Helluva Boss' Racism is Hollow & Nonsensical - Helluva Boss Critique
Racism is a sensitive and mature topic, to talk about not only in the media we consume but in general real life, with many news outlets covering it, the effects it has on everyone, and the many reporting of racism in the world.
Now those of you are wondering, 'why am I talking about this?' Well this relates to today's topic in which I'll be discussing Helluva Boss' portrayal of racism, and my problems with it.
'Why am I talking about this?' some of you are thinking.
Well due to the recent episode of 'Full Moon' on Season 2 Ep 8, specifically these lines said by Blitz to Stolas, towards the end of the episode:
"Treat me like one of your butler Imps. You can just dismiss me like that!
I mean you royal fucks think you can do this every time!
Like you can just play with our feelings because we're smaller and not as important!"
While this line is incredibly well delivered by the voice acting, it falls flat on it's face through the writing from the previous episodes and the world building as well, it doesn't hit as hard as intended from the writers.
It Started Off so Good (Season 1):
Surprisingly, the world building wasn't all that bad, it was pretty decent (but not perfect, as I'll explain later) at the start of the series, with Imps and Hellhound racism.
This is shown with how Stolas treats Imps, by him looking down on them through his demeaning comments to Blitz calling him; little bitty imp, my impish little plaything; and even calling other imps racist comments, 'littler ones' referring to Moxxie and Millie, 'tiny wrath ring imps' to the Imps in the Harvest Moon Festival.
Aside from making racist comments, Stolas does other things, such as pinching Blitz' cheek, using his horn as an ashtray, ignoring Blitz comments on how he says his name and finally but most importantly of all, coercing Blitz into having sex with him in exchange for having the book, to keep his job.
They even show that Hellhounds are considered bottom of the barrel, with Millie's rude comments towards Luna, referring to her as a 'Hellhound' rather than saying her name, or referring to her as Blitz daughter to her parents.
However, as the series goes on there are examples of the racism in Helluva Boss being incredibly inconsistent throughout the show.
Surprisingly, the problems start off in Season 1, where many of the Sinners that hire IMP, aren't even racist towards them, while hiring them.
They just talk to them as a customer instead of the Sinners looking down at them condescendingly, making racist remarks about them, being shocked that imps are starting a business, or even opposing to the idea of imps starting a business; whether they hate the idea of imps rising up to power by starting a business since it goes against the societal norms of Hell or they feel like the business of IMP is flawed.
The idea of sinners being stuck with the same person that got them killed is something that should be called out in universe, but it isn't.
Another good point I forgot to mention, is that no one is even put off by Blitz, hiring and adopting Loona. A Hellhound as his daughter, giving her a job and Blitz treating him incredibly well. None of the sinners/clients, none of the Goetias (Octavia & Stolas), and not even Moxxie, Millie (who was quite racist to Loona) and the other Imps in Hell find that weird and unusual.
This would establish to the audience that Imps and Hellhounds are the lowest class of hell, by how they're treated by much higher classes in Hell.
The problem is that the writers use sinners who have died moments ago that ended up in Hell, such as Mrs Mayberry, Loopty Doopty & the Camp Counsellor.
Instead of using Sinners who have been in Hell for years, and have been exposed to how Hell works, being racist towards IMP, Loona as a entitled customer, Blitz has to bear being mistreated and get used to it for the sake of his company and those around him.
A Snowball of Problems starts:
Before we go onto Season 2, there are massive problems. We need to address the elephant in the room in Season 1, more specifically in Episode 8 of Queen Bee, where Beelzebub the embodiment of Greed is dating, Tex, a Hellhound.
Now the reason as to why this is bad, is because that no one in the show even bats an eye to it, Loona doesn't, the other Party goers don't, this doesn't have consequences of Tex talking about his relationship to Bee, such as rumours spreading from those outside the party within Hell and effecting the lives of Tex & Bee.
But some of the defences may say, "Beelzebub is the sin of Greed and she's overindulging in her sin, by dating a Hellhound." If she was to overindulge in her sin, she would be eating copious amounts of food and drink, not dating Tex, someone who is a part of the lowest class of Society. She would represent her sin Greed, instead of being stupid and breaking class rules, that would possibly get her into some really serious trouble.
The weirdest part is that in the previous episode 7 called 'The Finale', where Fizz & Ozzie call out Stolas for dating a lower class Imp. Ozzie telling him, "he sold his life for a thrust" as well as Stolas worryingly glancing around at the guests in Ozzie's, worrying what will happen now that people know that he's been sleeping with an Imp.
(Side tangent: But how does Ozzie & Fizz know that Stolas has been sleeping with Blitz, just because they were seen at a club, that doesn't mean they were sleeping with each other, yeah they were at a club for lust, but .)
This problem spirals out of control, in Season 2 Episode 3, where Moxxie's Dad, Crimson, is introduced as a Mafia Boss in the Greed Ring, working with Loan Sharks.
Many people have pointed out their grievances with this idea, the reason is because that it's been established by Striker back in Season 1 in the Harvest Moon Festival, where Striker learns that Blitz, an imp, is leading his own business:
Striker: "Boss huh? *Meets Blitzo for the first time* Oh! So you're the bold imp that started his own killing bizz!"
Blitz: "Yeah well when you're good at something, you should capitalise!"
Striker: "Not many imps start their businesses on their own, that's impressive sir! *winks at Blitz*"
Blitz: "Oh? Yeah, it is, I guess, I guess it is, isn't it!"
This scene gives exposition to the audience that imps running their own business is rare and uncommon in the realms of this Hell, to the point where it's considered 'impressive' by another imp, for his own species to lead his own business.
So Crimson, an imp, is able to run a mafia with ease, undermines the idea of imps and hellhounds being the lowest class in Hell, as he is a Mafia Boss and being able to lead a gang of sharks with ease without any problems.
Since none of the Sharks goons express any racism towards Crimson, cause he is their boss or other imps, like Blitz, Millie & Moxxie.
The fact that Millie and Blitz are not shocked about Crimson, an imp, leading a Mafia or even mentioning it once during 'Exes and Oohs' is really weird, they don't talk about how he came into power or wonder how an imp was able to lead on a gang of Sharks into obeying him without any troubles. Even more unusual, is that Moxxie doesn't even talk to them on how Crimson became a Mafia Boss. Honestly, I'm surprised that Striker, didn't make a comment on Crimson being a Mafia Boss when he and Crimson met for the first time.
Speaking of Striker, let's go onto Season 2 Episode 4, 'Western Energy.'
The Snowball of Problems Gets Bigger:
This problem grows bigger in this episode, where Stella, a Goetia, who is supposed to be racist towards imps, right next to other royalties and blue bloods, is willing to pay a imp to have her husband be assassinated. It gets even worse that she's willing to pay him extra just to have him tortured.
It's even worse when you take Blitzo's line from Full Moon:
"I mean you royal fucks think you can do this every time! Like you can just play with our feelings because we're smaller and not as important!"
This line doesn't hit as hard as it should due to imp racism not being showcased throughout the show, the most we get it from was Stolas talking down against Blitzo. Cause the imps get treated well throughout the show, they can have jobs, they can get their own homes and are even IMP are paid by Sinners. They're even allowed to build their own families, if an imp couple would like to do so, as shown with Millie's parents.
It's even worse with Hellhounds, when you consider that Vortex is allowed to date Bee, the Sin of Gluttony, or without any kind repercussions from Satan nor Asmodeus dating Fizz (since that information is now public, from FIZZ & MAMMON episode).
The racism in Helluva Boss, is hollow, due to the discrimination towards imps, not being shown in the show at all, from the Ars Goetia, to the Seven Deadly Sins, to even the Sinners who have lived longer within Hell.
