Helluva Boss: Explaining Blitzo X Stolas

I just realized that they are both caring dads

I think the best way to describe Stolas X Blitzo is "a relationship that is very much unhealthy where both parties are taking advantage of each over for different things and yet it's the second best relationship in the show and has the potential to become something legitimately good for both of them."

Okay hear me out: Stolas is aware his wife hired assassins as seen in LooLooLand. He's not aware that she stepped up her game with Striker. "I WANT THAT F*CKER DEAD" could be heard by Stolas as "hehe silly imp assassins"

Can a toxic relationships work with beings who thrive on a toxic lifestyle? That's for the fans to fight over.

... Can we at least acknowledge SO MANY other series on adult animation (aka, Rick and Morty, American Dad, Family Guy...) have relationships that are so much more fucked up and yet frame them like it’s a good thing?

“Choose his daughter over Blitz any day” - as well he should. I actually want to see that - the thing about Stolas being so ridiculous is that it makes you curious to see his serious side besides the occasional glimpses. Since you know it exists - he wouldn’t have survived this long if it didn’t (I doubt Hell shelters many people - even nobility) and we saw him casually dispatch that imp in episode 2. His daughter seems to be one of the few things to make him drop the act. It’s clear that he didn’t really need a body guard in the practical sense, he just wanted Blitz at his beck and call - and possibly for the sake of appearances. Throughout the episode he pretended to be helpless but when he was having a moment with his daughter he took care of an attacker without a second thought. PS. To those who might say “maybe it takes a lot of power or he can’t do it often,” I’ll point out he turned away even before the statue hit the ground which implies it’s a simple matter and something he can do whenever he needs to.

Well that intro sure was interesting... 😳

I don't think Blitz has intimacy issues in general exactly, rather he is unable to accept or process it except physically. Everything with Stolas, the innuendo and outright threats with M&M, and in the pilot even hints at being a little too affectionate with Luna. Stolas on the other hand, other than being the world's freakiest power bottom is passive. He's never examined anything in his life. Not his position, not whether he deserves it, not his duty (which from the lullaby I feel may very well lead to his inevitable death at some prophesied and pre-determined point), not the marriage he was either pushed into or outright arranged for him, not the caste hierarchy of Hell, none of it. As a result he's oblivious to how anything affects anyone else because he's never really examined anything enough to be affected, except his daughter (but not really re-examined since whatever initial wonderment when she was a child) and Blitz. I don't think Stolas is getting off on slumming it with an Imp, I think meeting Blitz was literally the first time in his life he really truly felt something for himself. The first time he acted beyond passive acceptance of his duty and place in the world. He is a huge freak, but also he's kind of in that over-compensating first crush kind of late bloomer having their Hot Girl Summer at 42 after a lifetime of being a bit of a recluse and scholar.

The relationship works for a variety of reasons. On the one hand, Stolas is a dominant Sub, while Blitz is a submissive Dom. This balances the balance of power between the two and prevents abuse. Another point is that the relationship is a strange mix of emotions and professionalism. Stolas has feelings for Blitz, but he accepts it when he is reluctant to return them. For his part, Blitz mostly sees the relationship as business, but there are pictures that show that he also enjoys the time with Stolas. You could see this conflict in the scene with Striker. Blitz has thought seriously about his offer, if only briefly. One side of Blitz seriously wants to be with Stolas, the other wants recognition at all costs. In the end, they take advantage of each other and have feelings for each other, which cannot go on in the long run. Not because the two of them have a problem with it, but because someone is going to take advantage of this unstable relationship to harm one or both of them.

"Literally has all the power despite being the BOTTOM"

I am so glad that you're willing to talk about Good and Bad LGBTQ relationships and that you go into the depths of the writing with these complex characters!

You know.... you raise some really good points... I don't know if they'll actually do it in the show, but damn... Seeing Blitzo finally snap at Stolas would make for one hell of a good character arc.

I'm just so starved for M/M romantic representation that I'll take whatever I can

Personally, I just want them to talk, Stolas and Blizto, and establish exactly what the relationship is. Blizto chose not to kill Stolas when he had the chance and Stolas must feel something besides lust if he is still with Blizto despite the issues it causes his family. Just give me an answer!

It’s well thought out but I have to be that guy and object to using the stereotype that bottoms don’t usually have power in a relationship. “Stolas has all the power despite being the bottom” - relationship dynamics are not the same as sexual dynamics and they don’t necessarily reflect each other.

Ngl Episode 6 was the tipping point for me. Before then, I strictly saw Blitzo saving Stolis just for the economical perspective. If he looses Stolis, he looses the book. If he looses the book, he looses his business. But episode 6? Whoo boy…yah, no, they’re in love. But I can definitely see Stolis viewing Blitzo as being lesser than him. Not drastically, but enough to make things dysfunctional. It’s so interesting and unpredictable and complicated and that’s why I love this ship sm

Imagine an episode where Stolas is called out for his crap. I do not think Stolas means to be demeaning even to his duaghter. He seems rich and likely sheltered and he kind of just doing things trying to be happy. Yet it seems hw isn't fullfilled and it seems he doesn't care about or wants his title. He just follows obligations to appease the royal obligations. I think Blitzo likely seduced him for the book but than Stolas realized hw liked something about Blitzo.

My theory is that in the lowest point of blitz, all down in the lack of self worth spiral, Stolas is going to say how he see him, how he is lucky to have no one with high expectations because he can prove them wrong, how he is fun, how he is free, how great he is and how he, a Prince of the underworld, envy him and love him. Stolas is basically in the second adolescence, something common in members of the GRSM since most of us had our adolescence in Narnia.

I think the ship is either going to work like a charm or absolutely descend into madness

10:40 Not true actually, when Stella asked if he fucks other imps Stolas was righteously shocked and said "of course not". I don't think that Stolas just wants to bang someone with a lower class. He tries to find someone as broken as him. Blitz is scared to get close to anyone because people he cares about eventually go away but its Stolas that obnoxiously pushes himself on Blitz despite his push-away attitude. Both Stolas and Blitz are failed by love and they cope by pretending they only need sexual interactions. But ironically none of them is looking for someone else than each other.