Stolitz Critical - Tumblr Posts

I apologized to the Twitter user for this person attacking them and that I DO NOT condone this behavior at all.

I’m extremely upset that I got roped into this. I never expected so many people to see my small blog…

I didn’t realize how insane this person was. I wanna make it very clear that I never reported the tweeter’s blog as I found this person’s comment to be extremely inappropriate.

another-critic seems to be.... a bit extreme when it comes to their posts.

They made an entire blocklist of Vivziepop 'stans' when most of them were just casual fans or people who liked/reblogged fanart of the show. If someone disagrees with them, the person is added to the blocklist.

And while I am fine for blocking people who are racist, zionist, pedophiles, stuff like that.... liking a show isn't really a crime?

They even reblog non-Hazbin or helluva posts with stuff like "better than anything Viv has done" and stuff like that.

Granted they're a minor so there's a chance they could improve, but all of this isn't really healthy, at least in my eyes.

I'm not wishing any harm on another-critic, I'm just hoping they take some time off for their health.

another-critic’s behavior is very concerning. My old blog was added to that blocklist on when I called them out. I am pro blocking the worst of society but blocking people who are just because they are a fan of show you obsessively hate is bizarre.

I do feel odd calling them because I am 23 and they are 17 but saying someone should d!e is crossing the line, regardless of age. That is not being critical or a ‘hater’ that is being an asshole.

Now they are trying to get someone’s Etsy shop taken down over their bad take about Octavia. Mass reporting someone shop [which would be their full time job] because you disagree with their opinion on a cartoon character is fucking stupid.

They agree with deporting Viv like that Hazbin boycott flyer said. That flyer had racist comments on it like claiming Viv was a part of the MS-13 and said she was an illegal immigrant. Just because she is white passing, that does mean it is okay to make racist comments about her.

Tw for mention of SA

They reblogged a post about sexual assault and made it about Viv which is just disrespectful to OP. Only talk about Viv on post that are about her and the shows.

another-critic is need to step away from the computer for their own sake.

This actually could’ve been a very interesting premise that could’ve been added in ACTUAL EPISODES if Vivzie actually stuck with making episodes about a I.M.P

One of the premises could’ve been that an angel is making profits on earth implementing magic into their merchandise. And that threatens I.M.P!

This is So Dumb

Are we seriously supposed to believe merchandise for an anime can somehow have magical powers???

????? Why does random merchandise have actual MAGIC in it??? How did it even GET this magic??? Who GAVE IT this magic??? Did the company that made it have someone magical working on it???

None of this shit makes any sense lmao.

The 3 Episodes That Show Why Stolas' Current Redemption Arc is Doomed to Fail and Stolitz is a Failed Relationship:

INSTANCE 1.

EPISODE 2 OF SEASON 1:

[LOO LOO LAND]

While he does have his perv moments in Loo Loo Land (will insult that in another post), his most notorious one for me is how he addresses Blitz after being nearly 'attacked':

Here he flat out calls Blitz his 'knight in shining armor' (meaning he did only invite him to live out some weird fantasy of being saved by him) and refers to the 2 people who helped him as 'littler ones'. But he TOTALLY doesn't look down on imps guys, he said so in the newer HB episode.

INSTANCE 2.

EPISODE 5 OF SEASON 1:

[THE HARVEST MOON FESTIVAL]

Here he already acts like an ass from the getgo, but I'd like to point out something Blitz says at the start:

"When this happens it's not something I really fuss about"

This sentence implies that Stolas has pulled this last second call back on the book before despite knowing Blitz needs it just as much to keep his business alive. While here it's done because he has to do the festival ceremony, this means that there's a chance he's pulled this more than once solely to get a quick fuck or because he stupidly decided to forget he's a prince and needs that family heirloom to do his job.

And what was his response to this?

If this thing is so damn important then WHY do you use it as a token solely to make this guy sleep with you?

And lets not forget that Blitz ONLY agreed to go to this thing not to be around Stolas, but due to his employees being from there:

(and this was Stolas' response to Blitz telling him that he wouldn't be able to do his job regardless' granted he does say he doesn't give a crap about the clients the fact he even responded like this was lowkey kinda rude and condescending)

(it's said as 'I'm sowwy your cwients will have to wait~' but the auto subtitles didn't catch it right)

INSTANCE 3.

EPISODE 1 SEASON 2.

[THE CIRCUS]

For our last mini glimpse we'll be looking at the episode in which this gaslighting journey begins; skipping towards THAT scene:

Imagine seeing a childhood friend you haven't heard from since you were a child and automatically assuming that they came to fuck you instead of assuming they were coming to say hi.

Like I'm sorry, but it's VERY weird to me that they have him act like this with Blitz when the last time they saw each other they were kids.

(and even then blitz was only there because stolas' dad bought him for the dude as a birthday gift)

(plus this was how he reacted to being asked if he was there to ravage him. The seduction stuff was flat out wrong, but from the getgo he had NO intent to have sex with Stolas until he felt bad for him AFTER getting what he came there for in the first place.)

And thus we reach the end of the post; I certain I didn't cover as much as I wanted (because I refuse to sit through HB again because I'll just get mad at how hard the story nosedived) but these scenes here stuck with me the most.

Here he makes it clear that:

He only sees Blitz as someone who can get him off

He doesn't care about the business he's trying to run

He sees Blitz as his 'knight in shining armor' and deliberately put himself AND his daughter in danger solely to put himself in situations that force Blitz to save him

He sees any other imps besides Blitz as meaningless, given how he called Moxxie and Millie 'you littler ones' despite them helping him

But I'LL be the asshole if I remind any of the stans this despite it happening on screen for everyone to see-

Lol

Lmao even

REVIEW OF SHORT 3 FROM HELLUVA BOSS

I liked it, ngl. It was funny, it wasn't written by Vivziepop, and it was overall fun to watch Blitz get his own solo mission!

But yknow, his interaction with the weeb felt... Familiar.

Very....

Very....

Familiar.

But other than that, 7/10 certified banger ✨️✨️

Also last gripe:

First Blitz sucks with sex and can't use the crystal because they imply he has to tongue it everytime-

Now they just show him giving it a little rub and now he can use it no problem on his own with no backup

Like they said you're supposed to be intimate with the stupid thing for it to work yet he just gives it a .5 second stroke and boom a portal appears no hassle

Does this guy suck at sex or not or was that crystal schtick an excuse to not only drag Blitz and say he sucks at oral but also give a reason to sexualize Moxxie for no reason other than 'lol'

Stolitz is NOT Based on a Lack of Communication

I just want to debunk the idea that Stolitz is only toxic due to a lack of communication between Blitz and Stolas. It is not. A lack of communication between partners is when one of the partners doesn’t properly express how they feel or when they outright hide information from the other partner.

When you try to apply this to Stolitz, it doesn’t work. Blitz FREQUENTLY expresses how he feels towards Stolas, he makes it VERY CLEAR that he feels uncomfortable and tries to set up boundaries to Stolas, however, Stolas doesn’t show any care for Blitz’s boundaries and continues to invade them. The problem isn’t a lack of communication, the problem is Stolas is an abuser.

This is LITERALLY what I’ve been saying!! I swear people only like the IDEA of Stolitz rather than what it actually is….an abusive mess

It’s crazy how HB team has official merch of Stolitz, portraying them as cutesy, lovey-dovey like official couples. Rather than portray them as dysfunctional like they are in the show currently or having it feel earned organically, they want to sell the idea of Stolitz. This is to distract people from the fact that they don’t have chemistry or compatibility and shippers can maintain a fantasy.

It’s honestly sad

Source: Twitter

Also, remember when the crew, including Viv, remarked that Stolas was in his own head living a fantasy(or something) after Full Moon. Yet, they sell merch like this.

I was rewatching some of Madeline Maye’s HB videos and I caught this comment which made me sad

I’m glad that more and more people recognize how abusive it is but the amount of fans that either view sexual coercion as a “both sides are wrong” issue or that it didn’t happen at ALL is genuinely concerning.

This is why I never buy into the “Viv cares about survivors stories” narrative. In her world, sexual coercion isn’t real, using sex for survival makes you a bad person, being submissive and scared of your abuser is a character flaw, all survivors HAVE to be snappy and snippy with their abusers, having trauma means it’s okay to sexually harass and abuse others, sexual harassment is funny, rape is funny (when it happens to a character she doesn’t care for), not wanting to be with someone who abuses you simply because they love you makes you a bad person, you are obligated to get into a relationship with someone even if you’re not ready for it, clients are entitled to body autonomy of sex workers, no means “yes probably, they just won’t say it because they’re hiding their feelings”, etc

Like holy shit, I’ve never seen a show or its spin off feel like it’s HATED survivors more than this one.

Tw - upsetting Blitzø dissociation animatic on Twitter

If you encounter it do not angrily contact or harass the creator or I hate you and will take their side.

Saw this sad animatic of blitzø dissociating because of what stolas did in apology tour, and Loona finding him like that. He starts dissociating: talking about the party, stolas calling him a motherfucker and kissing another guy. Then because the animator ships it, he says ‘maybe I should let stolas go’ which causes the most panic? Letting go of this horrible abusive man?

Then Loona starts saying Blitzø shouldn’t let stolas go cause he’s like her, he has walls, don’t give up. I didn’t watch the rest but it’s full of Loona inexplicably wanting him to hook up with stolas no matter what.

Jesus. This fandom. No. No. Stolas could put Blitzø in an early grave and they’d still say the ship is not worth giving up on.

If someone makes you dissociate from the pain of the things they do to you, fucking hell, don’t try to win them back to your favour. It’s not “walls” it’s abuse. Run. Anyone who tells you to keep trying with them is so wrong.

Edit: watched it.

It ends with:

“I don’t want to let him go Loonie”

“Then don’t, dad”

After his cruel hateful actions caused Blitzø to dissociate for hours???? She wants him to get back with him?! Christ.

They also recycled Loonas “everyones got issues doesn’t mean they don’t care” line. That damn scene.

HOLY SHIT THATS A WONDERFUL QUOTE

Stolas: We were written in the stars.

Blitzø: That doesnt mean much when you held the pen.

Stolas and Valentino are the same character

Hear me out.

Warning: Long text. Also hot take?

Disclaimer: I don't hate HH or HB, or any real person involved. While I'm not shy to criticize, at the end of the day it's still a fictional world and not worth getting too mad over.

So, I'm one of the people who had never heard of the Hellaverse before HH dropped earlier this year. Never seen either pilots, never heard of Hazbin or Helluva, never seen or known anything of the characters, and thus had 0 attachment to any of it. This year I watched HH after it released in whole before knowing what a helluva boss was. Now, Valentino deserves the bullet, we all know that and most people would agree. So when I got around to HB, I was shocked to see the Valentino archetype....being adored and a fan favorite? Unironically, too?

Like... They're so similar in both how they look, act and feel towards those around them and their version of AngelDust/Blitz.

Let's compare; 1. Rich, high on the social hierarchy, with an authority that's difficult or impossible to challenge: Check.

Valentino is a rich, famous overlord pimp who uses souls and substances to control and exploit people beneath him.

Stolas, demon royalty, filthy rich and so powerful he ranks only below Charlie. Has entire legions and a palace-full of (imp) servants at his beck and call.

2. Tall, red eyed, twink with effeminate gestures, pleasant voice and distinct manner of speech. Also dark purple/grey -ish.

Like come on, check.

3. Obsessed with a low rank, underprivileged poor sack/object of desire.

Check.

4. Gone out of their way to acquire control over their object of desire.

Valentino, through means unknown so far, bought AngelDust's soul, keeping him bound to him. This leaves AngelDust unable to leave or refuse him.

Stolas had his book stolen by Blitz, but instead of reporting him or simply getting it back, waited long enough for the latter to build his business depending on the Grimoire, and only after it became essental to his job, Stolas set inappropriate demands, knowing Blitz would do anything for the book he now relies on.

5. Their objects of desire are expected to perform sexual acts whether they want/like them or not, and are bound to suffer negative consequences for not complying.

AngelDust has to do porn and prostitution work to make Valentino money and afford his addiction. He gets physically abused, belittled/insulted, and verbally/emotionally abused and manipulated for not doing so.

Blitz is expected to sexually please Stolas each full moon however the prince desires, to keep his (very difficult to make and keep for his low rank in society) business afloat, pay his employees, and financially support his adoptive daughter. Failing to keep Stolas happy means putting himself and especially his loved ones at risk or significant disadvantage.

6. On top of their transactional relationships with their OoD, romantic/romance-coded feelings or behaviours are one-sidedly involved.

AngelDust is Valentino's number one star/moneymaker, perhaps favourite employee, yet Valentino throws jealous tantrums when he's ignored/not suckered up to, and feels entitled to Angel's time, attention, availability, and texts him like a clingy boyfriend.

Stolas, not satifsfied with their arrangement, began expecting Blitz to fullfill a romantic role in his life and deliberately tries to have him perform this fantasy; by trying to get him to be his knight in shining armor, dropping everything and coming to his rescue when he's in danger that Stolas could have easily avoided/gotten out of if he didn't want to be a damsel in distress in the romcom in his head. Is shown to be upset/dissapointed when Blitz doens't want to do anything with him outside of their deal; not staying over after sex, not visiting him in the hospital, not wanting to be near him anymore than he has to. Acts wronged, petty, belittling/mocking and ghaslights/guilttrips Blitz when the latter doesn't act like a devoted boyfriend, when in reality Stolas has made him essentially an indebted prostitute.

7. They treat those they see beneath them poorly.

Valentino is sadistic and exploits, physically assaults, emotionally/verbally and psychologically abuses his contracts and coworkers. Is creepy and predatory to those who aren't bound to him yet.

Stolas, less sadistic than Valentino, yet he exploits and physically abuses his palace servants. Is entirely indifferent to seeing his staff mistreated by his wife. Outside his castle, he's classist and racist, belittling imps, feeling entitled to their services showing no gratitude, or straight up ignoring their existance. He only sexually abuses one imp, though :))

8. They treat those on the same level as them poorly or are neglectful.

Valentino is shitty to Vox and Velvette, breaking their stuff, yelling, insulting and being petulant around them. Even to Charlie, who is above him, he assaults and insults her all the same.

Stolas publicly cheated on his wife, flaunts it with no shame, has no concern or care for how this affects his daughter, who he claims is his reason for living and the only one he actually cares about. Doesn't assume any responsibility for his actions, expects everyone to accommodate to him. Carelessly leans out his daughter's inheritance and seemingly her studies, which are his responsibility, are subpar. Also forgets about his daughter constantly, stayed hours in the human world watching a shitty sitcom rather than go look for his missing daughter in a place she's never been in and, as far as he thought, was in danger. Is happy ditching/neglecting his family and princely duties to pursue his OoD with no care for the consequences and harm on others.

9. They often display sexually charged speech and actions that are inapprioriate to the people they're with or the situation.

Valentino is a creep and sexual predator off the go to pretty much anyone, specially vulnerable/gullible people or straight up people who don't want/like it.

Stolas speaks openly of his sexual desires in front of his family, reads imp erotica at the dinner table in front of his wife and teenage daughter. Speaks of Blitz sexually in public despite his protests.

I'm tired of typing at this point lol, sorry for any mispellings, but come on, genuinely asking, why are these two so differently received by the fans?

It's not even about which one is worse, because they way I see it they portray different versions of an abuser; Valentino is the more overt "textbook" type, the one everyone recognizes as abusive, and Stolas is the more covert one that everyone sees as the victim instead and paint the actual victim as the bad guy for not acting like a regular textbook victim. I get that everyone was iffy about Stolas at first, as it's reasonable, but I truly don't get how everyone grew to adore him so much?

Personally, I don't even find him neither funny or charming. At least Valentino has some funny moments/lines, but Stolas is just so whiny and annoying to me, which is a shame because I really wanted to like him and his owl design is cool. I love good villains, and I would like Stolas more if they treated him accordingly, like a villain, instead of a poor uwu sad gay babyboy who's crush doesn't call him back.

If you read this far; first of all, ur cool

I welcome any thoughts and additions as long as you're polite and respectful about it. <3

Gender aside, when most ppl picture an abuser they picture someone like Stella: lashes out physically and verbally and is constantly cruel with no sympathetic qualities. But the reality is that multiple types of abuse exist including ones most people don't realize is abuse, there are abusers who like Stolas speak softly and calmly.

This is why it really grinds my gears when Stolitz/HB fans claim I and other Stolitz criticals "are so privileged they don't recognize women can abuse men." They are the ones who don't realize the full extent of what abuse can look like.

Abuse doesn't have to be screaming, open insults and physical violence. It can be guilt-tripping you, gaslighting you and saying things that make you feel small.

Helluva Boss stans: omg, if you don't like the show, just DON'T WATCH. Why are you so obsessively hate-watching it and ruining the fun. Get a real hobby.

Some of HB critics, antis and simply people disappointed with how the S2 turned out: lol okay.

Views: *drop by like 70%*

Stans:

Who would have thought that completely derailing your premise for generic and abusive relationship drama would eventually result in a massive view drop? /s

Even the so-called "bad faith" critics have grown so tired of the shitstorm that is St*litz that even when the show finally remembered its roots and had the shorts revolve around assassinations, they did (comparatively) attrociously in the view department.

Finally someone said it. I just wish that when Stolas got all pissy about Blitzø not personally showing up to save him, he told him the reason why. Blitzø had to be there for his daughter you feathered shithead, you should try doing that sometime.

Honestly Stolas has no right to be mad about Blitzø not saving him in Western Energy because of three reasons:

1. Blitz sent his partners to do it. He did not leave Stolas on his own, he helped him in the best way he could at the time

2. Blitz was trying to help his daughter and keep her safe from diseases. We know that this appointment took years to get, it's not like he could reschedule for another day. Sorry, but his daughter takes precident over his twink hookup who constantly sexualizes him and coerced him into a sexual relationship. Stolas has a daughter that he claims to love, so why doesn't he understand this?

3. In the first episode, Stolas sees Blitz and crew running for the lives while being shot at, and does absolutely nothing to help, instead trying to make a sex deal with Blitz while he's under duress. Why should Blitz be obligated to save this man who couldn't bother to do the same for him, despite being 100 times more powerful? It's hypocritical, it's a double standard, and I refuse to pity Stolas

110% agree. I’m starting to believe that Viv just can’t write romance.

So I was thinking about it and I just realized something: 99% of viv's ships don't actually like each other. Vaggie claims to love Charlie but is constantly embarrassed by her and criticizing her. Stolas claims to love Blitz but raped him for months on end, was racist, and then stated that he just wanted to be the protagonist in a soap opera regardless of who the other lead was. Moxxie and Millie love each other but refuse to tell each other heartfelt secrets or recognize when the other needs something (this is weak but that's because they're barely people). Husk makes heart eyes at Angel sometimes but spends most of his time just hating on his porn, the way he talks, and the way he presents himself.

Why would I want any of these characters to end up together in canon when they hate each other?

Stolas is a rapist who plays the victim when called out on his bullshit. There, I said it.

I'm so sick of this fandom acting like Stolas is better than the other Goetias when it's just not true.

Stolas may love Octavia, but he's a neglectful dad and doesn't keep his promises to her.

Stolas may have been raised by his Imp butler, but that doesn't stop him from abusing and fetishizing other imps.

At the end of the day, Stolas isn't much different from other Goetias.

Sorry but it's true :(

I just want cool assassination fight scene dude and it's not there anymore (miss my boy moxxie)

Views are lower than ever. Helluva Boss used to get over ten million views in a day or two. Despite the "imp assassins plotline would get stale" (not true + cope + as if constant annoying melodrama doesn't get draining and stale lightning quick) bs that the stolitz echo chamber likes to parrot at people with critical thinking, it's clear that the shift to DRAMedy has caused Helluva Boss to nosedive at terminal velocity towards irrelevancy.

They wasted the fun concept of a ragtag group of lower class hellborn demons being hitmen-for-hire for bitter sinners- growing closer and confronting their traumas as a found family while on their missions- while also battling the systematic obstacles they face as the lowest classes of demons in Hell.

These plot elements are mere blips that are either rushed to oblivion or completely ignored in order to make more room for the stolitz soap opera.

Hate to break it to some of y'all, but shows (cartoons especially) gravitating from wacky comedy with character arcs sprinkled throughout to melodrama that has nothing to offer but "sad moments", crumbs of lore, and shipping slop has been done to death since the early 2010's. Nobody wants that shit anymore because it's overdone and exhausting to sit through, especially when the comedy bits aren't even funny.

Why Stolas is a Terrible Person/Character

Oh this will be long. In this post I will cover why Stolas is a character that fundamentally fails at everything it tries to accomplish. I probably have to say that you can love Stolas. That's just why I hate him.

Trigger warnings for: Racism, casteism, power dynamics, sexual assault, sa apologism, abuse, and neglectful parenting. A lot, I know, but that's Stolas.

His Actions in S1

Despite the title, there will be two examples from season 2.

Racism/Casteist

Stolas is from the upper caste, a royal. He seem to often fetishize imps, or the fact that he's sleeping with someone who's less than him. I even saw fans pointing this out. He have empathized Blitzø being an imp in a sexual context.

(Notice the use of words: "little", "plaything", to me this is blatant racism and fetishism).

He also showed a certain lack of empathy for his imp butler.

Stolas isn't particularly violent, he doesn't choke people left and right. He's just angry, at Stella, so he decides to.. choke the imp.

Stolas has been dehumanizimg imps. Fetishizing an imp for being an imp, calling him an "impish little plaything", and he has been willing to choke an imp just because he was angry at something unrelated. He's racist and casteist.

Treatment of Blitzø

"Treatment" is putting it lightly. In the first episode, Stolas does something inexcusable that will taint their dynamic for all of season 1. First, he sees Blitzø in a vulnerable position, where he cannot think or negotiate. Thus, stripping him of what little choice he has on what he's about to offer.

What Stolas is saying is, "Fuck me or I'll shut down your business". This deal he makes is just a threat with extra steps. Which, is a real life abuse tactic called Quid Pro Quo:

"Quid pro quo harassment occurs when someone in a position of authority over another directly or indirectly demands sexual favors in exchange for some benefit, or to avoid some detriment in the workplace".

One element I haven't brought up yet, is the political power imbalance. Stolas is royalty, one with a lot of power, influence, credibility, etc. Blitzø has non of that. Other characters have commented on that the fact that Blitzø even has a business is a miracle.

There are so many layers of imbalance and how Blitzø has no choice or agency. A royal is """offering""" the powerless a Quid Pro Quo while he's in a life threatening situation.

And their dynamic looks exactly like you'd imagen. Stolas is consistently sexualizing him against his consent. (As it's been established, Stolas's racism feeds into this). And refuses to do the surface level courtesy, not even calling him his real name (x).

Stolas treats Blitzø as a lesser being, violates his boundries, forces himself on him, and strips him of all autonomy.

Faliure as a Father

Stolas's role as a father is directly tackled in Loo Loo Land and Seeing Stars. At the beginning, both episodes show Stolas being a good father to Octavia, but does this still hold true in the currect day? Well, no.

In Loo Loo Land, Stolas wants to take Octavia to a theme park. Octavia is 17, and Stolas ignores her when she says she doesn't want to go. (In retrospect, Stolas coud be oblivious because he's projecting onto Via his experience meeting Blitzø).

But that's just the start. Stolas then invites Blitzø to the trip and harasses with him all throughout. Essentially, Stolas is forcing his daughter to watch as he harasses "the homewrecker", all the while he's supposed to be with her, on a trip she didn't even want to go to.

After a whole day of this, as expected, Octavia runs away. Stolas chases her. (And of course, he's still thinking of Blitzø on his way to find Via). There's an apology scene that looks deep, but when you dissect it, it's rather empty.

Stolas never actually provided an explanation as to why he just did what he did, nor of the "drama" with Stella. There is nothing here. Octavia only makes up with him because he said he isn't gonna leave her. Which is bare minimum.

After he realizes that his affair hurts his daughter to the point where she feared he's gonna leave her, what does he do? What practical actions does he take to improve? Divorce Stella? Cut off his deal with Blitzø? Explained the situation?

Nothing. And now we see he's willing to stand up on a stage and let people know.

In Seeing Stars, Stolas bashes Via's mother to her. Which, does she know about their situation? Does she not? She isn't shown to hate or.. anything Stella. Is he hiding the situation (which I'll cover), while also trashing her mother? That's impulsive and negligent.

But that's nothing. She later runs away, Stolas is stressed as he should be, but the second they arravie on earth he's all calm and everything's normal.

When his daughter is missing. When he is shown to be stressed, it's for the sake of plot. But he's willing to just chill, watching Blitzø's show.

Stolas is, dare I say it, neglectful. He might care about his daughter, but he's proven that she's not enough of a priority to focus on her when it matters.

Cheating

Yes, I know what ended up being revealed, I'll cover that. In season 1, the relationship is presented to not be perfect before Stolas cheated.

But there were instances that showed that what Stolas did changed their relationship for the worse. (Some additional rebuttals).

It could have been a loveless marrige, they could hae fallen out of love, they could have been arranged. But their relationship was manageable. Love or no love, it's a committed relationship. and Stella didn't deserve to get cheated on.

Who was Stolas?

Stolas's behavior is common among royals. Stella has no problem throwing said butler at Stolas (S1 E2), and the Goetias are shown to be casteist. They're untouchable privileged assholes.

Stolas was born that wealth, never having to suffer the consequences of his actions. Always putting himself first, hurting others. He doesn't mean to, he wants for everyone to be happy, he does care.

However, when it actually matters, he acts on his worst tendecises with no self control. He never had to learn self control. That is, until Ozzie's.

Before Ozzie, Blitzø and Stolas are at obligation. Stolas's actions had tainted them. There was one redeemable moment: He saved Blitzø's life. Stolas did something for him. But this one act of goodness doesn't magically fix anything.

Stolas's family life have been escalating. Stella hated Stolas for cheating and his daughter just had to take it. In Loo Loo Land, he learns the full weight of the damage he caused. And in the next episode we see him, he proceeds to take no steps to improve the situation. In the end of that same episode, we learn that Stella hired an assasin after him. Because he did nothing.

The season 1 finale, Ozzie's, is aware of all of this and absolutly delivers.

The episode starts with seeing Stolas alone, in his big house, miserable. It appears that Stella finally left the house. (Also he later says "Octavia is with her mother this weekend"). He's eating a bowl of cereal, pitying himself, wallowing in his despair. You feel bad for him, he looks so torn down.

And then Blitzø calls. The one he loves, asks him on a serious date. It's hope, it's honest, and it's exactly what he wanted. It's almost as if the universe handed him is fairytale scenario.

Almost. Reality smacks him right in the face on that date. Asmodeus calls him out on losing everything he had. He had a family, a happy daughter, but gave it all up for an affair.

Blitzø calls him out on treating him like a pet, not earning any of that emotional connection he wants or even communicating it, just violating him, they have nothing.

The show held him accountable and called him out. While it's not perfect, Stolas is a morally grey character. Now, a character arc was set up where he learns to treat people better. Stolas is exactly the character I want to see from a show like Helluva Boss. He's a horrible person, but nuanced, who does care.

Season 2

Yeah... all of that is thrown out the window. Because apparently, Stolas is just imperfect. He simply made a lot of mistakes. He misread a lot of situations, really it's all just an accident. He's an oblivious victim. So, let's get into the woobification of Stolas.

Surrounded by Evil

In The Circus we're given Stolas's ✨️backstory✨️. And we find out he had such a terrible life.

Stella is, and always was, an abusive evil bitch. From the day she was born. Pure evil.

So you see, Stolas did nothing wrong. Let me be clear, you are not obligated to stay loyal to your abuser. We can erase "cheater" off the list. But that's the only reason why it's done. So we can erase that off the list, and that we could feel oh-so-sad for him.

Because Stella isn't written to be an abuser. She's a cartoonishly evil. We see a picture of her as a kid where she's the same person. Spongebob villians have more depth than her, you know, the abuser in the adult show.

Helluva Boss reversed an established dynamic where Stella is the victim and Stolas is at fault, except without any of the depth or nuance.

But that's not all. Stolas's dad (Paimon) is also neglectful. By "neglectful" I mean, of course, a Saturday-morning cartoon villain.

He doesn't remember his name. This is such bullshit. I can buy Stolas having a horrible father. It's also not bad to show Stolas's trauma. What is bad is that the subject matter is handled with less seriousness as the fish fight in Spring Broken. And Helluva Boss did write Crimson as a serious abuser, the episode did have comedy, but not Paimon.

The reason why all of this is happening, is so we could feel bad for Stolas. They do zero of the work to earn a good story about abuse, but still go "Do you see how sad he is? Look at how they're treating this poor baby!!"

"Recontextualization"

In said ✨️backstory✨️, we also learn that Stolas and Blitzø are childhood friends. But also not really, they just hung out for one day. Where did this come from? How does that enrich the characters? I would tell you, but I don't know. However, what I'm sure of, is that it's done to make Stolas look less problematic.

DO YOU SEE HOW CUT THIS IS? He isn't just horny for that imp, he is special, it's absoultly pure! Don't worry, totally safe.

Later in the flashback, we see how Blitzø and Stolas reconnected after over 20 years. Apparently... Blitzø was the one who sexually manipulated Stolas, selling him that he wants him.

All Stolas did was just buying into Blitzø's narrative he was imposed on. It's a role he leaned into, because he thought Blitzø liked it. I.. WHAT???

If this horseshit is true, why did he make this weird r*pe deal with Blitzø? If Blitzø was the one who acted like he's interested at first, and he was sexually exploiting him, why did he lash out at Stolas in Ozzie's? Did it just hold no weight for Stolas? It went from "Don't pretend to have something when you've been harassing me this whole time" to "You misunderstood".

The Stolitz backstory makes no sense, it's cheap, and fixes nothing. No matter what the story is trying to sell, in season 1 Stolas knew what's happening enough to try to force it. And maybe Stolas wanted Blitzø because of a connection, he still harassed, dehumanized and violated him.

Note: Stolas realizing "he imagened the relationship" is completely ignored one episode later in Seeing Stars. This is a huge deal, didn't he learn? Just further evidence that he's willing to violate the guy. (x)

Before this backstory, we had a story of a selfish man hurting the person he loves while explointing the broken system and the power that he has over him for his own selfish desires that he's forcing on him. Now, we have the same thing, but with fanfic tropes – and the story refuses to confront that.

Casteism is Brushed Off

Helluva Boss pretends that Stolas isn't racist, because he didn't want Blitzø for being an imp, but for being his fanfic trope childhood friend. Which fails to adress the disgusting fetishism of Blitzø for being an imp, and he also continued to dehumanize his imp butler in Seeing Stars. He's still racist.

Imperfect Father

In The Circus, Stolas devivers this line: "The only reason I have endured your constant insults and cruelty, was for that girl to have a normal life".

Sounds impressive, he stayed all these years just for his daughter. But that's the thing – it sounds impressive. Every time their relationship is the focus, Stolas is being the scum of the earth. What I see here, is a person. A person who despite being willing to stay passive, acts on his his selfish wants, forgetting to look around him. Mind you, this fact is also being revealed one episode after Ozzie's.

But no, one episode later, in Seeing Stars – that was covered as a prime example of everything I just descriped – Loona says this:

Yeah. He's just a good father "trying" his "best" and makes some.. "mistakes". The Circus did present Stolas as this, but Seeing Stars really solidified how his parenting will be handled moving forward. And I think it's comlete and utter dogshit.

Damsel in Distress

The title is a bit misleading. This section is mainly about Stolas's power being toned down. Both magical and in presentation.

In season 1, he was energetic and enthusiastic, while being able to set his foot down and intimidate when needed. He's still all of those things, but in some instances his characterization made my raise an eyebrow.

In Seeing Stars, he's being weirdly gentle with people kidnapping Blitzø and are later beatting him.

In Oops, he's excited to start negotiating with literal kidnappers. I have no idea why he's so nice.

(He did harass Blitzø again in Seeing Stars and bashed Striker, all of which isn't soft, but it's also the two moments where he should have shut up).

Further more, both of these conflict rely on Stolas not using his powers for some reason or another. Why didn't he just do whatever he did in Truth Seekers to track Fizz/Via?

About Via, I'm gonna have to call bullshit on the "My powers are limited on earth" nonsense because, for starters, kid Stolas is shown to remember the contents of his books and now he's been studying them for years. And two,

There is no excuse for Stolas to not use his powers and whenever the show says otherwise it's bullshitting its way out of it.

Even in Western Energy, before Stolas gets captured he was just aimlessly going in and out of his demon form. Why didn't he turn him into stone like he did in Loo Loo Land?

Stolas has been presented as weaker than he is. He's made to look more vulnerable, less "above it all". He was untouchable, and when he wasn't, it had a harder impact and made sense. Now, I almost forgot he's a powerful demon.

And his characterization is at the core of this issue. At times he's just so kind and gentle with people who should get smacked in their heads.

What about Ozzie's

The big clash, the one that called Stolas out on everything, the one that set him on a genuine path to grow, what about it? How is it adressed while the show tries to pretend he's a good person?

No, not the message Stolas is looking at, the ones in the background he just scrolled through.

I'm not breaking this down. I refuse. The only reason I put it here is to show how fast it goes. I'm not touching that.

Who is Stolas

Stolas is a moral scapegoat – "a character that is bad, but the book/movie/show portrays them as good". It's characterized by the story twisting itself to make one character look good.

Stolas didn't start out as one, but became one over one season premire and it just kept escalating from there.

Helluva Boss takes place in Hell. A horrible place filled with horrible people, the root of all evil. Stolas fits right in there. He was already problematic, awful, fed into Helll's broken system. Why trying to cover up his faults? It's Hell, and it was great. But now, we're supposed to pretend he's just flawed.

With the show actively ignoring everything he did, what's left for him? What does he have to learn? How will he grow as a person? How will he improve? What's his character arc? It's nothing. Because everything that happens to him isn't his fault, and at times could just be solved with one conversation.

Stolas defenders … *holds your hand so lovingly* … being a repressed gay man in an abusive marriage doesn’t justify his actions….i understand you relate to his queer struggle and he’s comforting to you because you see yourself in his want to be free and gay and In love.

You can still like Stolas but victim blaming blitz is not the correct conclusion.

I’m so baffled on how badly this is written.

Unless you’re actively making a story of the opinion that victims are to blame/you do not think it’s ok to speak out against your abuser… whhhyyy would you write your show to show and feature how much blitz hates his situation outside of a few VERY RARE situations?

You want Stolas to not be the bad guy? Why write blitz hating the relationship 98% of the time? Why show Stolas demeaning him as a “impish plaything” ? Why show Stolas physically abusing other imps ? Calling blitz a name he doesn’t like? Why show Stolas only pursuing blitz sexually AFTER Ozzie’s? Why have the deal be made when blitz life was in danger ?

I simply don’t understand the logic here , if your intention was for us to sympathize with Stolas why did you give blitz all these reasons to hate him? Why did you write blitz to be a helpless victim who took months of sex off because he hates Stolas?

Why are you suprised ? You made your character unlikeable , then said “ok yeah but actually HES the victim”