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Helluva Boss Criticism - Blog Posts
Yes exactly! It's good that she's getting a backstory, i'm not denying that! But on some level it feels pointless that they spent the entirety of season 2 gutting any semblance of character stella could have had beyond "Stolas's mean wife" unless HB starts treating stella like an actual complex character then it might end up feeling like a bandaid fix, like viv trying to go "S-see guys, she's more than just a scapegoat for stolas, I swear" Obviously we'll have to wait and see, but that's just how i look at it.
Viv saying that they’ll have Stella get some backstory for upcoming season three is just there because she’s being called out for the major flaw of not being able to write woman with there being a lot more damage done given she rendered Stella into a cartoonish gimmick who really isn’t a villain at all with her brother fully taking over the mantel of what Stella could have been (love or hate what they did with her in Circus either way). Look I think she could have worked in some way in theory but the point is there are damage already done given she’s just a plot device for Stolas than a character with it also applying to her daughter. She deserves better whether as an equal grey to Stolas or as a better written villain.
No really, it's like. First they try to go "Oh she-she's been evil from the start, and her behavior isn't cause of stolas's cheating" Nevermind does it raise questions like "Why does stolas let via around her" and that they (As of season 2) completely ignore her also being in an arranged marriage and having to give birth almost as soon as she became an adult (Note, I am not saying stellas ever been a "Good" person, frankly no one is in helluva besides octavia, it's just that I find her treatment by the show and the fandom at large as some mega evil is annoying.) And then, rather than make her a semi-threatening villian that drives the plot foward, they instead introduce Andrelphus literally out of no where and go "See he's the actual mastermind, stella is just so dumb!"
What actually is the point of stella anymore? Like, what would actually change about helluvas current plot line if stella just vanished from it? It sucks cause the pitch of her character can still work, hell, with enough dedication her current character could sort of be salvaged. But at this point I doubt the writers will suddenly start making her an actual character at this point.
Hear me out with this controversial opinion, Stella never had a chance to be an actual character whether love or hate what direction they decide to do with her after cough, Circus and later on.
I am a HUGE Dog-Man fan, mainly because of my brother BUT YES! Absolutely yes, Petey the Cat is a WAY better representation of a neglectful father with a bad past trying his best to be a good father. Petey gets called out a lot unlike Stolas.
Petey is actively trying to change and trying to get better, his past actions haunt him but he's actively taking responsibility to move on and be better. He's currently impatient and easily irritable, his anger issues are still there but he's learning to be better overall.
I saw some anon mention Petey the cat being better parental figure than Stolas on here, and I fully agree on that... That and the fact that Petey the Cat is a well-written character in Stolas in every step of the way.
The one thing that Petey and Stolas have in common is that they both have had terrible abusive fathers and didn't have a childhood of their own, and both have been shown to be pretty neglectful towards their own kids (Petey with Lil' Petey in the beginning of Dogman & Stolas with Octavia). But here's the difference:
One gets called out from this and actually regrets his behaviour and his actions. He regrets how he abandoned his son because he didn't come out the way he wanted, and for his own villainy, and selfish needs. He fully owns up to his own mistakes and is actively trying to become a better person and a better father for Lil' Petey.... And the other is Helluva Boss Stolas Goetia.
The fact that a children's book can handle any serious subjects better than an ACTUAL adult animated series should make you consider the fact that you're doing something wrong in your story Viv, lol.
That’s even more embarrassing, a Children’s book does a better job at depicting a serious topic than Helluva Boss.
A recent article came out about the mistreatment and pay of Spindlehorse employees, please spread this around.
Woah bro it's like the red dragon from Bible dude. It's like that thing from the Bible. You know, the bible. Ignore that the red dragon is supposed to have seven heads, seven crowns and ten horns and also that it's supposed to be a sign of the apocalypse in Revelation. It's some kid's dragon OC in a Yu-Gi-Oh outfit now.
It's a Bible thing. We're so smart and good at character design mhm.
The Show and Fandom’s reaction to:
Stella: She’s a horrible, awful person! Who cares if she was brought up in the same environment and circumstances as Stolas. Some people are just born evil. If you try to give her any depth, you’re an abuser apologist! You don’t care about male domestic violence.
Loona: HAHA FUNNY! It’s slapstick. She came from a harsh environment. Blitz shouldn’t have criticized her. Can’t you take a joke?!
Gang.... this might be controversial but
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Spoilers for the newest helluva boss episode
TW! mentions of sex, abusive relationships, helluva boss in general
I really like stolas and this random succubus (ima name him eric) as a couple for a few reasons.
1. LOOK AT HOW FUCKING CUTE THEY ARE!!!!
Eric genuinely looks like he likes stolas, not his status, not his money or power. Just. Him. And stolas looks like he's enjoying himself for the first time since he's been at the party
2. This would be stolas' first real relationship. Not an arranged marriage and not a crazy sex fueled, power imbalanced "relationship." Just a real relationship that could improve stolas's outlook on romance and himself as a whole.
This leads me to point 3.
This relationship would change him for the better. After all, it wasn't blitz who started this whole sex for the book transaction. It was stolas. Granded, it was because of a miscomunication between the two when they met up again (stolas making a joke about blitz being there to fuck him only for blitz to take it seriously and stolas going along with it, thinking blitz would like that) but it doesn't change the fact that, since that miscommunication, stolas was the one who let it go too far. Stolas was the one who called blitz back in the first episode when they were getting their asses handed to them just to be like "yo we should fuck again so you can keep the book", stolas was the one to say over and over that blitz was "his little imp" and shit like that, stolas was the one who failed to communicate that "hey, this sex for book stuff isn't working and it never has" and yes, blitz failed to communicate his discomfort at points and pushed him away without explaining BUT stolas was the one to ignore his discomfort when he did express it and just think it was all just a cute quirk about him. They are both in the wrong. But stolas is the one that's the most in the wrong. This is why this relationship could change him for the better. Because Eric could help him learn and understand that while he may have been doing what he thought blitz wanted, he was wrong, and what he did and said was unexceptable, and he needs to better himself because his actions and his position of power made what he did a lot worse than what he initially thought.
I know it's probably unlikely, and stoliz is definitely endgame, I just want some real character development for stolas by getting into this relationship instead of just babying him at every corner. He's a grown ass man and needs to start taking accountability for his actions. I just need more instead of just "stolas being big sad over the imp boy not wanting him after being a creep" and "blitz needs to stop being a meanie to the baby bird boy!" I want actual development for these characters from a show I've been a fan of since day one.
But I know it's probably unlikely that Eric and stolas will ever be more than a hookup or a plot device for Blitz like verasika is in all her episodes.
I just wanted to express how i felt, and at the end of the day, it's just my opinion, and it's ok if you don't agree :3
Super late to the party. But Hot Take, Beelzebub Should've been a Wolf.
Okay before you ignore this post, please read all of this. It has been bugging me since S1ep8 came out and the whole "controversy". This post is more like me just speaking my thoughts and hearing other peoples opinions. Also, this is not me fixing her design saying that they should change it.
Think of it me just babbling on about stuff.
I'm not gonna lie I never liked Bee's design. I find it under whelming and never really fit with the shows vibe. Honestly I think they could've done more with her design than what they went with in the show.
I think they really missed making her a wolf or a wolf/bee hybrid.
Wolves are a way better symbol of gluttony than foxes. Wolves have historically been seen as gluttonous animals due to their always eating livestock. There's a good article explaining this in greater detail. They also symbolize wrath, and we have seen Bees get angry, so I think it would be a perfect fit.
Also, if you ever watch a nature documentary about them hunting and eating praying animals, it's pretty gruesome. I'm not saying we need to see that happening; I'm just saying how that behavior would fit well with the whole gluttony symbolism.
Also, another thing about wolves is that they are social animals! They hunt in packs and they love to play with each other! Just look up Wolves playing, trust me its really adorable! Like it just fits for the whole party girl vibe and it also fits with here character. As she does care about people. Wolves do take there pack's livelihood very seriously. Also, it would fit well with bees because there also social animals. Like it would make more sense
Another reasons Bee should of been a wolf is that wolves can be really cute.
And can be really scary.
I know people like Bees full demon form. But it never felt intimadting for me. Like imagine wolf Bee full demon form snarling and growling. On top of that with all the bug features, Bee would look fucking scary. Thats just me tho.
Not to mention, dogs are descendent from wolves. So it be a cool detail that Bee made hellhounds and who happens to be part wolf. I know that sounds a bit to realistic but I think it would a neat detail.
Oh and would also really go full circle with Vivs Die Young music video, with Jay Jay. Idk I just find it more sweet.
So yeah, that it.
Thanks for listening to my ted talk.
wpuld love to hear your gripes about striker's design!
aah it’s mainly the fact that he looks so cool and yet way too busy. i’m used to viv’s maximalist style and for the most part i like it and don’t think character designs should be simplified because this is the show’s style—but striker has too much stuff going on with his clothes in particular.
i really liked how he looks vaguely coyote-ish, so it’s mostly his clothes for me—there are at least 3 different shades of grey in his outfit and it made it difficult for me to picture him when he wasn’t onscreen other than coyote with cowboy hat and big teeth. there’s also a lot going on with his tail—if it were a solid color without the stripes and spikes, i’d be able to follow its movement better and distinguish it from his accessories.
he also doesn’t really pop out from the wrath environment in general, having such muted colors, which i think could be intentional to show him as being much more ‘native’ to there than moxxie, but the same thing happens in other places, too—grey just really doesn’t stand out.
so yeah i think it’s just the dissonance between the fact that i think he’s really cool/yay snake cowboy so i really like some of his design, but also that his clothing is too busy without much contrast and there are so many stripes and layers which make it difficult to follow the minutiae of his movements!
okay so i just finished helluva boss (but not the shorts which i don’t think i’ll watch)…
and i enjoyed it for the most part. it’s a fun little show and i think that’s how people ought to treat it. i’ve a few thoughts below the cut. i’ve read a lot of glazing and a lot of hate and tbh i think i’m somewhere in the middle which seems like a rare thing in this fandom lmao
my favorite characters were fizz and moxxie & millie (tho the camp episode was so boring oh my goddd) and also ozzie however his design drives me up a wall why does he look like that. however his VA is sooo good
why do they say fuck so much
it feels like a show made for edgy high schoolers idk like it’s fun but it’s 90% sex jokes, ‘witty’ one-liners, and ship content
they interact with issues shallowly—like classism in hell and possibly racism (? if imps are a separate race ? idk)—and tbh i think they should stick to shallow examinations. social commentary is not their strong suit. things won’t hold together if they try to go deeper with this; it’s not a serious show and it should not be taking itself seriously. it works best when it’s interpersonal
i have a big issue w how viv/the writers/character designers portray fat ppl. i rly didn’t get the fat jokes about moxxie in that one ep like was it supposed to be a running gag? the character designs make everyone thin as a toothpick except for mammon who also happens to be the one sin they portray as being the worst and most disgusting. even bee who literally *is* gluttony is disgusted by mammon in that one scene where he’s chowing down in the courtroom. like what sense does that make.
which gets me to my real question that consistently bugged me throughout the whole series: what is the standard of morals in hell? the sins are personifications of their domains, so why are most of them decent folks? does this imply that people are sent to hell based on very conservative christian views—like is that the moral standard in this universe (i haven’t seen hh if this is explained)? like there genuinely weren’t a lot of indications for me for why a sin was a sin. ozzie emphasized lust being consensual; bee was concerned for blitz overindulging; but then verosika and her friends sexually assault moxxie and it’s implicitly brushed off as funny and not a big deal because oh well it is hell after all. idk it just felt inconsistent to me and i’m not sure why everyone and everything was so sanitized if this is supposed to be a terrible place
i liked the backstory episodes those were fun
i feel like they babygirlified stolas by making stella so unlikeable. it feels like the show runners were begging for us to sympathize with him when i thought he was a plenty decent character on his own and they could have made him much more morally complex by letting stella be an actual character. i was hoping there would be a little more ambiguity to it (rather than ‘yay stolas is finally divorcing that bitch’) because i genuinely was a little confused by why octavia was so mad at him at the end of s2 when the show covers his bases—she saw that stella wasn’t letting him call? idk i feel like the conflict should’ve come around the stars episode not the end one it just didn’t make sense to me. her struggle with the divorce made sense in s1 but by s2 they’d made stella such the clear-cut villain that it seemed like she never had a happy family to mourn the loss of. it felt forced that they transferred the conflict she seemed to be set up for having with her mother to stolas just to give him something to be upset about.
i’m not a big fan of stolitz im gonna be honest. idk why they like each other. they went from stolas essentially being a funny thirsty character to making their relationship the main plot line. it felt forced on blitz’s end especially like he went from not caring about him to ‘no actually he’s just too insecure to admit his feelings’ to madly in love?? within the space of a few episodes? there was also the problematic classist overtones as well but i think giving them an overtly toxic situationship would’ve been better and more fitting to the fact that they’re in hell than airbrushing things away so they can be an uwu yaoi pairing.
i enjoyed some of the songs especiallyyy the asmodeus one is s1 that was groovy as hell
i love fizz and ozzie they’re really cute :)
some of the designs got on my nerves (like ozzie and striker etc) but some of them were pretty cool (like fizz and stolas!)
in closing, i think the show is fine and a pretty fun watch it just shouldn’t take itself too seriously because then it breaks down.
I think “Mastermind” could have been a stronger episode if the trial focused on the fact that Stolas’ incompetence has led to humans discovering the existence of Heaven and Hell.
In the past, there have been alluded to consequences about I.M.P creating a commotion up top and not being careful, so why not have that finally come back to bite everyone in “Mastermind”? But, what do I mean by saying it’s the fault of Stolas, you may ask? After all, it was I.M.P who did their business without being properly careful, right?
That’s still technically on Stolas.
Alright, consider the other two times we see Hell-born doing a job up top, that being Barbie-Wire and the succubi. Both parties not only had a way to get there, but a human disguise as well. Presumably, Barbie-Wire and the succubi were given both Asmodean crystals and human disguised by their employers, because you know they’re supposed to be discreet and all. We could also assume they all got some form of training on how to act, too. Why am I bringing this up though?
It’s because Stolas irresponsibly let I.M.P have access to the living world without training or human disguises!
A high-ranking Goetia prince gave access to his grimoire, and that was all he did, presumably with an assumption they would be careful. And then in the D.H.O.R.K.S episode, he just leaves the two head agents alive! Two humans who have knowledge about Hell being a thing are just hand-waved away by him, simply stating that nobody would believe them. No wiping their minds or anything, they’re just left there!
Which comes back to bite everyone because those two had actual evidence that was believed, and now they’re working to open a portal to Hell. Even after that episode and “Seeing Stars”, Stolas doesn’t give them human disguises, even after Blitzø had asked about getting some earlier.
Tl;Dr of it all is that Stolas is responsible for I.M.P’s actions up top and them not being properly careful. Mostly because he didn’t give them the resources needed other than the book.
Ok, but how would Andrealphus know all about this?
That…actually comes with a bit of a rewrite. So imagine if Andrealphus, after Stella won’t get anything from the divorce, sends out an imp to spy and regularly report back to him about Stolas (and eventually I.M.P’s) actions through one of his tail feathers. In this rewrite, Andrealphus has the ability to see things through his tail feathers, making the fact that he’s a peacock matter in the narrative.
So through his spy (sent after the events of “Western Energy”) Andrealphus learns that Stolas gave the grimoire away to be used. But not only that, the spy sees the fight with the cherubs, as well as them leaving via portal that doesn’t look like a standard one used often in Hell, and it doesn’t look like something Heaven would use either. So the spy brings back their findings, which Andrealphus brings to the Sins. An investigation is then launched (presumably during the time period between “Apology Tour” and “Ghostf**kers”), and a lot of damning evidence is found by the agents that were sent (presumably by Satan).
So, that’s when the trial is set up, and both I.M.P and Stolas are brought in. Several things are properly brought to light, Stolas is found guilty (but I.M.P got off scott-free, a rarity in Hell), and he’s striped of his title, legions, everything. Satan states that it’s a fitting punishment, since he can’t be trusted with his former position and the responsibility that vmcomes with it. And Octavia’s still 17, so Andrealphus temporarily serves as a regent until the day of her 18th birthday. Meanwhile, the Sins go to talk about just how bad the damage is, and what they can do to fix it.
Maybe one of them suggests bringing Lucifer in, but that’s shot down by Satan, alluding to how Lucifer hasn’t gotten involved in the state of affairs in Hell for a while now.
…So that’s my vague idea for a rewrite that I think makes a better episode. What do y’all think?
…You know what could’ve been cool? If Vassago had ACTUALLY looked like a pirate, and if he were Octavia’s mentor.
Like, for a character who supposedly should look like one, Vassago does NOT look like a pirate. Which is disappointing, Viv really could have gone all in and made that guy a pirate stereotype. Like, where’s the peg leg, the eyepatch? Where’s the frilly cravat? Where’s the pirate hook? Where’s the oversized captain’s coat and pirate hat with long, elaborate feathers? Heck, you could have made one of those feathers be from Andrealphus, and Vassago put it in his hat because he LOATHES Andrealphus, and beat his a** once. And he makes sure to wear it because Andrealphus HATES it.
Actually, why is Vassago a red macaw? Why not a green parrot, I feel like when you think ‘pirate’ you picture a parrot, especially a green one. I don’t know, sounds like a missed opportunity. And hey, you still could have put stars on his outfit.
As for being Octavia’s mentor, maybe Vassago could have taken pity on the fact that until recently, she’s never had formal lessons in her potential duties regarding astrology. And yeah, Vassago might not occupy the exact same space, but it is said that he can divine and tell summoners of past and future events apparently. And you can use the stars to do the latter, so he could at least reach her something in that.
Really, if we’re going with the Goetias being nobility, Octavia SHOULD have a couple private tutors to guide her in potential duties and proper etiquette. Since she’s the spare and all, honestly now that I think about it did either Stolas or Stella get her something like an etiquette teacher? She’s going to need one since she’s slated to take over Stolas’ position in (assumedly) less than a year. I think Stolas started recently teaching her through the book (she probably should have started a couple years ago), but he can’t do that anymore, so…
Anyway, like I said, could be cool if Vassago took pity on the girl (since Vassago is apparently good-natured) and started overviewing her lessons on her duties in astrology. Or maybe, she’s having trouble navigating through the Goetia social expectations and stuff and he decides to not leave her to the sharks. Idk, might have been better than just having him be a Stolas hype man, despite the fact that Stolas not having any friends other than Blitzø that one time is supposed to be important. And yet here’s a guy who definitely seems to like him somewhat, could Stolas not have been friends with him?
Agent 1 and 2 was done so dirty and wrong.Including the cherubs.
They were competent antagonists to now dumb and annoying waste of characters in the show.
I know the Cherubs were annoying even in their first appearance but man.The concept of angels being fallen by an accident,self defense and stuck in a moral dilemma(damn if you do,damn if you don't situation where the IMP keeps pestering them when they only want to help)is so intriguing (them killing the old man in accident out of self defense from the IMP).Their potential is wasted to make heaven appear bad or dumb in hell(full moon).
The DHORKS could be interesting.I am excited for characters especially humans that can beef up with the supernatural.but instead it was a "secret" organization funded by something? Then when they show proof of demons, the government and church?(With the priests soldiers arming the gun in that scene).the way they show their operations seems like another lesser evil.As the Agents react nothing to the girls being killed in the hell's portal as a joke.
They became annoying instead of actual antagonists to the IMP .The way they are so defeated easily and their loss as a joke for slapstick humor is making their plot in their episodes useless.If anything they are not really an obstacle as IMP even mocks their easy defeat.just another plot device.
Don't forget how their team up sounds cool but disappointing.It could be their revenge or rather avenging themselves as the IMP did them wrong multiple times.But instead we get Cletus and Keenie acting blood thirsty angels while there is one genuine guy known as Collin being too innocent.Cletus and Kleenie reaction is justified tbh but the episode made them seems like another character being racist to hellborns litterally fighting them to death.Blitz insult them on his apology tour makes blitz apology a bit insincere.because again they are easily defeated.not even a temporary win like with striker so what is the point of them taking up screen time?what is the point of the agents being dramatic about demon hunting and the existence of DHORKS when humans are so dumb and let demons roam.What is the point of the CHERUBS existing to sabotage IMP when many times,IMP sabotage itself?.I feel like they are just here so we can laugh at them like how blitz makes fun of them in apology tour.
Cool detail I found.Both CHERUBS and DHORKS kill the IMP's client in accident.sounds like a doomed narrative.as if god is intervening their closeness to success into failure.tbf they are doomed as an antagonist already.even IMPs beefing themselves has more thematic conflict than these two.