#and helluva boss of course

[bittersweetbangers]

screaming crying throwing up etc

[verday]

It was so important to me that Stolas was able to be sad throughout the entire episode. Usually media likes to rush a character's grief/depression/sadness. Like "Stop moping around" or "get over it already." Depression doesn't just go away. It is a persistent feeling of sadness.

His depression was also presented through various emotions/emotional states.

Lethargy

Crying

Anger / frustration

Self-blame

Not wanting company and being emotionally drained and unable to reciprocate

We even see him Smiling / Laughing which is so important because we see that he is still in there behind the sadness and tears. His laugh is not as lively as it once but he is still capable of smiling and finding joy.

His problems weren't fix in the end and his sadness didn't go away even if he has someone who loves him by his side (and even if he loves him too). And I think this is one of the best depictions I have seen of a depressed character in media in a long time.

[cornsyrupfromhell]

alternative (good) ending

[valahelart]

♡ Happy (devilish) Valentine's Day! ♡

[divinekeeper]

BEST DAD

[tealvenetianmask]

Stolas's Trolly Problem

I've been noticing the all too common "Stolas is a bad dad" takes coming back post-"Mastermind." For the thousandth time, no he's not. But let's engage a little.

The argument goes like this. "Stolas is willing to throw his life away and make Octavia suffer to save his lover. So he's choosing Blitz over his daughter. He doesn't care about her enough."

I invoke the trolly problem. There are all kinds of variations. You're on a bridge over some train tracks. The train is headed for three people tied to the tracks, but you have your hands on a lever that can divert it to hit just one person tied to the tracks instead. What do you do? What if that one person is your loved one? What if the three people are all elderly and have already lived fulfilling lives? What if you have the chance to sacrifice yourself so that no one else has to die? And so on . . .

This is Stolas's variation of the trolly problem:

The train is headed toward a loved one (Blitz) tied to the tracks. Stolas doesn't want to live in a world that doesn't have Blitz in it.

There's no lever, but he's standing on the bridge.

Stolas can save Blitz by jumping from the bridge and throwing himself on the tracks in front of the train. But he'll die (as far as he knows) and he'll harm another loved one, Octavia, who will lose her dad.

Stolas also recognizes that his own actions played a role in Blitz ending up in this situation, so I think a feeling of responsibility nudges him a bit as well in the direction that he chooses.

He's responsible for Via's wellbeing too. *casually tearing my hair out*

Here's the thing about the trolly problem though. THERE'S NO GOOD CHOICE, and certainly no objectively morally correct choice. Otherwise it wouldn't be hard.

Either way, someone Stolas loves deeply gets hurt. Either way, he will not come out unscathed himself. So protect Blitz from death or protect Via from the pain of loss? I think that for him the choice is easy, but both options are objectively horrible.

And getting furious with him for making the wrong choice is missing that point.

I saw this awesome non-fandom comic yesterday that points out a major flaw in the trolly problem, and uses it as a metaphor for systemic oppression. You should all read it. Essentially, it's this: WHY. THE. FUCK. Are we debating the morality of saving one person or another when we should be asking WHO IS OUT THERE TYING PEOPLE TO FUCKING TRAIN TRACKS?

Which I think is at least part of the point of "Mastermind." We focus on Stolas's choice, but everyone in that courtroom who sentenced Blitz to death had a choice too . . . one where no one had to suffer at all.

[akirathedramaqueen]

Do you think this is the moment he fell in love?

Okie, it's time to shitpost speculate a bit on my favorite moment in the whole show: the end of the Truth Seekers episode.

Do you think this was the first time Blitzø was protected? Taken care of? Saved?

Just look at how in awe he is, eyes wide open, jaw dropped. I doubt we've ever seen a face like this before or after. Of course, it might also have something to do with seeing Stolas in his true form for the first time. It was eerie and terrifying, but also sublime and exalting. Oddly attractive even, maybe?

This owl demon, with eldritch ancient powers and two dozen legions, was there just for him. Stopped in his tracks of whatever royal deeds he was attending to and came to stand up for Blitzø, to scare the shit out of his... well, fuckbuddy's (or not really?) perpetrators. Stolas watched after him, knew he was in trouble! So he... cared?

I am going to repeat my starting statement - he is not used to being worried about. Here, Moxxie clearly prioritizes Millie (no blame here, it's completely valid!), and helps Blitzø to get up only after the latter sarcastically sneered, "Oh, yeah, thanks, I am fine!"

And Loona, at least until the Queen Bee episode, which happens later, was very hesitant to show even a grain of affection toward Blitzø. We know she cares, but it's not always enough to just have it in mind and not demonstrate it.

And here is Stolas, caressing Blitzø, asking if he is alright, calling him 'darling' - another first in their relationship, at least on screen. Look how confused he is for a moment; he looks away and up (defensive? scared? annoyed?) - has he ever been asked things like that before? Notice how his face relaxes after Stolas strokes his forehead. Our guy is tough, no doubt, but I bet he just realized how nice it is when there's someone who cares.

Hell knows, these five seconds are a single thread holding my mental health together after the shitshow in the Full Moon and Apology Tour episodes.

Of course, there's the second part where Stolas tones down the grandiosity of his gesture. He scolds the crew for not being careful and jeopardizing him along with them, implying that the book exchange should remain a secret. Then he negates it himself - luckily for them, demon-obsessed lunatics are not taken seriously in the human world.

I don't think this changes anything. The first thing he did was to ask if Blitzø is okay. Only after he was reassured Blitzø is fine did he begin to rant, and even then his concern addressed both the crew letting themselves into trouble and his own safety. Again, why wouldn't it be valid? However I look at it, I don't think the book is his primary interest here.

And is this the first time we see Blitzø blushing?

This blush! I bet my life that Mister Blitzø 'boring-as-fuck-monogamy' Buckzo hasn't even internalized it yet, but oh, did his heart just do a big somersault.

Listen to my voice: This is the moment he fell, even though he didn't know it himself yet. Poor boy has a lot of work to do to unlearn his coping mechanisms and let his walls down.

Thank you for coming to my sappy stand-up, don't forget your coats on your way out. *drops mic*

P.S. Oh, I lied to you. There's a bonus "Blitzø just fell so hard" face in the Seeing Stars episode, haha. Apparently Stolas's human form is just as hot as his true demonic one lol.

[enixamyram]

But we're in agreement that this

better be the ultimate endgame, right?

[sliding-down-rainbows]

My thoughts on Striker as a PERFECT narrative foil for Blitzo

I've been watching a lot of reactions and reading through theories about HB given the new ep.

One thing I keep seeing is this surprise that Striker would work with the Nobles against Blitzo, considering how outspoken he was about hating royals.

To me, this makes perfect sense and I think they established this for the character early on. Striker hates Blitzo because Blitzo is exactly who Striker THOUGHT he was, and who he claims to be.

The thing is with Striker, I think a review I just watched of tbskyen got it spot on during his first appearance in Harvest Festival. "He doesn't seem to articulate an argument against the hierarchy so much as an argument against his place in it."

Striker, as much as he wants to be seen as a class hero, looks down on other imps and hellhounds, and his resentment is the HE should be above them. He says so to Blitzo.

"Blitzo, c'mon. You know the two of us are superior than most of our kind."

And he REPEATEDLY belittles other imps

"Don't worry, little one. You never stood a chance."

"Plus, you little things ain't worth the cleanup." ―Striker before locking Millie and Moxxie in the cellar

"I still think it’s embarrassing. You’re wasting a lot of potential relying on a weak little-" ―Striker about Moxxie

Calling Fizz a "worthless little pet"

I think I still missed some but you get the idea.

Striker think he and Blitzo are better than other imps, and don;t deserve to be subservient.

But here's the funny thing, BLITZO is the one who started and runs his own business, who became his own boss. And he uses that position to actually pull up other imps and hellhounds. Blitzo, for all of his jokes, fucking respects Moxxie's skill, he doesn't let anyone treat Loona like his pet. He uses his position as being seen as stronger than other imps to help others see their own worth. When Millie was speaking bad about herself:

Millie: 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. - Ghostfuckers flashback

And Blitzo's response?:

(Long paragraph of encouragment I won't copy all of... The point is, if we can't make it here then- then no one deserves to, right?

Blitzo saved them all from their lowest point and showed them their worth, that they deserve as much respect as anyone else.

And Striker, for all his fucking posturing, is working FOR a Goetia. So you have this guy, who thinks he's some class hero, better than other imps, but is stuck working for royalty. And along swings Blitzo, who is his own boss, and is just as strong if not stronger than him. Blitzo is EVERYTHING Striker wishes he was.

So then we come to Mastermind. Given the chance, Striker fucks over his own race/class in favour of royalty who probably offered a bribe. Blitzo, even to the very end, speaks of imps as a whole being mistreated.

No fucking wonder he became a class hero.

Striker has his "values" so long as they serve him directly, if he can get to the top of the food chain he'll make no effort to dismantle it or help bring anyone else up.

[australet789]

I've ruled the endless dark Since long before the golden angel's fall

I love Ozzie, but Satan easily has my favorite design (and voice) of the sins (that aren't Lucifer)

[cornsyrupfromhell]

alternative (anti-hat) ending

[miyakuli]

** Permission to post & translate was granted by the artist Do not repost/edit the art without permission Please, support the artist on their pages too **

Translation and typeset by me Do NOT repost/edit it on tumblr or any other websites!!!

Artist : @ayamnnn_195

Source

[onesidedradiostatic]

is hell round or flat

do the rings works like this where each ring is like a sphere inside a sphere inside a sphere

(SOME OF Y'ALL ARE NOT GETTING WHAT I MEAN BY SPHERE SO LOOK AT THIS)

or is blitzo's map app literally how it works and each ring is actually flat

and there's actually in fact a border surrounding each ring and that's where it ends it doesn't loop around or there is no border and you can like fall into the void like in minecraft or something when you reach the edge

(sorry it's just funny to think about I know there's probably more magical explanations and shit)

[geekgirles]

The funniest part of this short has to be the fact that it proves Verosika was in no way, shape or form exaggerating when she said Blitzo was a shitty lover back in Ozzie's. If anything, it makes you wonder just how goddamned awful Stolas' sex life was with Stella for him to become so enamoured with Blitzo after that first time.

[tealvenetianmask]

Does Blitz blame himself for Cash's abuse?

Stick with me, and I'm truly sorry.

All of the people except Cash featured in the memories Rolando shows Blitz are people who Blitz has cared deeply for and felt like he hurt, failed to get close to, or let down.

Let's look at them (again, yes)

Tilla

Fizz

Verosika

Loona

M&M

Barbie

A whole lot of Stolas

So. What. The. Actual. Fuck. Is Cash Fucking Buckzo. Doing in this line-up?

Well. Hurting Blitz, horribly. My first meta on this scene didn't really capture this, but as many have pointed out, this is Cash grabbing Blitz's freshly burned wrist after the fire and smacking the ever living shit out the burned side of his face. Presumably blaming him for the fire and everything (and everyone) lost from it. And then Cash telling Blitz in the hospital that Fizz doesn't want to see him.

It's emphasized too. Right after we see the memory of Cash hitting Blitz, we see Blitz physically flinch while watching it.

So if this is just a compilation of horrible memories, maybe that's all there is to it.

But if it's a grouping of the people Blitz cares for, well . . . it makes sense for it to be that, doesn't it? Blitz has a lot of love in him, and yet he's scared of intimacy. His trauma is ABOUT hurting people, losing people, driving people away, craving closeness that he can't have . . .

Being an abuse victim is complicated. Being a family scapegoat is complicated too. A lot of abusers try to make the victim think that they're ACTUALLY the cause of their pain and everyone else's, and we already know that Cash did this to Blitz (literally in this same set of memories in the hospital).

But we also saw it in The Circus when Blitz was much younger, and saw how much this tactic got to Blitz.

Cash guilts his son into going into a dangerous situation for him. If Blitz doesn't do this, their lack of resources, the possible suffering of his parents . . . it will all be Blitz's fault.

And Blitz cares deeply (he always has!), so he does it.

Now one might argue that Blitz says "of course I want to help Mama" here and leaves Cash out of his reply, so he doesn't love his father. But reality is often more complicated than that. He's upset here that Cash is forcing this on him. Cash hurts him. His mother (seemingly) offers much more love. That doesn't mean that Blitz doesn't ALSO feel some care and responsibility for his father's wellbeing.

I think that Blitz believes (or at least a significant part of him believes) that he destroyed Cash's life too with the fire, and that he deserved that beating and being turned away from the hospital and possibly many of the beatings and beratings that Cash delivered in the past. I think that in the moment when Cash grabbed him, he felt that he fully deserved the agony he felt when Cash held his wrist.

I think a part of him loved his father growing up and still loves him-- that there were moments between the incidents of cruelty where they had fun together as a family, and where looked up to his dad and wanted desperately to win his approval.

I think that Blitz has a lot of anger toward Cash too, and that a part of him always knew that Cash was wrong to hurt him. He had a whole lot of resilience and defiance in him even as a young kid.

I think that he felt guilty for all of the times he felt angry at his father. I think he might still.

I'm off to cry and then grab my pitchfork and storm wherever Cash is living nowadays. Who's with me?

[kakashi-fangirl-ita-blog]

WHY when someone says "I love Angel Dust and his story and how his character was portrayed" there's always the haters who go "BuT aNgEl Dust is a BaD rEpReSeNtAtiOn1!1!1!"

I DON'T CAAAAREEEEEEEEEE

Also it's a bad representation… TO YOU?!?! I have some media literacy and I completely understand how is character is portrayed. His story and his behaviour is MEANT to make people uncomfortable, not every victim is the same. You only like victims when they act as you like (Angel Dust did act like your prototype of victim in episode 4, but I guess you erased that part for your personal grudge) by crying and showing all the time how their situation affects them in a passive way.

Angel Dust is not like that because his situation doesn't allow that and because his personality simply isn't like that. He's not passive about what happens to him, he always reacts in different ways.

And his situation doesn't allow him to be your type of victim because he is bound to be a victim of his abuser due to their contract. He can't behave like a victim at work, but he does when he's alone (as shown in episode 4 or in the mv Addict).

People saw one person talking bad about Angel Dust (and Hazbin Hotel in general) and followed like sheeps with no brain and critical thinking of their own. Going around saying that Angel Dust's story and relationship with Valentino is not realistic enough…

While their relationship is INCREDIBLY realistic???

Going beyond the contract of the show and the work relationship, Angel Dust and Valentino's relationship is the perfect representation of couples where there's a controlling abuser and a victim who can't escape him for different reasons (manipulation, isolation, economic violence, ecc…).

ALSO it INFURIATES me when people say "Valentino shouldn't have been good looking and attractive because, since he's evil, he should be ugly and him being charming means romanticizing the abuse"

... NO?!?!?!?

That's literally the whole point??? The fact thar Valentino is attractive is ESSENTIAL in Angel's story because it shows that it's absolutely NOT true (even in real life) that good looking men are always only good and ugly men are bad. ON THE CONTRARY, a good looking man is usually a vain self-centered narcissist who's the first one to manipulate their partner to keep them chained up and deprive them of their freedom (AND GUESS WHAT HAPPENED TO ANGEL DUST?)

I swear, y'all complain thar "he's not realistic that a victim gnegnegne" and then you say that am abuser should only be ugly. Do you have the brain of a 4 years old who knows nothing about the real world and thinks that everything is like a fairytale or what?

It's EASY to fall in the trap of the charismatic attractive guy, because it lures EVERYONE, not just in romantic terms.

This is the realistic story about Angel Dust and about many other victims, fallen in the hands of a narcisistic, controlling and possessive partner.