⚠️ WARNING: Long-Ass Rant Incoming ⚠️
Okay so I recently found out that Vox is apparently in the Pure Evil Wiki and it’s just something that’s really been bugging me because of how wrong it is. And before anyone comes at me for trying to ‘woobify’ Vox — I’m not. I am NOT saying he’s a good person. He isn’t. He’s manipulative, egotistical, power-hungry and has done some genuinely awful things. But calling him pure evil? That’s where I think people are completely missing the point of his character and clearly did not understand Season 2 at all.
First of all, I genuinely don’t believe any human soul can be “pure evil.” That kind of label ignores nuance and Hazbin as a show thrives on nuance. The entire premise of Hazbin Hotel is built around the idea that people are more than the worst things they’ve done. So slapping Vox into a category that basically says “this character is irredeemable and has no depth or complexity” feels like it goes against the core themes of the show itself.
And speaking of complexity — Vox clearly has emotions and attachments. You cannot convince me that this man is some empty, emotionless force of evil when we literally see evidence of him caring about others. His relationship with the Vees alone proves that. Yes, he was a massive jerk to them in Season 2, no argument there. But acting like that automatically means he doesn’t care about them is such a surface-level reading. He’s been partnered with them for YEARS. That kind of long-term alliance doesn’t just happen if there’s zero attachment. It is obvious that he views them as his close friends and clearly enjoys spending time with them. And the fact that he keeps photos of them? That’s not something a “pure evil” character does. That’s someone who values those connections even if he expresses it in a toxic or dysfunctional way.
Also, context matters. His behavior didn’t come out of nowhere — he was being influenced and manipulated by Alastor into thinking he didn’t need the other Vees. That doesn’t excuse his actions of course, but it does explain them. And explanation ≠ justification but it DOES mean there’s more going on internally than just “I am evil for the sake of being evil.”
And honestly, the idea that Vox doesn’t feel anything is just blatantly disproven by his history with Alastor. That man had a whole goddamn emotional arc tied to him. We can see that the partnership rejection clearly hurt him very deeply. You don’t get that level of vulnerability from a character who’s supposed to be “pure evil.” You get that from someone who is capable of attachment, of hurt, of wanting something real and not getting it. That’s not evil — that’s human.
Another thing that confuses me is how Vox gets labeled “pure evil” but Alastor doesn’t, even though, as of right now, Alastor arguably shows more traits that people typically associate with that label. He’s cruel, sadistic, kills and eats people for the fun of it, and he doesn’t seem to have any clear emotional attachments to others (at least not that we’re aware of right now). And just to be clear: this is NOT Alastor hate. I actually love Alastor and definitely don’t believe that he’s pure evil either. I just think we don’t fully understand his motivations yet and future seasons are likely to expand on his character further. But, when it comes to Alastor, the double standard of some people is wild.
And let’s talk redemption for a second because I’ve seen people say that Vox being redeemed in the show would be “unrealistic” or “bad writing.” I completely disagree. Not only is it plausible, it would actually fit perfectly within the show’s themes. The whole point is that redemption is possible — not easy, not guaranteed but possible. Vox is absolutely someone who could get there… if he wants to. That’s the key part. Redemption has to start with the character choosing to change.
And honestly? I think Vox has the capacity for that. He already has emotions, attachments, insecurities and a need for validation — all things that can be built on for a redemption arc. The foundation is there. Whether he takes that path is a different question but saying it’s impossible just feels shortsighted.
At the end of the day, Vox isn’t some poor little misunderstood cinnamon roll, but he’s also not a one-dimensional embodiment of evil. He’s messy, toxic, emotional, power-driven, and deeply flawed — which is exactly what makes him a well written and highly interesting character. Reducing him to “pure evil” strips away everything that actually makes his character compelling.
Anyway yeah. That’s my rant. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk 📺😜
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