"Stella Did Nothing Wrong"

heh.
I have a Patreon now!
/ sarcasticchorus
Feel free to chat with me on social media!
Insta: ChorusSarcastic
Twitter: @ChorusSarcastic
ending theme:
Artist: Causmic
Title: Much Higher
Download Song: / audiolibrary_. .

[@LoudRevised]

Stella is like if the rich girl archetype never got redeemed and in fact, got worse. Fits the setting of Helluva Boss.

[@YubelLord1]

She's pretty much a one dimensional B

[@entityofthestars]

agreed.

[@devrajd.1958]

literally chloe from miraculous

[@pegeta]

She just wants him to put her in her lane and lay the pipe Properly

[@alliewantscoffee]

@@devrajd.1958 difference is that stella never got a redeeming arc, and chloe was going to have it, but thomas asstruc deleted it all and made her seem even worse in season 3 and/or 4 ig

[@VanHellbright4763]

The moment when Stella is insulting stolas at the party may actually show her being somewhat dismissive of Octavia, since she just referred to her as just "an egg." It's also telling how Stella didnt even discuss how octavia would be affected by the divorce at the end.

[@cathygrandstaff1957]

Yeah, and it’s pretty clear that Octavia has no relationship to her mother but had a strong relationship with her father.

[@Lovethehumans]

@@cathygrandstaff1957 What?

[@gawkgawk2438]

@@Lovethehumans gang the idea that this single word is implying is hurting my brain

[@QUEENOBSCURE]

also would Octavia count, as its normaly male heirs not female....

[@fruity4820]

is it possible that Stella referred to Octavia as "an egg" simply because Octavia actually was just an egg at that point of time? the time standpoint of flashbacks in this show always confuses me, I'm really not sure when this episode took place in relation to the main plot

[@justaghostinthesea]

I'll be honest: I see Stella as a Jack Horner type villain. Just evil incarnate and proud of it. It's a fun character archetype.

[@Steelstriker]

I agree. It's fun to hate her character, and it feels refreshing to see the classic villainy for villainy sake.

[@justaghostinthesea]

@Raspian Kiado Well said

[@SkiggsMoDiggs]

@@raspiankiado3126 I'm not sure, the "I like tormenting you" line from her is pretty damning to me

[@Justyouraveragechaosenjoyer]

I agree! Also Raspian Kiado said it well too. Sometimes it's just fun to have a character you can hate for the fun of it. Like she is such a wonderful character- absolutely *awful,* but that's the fun of it! You love to hate her, and it's perfect.

[@Cenazinosaur04]

@Renigan Keyword: recent. It basically switched from last time. But yeah sometimes moderation is key, especially with tropes

[@wulfvenknight6691]

you're allowed to like Stella BECAUSE she's a terrible person. She doesn't need to be good. It's a show. This is a story. She's serving an important narrative purpose, you can like her for that. I do. She's incredibly entertaining, and I like the way her presence effects the environment every time she's on screen-even when it's just her voice over the phone! She's hugely impactful to the story because of who she is and what she's like.

[@fuckwit107]

Ye I think people forget it isn't real life and you can like morally not great characters because it kind of has zero impact on the real world. You can dig the character without condoning their actions in real life.

[@Ghost-yl1yt]

The Reason I like Stella a lot is 1. Her DesigN. ITS FRICKIN EYE CANDY 2. Since we don’t see much of her in the show(for right now), I like making head canons and my own story for her so I can enjoy her more. Maybe she always hated Stolas because she never had any romantic interest since she was a Lesbian. Maybe she’s been coddled and spoiled all her life so that’s why she mentions; The Goetia Family, because she’s used to getting her way? So she’s fun for that reason too

[@SmileyEmps]

Also each of the IMPs are far worse than her because they are all mass murderers, no matter how abusive someone is, murder is always worse

[@lesnarahamilton5674]

ya making stolas clean.

[@Viod753]

Stella is for me at least the type of villain that is so terrible you can't help but lover her

[@TheCommenterDragon]

I'm not defending Stella when i say this but, even though she had her quote unquote "reasons" for being pissed off at Stolas and ordering hits on him, if they ever found out it was her behind all of it chances are she probably wouldn't face any punishment for it because not only do they live in Hell but also because Stella comes from a rich family, and as the series has shown even in Hell you can get away with anything as long as you have money,power and a social status.

[@kylepessell1350]

Hmm but Stolas also comes from a rich family with money, power, and social status. Despite the fact that Paimon doesn't seem to care about Stolas himself, I sincerely doubt that he'd take something like that lying down as it would be a 'breach of marital contract'. It would cause a blood feud between the families and would not be pretty. However as pointed out, Stella only cares about her own feelings and is too short-sighted to see the long-term consequences of her actions.

[@yatomcyato6459]

Please save the Oxford comma.

[@Intokyky6969]

She was like this even before stolas and blitz banged

[@philipgood5041]

I doubt she would get anything anyway. I mean, come on. Her brother is a Marquis for goodness sake, was there really no other options to give Stolas a bit of choice? What, did the mayor not have any daughter's? Was the Chamberlain infertile? (Laughs in understanding of the hierarchical pyramid)

[@carolinareaper6342]

I mean to be fair i.m.p killed alot more people for less

[@DrummerrDuckie]

Sometimes simplicity is better than forced complexity. I'm looking forward to seeing more from Stella and how she handles the divorce, if she ends up being abusive directly to Octavia, and especially those ongoing assassination attempts she put Striker up to.

[@TheRezro]

But it is complex situation. As she was at least partially correct, which is why it is annoying when people act like she is only at fault and Stolas did nothing wrong. It is a hell after all. It is why there are Stella apologists. We actually don't know full story. But she has reason to be frustrated with husband who was cold like icicle and already drifting away, with tendency of acting like a idiot. He did humiliated her at the ball and possibly before. Also Stolas could divorce her when Octavia still was an egg (and yes, divorces are a thing what ball in fact show). He didn't. And he simply see her more as menace, closer Octavia is to being adult. Especially after he find out that he is gay. But we do not see full story yet. As side note: She didn't kill Blitz, what would be obvious way to hurt husband and solve the problem. Secondary, she separated with Stolas. Not the other way around. She clearly expected other reaction from him then she get. What confirm that she misunderstand the situation. Anyway. I'm not saying that she is not evil. She is a demon after all. What I'm saying that Stolas is not an angel either. He is also a demon after all. He most likely was acting Passive-Aggressive and cold whole time. Though it is less obvious. She absolutely did have reason to be sexually frustrated and see many of his artifacts as subtle attempts to offend her. She probably doesn't know that her husband was a gay (as Stolas didn't know that either) and only reason they are together is they daughter, which is why he agree on pretend game. It is clear to us that it is end of they marriage, but was not to her. As side note, Stolas should do that year ago instead staying in weird romance only making things worst. Only after Blitzo dumped him, he did grow balls and actually move one.

[@zashgekido5616]

@@TheRezro It really aint a complex situation, you WANT it to be a complex situation

[@TheRezro]

@@zashgekido5616 Yes. I want this show to be well written.

[@marylovesshires1002]

@@TheRezro theres a huge difference between well written and complex, complex characters aren't always well written and vice-versa

[@zashgekido5616]

@@TheRezro That is a false comparison and I think you KNOW that chief. Sometimes complexity adds and enriches, other times it only muddles

[@4kiyotsu.0]

Stella's voice actor is amazing, I'd personally rather see her as a villian with that beautiful voice acting whenever she's angry (which she almost always is)

[@imag-nonespaghet9337]

She also is in a lot of Brandon Rogers videos so this makes more sense.

[@raymoore1120]

@@imag-nonespaghet9337 doesn’t she play one of the British people in the normal British series?

[@lopsidedseaweed]

@@raymoore1120 yea

[@Joeeyyyyy]

Right her voice actor is phenomenal for no reason!

[@shannonmacomber1983]

@@raymoore1120 I thought I heard her voice before

[@jerromelovelock4085]

Stella is certainly crazy but that what makes watching her fun, her VA did so amazing making her sound haughty and arrogant

[@oathkeeperofoblivion972]

I wanna note: the reason a lot of people think she might've been physically abusive in the past was that not only did she resort to it very quickly, but she was surprised when Stolas caught her hand, like she's done it before and he just sat there and took it. But even still, it is just one scene, that maybe is being read too far into....Though throwing the imp does also point to physical abuse. Usually throwing things (let alone people) at your partner is a precursor to hitting them, but that is just a thought that I literally JUST NOW had. So uh. I'll not write further on it.

[@keiratheturtle4676]

this was what i was thinking but stuggle to communicate, thanks for putting it into words.

[@Hanmacx]

Your comment somehow reminds me of the AH Case

[@arceusinsanity301]

The throwing of abuse shows she abuses both her husband and staff.

[@ravenschippers8267]

It may be she learned it from her own parents, she may not have been the direct victim of the abuse but because she grew in an environment which promoted this kind of behavior much less is likely normalized as this *is hell*. For all we know stoles is the black sheep of the family because he grew up isolated in his house aside from several imp servants and the occasional visit from dad for scheduled visits. He only knew the world around him from book and his family through "what is expected of a goita" but never interacted with them. Stella had learned everything from her family, she had the exposure and adopted the normality of her family. Of course this is all assumptions as outside of a few scenes being background characters most of the goita is a mystery.

[@johnweber80]

Not only that, in the photo that Paimon shows Stolas, she's in the middle of choking someone and possibly standing on someone else while doing so.

[@Ironysandwich]

For me the reality of Stella was shown with a bright neon sign right from her second line. "With an imp!" She wasn't mad she was cheated on, she was mad that her husband was associating with 'a peasant'.

[@CollinMcLean]

Being cheated on with another noble would be bad enough. But to do it with someone she views as beneath her station? That's not just twisting the knife that's playing bop it with the knife.

[@pumpkingamebox]

Yeah, if Stolas slept with Azmodeus, a demon higher in the hierarchy than Stolas’ dad. Even his dad would be hella impressed.

[@bthsr7113]

I think "A motel!? Like a fucking plebian!?" is far more telling. That part is pure classism. It's not about the cheating, the scandal damaging the family, or invasion of the space she shared with Stolas.

[@SpagettiSpeltWrong]

I highly doubt Stella would even care if Stolas cheated on her with someone on their status. Stella doesn't give a shit about Stolas or Octavia. She doesn't give a fuck about anything except her status and tormenting Stolas.

[@RBAWintrow]

@Random Birb She doesn't seem to realize that she is hurting her own reputation by badmouthing her husband.

[@AngelNearDestruction]

Tbf, she didn't seem too mad that he CHEATED, it was that he cheated with AN IMP. Honestly if he had picked a higher ranked demon, preferably some other goetia, she might have welcomed it and went to find her own affair. But of course that's not how the dominoes fell.

[@superhansolist4215]

She won’t,She probably still being mad because Stola has “disrespect” her.

[@locallilly9827]

@@superhansolist4215 Naw I don’t think she’d give 2 fvcks on if Stolas cheat as long as its a higher rank and not a lowley imp She’s concerned for her image and status rather than her husband who she hates asf cheating

[@platiuscyndar9017]

I'm like 95% sure she WAS having an affair on the side already anyways. It's got nothing to do with the cheating, it's the fact Stolas cheated with an imp.

[@purplephoenix6554]

That would be so interesting 🤔. I would be much more invested in Stella's story if she were more calculated than abusive.

[@caramelcwossont]

Probably, him cheating on someone on the same level or higher she’d probably be okay-ish with it, but he cheated on her with an IMP, she ofc would be mad as it’s disrespecting to her family

[@jayqontaviousshabooba8024]

Even if someone trys to justify stella by saying “he cheated” , the “marriage” was just a high class baby carrier thing.

[@MrJackTheRipoff]

I mean didn't they say it was only to produce a "cautionary heir" in the event of Stolus untimely demise? Definitely makes sense with what you're saying.

[@boredboi6279]

She hated his ass before that happened

[@cesar6447]

​@@boredboi6279which is a contradiction since the daughter said they both once loved each other, but we have to demonize Stella so Stolas cheating and blitzo home break doesn't seem as bad

[@maphy1453]

​@@cesar6447well... maybe she *thought* that they loved each other, but they were trying to fake it for so long that Stolas ended up cheating, and that also made Stella show her true colors a lot more often

[@wilberwhateley7569]

Yup - in many of those political marriages it was quite common for the aristocrats to take on consorts because the relationship was largely a sham only kept up for PR purposes.

[@RandoSando.]

"We can't tell that Stella is physically abusive to stolas" Bro she was literally throwing plants and imps at him in the first episode she was officially introduced. That is physical abuse. She hired an assassin. More abuse! In the flashback she was shown in a picture choking dogs. PHYSICAL ABUSE. Then she was surprised that Stolas caught her hand instead of letting her hit him. Also stolas says that he, "puts up with her insults AND CRUELTY". She has clearly always been physically abusive.

[@cathygrandstaff1957]

Well it’s a dog plushie rather than an actual dog, but yes she looks quite violent. Although that seems to be the norm for Hell with the only weird thing being that she hired an assassin when normally she would have killed him herself.

[@Mxlfchugger]

@@cathygrandstaff1957 Wait the dogs are plushies? I thought those things were alive since one of them took Millie in the ending on ep 2 lmao

[@RandoSando.]

@@cathygrandstaff1957 no they're real dogs. They just foam at the mouth. We see the same species of dog in the loo loo land episode dragging millie away. And I think vox has one on his Instagram

[@clockwisewonky1736]

@@cathygrandstaff1957 Mm,, they're not plushies- you can see them crying (and one of em running away in the photo), and also one dragged millie away like the other two comments said.

[@brandonscott5544]

Stella physical abusive must toxic relationship

[@markeye2043]

We’re not mad that she’s angry at Stolas. We’re mad at how she HANDLED that grief.

[@itzkamarahomie17]

Bruh she put a penny on his head 💀

[@brianna2788]

a good way to have handle the situation in Stolas's POV is to have divorsed her and then blah blah blah, but you know, My opinion is that for ✨ P L O T ✨ I'm glad Stolas cheated, and Stella is an 💅Immature Impatient Bad Bi-ch Almost Everyone Hates Because Shes. Just. That. Bad.💅

[@palace8329]

but what about how she treated him before he cheated?

[@GlitterF-CK]

Plus it's notable in the way she talks about him to others that she never loved him or wanted to be with him to begin with. "thank God an egg fell out of me so I can stop pretending to want to have sex with him". I'd feel a lot better about her anger towards him cheating if she hadn't made it super obvious that she didn't love him or want him to begin with. It was all about appearances

[@catneko6855]

@@GlitterF-CK To be honest- I think she hates being arranged- maybe she had a lover that she wanted instead- and now she takes all her anger out on him. ITS sort of mutual.

[@skyrimlover777]

I was so worried for a moment "oh no my favorite content creator gone and lost his damn head." I mean, I wish stella would throttle me as much as the next person with issues but she's the WORST.

[@absolutezerochill2700]

you wanna get thrown around like that imp? sheesh you really down bad

[@shadowdragon7347]

This is a certified (angel dust voice) "oh harder mommy" moment

[@gerardolareu8415]

same, my guy. same.

[@nyeh7205]

Amen

[@evagarcia865]

“We have no proof she was physically abusive” wasn’t she like…throwing imps and flower pots at him in her first appearance in ep 2?

[@liesdamnlies3372]

Yuuuuuuuup. I don't think this guy has been on the receiving end of physical abuse (particularly from a woman), so he doesn't see the red flags for what they really are. Which is a good thing, I'm glad for him, but he misses a lot by assuming people are reading too much into things.

[@boredboi6279]

​@@liesdamnlies3372 she even tried to slap him when he was going to end it but he blocked it

[@UndatedMango]

Well he was talking about before stolas cheated on her, the hitting and throwing things at him was after he cheated.

[@thembofriendsimp]

also having to "do all the work" in bed while he "stared at the wall" is giving me major s/a red flags that whole relationship is a non-consentual mess

[@liesdamnlies3372]

@@UndatedMango Physical abusiveness in relationships doesn't come out of nowhere my dude. It's always there before their partner does anything wrong like that. All we have of her before he cheated is her in public spaces, where she's quite happy to deride and mock him. It's not a stretch to assume this abuse got worse in private.

[@fuzzymelon1261]

her VA did so well. Georgia Leah does a great job of the "bitch wife", which is a role she has taken in Brandon roger's other videos. she kinda reminds me of Beatrice horseman in the way that she is abusive but you love to hate her.

[@emcaco]

Ooh, good comparison!

[@zashgekido5616]

The funniest thing about it is even from the start, Stella was more mad about it being an imp than being cheated on. The signs were there from day 1 that this was almost never about the affair itself

[@fluidwolf]

Yeah there are a bunch of lines during that episode that show to her it wasn't about the cheating itself but how it reflects on them. She gets upset about who he cheated with and that it became public, not that he cheated itself, she gets upset that he mentioned wanting to use a motel for it and she gets upset not at the fact that he would go somewhere to cheat on her but that a motel is a "low class" establishment. She cared about how it affected their status more than anything.

[@SpitfiretheCat16]

I'm just glad they aren't pulling an MCU like you mentioned. As a woman, I'm sick of the modern overcorrective culture of "all women are infallible and any perceived moment of weakness is purely the fault of a man causing her greater suffering". If they have to make her a 2d punching bag to give us "evil lady" representation, so be it. It's not even unrealistic; some people are just assholes. They're bad people, they don't have some tragic backstory to justify every future wrongdoing and crime against humanity, and they don't care about personal growth or changing for the better. Are all people like this? No, absolutely not. That's a gross over-generalization. But so is claiming that any bad action can and should be forgiven. Sometimes life isn't nuanced- sometimes there's a good guy and a bad guy, or in this case, a bad guy and a much worse guy. I'd much rather get to see a truly evil person than yet another forced redemption arc.

[@deathlight4210]

It would be interesting to see her backstory tho

[@twilightzone7141]

@@deathlight4210 Same! I don't want to see her get forgiven either as she does deserve it and everything that comes to her aka karma as she is IS an awful person but I would still love to she her backstory as even the assholes have one and it may not even be a GOOD reason to be the way she is but nonetheless i would love to see her reasoning beyond 'TORMENT!' i think it might have to do with her brother for how she turned out? spoiled and taught the wrong lessons perhaps? either way she doesn't deserve a redemption but i would still love to see her get fleshed out some even if that just ends up with her being worse in the end.

[@becuaseimbored3481]

True, but nuance is often more compelling

[@lunakingsley.7247]

There are multiple female villians that are just villians in the MCU just like the male villians.

[@kingofcards9516]

Well done, I agree.

[@LinkDropsRupees]

As someone who was abused, the grabbing of her hand was absolutely a muscle memory. Also, we need to stop trying to make Stella out to be something she’s not. She’s an abusive pos

[@magimerlyn9596]

Also, this is animation, where you can be safe in viewing everything that might be an acting choice onstage as an intentional decision by the creators. If there was ever a moment to tell the audience that Stella has been physically abusive to Stolas in the past, it was that scene, when he's at his breaking point and is done with her bullshit. We see from episode 2 that she's physically abusive to her staff (throwing imps) and that opened up the possibility of her being the same way to Stolas, that scene just confirmed it.

[@robotrabbits]

she has def been throwing things at him on screen since season one like yeah shes thrown hands thats not up for debate :/

[@dominiquelester4433]

potentially, but as somebody who was also abused Stolas has eyeballs, and she raised her hand up, very fucking high. Anyone could have caught that or ducked out of the way. He was looking at her head because they were arguing, and she raised her hand up beside her head, you would have to be an idiot to not see that coming, and it wasn’t even a particularly fast move

[@chelonianmobile]

I would point out that that's probably more likely from Stolas' dad, not from her. We actually saw him hit Stolas over the head for bowing to an imp.

[@sebastianb.3978]

​@@chelonianmobileExcept he spemd literally one day around his dad, and at least 17 years around Stella... Who's more likely to have abused him to such an extent he reacts on reflex?

[@robbieking4070]

She’s like an early Disney villain: Evil ladies like Maleficent, Lady Tremaine and Ursula weren’t exactly complex, but by god, they embraced being bitches tormenting their victims and we loved watching them for it. They didn’t need complex backstories or tragic pasts (until that crappy live action Maleficent movie happened). They loved being evil and so did we.

[@crypt5129]

Who tf is Tremaine

[@changeofheart9460]

@@crypt5129 Cinderella's stepmom

[@crypt5129]

@@changeofheart9460 Didn't know she had a name

[@hayond656]

@@crypt5129 Same I knew the other girls did tho

[@ospreysstuff]

and also cruella. why do you have to turn the woman who was written as a no-good heartless lady who skins dogs into a story about woman’s rights? not helping the feminism case.

[@VanHellbright4763]

Sometimes, people are just plain awful for no reason and even if she does have a sad past, it doesnt excuse the abuse she's been doing on Stolas.

[@zenitsuagatsuma7337]

EDIT: Ok I'm making this so people stop arguing with me about it. When I say that I want Stella to "be bad just to be bad" I'm not saying she doesn't have a reason. I could care less if her reason is cause of the money, power, her reputation as a higher being, or just because she loves being a bitch. I just don't want her to have a tragic backstory like "Oh her family were mean and cruel and it shaped her into the asshole she is today!" cause I mean, come on. THEY ARE DEMONS!! DEMONS HAVE NO REASON TO BE EVIL, THEY . JUST . ARE. If I continue to get people arguing with me I'm going to ignore them because I've made it obvious what I mean and if you don't understand that's not my problem Original comment: I hope she doesn't have a sad past. I just want one villain character who is literally bad just to be bad and not because of some sad traumatic thing that happened when they were little

[@syniimon-stix4022]

@@zenitsuagatsuma7337 so you want a piece of carboard with angry eyes drawn on it, not a character.

[@evagarcia865]

@@syniimon-stix4022 so you think *every single* villain/asshole character needs a sad backstory? You do realize that there are people in real life that are simply just assholes

[@zenitsuagatsuma7337]

@@syniimon-stix4022 No I want a character who doesn't have a reason for being evil other than to just be evil. Not every villain has to have a reason behind their actions and plus, they're demons, they live in hell, in the real world demons don't do bad things and harm the living cause of a sad tragic backstory that made them that way, they do it cause they're demons, they're already evil, they don't need a reason other than they want to

[@syniimon-stix4022]

@@zenitsuagatsuma7337 That's not a character. A villain without a motivation isn't a villain. You want one dimensional characters that don't change or develop or grow. You want the characters to be stagnant. Every villain in history has had a motivation, whether it be money or power or whatnot. A villain without a motivation isn't a villain.

[@allisonkrapf5605]

I will say this, I don’t think Stella ever harmed Octavia. Why? Because Stolas outright said, “I’ve only stayed with because of her.” I paraphrased, but I have no doubt in my mind that if Stella ever did anything to harm Octavia, Stolas would grab his daughter, get out of there, and send divorce papers the next day. Edit after season 2 episode 4: Well...this didn't age well.

[@-valmetal-]

oh for sure. in the newest episode it took him 4 seconds to get to I.M.P when he was told that octavia was missing (even showed up in his demon form). that man LOVES his daughter and i couldn’t imagine what he would do to stella if she would hurt her.

[@ezdiar]

Stella probably wasn’t as outright abusive to Octavia as she was to Stolas, but I don’t think she’s a good mother to her either. Clearly she has no issue with showing her displays of hatred towards Stolas in front of Octavia, seeing her more as the collateral damage of her violent tendencies. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was just straight up emotionally neglectful as well, since she doesn’t seem much like the empathetic or nurturing type. Stolas thought he needed to take Stella’s outright abuse for as long as he could so that Octavia might have a chance at a normal “happy family” life. He probably also didn’t want to run the risk of Stella taking any of her rage out on Octavia, so he took all of the abuse himself until he finally saw an opportunity to leave. Of course sadly, we’ve only so far seen Stolas getting carried away with his newfound independence and unwittingly neglecting his daughter in the process. But I hope that once that dust starts to settle a little we may get to see him fighting more to protect Octavia from Stella as much as he can.

[@thesleepydot]

@@ezdiar yes. yes. yes. exactly.

[@eyyyy3265]

@@ezdiar100% agree that Stella was the one abusing Stolas but I also feel like at some point Stella will have a redemption arc because from what I’ve seen, Stella was always like this during childhood (judging from the baby pictures) so maybe she’s just had a very bad upbringing? Plus, some people are already theorising how her older brother (that she dearly looks up to with confidence) is going to actually be the one to betray her. And judging by his design and also the fact that he was the one who arranged the marriage, he probably had some plan behind this. If that is the case, then it can be safe to bet on a redemption arc for Stella. And I personally like Stella’s character a lot. I’m not saying I’m happy with what she’s done with Stolas, but her as a whole, (even if she’s a plain villain right now) there’s something very likeable about her. And to be fair, everyone in Helluva universe has done something wrong. Even Blitzo has made horrible mistakes but we still feel sorry for him and Stolas because we saw their sad childhood upbringing. Maybe if they show more of Stella’s childhood, we’d understand her more as a character and why she’s so horrible and reckless?

[@ezdiar]

@@eyyyy3265 totally! That’s the awesome beauty of shows like this, where the whole point is that nobody is completely innocent. There are no true heroes or villains. No one is without shameful flaws and no one is without sympathetic qualities. I had no idea that Stella’s brother was the one who arranged the marriage though! I didn’t know he had that kind of authority in the ars goetia since I thought his status was technically below that of Stolas and his father. Granted my knowledge of the overall hierarchy is still pretty basic and solely based on the few theory/commentary style vids I’ve seen in my quest for more Helluva/Hazbin content 😅😅 I did always find it interesting how Stella had already shown such blatant signs of violent tendencies at such a young age, and how we never actually got to see it in action, but rather through a picture. It would be so interesting to see what kind of childhood she had that led to her being so unapologetically cruel, and perhaps even seeing the story behind that picture being taken (since you’d think that for a family as concerned about their image as the goetia’s they’d make sure she was portrayed as at least somewhat likable to the person she’s being arranged to). Granted, there’s always a chance that it all could’ve just been a means to move the plot along in the episode, but I have a feeling that the writers are more mindful than that.

[@WhoTookMyMirr]

The dynamic between Stolas and Stella reminds me so damn much of the novel Rebecca. It is very clear in that work that Rebecca is loved by everyone around her, is the epitome of grace and elegance....and behind the scenes is a fantastically cruel person who abuses and belittles her husband, even using him to save herself being perceived as weak and frail after being diagnosed with cancer (and to inflict one final act of cruelty) by goading her husband into murdering her in rage. Stella is just as unhinged and cruel as Rebecca. "Never was a smile so cold", indeed.

[@ravensthatflywiththenightm7319]

All the red flags of a narcissistic relationship.

[@seasonsstarsstudios]

I love that book just for the fact that Rebecca is a contradictory character. And I agree; the dynamic is very much like Rebecca.

[@iamtheaceupmysleeve1687]

I read this and I ran to get my copy and THIS IS SO TRUE and more focused on Max is the scene where theyre throwing a party and Max is “ashen white” (around p.236 in my copy)

[@seasonsstarsstudios]

@AfianySnow298 read the book sometime. It’s much better at analyzing what we’re talking about. Or, you know, Google it, because it’s free.

[@СарраКарагозян]

"Yeah she's terrible and I LOVE her" - you, you Get It. She has done a shit-ton of wrong, but that's what makes her so entertaining! She is so extreme it becomes funny!

[@nightfall4031]

The villains you love to Hate.

[@elirevzen418]

This whole show and even story universe is so extreme it becomes funny.

[@Dantipool]

Thank you! I have been sitting here trying to figure how to put it in words and you did before me! 🤣😂

[@Savedsmile]

Hear me out. I really think stella's character design is amazing. That's the only good thing about her.

[@TomSketchit]

I had one person in a server say they cried over finding out Stella was the way she was. Apparently they really liked her before this and thought her previous actions were justified. And I mean, sure, you can expect more from her. But wow. They took her season two appearance very, very personally.

[@fnord_lander]

Maybe they felt attacked and exposed. A lot of people behave very poorly and then twist themselves into the victim do justify it. This calls that out

[@TomSketchit]

@@fnord_lander They also were afraid Stolas was going to be shot at the end of the episode.

[@the_honey_bagel199]

Yeah but Stella was ALWAYS fucking bad. Your partner cheating is awful. I've gone through it. But it was implied from episode 2 that they were always in a loveless marriage and she was trying to KILL a man for her reputation. People who actually thought Stella was justified were desperately trying to cling to liking an abusive bitch without any real reason other than "maybe it's justified??"

[@sarafontanini7051]

I hope they're doing alrght :c

[@JewelWildmoon]

Tbh I'd just tell them that they can still like her. HCs exist and sure I myself don't like her, but someone else liking the character won't necessarily mean that they support their morals.

[@thenerdbeast7375]

With Alador though, should be noted that the flashback was from baby Amity's perspective so it might be skewed. She might be remembering as "both parents are evil" when it could have been 90% Odalia and Alador could have just been obliviously agreeing with his wife, like when they visited Principal Bump.

[@Rebecca-bk9bd]

Especially when owl house HAS shown that flashbacks aren’t 100% accurate

[@dankboi_]

though Alador was still a neglectful father to his children

[@joyc.e.7511]

I mean, it's not just 90% Odalia, Alador's complicity and lack of awareness is also a rather large contributing factor to his children's suffering and is why I can't completely like him yet.

[@0gammag0]

And, he and Amity didn’t start to make up immediately - she stood up for herself, he got to see who his daughter _really_ was, and then the relationship began to mend. They didn’t even hug at the end of the episode!

[@peeblekitty5780]

@@0gammag0 Which I love and wish SC had addressed. Amity literally turns down his hug, shakes his hand, and says "it's a start". Neither she nor the narrative immediately forgives him for the neglect--just see him as redeemable. It's an important distinction that the show makes.

[@solidicone]

The biggest thing to me was when she went to hit him on the balcony. You said there wasn't enough evidence, I personally think thats more than enough evidence because of how casually she went about doing it. I was in law enforcement for 15 years, I worked literally hundreds of domestic violence related incidents. To physically strike at your spouse in that manner is a learned thing. Its very telling how shocked she looked when he did stop the blow, to me that says this isn't new, that she has gone through that exact movement before but he has never shown that not only can he stop her from doing it, he was capable of doing it the entire time he just didn't because he didn't feel like the fallout was worth it. In that scene stolas had, had enough of her. He was no longer capable of taking the abuse. Granted him cheating on her wasn't cool, its not cool in any circumstance but its the first time stolas had ever felt WANTED.. and even then he was mistaken because Blitz wasn't really aiming for that but saw that he could just to get the book so once again stolas' nature was being used against him. The poor bastard just can't catch a break with intimacy. To me Stella is easily the most vile character on the show. You look at the other "villians" the show has portrayed, striker for example. He has been stomped by the royal authority his entire life and his resentment drives him. Crimson (moxxie's) father is a crime lord, again a huge piece of shit but again its a learned behavior based off his upbringing so again while vile, its understandable. Fucking Stella on the other hand as far as we know to this point hasn't had a hard day in her entire life. She comes off as a princess who doesn't know the meaning of the word "no", doesn't know what its like to not get her way and so when Stolas finally stood up to her, her immediate behavior was excess violence mounting to and including attempted murder. Granted not by her own hand but still that doesn't really matter. She wanted him to be dead.

[@professorbutters]

Great perspective.

[@jolliapplegirl]

To be fair, Stella might just be one of those people who enjoys the power she holds over people. Like, there doesn't have to be a 'good reason' she is the way she is. Some people just like that they can press down on others. Before this, Stolas is passive and lets himself be humilated, which makes it easy and fun for her. She loves how powerful she is and revels in the frustration of not only stolas but the imps that serve her. She treats them like literal props. Stolas is just a bit higher on the hierarchy.

[@fanboyofanimation6097]

"to be fair" 🤓

[@flawfuljinx]

As prideful as she is, I wouldn't be surprised if the major reason she's mad is because Stolas' affair might affect how other Goetia will see HER. Or even if she just can't stand the thought that Stolas wants an imp over her.

[@MiyakoPisces4.0]

Nah.

[@Yourlocaltrashgoblin]

I’ve seen a lot of people mad that she wasn’t given a more complex situation/character, but many shows have characters who were meant to be hated, she’s one of them, it’s fun as a character

[@berilsevvalbekret772]

I mean on a show where all the complex characters are the male ones and the show is created by a woman so I understand. Still waiting for a solo Millie episode.

[@Br00ke291]

@@berilsevvalbekret772 yeah, like she went back to the family and such. Cause I wanna see her one sister who I can’t remember the name but she was awesome for her scenes

[@floqui3300]

@@Br00ke291 I love Sally May but sadly episode 5 felt more like a moxxie episode

[@ricaroanimar6695]

@@floqui3300 i didn't mind it being moxie episode But yeah, Millie definitely needs more screentime and characterisation Loona too And arguably moxie too Heck most of em do But Millie far the most yeah

[@crystallinecrisis3901]

Yeah I think having villains that are just there to be villains is perfectly fine. As long as they’re well-written and entertaining it works

[@kelsieswain7187]

I dunno if I’m one of the few, but I never took a “stance” with Stella. In the first season I looked at it more like they were both not great people and really needed to separate; Stella for being a ticking time bomb and Stolas for cheating. At that point in the series Stolas could be a decent person and still majorly screw up, while Stella could be a terrible person and still have something hurtful happen to her. That’s life. That’s realistic. So when we find out that Stella wants him assassinated, I just viewed it as good drama. Stolas poked the very angry bear, and now things are going to escalate because- hey, when in hell. But after season 2’s first episode, no, I don’t think it’s a character assassination. I think it’s just more fuel to the fire and it makes sense with her character. We’re seeing more of Stella’s behavior, we get to see more than just a glimpse of her being a woman with a nasty temper. And I like that! I also like that when Stella calls him out for cheating he basically says “I regret hurting you.” And she basically says “I’m going nuclear anyway” perfectly shows how vindictive she is.

[@dash9641]

Well he actually said, "I'd feel bad of I hurt you but you and I both know I didn't do that." Meaning if he genuinely hurt her by cheating he'd feel horrible (like when he hurt blitz as he was being called out by Ozzy, he reached out to try and comfort him because he felt bad he hurt him by hiding his face). Stella was never hurt by his infidelity in a romantic emotional sense and they both know that. She couldn't be hurt because she never cared about their love to begin with it was her pride and ego that were hurt by Stolas sleeping with blitz, an imp.

[@kelsieswain7187]

@@dash9641 Thank you! I actually played that bit back and realized that I had misheard it and meant to correct what I said, but I think you worded it better. I used that bit as an example of Stolas being aware of what he did and demonstrating his empathy “I’d feel bad if I hurt you”, vs Stella looking for any excuse to blow up on him and ruin his life. (And I think the example still works?)

[@sarafontanini7051]

precisely, season one pretty much only showd stella to be angry, proud, classist (her "LIKE A FUCKING PLEBIAN!?" line) and willing to murder someone over a realitivly simple slight. Season 2 just showed that she didn't jsut never had any love for stolas, she absolutely HATED him.

[@abimaellopezmaylord27lopez7]

@@kelsieswain7187 stolas said stella isn’t in love with him in episode 2

[@abimaellopezmaylord27lopez7]

@@sarafontanini7051 why didn’t she kill him before or she tried but failed

[@indiesunflowers]

With the "dad always likable/mom always evil" trope you mentioned, I actually disagree...because dads are very often evil abusive monsters a LOT of the time in movies & shows. so much that I stopped watching most things. so having the woman behave like that was actually refreshing to see. you rarely ever see male domestic violence victims portrayed in media, unless it's just one big joke.

[@TheBatIsRad6436]

Agree

[@shonklebonkle324]

Not to mention the classic anime trope of the dad not being there or even existing.

[@Eggboi3000]

It's refreshing to have such a just straight forward, clean cut character with a great design and voice actress tbh. Sometimes it's fun to like characters that are just a straight up bitch.

[@partyelixir1265]

We dont need her to have a character backstory explaining why she does what she does. Sometimes we just like characters when their a 2D jackasses

[@touchofcomics1841]

Honestly I feel like most people are complaining that she's simplistic because they want a reason to watch or make 30 more videos about her character. You don't need to explain a simplistic character 3000 times but people are still making videos about how complex bismuth was.

[@partyelixir1265]

@@touchofcomics1841 honestly. Their complaining they cant go into an indepth conversation about her

[@hithere8256]

She’s an abuser.

[@London-b4m6j]

@@hithere8256 no shit.

[@sanstheskeleton5900]

I was about to start handing out pitchforks and fire sticks for a second there that would have been a prosperous business until you started to make sense

[@aidanimationmanyaaxeleeve8942]

Bro that is really fucking unfortunate, the only replies here were two bots. 😭 But, agreed

[@vee_wee1023]

Stella is basically responsible for Stolas' actions to an extent. She literally abuses him mentally, emotionally and physically. If it was vice versa everyone wouldn't have blamed Stella for divorcing and cheating on Stolas if he was abusive, didn't please her in bed and made no effort to even copulate.

[@fruity4820]

exactly. there is so much double standards when it comes to abusive relationships. I'm glad Stella turned out to always have been a Bich if only so that we can have at least one "non-gray" abusive wife in fiction

[@nadiarey4196]

But that wasn't who she was in the first season. And from the second season flashback, she says Stolas doesn't please her - and obviously not doing the copulating thing either because they only had the one "precautionary heir", though how that would play as an excuse for cheating I have no idea... Let's be honest, Stella was *made* a bitch in this season to make Stolas' cheating justified / make him more likeable. But I think the writers didn't need to do this, because I and everyone else already liked Stolas, he's always been a favorite.

[@Corpse701]

@@nadiarey4196 this may have been the case but like the KZbinr said this really isn't out of character for her.

[@nadiarey4196]

I mean it because previous comments are painting it like people tried to twist Stella's arc to be the victim instead of abuser. But the first season implied exactly that: she was a reacting-to-cheating wife, as far as everyone knew I'm not even defending Stella (she is abusive to the help and wants to assassinate her husband, that's damning enough). It is just that it really was not a double standard issue. It's a "turn out to always have been" issue, as you said it yourself, fruity. If it "turned out" that way it's because the first season never implied that (the she's always been a bitch thing). Also, can we even talk about abusive here? I feel we should make the distinction between toxic and abusive, because abusive relationships are totally different... and some people have been using that word politically to try to imply an agenda favoring women in fiction that's frankly BS. Bad Mary Sue fiction writing doesn't equal a feminist conspiracy. Plus, the examples of justification for cheating disturb me deeply.

[@vee_wee1023]

@@nadiarey4196 abusive relationships are toxic, first of all. And in season one, people kinda understood why Stella was always raging at Stolas and reached a point to want him dead out of anger, but once we got to see things not in Stella's pov but Stolas', we saw how toxic and abusive to Stolas she was before he even decided to sleep with Blitzo

[@heartsteme8329]

I'm glad you mentioned the "Father gets to be redeemed while mom is the villain" thing because they did that twice in The Owl House. With Eda's parents its the same. Her mom is not a villain, more of a misguided antagonist and I love that episode as a represantation of what families of diabled peple sometimes do to "help". but she's still the "bad guy" while Mr. Clawthorne gets to be the perfect dad who never held a grude.

[@singingofsilver]

He's not perfect, I think Dell is just old and tired, and wanted to see Eda. It's implied that Eda avoided him for literal decades, and it makes sense that eventually whatever anger he felt towards the owl beast would fade in favour of worrying and missing his child.

[@heartsteme8329]

@@singingofsilver That changes nothing of what I said about dad'd getting to be the good missunderstood parent while mom's are the "villains" to some capacity. Mrs. Clawthorne's motivations are understandable to a degree, too, but she's more villanized for it than Dell, that's just a fact.

[@turtswing]

Nothing wrong in having a "Love to Hate" character that happens to be a woman. Stella's voice actress is clearly having a blast in voicing her, and rightfully so. Who knows, maybe she'll show more complexities when we'll see her side of the family (hi, Andrealphus), showing just how messed up she is, but for now, considering her role, she nails her part. On a side note, in a way, she did cause Stolas pain by "doing all the work in bed" while he just "stared at the wall". For a closeted gay man, being forced to perform the physical part of making a baby with a woman (that he doesn't even love) is kind of a violation of some sort, I presume. Both were forced to do so, that's true, but I feel that for Stolas this was especially painful.

[@anotheronechompsthedust9618]

i swear Stella looks so fun to voice, her actress is doing an amazing job

[@runefaustblack]

I am only now linking Stella's comment with the idea that Stolas might not be attracted to women. Thank you.

[@christophergirardi8145]

I totally agree, Stella's voice actress is having so much fun reveling how much a bitch Stella' is, I can literally hear her smiling. Which is rare and a testament to her skills.

[@frickinfrick8488]

She is definitely one of my favourite love to hate characters after this, mostly because of Georgina’s top tier bitch voice acting

[@47ratsinahoodie]

@@anotheronechompsthedust9618 Fr, especially with lines like, "WHAT. THE FUCK WAS _THAT,_ STOLAS?!"

[@Sunny-nv5wg]

I feel like people saying Stella was retconned forget that the episode she was sorta in (episode 2) she’s shown to be racist (impcist???), physically abusive towards staff and stolas (we can hear her throwing pots at stolas and throws the butler at him) and she’s shown to never consider via at all in episode 5. Whereas stolas has always tried to consider via (ex-getting her out of the house where she was obviously upset but not having the hindsight to not bring his fuckbuddy along). I understand people being upset that this whole cheating thing isn’t a 2 way street where their both kinda terrible and in the wrong about the relationship, but season 2 episode 1 was completely in character for Stella. A condescending, mean, cruel, physically and verbally abusive person who has shown (so far) to not care about her own daughter at all.

[@RavenStarMedia]

Not to mention in the flashback with baby Octavia, her tone said to me right away that she didn't care about Octavia and thought she was a hassle.

[@justice8718]

The fact the Imp she thrown is shown to be a respected and bold fucker (has a collection of women in his hands) kinda says alot about her and the imps serving them.

[@imissyourmom]

Also the fact octavia as a kid just had drawings with stolas, and the nightmare she had was about _just stolas_ not being in the mansion, and she got really desperate for it, says a lot

[@endertainted]

Have issue less with Stella being abusive and more with her being a prop for Stolas. They don't invest on her, at all, she doesn't get to be upset about being forced into a marriage too, we don't get to see if her parents are abusive too or anything, she's just there to make Stolas an even more palatable character. I like characters written to be just assholes tbh, but I don't like when they're used as means to like another character (it's not even as if Stolas isn't the most popular character in the show, they didn't need that)

[@dancingcarapace]

@@endertainted well I don’t think Stella hated the marriage. She got money, status, a fucking palace. And a punching bag (Stolas)

[@TheDaxter11]

"This wasn't a retcon" THANK YOU! I've literally seen someone say "iF wE _aCcEpT tHiS_ aS *_rEtCoNnEd CaNoN"_* lol no, its not retconned, its canon. Its always been canon, you just have to look back through season 1 with everything involving her and not have pink "waifu/queen" tinted glasses on.

[@thefolder3086]

Someone have to talk about how Stella is a literal “harpy of a wife”(her design is indeed part harpy eagle)

[@fatgecko1616]

She's a swan i thought? Her cere is black and she lives for violence just like swans. I'm not 100% so I don't want to say its 100%.

[@nirablackfire2792]

I believe her design was based on the "Secretary Bird" AKA the bird that stomps snakes into oblivion and looks like a fashionista while doing so. As I once heard it phrased. "It's not a bird, it's a Velociraptor in yoga pants."

[@milk4157]

@@fatgecko1616 Stella is a peahen. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peafowl tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/HelluvaBossGoetiaRoyalty

[@Argonwolfproject]

@@nirablackfire2792 IDK if you're right but I think she definitely looks more like a secretary bird than a harpy eagle or swan.

[@Latte44]

​@@fatgecko1616 I'm not entirely sure what Stella is meant to be, but considering her brother Andrealphus is a peacock, she's probably a peahen.

[@jaycred8726]

Although Stella is clearly an awful person, especially after episode 5 and s2e1, I still seem to recall an HB livestream where they briefly mentioned there was more to her. The Circus solidified her as a monster to play into the Stolas story, but I think there's likely more to her character that will come up later. She seems to exhibit the traits of a narcissist, and that kind of personality comes from a place of insecurity that could be explored. She doesn't have to be redeemable or defensible, but she can still have depth. I imagine her relationship with her brother could be interesting if they feed off and enable each other's toxicity. And we still have yet to discover whether she cares about Octavia in any capacity. Maybe there's a soft spot there. Probably not, but who knows.

[@antithoughtpolice7497]

I think they might pull a Beatrice Horseman, and explain why she's awful, but also why she may not do better. Stolas uses his shitty childhood to motivate him to be a better parent, while Stella might just think that's how it's supposed to be. It'd be interesting if Octavia tells her mom she pities her, because they can break her down or send into a rage, both would be interesting. It's interesting he brings up the redemptive dad vs the unredeemable mom trope, I haven't watched much recent animation, but it was definitely not great before that either, with a healthy family dynamic being: dumber dad, smarter (and usually hotter) mom... In the 90s through the 2000s, and going on into the 2010s, but I stopped watching in the later years and don't know if it carried out. I mean, what about The Simpsons, Family Guy, (< earlier seasons) Home Improvement, Ozai and Ursa from ATLA, Treasure Planet and Jim's dad, Harry Potter learned his dad was a tool and Lily stayed amazing, Everybody Loves Raymond, etc. Mom's might not get passes, in some cases, I remember in one movie one girl was forcing her parents into a lake they made toxic with their water company, and it actually killed some people, kids included. She tried making her mom go first, and her mom tried to play dumb and that just made her daughter more angry, but dad stripped down and jumped in while they weren't looking, while admitting things got so bad with the company he just couldn't back out of it simply anymore and he's sorry for all the pain he caused. His daughter and her friends technically kidnapped her parents, so cops showed up hostile, but before they ran, you could see what he did affected her... I don't know how to explain it with that scene, but that's how demonization of one parent should be. One claims ignorance, unforgiven, one accepts the problems they created, forgivable.

[@zocki5053]

There was more to her but not anymore with s2e1 they totally dumped the characters.

[@jaycred8726]

@@zocki5053 they may have crushed the headcanon that she could've been a decent person before Stolas cheated, but the whole ~30 seconds of screentime she got in season 1 weren't flattering in the slightest. She screams, throws objects and people, and hires a hit on Stolas. At best, she was maybe an okay wife but went completely mad after the cheating incident. There are just a couple things I can think of that could imply she was alright before, like the family photo where she's smiling or when Octavia says her parents didn't hate each other when she was young. Octavia could easily have a skewed perspective if her parents initially tried to hide their disdain for each other when they were with their daughter, or she didn't recognize Stella's behavior as abusive because Stolas just accepted it and tried to keep things normal. Octavia's clearly used to seeing them fighting by the time we get to episode 2, so it's likely there were issues before Stolas cheated. The cheating gave Stella something to hold over him and escalate her abuse with. s2e1 was a little on the nose with Stella's characterization, but it's consistent with what we've already seen of her doing awful things.

[@The_Misanthropic_Magpie]

@@zocki5053 “oh boohoo my head canon about someone who literally attempted to kill her husband has been smashed and she’s now the bad guy”

[@itsaUSBline]

@@antithoughtpolice7497 I was actually going to bring up this exact example. Beatrice Horseman is a fantastic example of a narcissistic personality being explored in a way that makes her understandable without ever excusing the way she treats people.

[@memeproductions1262]

Naw fam stella was emotionally abusive before stolas cheated. The only reason she stayed with him was because of the fact he's royalty and plus she always trashed talked him behind his back, and stolas was worried about her brother. And stolas was thinking about his daughter a lot more than Stella. She ain't likeable or nothin. Honestly both of them are bad but at least stolas tried to have a healthy relationship with his daughter during the loo loo land.

[@INACTIVE12678]

The scene at the end of the first episode of the second season clarifies that she is physically abusive towards him anyone who defends her is absolutely crazy, yes she has a right to be mad but it does not make her actions okay, she literally tried to get her legal husband assassinated Edit: I think this is the most attention I've ever gotten for a comment, so thx

[@pessimist1635]

Thank you, finally someone being reasonable

[@ConstellationEternalLucidDream]

Also they had an arranged marriage, she never in the show shows any romantic feelings towards Stolas- even before the fans said he “cheated” on her. She is only being abusive- she’s mad she doesn’t have full control over him- mad he doesn’t care anymore about what the royals think about him, mad he can’t be tormented for something he feels no guilt about. She’s not taking anything out on him, she said it herself “I like tormenting you” that’s the reason she was still in the same house, not Olivia, not status, not stolas being her husband. She’s angry she can’t control him with the things that used to work. She doesn’t lash out, she’s not 12- she’s an adult with an arranged husband who tried so very hard to make her happy and comfortable but couldn’t be what she wanted. He’s probably the representation of a gay man that was forced to marry a woman in order to hide from a society that views his feelings for a lesser demon as unnatural. Even Blitz believed that Stolas was a weirdo because he didn’t get that Stolas wasn’t just a rich demon with a fetish, he’s not interested in moxie, nor Millie- he’s in love and has been in love with blitz his whole life- only to be seen as a freak for it. Stolas is the tragic character facing a system that shuns him for being him- the same with the other demon at the circus before Stolas’ dad took blitz away- they aren’t the norm- Stolas, Charlie, Moxie, the child… if they were to combine helluva boss and the Hazbin hotel crew I’d say it’s possible the hotel will be a safe place for those who don’t conform to the violence and hatred. All in all, Stella is absolutely not a victim, and she is a demon who if she was a human she still would have gone to hell. Stolas would likely have been a candidate for heaven, but he was born in hell. Hazbin hotel should find a way to stop the hellborn culling of those who frankly are the way they are through bad situations. Stolas wouldn’t kill if he didn’t have to keep people he loved safe. Moxie wouldn’t kill if he was in a situation where he could make money without it- he seems like if he was a human he’d go into law enforcement, he was not happy to kill a kid, he doesn’t want to kill people in the pilot that could change or be innocent. The circus kid didn’t want to talk about pretend blood. I’m excited to see what happens.

[@INACTIVE12678]

@@ConstellationEternalLucidDream exactly, she's a clear villain, she clearly hates him and is right to be angry, but she takes it out on him and abuses him instead of being even a decent person

[@ConstellationEternalLucidDream]

@@INACTIVE12678 factssss. Honestly wondering why she didn’t get herself a bae, if she ain’t happy why not find happiness? Maybe she’s ace + Aro? Perhaps just worried about some demons finding out and telling the parents I mean hey we could have had a stolas and Stella just agreeing that Olivia should not be lied to. Simply tell the kid she’s the blessing out of their arrangement and that they’d never change it. Tell olivia her father’s not in love with her mom, not because of Olivia but because he’s gay, and he’s been in love with another demon ever since he was a boy, before the marriage ever happened. Tell Olivia it’s not her fault they weren’t in love or happy- they just aren’t together in that way- They could have been parents, without having to love one another, as long as they love their daughter. Maybe Olivia was born out of a arrangement, but her worth is not defined by that, but that she is their child- they didn’t choose her but they wouldn’t give her up for anything. Stella could have been a cool demon mom who had to work through her anger issues in order to be a good parent. It would be a great character development. Have the royals unlearn the entitlement, biases, and disrespect for other creatures in hell.

[@INACTIVE12678]

@@ConstellationEternalLucidDream I feel like she didn't get one out of worry if ppl found out. Her whole argument is about her reputation, and cheating on Stolas would ruin her rep

[@grammaSolar]

I still think baby Stolas is too adorable and pure for everything in Hell

[@Gghollow]

Agreed

[@misskitty8034]

@@Gghollow From hate to murder to prison one step

[@Gghollow]

@@misskitty8034 Yep

[@misskitty8034]

@@Gghollow hysterical wife will be put in jail for ex husband

[@noleafclover3681]

I really like the: "now it's time to kick back, relax and to read all the comments that clearly never made it past the thumbnail" at the end

[@squidpw6493]

Literally went to newest first and just found so many people that thought he was saying they’re not watching the video. Very funny how predictable people are

[@bluesherbet2741]

I know right lmao.

[@Shaksvshsvsjabav]

No literally 😂

[@jacobsamson8650]

Nobody like the comment its got 666 like right now

[@MASTEROFEVIL]

Yup

[@chiamrandall8188]

Personally I recognize she’s wrong and I love that. It’s why I love her.

[@chiamrandall8188]

@peter Shutup Peter

[@cheyannegiles9772]

I don't get it but you're definitely better than those people who say she did nothing wrong

[@thedork9754]

@@cheyannegiles9772 you can love villains as a villains. Like Scar from the Lion king. Personally I find her entertaining but not the most entertaining villain ever

[@no-ev1om]

yeah. i wish she’d hit me.

[@KDA_in_yah_area]

@@thedork9754 Scar is literally my favourite villian ever , he's so flamboyant

[@jeremy1860]

Stella's comment of "you'll pay" after she left Stolas actually has me worried for Octavia. After all, Stella knows that their daughter is the greatest source of joy in Stolas' life, and if she wants to hurt him that might be who she'll go after 😟

[@dr.altoclef9255]

I think Stella is aware that Octavia is important to her status though.

[@lalaloopsii_]

Octavia is still her daughter??

[@spongebobswindow7472]

you should be more worried about Blitz than Octavia

[@farnese__1535]

@@lalaloopsii_ that doesn't mean she automatically love her man

[@azamonra]

Octavia is probably safe since she's the replacement for Stolas, which was the whole point of their marriage so Stella wouldn't touch her. Even if she doesn't have any attachment to Octavia as her mother, which we don't know either way yet, she at least seems to take the internal politics of the family seriously. She referred to Stolas as a traitor. So she'll at least take Octavia's position into consideration.

[@easyt3720]

To those who thinks she’s innocent Stella did do something wrong. Even before Stolas cheated, I think you forgot about all the “i have to do all of the work in bed” and just being terrible to Stolas.

[@commandercorl1544]

Exactly! Literally sexual assault. They describe him as being limp and staring off while it happens. saying nothing =/= consent.

[@Idontexisthihi001]

I think that’s reading too much into it. I think it was just implied Stolas was just putting minimal energy into it, because he was not attracted to her. I feel like people are very eagered to hate her so they will turn anything they can against her. Not defending her, but people were making head cannons about her being abusive before it was revealed. To the point the reveal didn’t really feel like it was planned from the beginning, but just a way to make stolas seem more innocent

[@portgasdace2913]

​@@commandercorl1544 But doesn't stolas sexual assault blitz and when he burns out a cigarette on his head or when blitz was kinda forced to make a deal because he was being chased by the crazy wife

[@commandercorl1544]

@@portgasdace2913 blitz explicitly agrees to these situations (although not whole-heartedly), so it is consensual, although they definitely need to work a lot of those things out since it's clear blitz isn't enthusiastic about some of these things.

[@kama933]

Personally, I'm just glad to see an unsympathetic female abuser and male victim in a cartoon that isn't treated as a joke. (Honestly, I prefer if she remained iredeemable and unsympathetic, though not one-dimensinal, because female villains don't always need tragic backstories, but that's just me.)

[@celeri6497]

someone said it! this is why i really like odalia and stella as characters. abusive wives aren't treated seriously *anywhere else* but these two shine as prime examples of how to do it right. if they make either of them sympathetic i will be sorely disappointed.

[@kama933]

@@celeri6497 Yeah, honestly, I'm a little tired of how much sympathetic and tragic villains are put on a pedestal by people. I mean, I love sympathetic villains as much as anyone else, but I always enjoyed the pure ireedemable evil villains a little more. So I really hope they don't try to make Stella redeemeble, but I would like to learn more of her life.

[@val926able]

i agree. also her voice actress is so amazing at it.

[@cathy9100]

@@offsewingdragons9142 I'd agree, but I hope it doesn't happen bc then stella stans will be rushing to defend her

[@draculaura_keyblade]

@@cathy9100 that'll happen regardless, that's just part of life in a fandom space. i'd personally like an explanation for her actions ( not a stan, but someone who would like to see something that goes, ah this is why she was pushed in this direction ) because this is a series about people who are seemingly terrible improving themselves, they're allowed to have someone who may be irredeemable or rather just doesn't want to improve and sees no need to who, who has reasons behind her actions.

[@sleeplessreader]

I think the people making the argument that Stella physically hurt Stolas before might have a point. It’s not just the fact that he knew to catch her hand, it’s also how casual she was when backhanding him. Not to mention how aggressive she was portrayed to be in episode two, like you said, she literally threw a living person at Stolas, so anything else she might’ve done wouldn’t really come as a surprise.

[@ladyofnoxus6733]

I love Stella for just her voice alone, but damn is she is just an AWFUL person. and I LOVE it. I love that they aren't (hoping) going to give her a tragic backstory, when in fact she was possibly just raised this way. And is just who she is. She is actually one of my favorite characters in Helluva Boss, my ultimate favorite character is Verosika. Love that Sucubus.

[@pessimist1635]

Yeah some people are just objectively and simply terrible, no caviot

[@HYAxSYNTH]

I honestly prefer Stella over Stolas because Stella's voice is on POINT like WOW

[@pessimist1635]

@@HYAxSYNTH Bruh moment

[@HYAxSYNTH]

@@pessimist1635 I really don’t care y’know. People can have opinions. Stolas is too horny for my liking

[@London-b4m6j]

@@HYAxSYNTH huh? 😨

[@moodylittleowl]

I kind of like this trope - because some people, regardless of their tragic background, are just "that bitch". Background can explore what made them this way, but someone who goes out of their way to take their anger out on others is just "that bitch" and reason for someone else's tragic background story

[@singingofsilver]

Yep, not every character has to be empathetic or have a reason, they could've had all the love in the world as a child and still come out as a rotten, horrid person. Some people are just bad for the sake of being bad, because they like to be bad and like what they get for being bad.

[@justphantom2532]

I think this episode was just them explaining why things are the way they are at Stolas's home. His dad forced him to marry Stella but stolas still tried to make it work. How ever it never will because stella does not love him. She is selfish and abusive. Doesn't make cheating okay. but from the way it is explained in the series. It seems like only the first time was cheating. The ways stolas explains things it seems like Stella and him are separated. So they can keep the titles the same but not cause issues. It seems like She doesn't care what Stolas does behind her back just as long as people don't know about it. She probably knew he was gay but was upset about being embarrassed in front of her friends. Then to add more salt to the wound there is a good chance Blitz can take her title. So imagine being Marchioness marrying into higher nobility just to lose your title to the lowest class in your kingdom. For someone as proud as Stella this was a nightmare. The Episode is saying they are both wrong for what they are doing.

[@pessimist1635]

Finally someone who underatands what the show was trying to do

[@alittleoddme1940]

Exactly it's an arranged marriage in this world with demons. Stella husband could do whatever he wants just not be publicly humiliating her .

[@justphantom2532]

@@alittleoddme1940 yeah and stella never mentions being hurt or having this ruin their family. just that he was with an imp. This will be an embarrassment to the family. I wouldn't be shocked if the reason Octavia thought her dad was leaving was because her mother mislead her. it seems like the looloo land episode came after Stolas cheated. and the singing seen was after the date in lust. based on the dialog and clothing.

[@Pteropus1800]

if I were to marry a woman like Stella....I would honestly...CHEAT HER A LOT MORE A LOT AHSGGSHAHAHAGSAHQSUQ

[@slakaososjene]

This fandom is writing whole paragraphs over 1 person i love it

[@omarsalem1219]

The avatar fandom : pathetic

[@samtheinkdemon9876]

You guys want popcorn? I probably made enough for the people who are just reading the comments.

[@jackb.207]

Bruh every school ever be like

[@Hallow3]

@@samtheinkdemon9876 me

[@nxstalgic._]

@@samtheinkdemon9876 I need some I have my tea 🍵

[@thekingofrockin7944]

This video summed up pretty much all of my thoughts about this really well. I was weirdly not surprised when Stella started acting horribly in season 2, and I’m mostly okay with it, but I still think it’s a bit fair to call it a character assassination. That said, the fact that Stolas traded one completely miserable relationship for a completely heartbreaking one does make his character a lot more tragic. Good video man!

[@nirablackfire2792]

He's my take on the situation- I love Stella as a villain, but she is not going to be anymore than that- A villain. I think people want to feel vindicated about being right about her being a horrible person because if Helluva Boss is anything- it's showing us the uncomfortable subjects. And one thing that stands out about with the whole Stella and Stolas mess, is that it shows *Women can be the abusers and the men can be victims.* Which is a very controversial subject... somehow... I'm personally GLAD they made Stella a horrible person where you can't use the obvious crutch "Well she was cheated on!" arguement to automatically shortcut sympathy to her character without her earning it through some redeeming qualities. Because it shows that Stolas' cheating was out of valid reasons and not the same old "well he's a absolute selfish prick, deadbeat dad who threw his family away to satisfy his sex drive." like we always tend to see. And while that is a valid real life situation that I personally... and painfully understand. It's worth giving props to the show for making the abuser and problem parent- the *mother* for once. I don't even think you can really call Stolas' cheating, REAL cheating, because...lets face it... Stella and Stolas never had a real relationship. Their marriage was forced, and it was all to birth out a replacement heir for Stolas should he ever die. Yes, it's cheating by definition. But when there's really no love to betray... it puts even Stella's ONE defense into question. Stella was more pissed about her fractured reputation the scandel caused, than any personal betrayal on their marriage. Stella is a rich self-obsorbed toxic abuser, and honestly, she doesn't need redeeming qualities or a sympathetic backstory to compete with Stolas. She's perfect.... *just being a villain.*

[@SavouryGalette]

You hit the nail right on the head here. I don't know why people are so eager to place the blame entirely on a male character for the _woman's_ horrible deeds.

[@nirablackfire2792]

@@SavouryGalette It's people who want a black and white approach to this show. Which doesn't play well here. Most people have the rule "Cheating is inexcusable no matter what." Branded into their memory. Which I agree with wholeheartedly. But people forget, Stolas and Stella's relationship isn't normal. It's an arranged marriage, an outdated concept by modern standards. So the idea of Cheating because you don't love your partner is excusable because the relationship is manufactured with a goal in mind.

[@edoardoprevelato6577]

Amber Bird killed me, and we're not even half a minute in. As if i needed any more reasons to be subscribed to this channel.

[@IcyDiamond]

Amber Bird is such a great pun

[@CryoJnik]

Would have gone with Jada Peahen myself but that works too

[@BrenoRanyere]

Stella basically started as an angry wife that's mad her husband is cheating on her, making her an interesting antagonist but not a full villain for the story, adding a really good layer of "who's the one in the wrong? Who should we root for?", she was just as much of a victim in this as anyone when we didn't know the full story, but thanks to the new episode, that's all gone. She's clearly in the wrong and is just another villain, even going as far as stating she enjoys seeing him suffer, removing all the grey area of the show so it's okay for fans to root for Stolas and okay to hate on her now. It's not bad, but it just feels like things got a whole less complex now.

[@MystiqMiu]

Stella's def less complex, but on the flip side I kinda like the acknowledgement of closeted gay men being stuck in heteronormative marriages and families just for the sake of appearances thats not being used as a joke to explain why misogynists/homophobes are actually gay, etc, and the guy also still caring for the kid they had in the loveless arrangement, if that makes sense

[@chichiro8625]

The question is, is less complex bad? I dont think so We have several villians in HB who will get redemption, so why not just have a villian who is...well...A VILLIAN!

[@botfly8464]

weren't they in a open relationship? also abuse

[@nazaninsoltanpour6254]

*THIS* *f3cking this* ...I know stella is not able to be redeemed or at the very least will have to try unbelievably hard to earn her(pseudo) redemption , because of how awful of a person she is , and I don't like anything about her except for her design , but goddamnit I'm just freaking tired of this thing in fiction where the current partner of the cheater is portrayed as literally the most awful person on earth with 0 redeeming qualities to make it ok for the cheater to be unfaithful but on the bright side, since stella is an abuser and a woman, the creator would make a statement by having the male partner stand up to the female's opression, and it will be a small and effective step to destroy the double standard of male and female domestic abusers.

[@cheesy2597]

@@MystiqMiu Yeah but even this story would have been way more interesting, if the wife is somewhat approachable, making it harder to admitting being miserable and losing a "friend, loved person" than just having this annoying black and white in the characters. With the first ep of season 2, Stolas is marked as good and hurt while Stella is marked as evil. No in betweens anymore. I find this so sad, because i was really interested in this whole story with stella. I really think they changed it, because Stolitz became so popular. After all, in this one picture in their kitchen, they look genuinley happy.

[@anunwantedsoul3672]

10:10 It's been shown, or rather implied that Stella has been violent from childhood, so I think it's reasonable to assume that she would be physically abusive to Stolas as well as the fact that she's verbally abusive as well. I'm not saying that this is necessarily the case I'm just saying that I understand why people would come to this conclusion.

[@indiesunflowers]

it's definitely the case. it's bc she's a woman that ppl wanna say "well we don't know if she did" when it's super obvious that she did lol.

[@Lu_Tsuki]

Beginning of season 2 she tried to slap Stolas and he managed to grab her arm, which clearly means that there are very high chances that she has slapped him before... and for more than 17 years since Octavia is 17

[@PunkRatSoda]

she tried to slap stolas in the end of season 2 and we EXPLICITLY see her abusing the imps around the palace and smashing plant pots and things in the house when she's angry, she's 100% physically abusive

[@cakefrosting6451]

The only problem is we didn’t see it enough to know that Stella would hit someone of higher status than herself. The two times she actually physically abused a thing on screen are things deemed lesser than her: a pet fly-dog and an imp servant. Plus we only saw her outrage towards Stolas where she threw things at him only in Loo Loo Land episode. She could’ve been shown throwing things at the dinner table in Harvest Moon Festival too to really sell that yes, this has happened enough times to see that Stella is physically abusive and hence what Stella does at the end of The Circus would not be too “out of character”. There is however, more than enough evidence shown to the viewers to indicate strongly that Stella is emotionally abusive, and tbh, emotional abuse is no lesser than physical abuse to me.

[@axiliator19]

I think that at Childhood she was very insecure & picked on for being royalty, and took her anger out on her servants, but she never told anyone about these feelings, which led to her becoming the fuckhead she is to this day.

[@lilowhitney8614]

I don't like that they made Stella this abusive from the start mainly because it takes away opportunities to explore some of Stolas' flaws. If he's simply her victim and didn't do anything to justify pissing her off (even if she still goes overboard with it) then that means that the only character (other than Blitz) we see affected by Stolas flaws is Octavia. Compare that to Blitz where we get to explore his flaws through *so* many characters.

[@rasengdori13]

Antagonists in shows for the past decade getting half-assed redemption arcs by hack writers have ruined a generation into thinking that any character, no matter how terrible, is justifiable in some way. Some people just suck and they’ll never change. Get over it.

[@pessimist1635]

Finally, a reasonable take

[@SHARKBAIT_HOOHAHA_]

Exactly lmao

[@hunith3469]

Personally, I feel like vivzzie is just making Stella so horrible on purpose so that the Stolitz ship can become more liked. After all the best villians are the ones with actual character, depth and some redeeming qualities or a backstory, like the saying evil isn't born it's made. Hence how some of them get redeemed. I don't mind if her and Stolas never make peace with eachother but I find it boring when someone is just plain horrible with no context but that's just my opinion. I hope at the very least that vivzzie will let her be a somewhat good mother to Octavia.

[@CollinMcLean]

@@hunith3469 I challenge that statement. Many of the best villains have been those who're just evil for no other reason than to be villains. Megatron who once had some noble ambitions only to disregard them all for the sake of murdering his one true enemy Optimus Prime. Darth Vader, sure he had his redemption arc (well 5 minutes) but up to that point he was a ruthless assassin and apathetic killer who thought little of slaughter. It's what made him terrifying and it's what made him such as a great villain! Most of the Villains from the Lord of the Rings Ozai from Avatar the Last Airbender And tons of the classic Disney villains like Maleficient and Ursula

[@hunith3469]

@@CollinMcLean You make a good point, but I said I like context that includes being evil for the sake of it. I don't mind that, they could be evil out of boredom and I won't mind but I like context and to understand why they act the way they do. Giving some depth. This is just my personal preference. I also wouldn't have minded it as much if it wasn't so obvious that they're just trying to make us like Stolas more by hating Stella, I find it kind of cheap. Also Ozai and Ursala wanted power that's a reason ( the context I was talking about) and maleficent ( from the animated movie) was not invited to the party when everyone else was which hurt her pride, they may not be good reasons but nonetheless I can understand their motives.

[@arnold20139]

Can I juat say, I do love Stella's design.

[@rainclouds3677]

Same

[@feonaarabellaparaiso1786]

Me too. She looks like a majestic, white peacock with its feathers down.

[@Pi_sces]

She has such a beautiful design.But she ain’t pretty in the inside ;-;

[@arnold20139]

@@Pi_sces Yea I know. ☹

[@abimaellopezmaylord27lopez7]

@@feonaarabellaparaiso1786 but she’s a swan

[@Kunoichi1116]

I LOVE Stellas design and I always tell people "You can LOVE to HATE a character"

[@RecklessFire29]

I know it's not the main topic of discussion, but the Alador thing is something I felt I needed to speak up about. The series makes damn sure to show us most everyone is an unreliable narrator in their memories. Luz misremembers things that people says, and their tone/meaning. The best part I can remember is when she's being dragged back through the door after talking to her Mom. I'd think the same of Amity, misremembering because she thinks her Dad is in on it. Fact of the matter is, we see him, in the past, being nothing like that (see the flashback when Eda first turns into an Owlbeast). Dude's just chilling there why Odalia's doing her best psycho impression. Alador's not instantly redeemed either. While yes he was a victim of Odalia, he still stood back and let Odalia do as she wanted to the kids. That's still nuanced, and still deep. He only started pushing back when Amity started pushing back, too. So he's kind of a bad dad, but he's at least trying.

[@ellahustwitt8025]

I was looking for this comment. The video also makes it seem like Amity instantly forgave her father, which she absolutely did not. She told him it was a start and that he still had a lot of work to do to fix their relationship.

[@Idonthaveanameidea]

"stella did nothing wrong and you can't change my mind"-Panik "is a statement only a crazy person would make"- kalm "but here I am saying it anyway"- panik "because I can't stop laughing at it"- kalm man that was a roller-coaster of a first 10 seconds

[@1tiptip187]

For Stella to truly look like she isn't driven insane by her society and is just naturally insane we need to see her as a child. Before the picture Paimon had was taken. Because if that picture was taken as say "We have found a husband to engage you too, say cheese." then yeah, go nuts kid. She may have been a sweet child. Not saying this is likely, but still, in a show where people live in literal hell she may have started as a defense mechanism crazy and then built up to true bitch. Also, we need to see more how she acts with Octavia. That will say a lot.

[@AlottaBoulchit]

As far as we know Stella's parents were awful, abusive and fought all the time so she had literally no other representation of how a wife/mom/couple act. So she's acting the only way she knew.

[@aradraugfea6755]

While I second your call to see more of the character, and I do want characters that consistently feel like people across the whole show (Hi, Millie), little Stella is choking out what honestly looks like the help. And... I mean... nobility in hell, we know Imps are about as low as you get, we have no idea what the hell that thing she's choking out is and where it falls in the hierarchy, but Bad news directly to physical violence doesn't really help her case here. Really, from what we've gotten from her, I think the closest we can reasonably hope for out of Stella is explanation, not redemption. Though I dunno. This most recent episode really had a sort of Fanfic vibe to it so maybe there's still a magical redemption arc where we learn that Stella had trauma and now she's a good person in her future.

[@ReikuYin]

I do like to think that she just doesn't know better. The show ia about relationships and how they affect the people in them and those around them, even from childhood. So Stella here being raised in a total cesspool, or MORE likely being the unfavorate of the kids, as we do know she has a brother and if he was doted, giving she was arranged marriages like stolas to make a kid, and maybe looked at as nothing more then that egg maker.... We won't know till they give us more.

[@Canamochi]

@@aradraugfea6755 Its implied that the things shes choking are pets, like dogs. On instagram, Valentino had a post where he abused them as well and the thing was shown in the Greed episode, it dragged Millie away after the circus went up in flames. Stella is abusing 'animals'.

[@cici206]

.

[@suncricket]

Yeahh, when Stella replied "I like tormenting you!" to Stolas' question as to why she was still in the marriage, it was a straight-up lie. She tried to get Stolas assassinated, which she wouldn't have done if she really found tormenting him *that* fun. She likely only torments him as stress relief. The episode her brother shows up in will prob explain how she got into that situation. Putting the chips down on baby Stella being told about the marriage to Stolas and building him up to being the "perfect" man, only be disgusted when Stolas was... well... not that. Mix that and her unresolved anger issues and you've got a nightmare of a person on your hands.

[@MissCaraMint]

I’m thinking that maybe she was her brother's punching bag, and when she got married to Stolas she used him as her punching bag.

[@trishapellis]

This is what I was thinking. Now, we've seen Stolas's backstory and it definitely wants us to feel sympathy for him and his side of the story. We haven't seen Stella's backstory - yet - and considering the neglect and pressure Stolas was subjected to by his own side of the very same family, Stella probably has good reasons for being the person she is too. This family is modeled after Medieval European nobility, after all. It's not like any of those people were mentally healthy according to today's standards, and child neglect and abuse were normal. Stella probably never had a healthier role model to start with. The only thing women in these noble families ever had the power to do was shout at their husbands (the men were 'allowed' to cheat as long as they hid it more or less well, but the women... Their children *had* to be their husbands' heirs), and Stolas happened to not fight back even when she started hitting him... Which may very well have reinforced in her mind that he was 'pathetic' and 'weak' because she never contemplated his reasons for it, and that's the framework by which she was taught a man is to be judged. I'm not certain they'll go this route - after all, bitch by nature is entertaining to watch, and so is comeuppance - but I'm not giving up on her being more complex or at least having an understandable reason for her behavior just yet. Come to think of it (after reading some more of the comments), there are also just people who are like this. Stella may very well be the spoiled child who always received what she wanted, causing her to be wholly self-centered and feeling entitled to everything she wants - and in that case, her behavior during her marriage with Stolas may just be one big temper tantrum because she was forced into it and she never wanted it. Either way I believe she was shaped by her environment, but sometimes the environment a child grows up in just raises them to be this.

[@Disig]

I believe it was your initial video on Stella that made me look at her in a different light. I like that kind of analysis. We didn't know enough about her background or her relationship with Stolas or Hell's social expectations for wealthy prestigious demons like Goetia to really judge her for being mad. We could judge her for screaming every day at Stolas and throwing shit at him thus waking her daughter up and creating an even more toxic environment but her anger could be reasonably justified (just...like don't fight in front of your kids. Take that shit elsewhere) But the new episode just shows that she has no justification. She's just like that. She's a bully with Stolas as her perfect punching bag....until he dares to defy her and cheat on her. THAT'S why she is so mad. It wasn't that he cheated, it's that he did something that actively defies HER. And honestly I am okay with this. I agree she is far more interesting when she isn't just screaming and throwing imps. I feel like this just fits her as a character. And I actually like her now because of it. She is fun to hate instead of being a really annoying non character. There is absolutely an issue with film and shows putting down the woman to prop up the man. It's lazy writing. It doesn't need to be done, but apparently not enough directors understand how to make a compelling woman and man on opposite sides without making one out to be an absolute villain.

[@lxmesoda]

the writers also used the excuse of "helluva boss is supposed to be male focused" as if that doesn't sound like the dumbest shit ever and you can just write characters normally (ex: focusing on all of them equally)

[@billcipher8645]

​@@lxmesoda wait what that was actually said? If so, maybe that's because Hazbin will be more female-focused as the main character is Charlie and her girlfriend?

[@lxmesoda]

@@billcipher8645 yeah i recall it from a vivzie tweet and also in the pilot they focused more on angel dust than charlie or vaggie tbh

[@Dr.AvenVon]

"There is absolutely an issue with film and shows putting down the woman to prop up the man. It's lazy writing. " are we living in the same world? it is exactly the opposite

[@shattermind9355]

Honestly, with all the sympathize with the villian/villainess tropes, I'm okay with someone just being bad for the sake of it. No other reason than they are a shit person, because we got to remember that there are just people like that.

[@darkjackl999]

No No villains Only morally grey anti heros

[@shonklebonkle324]

Gotta love a good ol' Skeletor.

[@Aidselin]

I have no problem with Stella being a villain and i don't think it's a bad thing. Sometimes people should just enjoy good villains and stop trying to defend their actions and justifying them. I really like Stella's scenes and i think her voice actress did an amazing job with her character. Let's just enjoy a good villain. Unless the show says otherwise that is. But since they doubled down on her being bad, i don't think she will get a tragic backstory or redemption arc. And i think that's better, personally.

[@VanHellbright4763]

I'm honestly amazed that Octavia was kept in the dark about how much her parents hated each other for years. Especially since subtlety clearly isn't Stella's strong suit.

[@ElyraTsumi]

True. Though coming from someone who grew up with a dad and stepmother where my stepmom was actually terrible to my father for my whole childhood, I get it. It's easy for kids who grow up in that envrionment and not realize that's not how relationships are supposed to go. It's even easier to place those obvious moments that you witness as bad and excuse it being something that the abusive one is just like that but there's nothing wrong since the parent that's dealing with it isn't outright showing any hurt. You don't really get the wool off your eyes until after it all blows up in your face and you're being dragged through the divorce with them, seeing all of the ugly/cruel parts that you're now being forced to come to terms with that they were always wrong.

[@bitterflywing]

Nah, eff Stolas. In this house, we love Stella. She's petty, pink, and Stolas kinda sucks. All he does is cheat, whine, and be a damsel. I hope she shuts him up for good.

[@TailsClock]

It's always weird to talk about how much you love a character for being awful. Really helpful to have someone like you put it into words and perspective. Bad characters are important to get right along with the good, and I think Stella is a good bad character so far. I look forward to more of her.

[@RikkiJVelez]

I like how a fun show about imps being hired by sinners in hell to kill living humans slowly turned into a dramatic novella about Stolis and Stella and I’m here for it.

[@ghoster7600]

OMFG THAT EXPLAINS A LOT

[@tarvoc746]

This wasn't a retcon, but I still find it regrettable. I would have preferred a more nuanced dynamic between Stolas and Stella, with both of them partially in the wrong, that would have probably been more interesting - but it is what it is now. I don't blame anyone for initially defending Stella (although hiring an assassin and talking to him on the phone right in front of Stolas and Octavia was already a bit much imo), but anyone who still defends her after 2x1 needs to have their brains checked.

[@terrafletcher1930]

I don't know for sure, bit maybe she wanted Stolas to actually hear her and connect the dots. She obviously plotting someone death on the phone, screaming about it and Stolas isn't paying any attention even though his actions are clearly what has made her so mad. Maybe she wants an honest fight between them. He's just a 'yes' man and doesn't seem to talk to her, but at the same time, her brother seems to have put Stolas in line before.

[@Umbra_Ursus]

I can dig she's just a wretched asshole for no reason, honestly. It makes a nice counter to Stolas, who, mind you, is a generally pleasant person despite having plenty of reasons to not be. It's fascinating.

[@evelyncolon5497]

As soon as she hired an assassin to kill her husband it became abundantly clear that there was going to be no nuance in the relationship between Stella and Stolas lol. I’d be most interested in understanding what her motivations are for that. Because right now it feels like we’re missing some pieces of the puzzle. Most of the time people don’t hire assassins to kill people they’re angry at, they just do it themselves in a crime of passion. I wouldn’t put it past Stella to do that, so it’s interesting that she hired an assassin instead. I don’t know if she’s after money, power, or what, but it’ll be interesting to hopefully find out.

[@tarvoc746]

@@evelyncolon5497 Stella's motivation is kinda weird, towing the line towards inconsistency. She hires an assassin to kill Stolas, but she also wants to keep him around so she can proceed to torment him. Doesn't make a lot of sense if you ask me.

[@evelyncolon5497]

@@tarvoc746 Well I personally think she wanted to keep him around long enough to kill him while they were still technically married so that she would possibly have control over his money and power once he’s dead. I don’t know exactly how that would work tho since Octavia is Stolas’s heir. Or maybe the reason why she’s inconsistent is because it’s her brother that’s pulling the strings and Stella isn’t the one with the motivation? No idea.

[@michaelmcdowell7096]

I think the thing that pissed her off the most was everyone else finding out. I mean she was openly a horrible spouse but her reputation is everything to her lol. Would like to see more of her backstory, depends on how much they want real characters vs the Queen of bitches with her grimoire having her study the earth realms bitchdom.

[@singingofsilver]

I think her entire backstory would just be spoilt royalty forced to do one thing only: marry Stolas. I'd be surprised if there was any depth past that, honestly. Her life seems pretty straightforward as a higher member of Hell.

[@carlossanblas5807]

Well thats an angry bird for sure

[@Dan-zc3ou]

I think It's very funny and ironic that a series that make a point of giving seemingly horrible and toxic character depth and meaning is surprised when fans want to see a horrible and toxic person be given depth and introspection.

[@s3nsation646]

It certainly is. But I feel having one character just be toxic isn’t very bad. Considering most other characters in the show are completing the quota of “depth”. Also they can continue to do things with her down the line. Similar to Blitz who was an asshole but gained more depth as the show progressed.

[@E3AloeLi]

Stella is an abusive partner that I had, I don't like her because of that

[@bingusbongus3109]

Deserved

[@runefaustblack]

Oh, Your Highness, fancy seeing you on KZbin.

[@E3AloeLi]

@@runefaustblack I won’t take any shit from her anymore, I don’t care, I don’t deserve to be treated like shit and neither does anyone else, take this lesson little one

[@runascarlet2623]

I had an abusive partner that was like Stella and it’s been f*** all seeing people defend her. I honestly think if that if people even remotely considered switching the genders of the two characters than they would probably not try to justify that behavior.

[@bingusbongus3109]

@@runascarlet2623 deserved

[@temie9052]

"Stella Did Nothing Wrong" ( Me Stella Hired a Hitman For Cheating On Me)

[@shonklebonkle324]

(After about two decades of marriage where i spent a large portion of it belittling him.)

[@valentinkambushev4968]

6:12 I consider Hera worse than Zeus for one particular reason: she never takes her anger out on her husband, she always either punishes the (most of the time) innocent girls Zeus has raped or makes the lifes of Zeus' children (who are completely innocent) a living hell. For all her flaws, Stella at least does what Hera doesn't: punishes her husband.

[@TheDONing1]

To be fair, it's not like Hera has the capability to torment Zues like Stella can with Stolas. Stella and Stolas are both of equal status in hell, Zues is the KING of Olympus, whereas Hera is mearly queen. Old Greek society being what it was, Hera's authority only came with her relationship with her husband. Not that it justifies Hera's actions, just trying to put things in perspective.

[@ifeeldead463]

Not to excuse her victim blaming and misdirected rage but the last time Hera tried to go against her husband, Zeus had her hung over the abyss with something heavy tied to her feet to weigh her down a bit. Im pretty sure even if she wanted to so much as slap him, she'd go back to that same punishment or he'd do even something worse to her.

[@majosullivan]

Did...did you forget how Stella threw that imp butler across the room at Stolas while arguing with him? Someone who’s only crime was being in the room while they were arguing?While Hera’s treatment of the women Zeus sleeps with/rapes and her treatment of their children is not and will never be okay, Stella also mistreats others around her because of her husband cheating. In addition, I’m not sure if that comment on Hera being worse than Zeus only applies to Blood of Zeus, but as someone into mythology, saying Hera is worse than the serial rapist, who in versions of their marriage myth, shamed her into marrying him by raping her and in a myth where she tried to overthrow him but unfortunately failed, he hung her from the sky by chains and weighed her down with anvils and only promised to help her down if she promised never to betray him again..well in my opinion, that’s kind of fucked

[@TheDoomBlueShell]

I don't even like Hera, but what she could do to Zeus? He was more stronger than her in everything, the only way she could hurt him was by destroying what he created.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Okey, most of you are right. Here can't stand up to Zeus, but why must she take out her anger on the victims. She has every right to be angry, but she should know better than to beat down the poor girls who have already been raped or punishe their children for having the wrong father. Zeus may rape, but he at least usually doesn't bother the girls or their children ever again. Here on the other hand most of the time makes their lives a living hell.

[@infinessia4019]

That moment when Stella talks about how Stolas is terrible in bed just gave me really, REALLY bad vibes, especially how she worded it.

[@reyfan011]

A lady who hires a man to kill her husband is in the wrong. Whether he cheated or not. Any idea I had that Stella was not that bad a character was destroyed when it was revealed she hired striker to kill stolas. I don’t care how unfair it was to be arranged to marry so young, or cheating, trying to assassinate your husband for cheating, not even considering the effect it will have on your child? Wrong I know It’s funny to say murder is wrong based on a show about imp assassins killing people. But stella is trying to kill the father of her child. If she had any love for her daughter she wouldn’t do this. Stella being cruel since childhood isn’t bad writing, it didn’t come out of nowhere. From the little we saw of her in season 1 we got a hint of how mean she was. I love her character design, but her character seems pegged to be an antagonist. Unless she shows some kind of motherly love for Octavia, I fail to see any good qualities of hers

[@Zorae42]

Eh, there are lots of women who'd I'd give a free pass for hiring a guy to kill their husband. Although Stella is definitely not one of them

[@sarafontanini7051]

I love how all the people who were saying "stella may be justified" don't really focus on the, yknow, MURDER thing. Cheating is hurtful, but it's not enough to warrant literal, permanent, premeditated murder. Stella was never meant to be likable and the writers are jsut doubling down on it so we cant ignore it

[@abimaellopezmaylord27lopez7]

@@Zorae42 she embarrassed stolas in public and she laughs but when stolas embarrassed stella at the tea party then she gets mad

[@Zorae42]

@@abimaellopezmaylord27lopez7 "Stella is not one of them"

[@JackClockerinos]

I completely agree. Also based username

[@nutmeg1029]

She is the Joffrey of Helluva Boss and no one can convince me otherwise

[@harposhi]

This is Hell, but those who defend Stella must be sent to double Hell.

[@terrafletcher1930]

What can I say? She strangled cats as a child, her caretakers should've done something about that unless they wanted her this way.

[@harposhi]

@@terrafletcher1930 they probably turned a blind eye. You think we'll get to see Stella's upbringing?

[@SilverSnook7966]

@@terrafletcher1930 I think those were Chihuahuas but your still point stands

[@terrafletcher1930]

@@harposhi probably, especially when people are talking about her so much. Everybody's perspective of her got flipped on it's head. Though I believe there are books (?), they may follow whatever they already have written down.

[@terrafletcher1930]

@@SilverSnook7966 The picture scene was so fast, it was hard to tell what those Gooseworx, freaky creatures were 😂

[@VanHellbright4763]

Regardless of her past, Stella is still choosing to be terrible to Stolas. She outright admitted that she likes tormenting Stolas Like Alfred once said "Some people aren't looking for anything logical. They can't be bought, negotiated with or bullied. Some men just want to watch the world burn." And that probably describes Stella.

[@celestialgems8762]

The fact that you said probably is the reason I think the show needs to say it outright. It’s because most of the show is built on explaining why certain characters do bad things is why the audience is expecting an explanation on this as well. It’s not that everyone wants to redeem her we just want a reason or for the show to say there is none. instead of leaving us to speculate leading all of us to come up with different reasons and some people trying to justify her. People in real life do things without reason but in storytelling and for characters it’s flat.

[@15Adrie]

You make some great points about the all-too-common practice of throwing female characters into the un-nuanced villain pen, and while I do think it makes a lot of sense to make Stella a villain for this series from a greater symbolic/story standpoint, I think it would be fantastic if *Verosika* gets the reverse of the trope like you’d theorized here: I.e her “bitchy” behavior coming from a place of hurt and betrayal that’s more complicated than “mean girl is mean” and I think they’re definitely setting the stage for that with the foreshadowing so far-if they toss all of that out the window in favor of melodramatic villianizing for her too I will be *hella* disappointed

[@MissCaraMint]

Yeah I mean Verosika is already framed as someone with pretty good reasons for disliking Blitzo. Dud stole from her, and knowing Blitzo he probably made some emotional mistakes there as well.

[@15Adrie]

@@offsewingdragons9142 I mean I don’t think she started drinking *because* of Blitz specifically-blame the man for his thievery and emotional damage that he earned of course~ but V’s drinking problem seems pretty well established as a base character trait to me-being constantly pidgeonholed as a sex symbol/object, even if (or even because?) you were literally *born to be* one, doesn’t mean you can’t want a break/not want to be constantly sexualized by everyone all the time, makes me theorize her alcoholism has more to do with that 🤔

[@lexiwexiwoo]

I feel like she looks happy in that 1 picture because she's still in that post baby bliss when she's wondering in "I made that person" and how wonderful they are and maybe we'll get an episode where she thought she would give it the college try but instead of her becoming the doting wife and mother she reverts to her selfish way of viewing things and that "look at my beautiful child" has become "yeah she's cute but I made her so why aren't you playing attention to me" which I feel is her standard vibe.

[@DEMIboiyo]

Who else just realized that she's not choking a stuffed animal?

[@deathlight4210]

I thought everyone knew that

[@shanon4768]

That was what I thought too when I first saw the episode, I thought it was stuffing, Nope o_ o

[@UnarmedAntagonist]

I dont even think that's an animal but I can sure tell its alive

[@justcallmeleonardo]

I feel the new episode didn't ruin Stella. It made her eviler but she was already somewhat evil from the start.

[@Emmetlovesredvelvet13]

Lol I mean I picked sides based on being in a similar relationship when I was younger I know Stella's archetype their emotional psychopaths that find themselves as infallible and enjoy leaving you in a low broken dependant state of mind. From my own experience, I was broken hurt and afraid to leave because of how much I heard the phrase"your useless, how do expect to find anyone like me. I'm all you will ever have so suck it up" it became a horrifying mantra im my mind. So to see the same signs in a character I've guessed was just like my own abuser was satisfying because it was well written enough for me to relate. No one should defend Stella even with the cheating she could of just divorced him but breaking him was a satisfying boost to her ego so she actively chose to be abusive. Edit Thank you for all the likes I was scared I was gonna be hate bombed for sharing my experience. Seeing people understand shows that there are still good people out there

[@lightjones9894]

Strange How Stella appears to be the only owl that has teeth and a beak.

[@shonklebonkle324]

Pretty sure she's a goose or something like that.

[@lightningkiki6090]

It’s so odd to me that people defended Stella at any point. From her first line I knew she was a bitch. If she was the man and Stolas was the woman, I don’t think anyone would be defending this behaviour or trying to make excuses for it, they’d be ripping into Stella is Stella was the man. Goes to show that some people still don’t want to believe that women can easily be just as abusive as men.

[@ChocolateLoveKitten]

This is what especially gets me. I thought it was blatantly obvious that she was foul and abusive back in S1 Ep 2. From her yelling at the top of her lungs- as from what we see, doesn't faze Octavia in the slightest. To her resorting to throwing objects, even going as far as throwing an Imp at Stolas, verbally abusing him and will even openly insult him right in front of her friends, and signs that she's also physically abusive when she was surprised that Stolas caught her hand when she was going to hit him... It honestly baffles me to no ends that people are now becoming flabbergasted at this. The double standards are mind-numbing when you think about the general reaction if the roles were reversed.

[@lightningkiki6090]

@@ChocolateLoveKitten yeah a lot of people think that what they did with Stella now removed nuance from the relationship. I liked it though cuz it subverted the stereotype of “man abusive, woman victim” that is seen a lot. I was kind of expecting Stolas to be written as a little bit toxic himself, but to me it’s actually refreshing that he wasn’t I feel like it’s even especially relevant now with things like the Amber Heard v Johnny Depp case.

[@pinktrutle1490]

it's not stella being flat that's the problem. The problem is that making Stella flat makes Stolas more flat and that make Stolitz more flat. And Stolitz is the most intriguing ship of the show. So the damage can be felt depending on what you want from the show.

[@lightningkiki6090]

@@pinktrutle1490 personally I find Stolas being the victim and Stella being the abuser more interesting since it subverted stereotypes. We’ve seen cheating husband and angry wife so many times, it’s a story that everybody knows and understands. I don’t think I personally have ever seen a story where the man is the victim and the woman is the abuser. For me this is new and interesting. And I think discussions of male abuse victims and female abusers are particularly relevant recently with things like Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

[@pinktrutle1490]

@@lightningkiki6090 that's not the point i was trying to make

[@beaujackwad3324]

I love that you're trapping to people that refuse to watch the video and just looking at the thumbnail like you said and I completely agree

[@DEMIboiyo]

"Amber bird" 😂

[@ttttttrrrrrrrrrrrrttttttt6026]

People who say "it doesn't matter how Stella treated him he cheated that's way worse" Stella would literally neglect Octavia + she was verbally and physically abusive. Seems kinda sexist to me. It's obvious that they aren't trying to make Stella bad too, you can tell from her childhood picture that she didn't have a bad childhood -being arranged she was just a spoiled brat.

[@shonklebonkle324]

If anything it doesn't matter that Stolas cheated, she belittled and abused him mentally and probably physically, maybe even sexually. She was even informed very soon after the tryst. People who are cheated on don't often get to know until weeks, months or years after the fact and she got to know within a hour of it happening.

[@brookelynw]

Sarcastic chorus: “Stella did nothing wrong and you can’t change but mind about it- Is a stamens only a crazy person would make” Me: -deletes paragraph-

[@gozermadd4820]

“Stella did nothing wrong” 🤓

[@cyruscitrine]

I don't mind the direction that they're going, but I really wished that they had made their relationship more gray versus black and white. Because they had the chance to make both sides to be understandable. That no relationship is perfect especially in one that is made by an arranged marriage. It was cool that in one episode stolas was talking to Octavia and instead of throwing her mother under the bus or making up an excuse for cheating he pretty much said it was complicated. I felt like they could have done a lot more with Stella's character. I like how she is now, but it feels like a real genuine Missed opportunity to make more of her than just the b**** character.

[@abimaellopezmaylord27lopez7]

In episode 2 stolas said said stella isn’t in love with him

[@terrafletcher1930]

@@abimaellopezmaylord27lopez7 By this new episodes narrative, Stolas never loved Stella either, so..

[@emcaco]

Yeah I feel the same. Especially since there are so many older gay folk who come out later in life and felt they had to marry. And later it comes out that they were cheating, so the other spouse feels like they are supposed to be okay with this person when they were denied a chance at a real partnership. And I just feel like I've read stories with "wife/gf is a psycho beech tree who doesn't care about the boyfriend" already way too much in most BL fanfic. Won't stop me enjoying the show, but that nuance in writing would have probably elevated it to another level for me. Ah well. Thankfully the voice actress is so good at her delivery and her animation is *mwah*, it's still very entertaining.

[@Pteropus1800]

Idk why y'all love a horrible abusive character so much because she's a woman

[@mfhs2775]

The writers made her one dimentional even tho she was already a villain before. I don't like how the fandom justifies Stolas shitty behavior, specially in the new episode when he calls Stella a bitch in front of Octavia, yes she is a bitch but as a parent no one should say something like that in front of the kiddo, that just make them feel guilty and pressured about picking a side. Also he preferred to keep wasting time fighting Stella instead of just taking her shit out of the house, when he clearly wants her out of his life. Then he ignored his daughter instead of taking care of her in that hard situation. I know Stolas wanted to stand by himself (so he did with the divorce) and hit back at Stella's verbal abuse but he ended up being just as immature as her and neglectful. It kinda pisses me off how the show portrays the Goetia family as conservative but then nobody thinks about how Stolas could divorce Stella after Octavia was born, as a Prince and as a man (conservative shit) he has more privileges than her, he could appellate to divorce due to Stella being dislikeable at The Ars Goetia Prince. Stella doesn't give a shit as a mother so don't tell me that Stolas did it for Octavia, that woman is just terrible now that she is one dimentional. So he cheating on her isn't satisfactory, the show made it look like and accident and then did everything possible to justify his immature and bad decisions. Both of Via's parents are dislikeable as hell

[@Parapsychotic89]

Honestly, I feel like this is the most complete summary and analysis of their situation. It's comprehensive, covers both sides, gives each their due credit, and takes the facts shown in the situation with little to no bias. Short version, I feel like I can show this to anyone on either extreme, or just someone who needs a crash course on these two, and they'd come away with a lot of good information and new perspectives. I know I did.