie and more importantly he is not his father. However, he and Moxxie do have a mentor-mentee dynamic and it is clear as day Moxxie wants Blitz's approval:

Blitzo: Gonna be honest, Moxxie- Not too bad for your first solo mission. Moxxie: Reeeeeally, siiiir? Blitzo: Nooo, no, not really. You're a fucking disgrace.

Still, Blitz is often unable to give it to him, despite the fact he clearly cares. This is also why Loona and Moxxie get often on each other's nerves:

Loona: How am I supposed to smell anything in this city? Moxxie: Can't you even do one thing right? Loona: Can't you finally do something about how fat you are?

Moxxie is the most critical of Blitz's favoritism towards Loona and is the one insisting Blitz calls her out on her poor attitude towards clients. This is not by chance. They are just like bickering siblings :''')

In a sense, this episode even subtly confirms this foiling:

Blitz: Loonie's perfect, and Moxxie's… probably got some good traits too and I'm sure we'll figure them out eventually.

Loona is perfect and Moxxie has no good traits. What about seeing the world in black and white?

So, where does Millie fit in all of this?

Blitzo: So I'm your best friend, huh? Millie: What do you think? Blitzo: I think…I- I've never had a real friend that I didn't wanna fuck.

She is the only one Blitz does not project over, so they grow into genuine friends. They are equals, value each other and love each other. So, Millie freely states what Loona and Moxxie also think, but can't properly convey:

Millie: He (Blitz) gave me so much…A career, a husband, a future. And now…He's my best friend. Blitzo: You… you don't hate me? Millie: Naw, never.

Blitz gave her, Moxxie and Loona a better future. He is their precious boss and a treasured family member.

MILLIE'S THEME

Helluva Boss has two main themes:

Relationships

Classism

Moxxie is linked to Blitz's unhealthy way to build relationships. Their bond is a complicated mix of friendship, family love, professional interest and a little bit of possessiveness on Blitz's part. That's why it is so complicated and contradictive. Millie ties into this as Moxxie's wife, since M&M's relationship is Blitz's ideal one.

Still, this episode makes clear Millie's true thematic relevance is for the topic of classism:

Millie: We… heh. We don't deserve this. We're just Wrathians, Blitzo. Muscle. It's all we're good for, all I'm good for. It's why you hired me. Any demon good at making a buck is welcome in Lust or Greed, but here? Demons like us ain't cut out for this.

Classism permeates Hell, which is built on a strong hierarchy. All characters have suffered the consequences of this, while being influenced by it at the same time. For example:

Blitz is an imp, who has been looked down and victimized by society. However, he also embraces classist prejudices and uses them as an excuse to push Stolas away.

Stolas is a Goetia, who has been a prisoner of his family's expectations and of his role in society. However, he is also unconsciously discriminating towards imps. He has no ill will towards them, but he calls them silly names and belittles them

Millie is the same. She is a wrathian imp of humble origins. In a sense, she is a stereotypical imp. She is incredibly strong, was born and lived the majority of her life in Wrath, aka imps' original ring. She fits the expectations of both her family and society. However, she deep down wishes for more, which is why she leaves the family ranch to become an assassin. This choice is already seen as subversive by her family, who expected her to stay home, so she could help with the family business. However, Millie herself has no high expectations for her future:

Millie: Bullshit! Who sent you? Millie: Who are you working for?! Blitzo: What? You don't believe me? Millie: Imps don't work for themselves, asshole.

She still sees herself stuck in Wrath. She will be one of many underpaid goons, who work for higher ranking demons. A life a little bit more adventurous than the one at the farm. Still, nothing extraordinary. Then, she meets Blitz:

Millie: Who's that? Your boss? Hah! Blitzo: HA he fucking wishes. No, I work for myself, lady.

Blitz is the first one, who recognizes her potential and who believes she can become more than what she is. He gives her the chance to explore the world outside the Wrath Ring and brings her up to Pride. When Millie doubts herself and her role in society, he is the one to reassure her:

Blitzo: Millie, I have spent too much of my time, energy, and holes into setting this up for us to entertain your bullshit. I brought you into this company for a reason, okay? You're tougher, smarter, and frankly more capable than anyone I've ever met in any ring.

Blitz gives Millie a new life, where she is free to be herself and to choose a husband she would have never chosen, if she had stayed home with her family.

Thanks to Blitz and her work at IMP she is by this point a different person than the one she was. She does not completely fit in Wrath anymore:

Sallie May: Heh, yeah, I mean, with so many exciting things here, it's no wonder you never make your way back home. SHIT! That slipped out. Millie: ..What? Sallie May: You know… the Wrath Ring, all that dirt and rust and boring nothingness. Not much of a thriving club scene down there, why visit that, right?

Which is why she is now slowly overcoming her prejudices:

Millie: Oh yeah! Y'all haven't met my boss Blitzo! And his hellhound! Loona: I'm not just his hellhound.

It is not by chance Millie is the one calling Loona Blitz's Hellbound, as if she were a pet. Moreover, it is not by chance she does so, while talking with her family. It is probably normal for wrathian imps to see hellbounds as property. So, when she visits home, she goes back to a familiar language and mindset, without even realizing how offensive it is. That is why it is relevant this episode has Millie share a bonding moment with Loona, where she calls her by name:

Millie: Thanks. Loona.

She is not only overcoming her self-insecurities, but she is also starting to see other demons differently. She is growing not only more happy, but also more open minded. All thanks to Blitz's impact on her life:

Millie: Most of my life I bought into the idea that all I could ever be was a simple farm girl. Or best an underpaid goon. Until I met some knucklehead who never gave a fuck about what anyone else said he could or couldn't be. He made me believe he could be anything. And that made me feel like I could be anything, too.

CHARLIE AND BLITZ

Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss are twin series. They are complementary stories, with different focuses and a shared heart. This is shown in Charlie and Blitz, their respective protagonists. They are opposites.

Charlie is a royal demon, a young rich girl, who is optimistic and idealistic. She is obsessed with seeing the good in others. Blitz is instead a humble imp, an adult man, who is cynical and genre-savy. He sees only the worst in people to protect himself. However, both disrupt the status quo:

Charlie decides to completely change the hierarchy between hell and heaven. She is breaking the system the world is built on and re-writing the laws of the universe.

Blitz changes things in little ways. He is not trying to reform society, but he still acts in ways society does not expect, so he subverts hierarchies and transforms people around him.

That's something that comes up several times:

Striker: Boss, huh…? Ohhh, so YOU'RE the bold imp to start his own killing biz? Blitzo: Yeah, well if you're good at somethin', you should probably capitalize. Striker: Not many Imps start businesses on their own. That's pretty impressive, sir.

Crimson: Oh, I'm sure. You got to be Blitz, with the silent "o", right? I've heard a lot of good things about you and your work. Blitzo: Really? What kind of shit has Moxxie been spreading about me? I'll fucking kill you Moxxie, don't you fucking test me! Crimson: No, no! From all over. Looks like you're building a bit of a name for yourself here, kid.

Both Striker and Crimson comment on Blitz's business, in two moments that are to be seen as parallels:

-Striker says so, as the group visits Millie's family. Millie's family is a relatively happy one, as they all clearly love each other. However, it is an economically struggling one:

Joe: We lost our old farm hand to one of them terrors last week.

Millie's parents are loving, but traditionalists and stuck in the old ways.

-Crimson says so, as the group meets him and discovers he is Moxxie's father. Crimson is an imp, who built an empire. Moreover, he is not scared to go against the hierarchy and to challenge even the deadly sins:

Crimson: You probably just asked if I know who I'm dealing with. And, oh yes, I know. The weakest and most non-threatening of the Sins. The king who will do whatever it takes to save the worst-kept secret in all of Hell. We both know you won't risk anything happening to the clown. So be a good little bitch boy, and do the thing. My lawyers will be over shortly with the contract of demands. You have until the witching hour to sign it. Hueheheheheheheh!

Still, he sacrifices everything else to greed. In order to climb up, he destroys everyone around him. He killed his wife and abused Moxxie, so his son leaves him the first chance he gets.

In other words, Blitz offers Millie the opportunity to social climb and he offers Moxxie true friendship and comraderie. He gives them what they miss and want.

STRIKER

Finally, this episode indirectly adds a new layer to Striker's character and his role in the series. So, Striker is clearly everyone's dark foil.

Specifically, he is Blitz's jungian shadow aka what Blitz represses:

Striker: Blitzo, come on. You know, the two of us are superior than most of our kind. And you were so above suckin' on a disgusting, rich, pompous Goetia, only to sneak topside for scraps and work for bitter sinners, who could care less who you are, when you could be slaying Overlords.

He embodies Blitz's darkest side and tempts him to give in to it. For example, he backs Blitz up in his fight with Fizz over Royal Demons:

Striker: As far as I'm concerned, you two are BOTH embarrassments to our kind for meddlin' with blue-bloods to begin with. But at least loud-mouth here has the sense to only fuck his rich bitch, instead of bein' a little purse dog. Blitzo: Oh, great. The fuckin' supremacist is on my side, wonderful. Fizzarolli: Neither of you filth bags know what you're even talkin' about. If you think you're superior to ANYONE, then you're no better than any royal— Striker: DON'T. You. Dare… Finish that sentence, clown…

And let's say it is not by chance Striker is burnt and probably gets some scars the same episode it is revealed Blitz accidentally set his family circus on fire:

He is clearly meant to embody the anti-theme, both when it comes to relationships and classism. He is who Blitz might become, if he gave in to his worst instincts. That is why he is the character physically threatening Stolas's life and calling him out on his privilege at the same time:

Striker: YOU. Don't get to talk over me! I don't have to listen to your bullshit! All you royals ever do is try to talk over us!

He challenges Stolas to see the darkness in Blitz he keeps ignoring. Moreover, Striker's attempt on Stolas only works because Blitz himself does not warn Stolas, believing that with his powers the goetia can easily survive an imp's attack:

Blitzo: Stolas got what? How?… He can get hurt?

In short, Striker is a key character for both Blitz and Stolas. That said, he does foil also Moxxie and Millie. (Which is why they get to fight him twice, just like Blitz - they lose the first time and win the second).

In his debut episode, he is openly juxtaposed to Moxxie. He is the ideal imp, the one Millie's parents would have liked their daughter to marry. He is a great farmer and an even better fighter. He is strong and charming and easily defeats Moxxie at everything, even music. That said, it turns out Moxxie is a far better person and husband and gets to call out Millie's parents on it, gaining their respect in the process:

Moxxie: Y'know, she protected me. And maybe I'm not a strong beefy dickhead, but Millie has the strength enough for both of us! You two are getting on her case about being hurt by a psychopath you hired?! Shaaaaame on you!

Ghostf***ckers instead makes Striker and Millie's foiling obvious. Both are wrathian assassins, who work as goons for others:

Millie: Not exactly a shortage of imp assassins in Wrath. Reputation is everything.

Here lies Striker's contradiction. He keeps saying he hates the hierarchy, but in the end he acts exactly as society expects him to:

Stolas: Well, you seem to be forgetting; you are working for a royal right now!

He hates royals, but takes orders from them. Even when he decides to leave Wrath, he goes to Greed, so exactly where "imps able to make a buck are welcome", according to Millie:

Crimson: HEY! Hick-for-hire! I said watch 'em, not fuck 'em. Keep ya hands off the merchandise!

See? Striker acts like some big shot, but in the end he operates within the system, rather than subverting it. Both Fizz and Blitz are far more successful at overcoming the hierarchy than he is. Fizz does not take orders from royals, but becomes a romantic and business partner to one. Blitz does not resort depending on royals or imps for his job. Rather, he takes orders only from himself and invents a new business.

Striker says not everyone gets the chance to live in Pride:

Striker: Look. Not every ring is some fancy-ass city, with some fancy-ass mansion, that only fancy-ass royals get to live in. Some of us have hard lives to live.

And yet, he is offered it by Blitz, just like Millie:

Blitzo: Isn't this guy great? It's gonna be nice workin' with him. Yeaaaah! I asked him if he wants to join I.M.P.

If he had joined IMP, he could have found a family, a strong business partner and could have embraced a new life. He did not and became IMP's enemy instead. On the contrary, Millie did and is now a happier and better person.

WHAT ABOUT LOONA?

Personally, I think Loona is gonna be key in Blitz's development, as both her past, arc and relationship with her dad are very well set up. If Moxxie focuses on relationships, whereas Millie on classism, Loona will probably offer a synthesis of both themes:

Loona is Blitz's adoptive daughter and the first member of his new found family.

Loona is a hellbound, so a demon even lower than imps.

I am very curious to see how her story develops and I am looking forward to discover more about her past and to see if her foiling with Bee gets explored more. After this episode I am more curious than ever!

[aspoonofsugar]

Lust and Love in "House of Asmodeus"

House of Asmodeus is the perfect climax of season 1 and my personal favourite song in Helluva Boss. Not only it is a banger and it introduces Asmodeus and Fizzarolli's characters, but it is key for themes and characters alike. Let's see why!

THE PERFORMERS

The protagonists of House of Asmodeus are three couples:

Moxxie and Millie

Asmodeus and Fizzarolli

Stolas and Blitz

What do they represent? They are the theme, the anti-theme and the negation of the negation:

The theme is the stance the story is supporting. In this case, "love".

The anti-theme is the stance that runs opposite to the theme. In this case, "lust".

The negation of the negation is the stance, which is worse than the anti-theme. In this case, "loneliness".

Each couple embodies one of these ideas. Not only that, but in general they explore the topic of relationships, by considering two aspects:

the microchosm: the bond itself, the couples' ability to communicate well and to find a common ground

the macrochosm: how society sees the couples and their reactions to these expectations

So, let's explore House of Asmodeus! First, I will offer a general analysis, where I will highlight the basic ideas and motifs. Secondly, I will go deeper into each couple.

LOVE VS LUST

M&M embody love (the theme). After all, the song starts with Moxxie singing a romantic serenade for Millie:

Moxxie: I love you More than the brimstone loves the fire More than Beelze- loves her -bub More than a maggot loves gangrenous stubs You make my spirit sing Yeah, you make me glad I live in Hell Our love is a story sweet to tell Yeah, you cast a special Satanic spell over my heart Love is a journey we decided to start Yeah, I hope we'll never ever be apart I love you (x7)

It is a celebration of the couple's pure love, but it gets interrupted by Asmodeus and Fizzarolli, who mock M&M. They represent lust (the anti-theme) and want to sing about it:

Asmodeus and Fizzarolli: joining in, mockingly I love you (x5) I love you (x3) Asmodeus: You singing love songs in my lustful lounge? Fizzarolli: Ozzie's ain't the place for sentimental sounds! Asmodeus: What'd you expect from a proprietor like us? Fizzarolli: Your demon host, Asmodeus, the embodiment of lust! Asmodeus: Give me a thrust!

The entire song is a juxtaposition between these two ideas, not only in lyrics, but also in visuals.

Moxxie and Millie's parts are full of warm colors, like pink and yellow:

Moreover, a lot of romantic cliches are used: the serenade for an anniversary, the pink hearts, even a kiss on a flying platform with intertwined tails:

Asmodeus and Fizzarolli's color scheme is instead colder, with a lot of blue and purples (Asmodeus's colors):

What is more, the couple keeps referencing sexual practices and erotic games and they even improvise a fake striptease on stage:

Basically Moxxie/Millie and Asmodeus/Fizzarolli celebrate different kinds of bonds through opposite performances. M&M offer an instrumental love song, which is classic and sweet in lyrics and sounds. OzziexFizz instead put on a show full of brilliant tricks and jazzy tunes.

What about Stolitz?

They are still part of the performance, but they are so in a passive way, just like they are passive in their own relationship. Their bond is stagnant and unclear, so they lack the words to celebrate it. This is why they do not sing and instead become props in Fizz and Ozzie's show:

Fizzarolli: Is that Blitzo? So, you're showin' your face? Hey, everybody! This guy's a total disgrace!

Asmodeus: Who's that at your table? Is your date a demon prince? Stolas, is that you?

They are even given a specific red color scheme, which highlights their uneasiness:

And by the end they are humiliated:

You sold your life for a thrust! Now, that's the spirit of lust!

Stolitz embody the spirit of lust, but in a negative way:

Blitz is mocked by Verosika for being bad at sex. He is basically told he is bad at lust.

Stolas is called out by Asmodeus for giving up his life in exchange of some cheap pleasure. Not even artful lust, but just a quick thrust.

Basically, Stolitz is presented as a mess. A relationship rooted in lust, which can't even fully enjoy it. That is why they are the negation of the negation. Neither love nor lust. A bond, which ends in loneliness.

STOLITZ: YOU ARE GONNA DIE ALONE

Blitz and Stolas are mocked for their (lack of) lust:

Verosika Mayday: Oh, Blitzo? I used to date him (date him, date him) I'd stroke him, I'd fellate him (fellate him, fellate him) Yeah, but when it was my turn (my turn, my turn) He did no reciprocatin' (what a dick bag) A selfish Imp in the sheets And just as bad in the streets A reckless, heart-breaking freak!

Asmodeus: Woo! My dark lord, how the mighty do fall! You used to have a smoking wife, a kid, you had it all I hope you didn't give it up so you and him could get it up~

Blitz is bad in the sheets and Stolas sold his priviliged life for some cheap arousal. However, in both cases the point isn't really lust, but something far deeper and more vulnerable:

Fizzarolli: Is that Blitzø? So you're showing your face? Hey everybody, this guy's a total disgrace! Some nerve you got to comment on a relationship Last I checked, your love life is a pile of shit!

Stolitz are not bad at sex. They are bad at relationships:

-Blitz is fine in bed, but he is scared of deeper relationships, which is why he ghosts Verosika:

Blitzo: EVERYONE'S SHITTY! Hello, we live in Hell! Why am I suddenly the bad guy for sucking at relationships?! (...) Verosika: How do you think I felt? When the fun guy I was dating decided to just bail on me because I made the shitty mistake of saying I love… Ugh! It was the most embarrassing feeling. To be vulnerable for once and… you really just know how to send a message in the shittiest, fucking way.

Verosika insults Blitz's sexual prowess, but what she is really angry about is Blitz's selfishness and emotional immaturity.

-Stolas's story with Blitz isn't just the whim of a pompous Goetia, but it is Stolas's first real attempt at happiness. He hides his romantic dream behind a lustful persona, but deep down he wants to belong with someone:

Stolas: You wanna know what I want? I want to know what it's like, to not be alone. I want to be someone's someone. I want to feel wanted. But like, in a romantic way, like I'm standing out in the rain at a train station and someone is shouting: “Harriet! Don’t get on that train, it’s going to London and I cannot be without you!”

He wants more than occasional lust. He longs for a real relationship.

So, for both Blitz and Stolas lust is a mask. It is an easy coping mechanism that lets them enjoy a relationship without truly committing. They do not really have to put in the effort with each other, so they do not risk rejection. After all, rejection is scary:

As Blitz hallucinates: Stolas: You're going to die aloooo-one! Fizzarolli (hallucination): You're gonna die alone, Blitzo!

Stolas: Prince, all alone, upon your throne Your power is so frail You raise your voice You have no choice Inside your gilded jail

Both Blitz and Stolas are scared of dying alone, so they gravitate towards each other. At the same time, they see no real future for their bond. As a matter of fact they can neither have a detached lustful relationship like the one Fizz and Asmodeus (apparently :P) have nor an openly romantic one like Millie and Moxxie's. In general, they can have no relationship because:

1- When it comes to the microchosm, they can't communicate:

Stolas: We could talk, or… watch a movie, or… maybe cuddle? Blitzo: Stolas, don't act like what we have is anything but you wanting me to fuck you, okay? You make that really clear all the time. But, I just, I-I can't do it tonight, okay?

They want and believe different things. Stolas slowly realizes he wants more than just a night of passion once in a while. Blitz doesn't believe he and Stolas's utilitaristic bond can ever become something different.

2- When it comes to the macrochosm, they belong to different social classes:

Wally Wackford: Are you sleepin' with an Imp?!

Stolitz are not Imps like Millie and Moxxie, who are expected to end up together. Rather, they are like Fizz and Ozzie. As a result, the Jester and the King of Lust come to embody the only kind of relationship Blitz and Stolas can hope to achieve:

Blitz can reach Stolas's level only if he is useful to the Goetia. Just like Fizz's talent as an entertainer makes him a suitable business partner for Ozzie.

Stolas is justified in sleeping with an Imp, only if it is devoid of any feelings or deeper emotions. Just like Ozzie presents his utilitaristic relationship with Fizz. Entertaining, but purely physical.

Except that Fizz and Ozzie themselves are obviously more than what they seem. They too are using lust as a mask.

FIZZ X OZZIE: THE EMBODIMENT OF LUST

This is how Fizz and Ozzie want others to see them:

Fizzarolli: Ya mind? Trying to have an unemotional bang sesh here! Asmodeus: Yeah! Cuz we're so NOT in love! Fizzarolli: Yeah! Love. Is. STUPID!

This is how they actually are (and how everyone sees them):

They have to hide their genuine love behind an emotionless lustful facade. In other words:

1- When it comes to the microchosm, they are fine:

They clearly love each other, get along well and want the same things. They are even able to communicate decently, as shown later on in MAMMON'S MAGNIFICENT MUSICAL MID-SEASON SPECIAL (ft Fizzarolli).

2- When it comes to the macrochosm, they struggle:

Asmodeus's status as the sin of lust makes it difficult for him to openly commit to a relationship with Fizzarolli. This is why the two of them have to initially hide their involvement with each other (even if they are awfukl at it).

So, Ozzie and Fizz are fine with each other, but Hell can't accept their relationship. In a sense, the social pressure they feel is even worse than the one Stolitz experience, as Ozz and Fizz are far more famous than Stolas and Blitz. This makes so that OzziexFizz's mutual declaration of love nicely contrasts Stolitz's lack of one.

Blitzo: He's just a fake, privileged asshole! Fizzarolli: Sounds like you just hate him for bein' a prince. Because no one, and I mean no one pretends to care that much just for a cheap lay. Blitzo: Point is, royal demons don't give a shit about guys like us. They're all the fuckin' same. Fizzarolli: That's not…! A-always true…

Fizzarolli openly calls out Blitz's excuses about his relationship with Stolas and tells him being royal means nothing in the face of love.

Mammon: Ha-ha, hooo. Look who's acting like a big fuckin' hero. Careful what you say, Ozzie. Wouldn't want your little secret getting out, would we? Asmodeus: I don't care anymore! Fizzarolli: Ozz? Mammon: Because if you let him quit, I could tell everyone here that you- Asmodeus: What? That I love him? Well, I do!

Asmodeus publicly announces his love for Fizzarolli, which is what Stolas initially struggles to do.

At the same time, Ozzie and Fizz's development happens in season 2. By the end of season 1 they are still struggling with their problems and hiding the nature of their relationship. This is why they symbolically lose to Moxxie and Millie.

M&M: I LOVE YOU (THE THEME)

M&M are the winners of the thematic confrontation that takes place in House of Asmodeus. In particular:

Moxxie does not change his song to fit Asmodeus and Fizzarolli's tune:

Moxxie: I want to… Fizzarolli: Yeah, what do you want? Butt stuff? Piss play? Bondage? Moxxie: Make gentle love to you

Millie ruins Asmodeus and Fizzarolli's big finale and asks Moxxie to finish his song:

Millie: I think you were trying to sing something for me, Mox. Moxxie: Yeah, I was.

They sing the way they want and do not let Fizzarolli and Asmodeus degrade their relationship. They are able to do so because their relationship is strong both when it comes to the microchosm and to the macrochosm.

1- The microchosm

Moxxie and Millie have shown multiple times to be fond of each other. Not only that, but they are complementary and supportive of each other. So far, their major conflict happens in Unhappy Campers because Moxxie lets his insecurity (his major flaw that he shares with Blitz) get the best of him. However, he is quick to get over it once he is called out by Millie:

Millie: For once, I feel like… tears forming like I'm important. Like I'm someone to be proud of… And I had hoped that my husband would be there to support me half as much as I've supported him this week!

Moxxie: I am very proud to introduce to you peeks over to Millie, who was now being moved by Moxxie's appearance Someone with abilities never before seen on this Earth. Someone with the raw athletic skill of an Olympian. The voice of an angel. gestures to Millie as the spotlight now shines on her The acrobatic technique of an indentured 12-year-old Russian ballerina. And a body that - JUST. DOESN'T. QUIT. The best, and most supportive person I've ever known and the love of my life. My wife- Brotheeeeer… Millerd!

When they face a problem, Millie openly tells Moxxie what's wrong and Moxxie is quick to do better. Their fight is solved and their usual dynamic is re-established.

2- The macrochosm

Moxxie and Millie are two Imps, so they are expected by society to be together. And yet, they too struggle with others disliking their relationship. Specifically, both their families are against their union:

Millie's parents think their daughter deserves a stronger and more traditionally masculine husband

Moxxie's father wants to use his son as a tool for his criminal empire and tries to force him into an unwanted marriage

However, Moxxie and Millie are able to resist their families' pressure.

Millie: Moxxie, I'm fiiiine! I got worse than this during the flower tufts at my brother's weddin'. But I caught that fuckin' bouquet, and it was fuckin' worth it! You just have to get out there, and fuck up that brownnosin' cocksucker for me!

Moxxie: I said I'm not doing it, sir. I've spent my whole life being afraid of you, but I'm not giving up the only good thing I've ever had just so you can keep your fragile little sense of control over everything. Millie is a good woman, a better woman than I deserve, and there's nothing that scares me more than hurting her.

Millie affirms she is proud of her husband, whereas Moxxie resists his father for Millie's sake. Moreover, both Moxxie and Millie call out their respective parents in law for their partner's sake:

Moxxie: Y'know, she protected me. And maybe I'm not a strong beefy dickhead, but Millie has the strength enough for both of us! You two are getting on her case about being hurt by a psychopath you hired?! Shaaaaame on you!

Millie: This ass is MINE!

So, even M&M, who should be free from social expectations meet them. Still, they overcome them out of their wish to stay together.

In the end, this is why they are victorious in the musical skirmish at Ozzie's:

Moxxie: I love us I love us just the way we are Don't have to pretend to like to do things we don't I've always got you around to laugh at my stupid jokes I'll never take you for granted I'll always give you my best And if you can offer the same Fate will handle the rest 'Cause I love you 'Cause I love you

Differently from both Stolas/Blitz and Asmodeus/Ozzie, they do not hide neither themselves nor their love. Through each other, they are free to be their real selves and this gives them the strength to face the world's judgement. This is how they are able to stand proud in front of the king of lust. They do not need Asmodeus's approval because they have each other.

Ironically, they end up being the most openly lustful couple:

Their song is a metaphor for sex (just look at Moxxie's vagina-shaped guitar) and their ginal kiss is the only sexual act to happen on stage.

What does it mean? Simple: Moxxie and Millie are openly showing the nature of their bond. As a result, they are more lustful than even the embodiment of lust himself. After all, isn't Ozzie's about showcasing your deepest desires with no shame? Well, this is what Moxxie and Millie do. In juxtaposition, both Stolitz and Fizz x Ozz mask their wishes and feelings.

So, M&M finish their song and the public cheers for them. Their exhibition gives Ozzie and Fizz a moment of intimacy:

They happily celebrate that part of their bond they can't show and that is similar to Moxxie and Millie's.

Stolas and Blitz are instead left silent and confused because they are reminded of what they lack.

IDEALS AND REALITY

Theme-wise House of Asmodeus is a dissection of relationships, lust and love. Character-wise, it is a call out for Stolas and Blitz and a push for them to change.

Stolitz dream a relationship like the one M&M have. They want the ideal:

Blitzo: No, it's fine! I-I can come with the two of you, help you celebrate your boring as fuck monogamy. Moxxie: Uh, no. The reservation is for us. Blitzo: Uh huh! Moxxie: Just us. Blitzo: Mhm! Moxxie: Without you there. Explicitly without you there. Blitzo: I'll wear something nice. It's a big deal after all. See you lovebugs later!

Gabriella: Ay, why won't you love me Alejandro? Stolas: That's a mood, Gabriella.

Both Blitz and Stolas try to experience happy love stories by proxy. Blitz through Millie and Moxxie that he stalks and Stolas through the love drama that he binge-watches. This is their way to cope with loneliness. However, real relationships happen because the people involved put in the work. So, Stolas and Blitz can never obtain their dream love-life, if they do not face their flaws first.

Fizz and Ozz remind them of this in two ways.

On the one hand they openly call out Blitz and Stolas's flaws. Fizz highlights Blitz's troubles with relationships, wheread Ozzie draws attention to Stolas's privilege and unsolved family situation.

On the other hand they themselves are far more similar to Blitz and Stolas, then Moxxie and Millie are. They are one Imp and one Goetia, for starters. Moreover, Fizz and Blitz share similar issues, which stem from their childhood. Stolas and Asmodeus instead are trapped by their status.

In other words, Fizz and Ozzie destroy the ideal and force Blitz and Stolas to change and grow. Symbolically, they do so by attacking both M&M and Stolitz's relationship. However, Moxxie and Millie in the end don't give a fuck. Nothing that Fizz and Ozzie do have any long impact on them nor on their relationship. This isn't the same for Stolitz. Some quick jabs are enough to make their current dynamic collapse. That is because Moxxie and Millie share a real relationship. Stolas and Blitz instead share a fantasy and they need to turn it into reality.

[aspoonofsugar]

What do you think of Stolitz as a ship? What do they offer each other in the story in terms of growth, and what does their relationship contribute to Helluva's themes?

Hi,

I love Stolitz as a ship! I think their dynamic is very well written and original. Here come my thoughts on it.

THE CIRCUS

The episode The Circus clarifies what Stolas and Blitz's dynamic is and how it came to be.

Stolitz is a relationship where mutual attraction and care is poisoned by self-hate and classism. This is shown in Blitz and Stolas's first meeting, where:

Paimon buys Blitz as a playmate to Stolas, so that he does not have to deal with his child's emotional turmoil. He also tells Stolas not to bow to Blitz because his social standing is higher.

Cash sells Blitz out and guilt-trips him by using Blitz's mother as leverage. He also forces Blitz to steal from Stolas by insisting it is alright to do so because all Goetias are bad.

So, both Paimon and Cash enforce on their children two ideas:

Stolas and Blitz are worth something only if the family benefits from them. Stolas has value if he marries Stella and gives a heir. Blitz is good if he puts himself in danger and steals from the nobles.

Goetias and Imps should not mix and should not treat each other as equals. Goetias are rich fuckers and Imps are inferior masses.

In general, Stolas and Blitz internalize that relationships, especially inter-class ones are transactional. Stolas can't just go and befriend Blitz, but his father needs to buy him. Blitz can't just go and have fun with Stolas. He needs to steal from him.

Fast forward to when Stolas and Blitz meet again as grown-ups. They immediately rekindle their relationship, but they do so by imitating their respective parents:

Stolas buys Blitz's affection by using his status as a Goetia (his grimoire)

Blitz takes advantage of Stolas's attraction to him, so that he can manipulate Stolas and steal the book

In short, nothing has changed since they were kids. They are now free from their fathers, but they approach relationships the way they were taught. Deep down neither believes they have any value unless they make the relationship transactional. Hence the grimoire/book deal seems as the perfect solution for both. At the same time, both Stolas and Blitz have inter-class prejudices. These biases are challenged by a character that is a dark foil to both. Who is that?

He's galloping over the dusty planes Even the cacti know his name If you don't want to die don't cross his path The best assassin in the ring of Wrath He's Striker! He's Striker! Sure shootin', darn tootin', his name is Striker

STRIKER

Striker calls out both Blitz and Stolas on their inner classist biases, but he does so in different ways.

In the Harvest Moon Festival, he tempts Blitz to give in to his darkest side:

Striker: Blitzo, come on. You know, the two of us are superior than most of our kind. And you were so above suckin' on a disgusting, rich, pompous Goetia, only to sneak topside for scraps and work for bitter sinners, who could care less who you are, when you could be slaying Overlords.

In Western Energy he tells Stolas point blank how Goetias are hated because they steal from others:

Striker: Look. Not every ring is some fancy-ass city, with some fancy-ass mansion, that only fancy-ass royals get to live in. Some of us have hard lives to live. And some of us have everything we care about taken away by fuckers like you.

Blitz and Stolas have opposite reactions to Striker's challenge.

On the one hand Blitz is disturbed by Striker because he deep down sees how similar they are. After all, both are Imps who refuse to accept their place in the hierarchy. Blitz opens his own business, whereas Striker targets higher demons. Moreover, both are hitmen. It is just that Blitz operates on Earth, while Striker operates in Hell. So, Striker's anger towards Royals and society is something Blitz feels too. It is something that could get the best of him:

Stolas: You speak just like that vile Striker friend of yours.

On the other hand Stolas is disgusted by Striker because he forces him to face something Stolas himself does not aknowledge. Striker strips him of his powers and shows him how much the lower classes resent him and the other Royals. Striker tells Stolas directly that Goetias hurt him and stole everything he had. Despite this, Stolas fails not only to show any sympathy, but also to aknowledge his own biases:

Stolas: I don't look down on you! How many times do I ha- When have I ever?!

In other words, Blitz openly embraces classist ideologies and consciously projects them on Stolas. He uses them as an excuse to backpedal on their relationship:

Blitzo: Point is, royal demons don't give a shit about guys like us. They're all the fuckin' same.

Stolas instead does not realize his own classist bias and thinks that just because he cares for Blitz and admires him, his classism has no impact on their bond. Except it clearly has:

Stolas: As shocking as it may seem, Blitzy, my grimoiiiiiire is actually incredibly important. And it isn't supposed to be lent out to itty-bitty Imps like yourself.

This difference ties with Blitz and Stolas's ideas of each other and of relationships in general.

Blitz sees Stolas's flaws clearly and knows how complicated a relationship between a royal and an imp could be. However, he ignores Stolas's qualities and is overly cynical:

Blitzo: If by "crushes other's feelings" you mean- end shit before it gets serious, then bingo. I'm doing everyone a favor because relationships are boring.

Stolas sees Blitz's qualities and looks up to him. Still, he ignores Blitz's flaws and runs after an idealistic and irrealistic love. He is so romantic that he becomes delusional:

Stolas: You wanna know what I want? I want to know what it's like, to not be alone. I want to be someone's someone. I want to feel wanted. But like, in a romantic way, like I'm standing out in the rain at a train station and someone is shouting: “Harriet! Don’t get on that train, it’s going to London and I cannot be without you!”

So, Blitz only sees the worst in Stolas and forces negative classist stereotypes on him. Stolas instead only sees the best in Blitz and refuses to aknowledge his unconscious classism as an important factor on their bond. They need to grow in opposite ways, which is why they go through complementary arcs.

COMPLEMENTARY ARCS

Blitz and Stolas are respectively the protagonist and the deuteragonist of the series, as the first two episodes show:

Episode 1 showcases HB's dark comedy side and focuses on Blitz's family. As a matter of fact the whole episode comically juxtaposes the Demon Murder Family with the Human Murder Family. It also illustrates how Blitz's business works.

Episode 2 showcases HB's strong character and psychological focus and it explores Stolas's family. As a matter of fact the episode is dedicated to Stolas and Via's relationship, while introducing also Stella and the Goetia in general.

Blitz and Stolas are two sides of the same coin, both when it comes to their personal arcs and to their social roles.

Personal arcs

Blitz is full of relationships and of people who love him and that he pushes away. Stolas has instead very few relationships, that are mostly bad. However, he is scared to cut them because he fears loneliness more than anything. As a result:

Blitz's arc is about reconciling with all the people he hurt or lost (Fizzarolli, Verosika, probably Barbie Wire). All while trying to be a better friend and family member for those bonds he still has (Moxxie, Loona). He must build his own family (by repairing his broken one)

Stolas's arc is about claiming his freedom back, even if it means to go against social expectations, to lose his privilege or even to unwillingly hurt Via, his most precious bond. He must escape his own family (to build a new one)

Social roles

Blitz is an Imp, while Stolas is a Goetia. However, neither fits with what society expects from them. Blitz runs his own business and shows no respect for higher demons. Stolas is in love with an imp and asks for a divorce. Both are oddballs, who are disliked by their peers, but find company in each other. This is why throughout season 1, they end up saving each other:

Blitz saves Stolas from Striker in the Harvest Moon Festival

Stolas saves Blitz from the Dhorks in Truth Seekers

They do so cause deep down they care for each other. However, they still hide their feelings behind utilitarianism and classism:

Blitz insists he is only saving Stolas because he needs his book:

Blitzo: Yeaaaaah. Well, I'm not a fan of someone I offered a job to about to off my easiest lengthy ticket to Earth behind my back.

Moreover, he deep down sees Stolas as unkillable, so he does not warn him that a killer is after him.

Stolas starts a rant on how Blitz should be more careful with the book as to not cause problems for Stolas:

Stolas: How the FUCK... did you get caught by humans?! Are you little creatures not being careful up here?! You know, if you get in trouble, I get in trouble! WE... don't want that!

Moreover, his display of power impresses Blitz and strengthens his inferiority complex.

So, both Blitz and Stolas have the potential to care for each other and to help each ohter find the family they long for. However, they are still slaves to their flaws in season 1. That is why they receive two important call-outs.

OZZIE'S AND THE FULL MOON

Ozzie's and The Full Moon are where Blitz and Stolas are called out on their flaws. These episodes highlight both demons still have work to do on themselves and the way they approach relationships. However, the first episode's call out is mostly about Stolas. The second episode's call out is instead mostly about Blitz.

Ozzie's

Ozzie's highlights Stolitz's problems:

[Fizzarolli] Is that Blitzø? So you're showing your face? Hey everybody, this guy's a total disgrace! Some nerve you got to comment on a relationship Last I checked, your love life is a pile of shit! [Verosika & Crowd] Oh, Blitzø? I used to date him (date him, date him) [Blitzø] Oh Verosika, you are here [Verosika & Crowd] I'd stroke and I'd fellate him (fellate him, fellate him) Yeah, but when it was my turn (my turn, my turn) He did no reciprocatin' (what a dick-bag) A selfish imp in the sheets And just as bad in the streets A reckless, heartbreaking freak! [Asmodeus] Who's that at your table? Is your date a demon prince? Stolas, is that you? [Wally Wackford] Are you sleeping with an imp?! [Asmodeus] Wooo! My dark lord, how the mighty do fall You used to have a smoking wife, a kid, you had it all! I hope you didn't give it up so you and him could get it up You sold your life for a thrust Now, that's the spirit of lust

And makes clear what they want:

[Millie] I think you were trying to sing something for me, Mox [Moxxie] Yeah, I was I love us I love us just the way we are Don't have to pretend to like to do things we don't I've always got you around to laugh at my stupid jokes I'll never take you for granted I'll always give you my best And if you can offer the same thing Fate will handle the rest 'Cause I love you 'Cause I love you

They want a relationship like the one Millie and Moxxie have, but they can't because differently from the two Imps they aren't honest with themselves.

On the one hand Blitz keeps self-sabotaging his relationships. The moment they become serious he ghosts the other or hurts them, so that they fall out. His inability to honestly express his feelings is literally at the root of the most tragic event of his past:

Blitz's self-hate makes it impossible for him to confess to Fizz, which in turns causes the fire.

On the other hand Stolas is indecisive on what he wants. He wants to belong with someone and has feelings for Blitz. However, he does not act on them and uses the deal they stroke to save appearences with the Goetias. In fact, he is still very clearly concerned of what other people think. He is especially worried of destroying his family and hurting Octavia:

Both characters are flawed, but Stolas is the one who receives the biggest call out:

Blitzo: Stolas, don't act like what we have is anything but you wanting me to fuck you, okay? You make that really clear all the time. But, I just, I-I can't do it tonight, okay?

Blitz's speech opens Stolas's eyes to the point he starts to change. He finally asks Stella for a divorce, he gives Blitz more space and eventually decides to cancel their deal. All so that Blitz can choose freely if to stay with Stolas or not.

Blitz too grows, but his development is slower and more reactive. He mends things with Fizz, but he succeeds because the two find themselves in a dangerous situation outside of their control. Blitz still fails to connect with Barbie. Finally, he keeps being dismissive of Stolas, despite having clear feelings for him:

Blitzo: Stolas got what? How?... He can get hurt?

The Full Moon/Apology Tour

The Full Moon has the characters being on completely different pages:

Stolas: When I see him Blitzo: When I see him, I'm gonna do that thing he likes Stolas: I will change things Blitzo: No need to change things I'll just bring the rope and spikes Stolas: Oh God! Blitzo: We've got a nice arrangement and it's working out just fine We'll keep it light Stolas: I'll fucking die alone if this goes bad! Both: When I see him tonight

Stolas has developed to the point, where he wants the relationship with Blitz to either become a real one or to end. Blitz instead is fine to keep things as they are. In this way he gets to have a relationship, but doesn't really have to put in any effort.

This incompatibility explodes in their discussion, where:

Stolas conveys his feelings clearly enough, but is too self-focused on his own hurt to give Blitz any time to properly express his. Blitz's first and bad reaction is all Stolas decides to listen to. The moment Blitz confusely tries to reach to him, he dismisses him and only pays attention to Blitz's angry rant. If he were not too focused on imagining Blitz as this perfect knight in shining armor, he could have noticed the imp's confusion, vulnerability and desperation to keep the relationship going.

Blitz fails to understand both Stolas's genuine emotions and his own. That is why he is unable to give Stolas a proper answer. He himself is not sure, but instead of admitting it he makes sex jokes and tries to make their bond all about physical intercourse. He can neither understand feelings, nor communicate them. Moreover, the moment he is misunderstood he lashes out instead of trying to explain himself better.

As Blitz is the one who grew up the least, he is given the biggest call-out between the two. He is invited to a very special Anti-Blitzo Party, where he is forced to see first-hand how many people he hurt. There he is forced to face not only Stolas, but all his exes, Verosika and most importantly himself:

Blitzo: No. You're right. I actually am, ya' know... sorry. I-I don't want to be this way. Not forever.

Blitz reconciles with Verosika and will probably start to fix his flaws in the upcoming episodes. Like Stolas did after Ozzie's.

There is another interesting difference between Ozzie's and The Full Moon, though. Ozzie's outcome is explored in two different episodes, one dedicated to Blitz (Queen Bee) and the other to Stolas (The Circus). The two characters are both messed up after their first real date, but they go through their pain alone. The Full Moon's outcome is instead explored in Apology Tour, where the two characters face the pain of their break-up together. In a sense, it is only after their first fight they can really look at each other as two real people, instead than ideals.

BREAK UP THE (I)DEAL

Blitz sees Stolas as a powerful, cold and selfish Goetian Prince. Stolas instead sees Blitz as a wonderful Knight in Shining Armor. Both see the other as some kind of idealistic version of themselves. Either 100% negative or 100% positive. They ignore each other's feelings and struggles. That is why their first honest confrontation degenerates into a fight. If they knew each other better, they could have understood each other.

That is why it is only after they break up, that ironically they can treat each other as real people, as it happens in Apology Tour.

Both are able to properly express themselves freely. Stolas breaks his thirsy bird mask and shows how lonely and sad he is. Blitz breaks his self-assured asshole persona and says how vulnerable a real relationship with another makes him feel. Both are finally able to be themselves and to show themselves to the other.

However, they still have a long way to go before they can rekindle their relationship:

-Blitz is imo the one bound to grow the most from this altercation. He was called out directly on the things he did wrong and has finally to try and fix his attitude towards others. Something the narrative has made very clear he must do, not only when it comes to his romantic bonds, but to his platonic ones, as well.

-Stolas knows he messed up, but he is probably still struggling to see what exactly he did wrong:

Stolas: But maybe it's all on me For missing every sign and every glance and every turn Maybe there's something here for us to glean For you to teach and me to try and learn

Still, he is bound to soon receive some consequences. After all, he risked it all on his relationship with Blitz, only to find himself as lonely as ever. He is in the middle of a divorce, which will probably end badly for him. His relationship with his daughter is in danger and I would not be surprised if he were to lose his status as a Goetia soon.

In general, I am expecting the climax of the season being Blitz and Stolas risking to lose everything (their businesses, their families), but finding an ally in each other. Once again.

[justanotherhh]

at the end of the day two guys with different scar tissue and different unhealthy coping mechanisms that clash horribly with one another are unable to connect with the other's way of internalising and dealing with conflict and that gives such sweet sweet several layers of miscommunication between them, even though they care very deeply for each other, good fun writing full of misery and pain

[justanotherhh]

something about stolas i find very interesting in the story is that while ofc he and blitzø are on uneven ground privilege-wise, stolas' privilege was never "useful" to him (as it often isn't to people who want to live authentically) and he'll probably become much happier at some point down the line when he's built something else out of the rubble, but first of all everything has to disintegrate. first of all everything has to be gone so he can rebuild himself, the abusive marriage, then the beautiful mansion now practically emptied and silent and everything remaining adorned in dust-covers, then presumably his standing in polite society, then... maybe his powers? his relationship with via, which has been rocky for a long time?

it's quite sad to watch, because he was never happy, but trying to leave a stable life behind in order to be free is painful in ways one may not have been prepared for (his relationship with via, the slow emptiness of the house, the upcoming reaction from Society hinted at in the trailer), and currently that story is at a place of loss after loss after loss, so no wonder he desperately needs blitzø to be the stable point in all of this, in his mind he's kind of doing all of this in order to be with him on the other side of it -- which isn't ofc quite fair because then blitzø takes on a symbolic role in stolas' personal development, nor is it quite accurate ofc; stolas wants to be with blitzø because he wants to be with blitzø and he wants to have a better life for himself and he wants to be a better, more aware person

but yeah, blitzø doesn't really clock all of this (and stolas has not said it all in so many words, nor is it probably something he'd process quite so logically while in the middle of it, so how can blitzø hope to know if stolas doesn't quite know either), and it's clashing horribly with all of his hurts and issues, so at this point in the story stolas is prepared to have... maybe nothing when all of this is done

which perhaps is good for him, because then he knows why he's doing it (to have a different life), and then he can try to make it work between him and blitzø (while blitzø simultaneously works on his stuff, so he can enter into things on his side with a healthier attitude too)

(but first. the sads. the miscommunication. good stuff)

(and first: the visual representation of all the decaying of stolas' old life via the dust-covered chandelier they played under as kids, while blitzø screams at him and their relationship falls to pieces)

[justanotherhh]

tbf striker has been confirmed To Fuck so in his case it's def just him seething that no-one is going along with his gritty semi-realistic cowboy roleplay

yeah, I can see that + I'm all about the fucked up power thing going on with Striker's obsession with Blitzø, where he wants Blitzø to be like him and understand him and respect him and maybe be a horse sometimes idk and Blitzø keeps denying him the pleasure of being equals (contrasted with Fizz who just seems to disgust Striker... although maybe we've hit the event horizon, now Blitzø has blown him up... we'll see.... wanting to just hurt/punish Blitzø is also great-as-dynamic)

I do think though that on the show proper (so not word of god or outside promo) there's a fascinating distinction between Striker's opinion of himself -- that is, that he IS sexy and talented and has a big dick -- and how much he'll allow other people to get into his space. Yes, there's the "stop ruining this for me!!!" thing when Moxxie, Stolas, and Fizz (although... not Blitzø? at least not enough to warrant a comment... but that may be because Blitzø's big kink fantasy is horseplay, which fits very nicely with what Striker's all about) turn a violent moment into a "sex thing," but there's also little things like kicking away the fan who's trying to get at him in Sweet Victory, or being really annoyed by the theme tune singers, like Yes he's Sexy, but can people please just stay the fuck out of his way and let him do his Job DAMMIT

this more headcanon territory than Alastor, but I do imagine him as aspec, probably along the lines of autosexual, with a dash of powerplay and cowboy roleplay that can lean into the sexual but Only if all the other right pieces are in play first!

but also there's an interesting Aspec Meta Thing in Hazbin/Helluva that's added when you have all the sex jokes and clearly allosexual characters (although, one can always HC aspecness), and then there's a character there that on some level Does Not Like It and/or avoids it -- so far Alastor and Striker. it opens up a line of thinking about the pervasiveness of sex and boundaries that I will immediately go ooh keep talkin' at

this meaning that while Striker may not be canonically aspec, he does add an aspec dimension to the narrative, because people keep getting into his fucking space with all that sex stuff and he wishes they'd fucking stop

so yes, he wants to break Blitzø like a horse. yes, that's kind of hot. don't even make it weird, don't even- *Striker yelling at his Blitzø-poster while drunk!* (how does he have it? did he steal one of Blitzø's own stick-drawings of himself?)

not-so-subtly pushing my "fucked up Striker/Blitzø" agenda with all of this, I'm noticing (it's gotta be fucked up though for it to work for me. has to be)