Arcana Analysis: Helluva Boss--Blitzo (Wheel Of Fortune)

I need to give some love to Loona in this episode. Specifically how she did not object to Stolas coming home with them.

Because she’s been in the exact same situation. Left alone, nowhere to go…

And then Blitz saved her.

So she paid that same kindness forward to Stolas.

By not asking any questions.

Just doing what she can to help.

Giving him a similar (edit oops) sweater she was wearing at the orphanage when she met Blitz.

Because she knows that no one, no matter who or what they are, should be alone.

This resonates SO much with me! Just because I’m Ace doesn’t mean I’m not interested in the emotional aspect of a relationship, so watching people flip out over Alastor being shipped with anyone is especially frustrating. It’s like they can’t believe an Asexual has the capability of getting close to anyone, and their treatment of Alastor when it comes to ships just proves that.

Thats why this is such a great message! Really appreciate this take

I wish there were more fanart with such a message, so that it would finally reach these otherwise intelligent people. Because I'm so tired of reading "but he's aroace" comments☝️🤓 or that I can't ship a certain ship.

People, calm down! You're not even right lol.. Normal ace/aro/aroace people don't have a problem with it, not like you fanatics.

Just let people do what makes them happy...

Okay, I’m not coping well with the emotional whirlpool I’m experiencing after Mastermind. And this scene right here:

Is something that is haunting me. Because it’s not difficult to see what troubles lie ahead for them, what consequences await for the events of the trial. What do we already know about Blitz? That he has deeply hated himself for many years. Maybe he felt slightly better after Millie’s monologue in Ghostfuckers, but I think we all know that such a deep seated hatred of oneself doesn’t disappear in a single conversation. This much is clear by the pictures in Blitz’s apartment still being blacked out that we can see in the background in Mastermind. And any relief he may have felt from Millie’s sincere story is going to be completely shattered.

I have no doubt personally that Blitz has always thought he ruined Stolas’ life. He’s not a stupid man; he’s observant. He knows the struggles Stolas has gone through with the advent of their deal and relationship. He’s seen the wedge he put between him and his daughter. He knows the kind of hell the divorce has put him through. But now?

If there was any doubt he ruined his life before, it’s gone now. Because Stolas has now utterly, and completely, lost everything. His titles, his status, his wealth, his home, his power. All that’s gone. But worse? He’s entirely lost his daughter now. Blitz will probably never forgive himself for that. I mean shit, he literally said this:

Stolas is a much more powerful being than Blitz. But Blitz believes he deserves to die rather than put Stolas in harms way. Blitz will probably be wishing that he died rather than live with the fact that he’s brought Stolas low. Stolas’ punishment is far longer than Blitz’s life span. The consequences of saving his life will outlive him. There no chance Blitz will accept this as Stolas’ choice. Not only will he have to deal with the trauma of the trial before Stolas arrived, but also the result of what it’s done to the man he loves more than life itself.

But Stolas? Stolas would do it again. The way he says it, “Always”, is just so raw and softly powerful. Because he’s just had his powers ripped from his body. He’s lost it all, he’s lost his child. But he would do it again. There was no other choice to be made. There was no alternative. He said it himself:

Stolas is a suicidal figure. He prepped his daughter for the day he wouldn’t be around. He doesn’t value himself or his life at all. He’s suffered tremendously. He probably already believes he’s lost his daughter. His daughter has made it clear that she hates him. Outside of Blitz, who is his light in the darkness, his soulmate and true love, what does he have to live for? To Stolas this was a no brainer. He went to that block with dignity. He was so willing to die for his love.

So when Blitz thanks him for saving his life, Stolas, breathless and weak, says “Always”, because he will always love him, need him, cherish him. He will always put him above himself, which is something Blitz wouldn’t understand but is second nature to a gentle spirit like Stolas. Stolas who escaped the torments of his life in his books, who is humble and sweet with a lowly imp because his body and soul needs Blitz like he needs air. A true romantic, a soft demon who gave it all up for love and would do it again.

Always, he says, and means with every syllable.

New Fear Discovered

So, as we all know, Andrealphus has taken everything from Stolas at this point. His title. His palace. Heck, even his imp staff “belong” to Andrealphus now. Everything that has ever belonged to or meant anything to Stolas has been taken by Andrealphus (and Stella) and either destroyed or been changed beyond recognition.

And then I remembered:

Imp. Of. MINE.

Stolas claimed, in front of an ENTIRE courtroom full of royal demons, that Blitzø was his imp. And we know all too well how royal demons see imps.

Andrealphus could claim that Blitzø belongs to him now after Stolas’ banishment. And the courts of Hell will back him!

My thoughts on Helluva Boss: APOLOGY TOUR and FULL MOON

Trigger warning to Stolas defenders, I guess.

I don't like the way the episode decided to make Blitzo the villain back to back. Stolas was such a hypocrite acting like he's done nothing wrong. "have you ever even apologized?" what a bold fucking thing to say after you banished him from your home when he attempted to do just that.

People keep getting something wrong about Stolitz, and that thing is..

THEY'RE NOT IN A RELATIONSHIP.

And they never were. Blitzo does not have to spend every waking moment with this man if he doesn't want to. Sure, Blitzo does have feelings for him, but he also understands that they are strictly on BUSINESS because of a CONTRACT.

I don't see yall calling Angel Valentino's ex. Because they're not in a relationship. Same goes here.

Blitzo was hired as a BODYGUARD in LooLoo Land. Not a fucking escort. A BODYGUARD. Stolas made it very clear what his job would entail and what does he do? Flirt with him the ENTIRE TIME on a trip that was meant for HIM and his DAUGHTER.

I refuse to believe Blitzo has this many exes. How does he have this many when he couldn't even hold a relationship with Stolas or Verosika? Viv just wants to make him look worse than he is because there should be NO REASON why his exes can fill up a room.

He couldn't even bring himself to think Stolas or ANYONE could love him, yet he has this many exes? Viv, please. That's bullshit. They were flings or one night stands at best and you know it. Or idk, attended because Verosika is idk...A POPSTAR????

We don't know jack shit about these people. They could've been the toxic ones all along. And Verosika's just validating their pathetic asses. (Not all of them, but some select few, or most.)

Verosika's party is NOT helping anyone. She's acting like she's some unsung hero. "you almost make me feel bad for hating you" you should feel bad. You put this on yourself. It is NOT that hard to GET OVER IT. Blitzo is NOT that fucking hot. You're a grown ass woman, a millionaire probably at that. There should be NO REASON you can't afford therapy or find someone new.

She's not making it any better for the party goers. She's not letting them MOVE ON. She's bringing back these painful memories for the sake of 'helping them'.

I swear if she just got the fuck over it they would too. She's the one bringing in all this hurt EVERY YEAR.

Like, okay, it might work the first time. But EVERY YEAR?? Hell no. Now you're just being petty.

Can we talk about this "better than blitzo guy" who just swoops on in?? Like no. No no no. Stolas doesn't just get to have a happy ending. He has problems and we need to focus on those before we give him a new "impish little plaything" to toy with.

Neither of them are over Blitzo and they'll NEVER be over Blitzo, clearly. So this relationship is NOT going to work. Again, Stolas DEFINITELY has his issues and needs to fix the way he views people below him before he even DARES to try dating one again.

Blitzo put everything before Stolas, like his daughter and employees. As he should. Stolas puts Blitzo before everything, and THAT'S why his ass got his heartbroken.

Blitzo didn't even say NO. He just didn't understand. He knows this idiot has a hard time with these things, and yet held it against him anyway. I don't care what pills he was or wasn't on. There's no excuse for his actions when he KNOWS he's in the wrong.

Blitzo has already been called out for everything in the show itself, so I won't bother with him. They're both in the wrong. I need Stolas' to get what's coming to him.

The Fellowship movie did Bilbo so dirty ☠️ I know they didn’t make the hobbit movies yet so they were trying to keep the focus on Frodo but:

Bilbo is friends with Aragorn and comes to his defense over Boromir rather than Legolas

Bilbo volunteers to take the ring to Mordor first so nonchalantly like an old queer professor on sabbatical volunteering to cover a 101 course and everyone at the council is honored by his offer

Literally not even scared or sad about it or anything — just straight up “yeah okay I see what you’re getting at, Lord Elrond, I’ll do it 💅 guess I’ll have to rewrite the ending of my book”

Bilbo doesn’t ask to see the ring again or make a go at Frodo but instead sings a sad little song out the window after giving him Sting and his mithril shirt

“it is my dwarf-mail that Thorin gave me” AAAH

Bilbo’s there when they leave Rivendell in the winter and tells them good luck like a worried little peepaw

Also the movie makes it sound like he never got to Erebor but HE DID and was traveling with some of the original company including Gloin who’s the only one who smiles when Bilbo volunteers to take the ring to Mordor

something tells me that stolas is just beginning to suffer.

I mean my boy blitz has been mentally tortured several times, had his self hatred reinforced by the people he cares about (intentionally or otherwise), been harassed in public, had an entire party of people who (allegedly) hate him and been fucking possessed while being forced to relive every single one of his most painful experiences by John waters fishsona!!

You cannot tell me that stolas temporary banishment and his daughter disowning him next episode is going to be the end of it!

Head my words stolas fans for you will now know what us blitz cells have been thought and I will pity you because your owl is going to be put through the fucking meat grinder when it comes to painful character development!

Blitzø is actually really good at Art

From an Art Educator Perspective

Okay so I saw some posts on Blitzø actually really enjoying art and that being his passion other than horses. I don't know if in the fandom we have had this consensus or if this is a hot take on my part, but Blitzø is actually really good at drawing.

You may ask why I know this and why I am so confident?

My credibility: I literally specialize in it.

I am a professional artist. I am a High School Art Teacher, who got their degree in art education and attended a well acclaimed art school.

(Self-taught artists are extremely valid and you do not need to go to art school to be an "actual artist". I am bringing up my background to show that I have a lot of knowledge of the development of fine motor skills and the ranges of art abilities and how to further improve them.)

As an educator, if Blitzø was a student and I saw Blitzø's drawings/doodles I would automatically recognize that he was actually advanced in abilities. Based on looking at his drawings I can tell if he were to actually take his time and focus on something he could create really beautifully detailed/rendered artwork.

You may ask how I know this??? I'm glad you asked.

THE AMOUNT OF LINE QUALITY THAT IS DEMONSTRATED IN BLITZØ'S DRAWINGS IS INSANE.

✨Art Lesson time✨

Okay so everyone learning to draw goes through the necessary stages of development

I'm just going to give humans as an example because obviously this is a fictional demon we are talking about.

Generally everyone goes through these stages as they grow and work on learning to draw. (Prodigies are extremely rare and I've only seen one once)

Art skills are like a sport. You need to train in order to develop fine motor abilities and control in your hands. The more you draw and do art the more you gain control of your muscles. It takes a lot of time and years of work to improve.

When a person's fine motor skills aren't as developed their lines tend to be shaky and they have less control. The more a person draws the better their line control becomes.

(Think of when you were little and you were first learning how to write)

The way I can tell how advanced Blitzø is, is through his line quality.

Now what is Line Quality?

This is a screenshot from this wonderful article

Enhance Drawing

What Is Line Quality In Art? Examples & Exercises | Enhance Drawing

Often, line quality is an overlooked aspect many beginner artists don't research much. But it is one every artist should know and practice.

So in Blitzø's artwork he very much illustrates good Line control, force, thickness, and fluidity.

Okay first of all I want to Mention

THAT BLITZØ IS DRAWING IN PEN. You can tell this because different parts of the Calendar are crossed out with his scribbles. Also anybody with a calendar knows you have to write with a pen.

LOOK AT HOW CLEAN, FLUID AND CONFIDENT THESE LINES ARE DESPITE THAT HE IS DRAWING IN PEN!???

My assumption is that Blitzø is not using a reference for these drawings. You could make the argument that he has photos for M&M, Loona, and Stolas; however, he definitely does not have a photo of Striker.

I want to mention how dynamic of a pose he is drawing people in. He isn't avoiding hands at all. All of the hands are relatively accurate (Strikers especially).

In these drawings you see variation in line weight meaning parts of his lines are thicker to thinner. So Blitzø is purposely pressing harder and lighter to show variation and depth. His lines are very clean. I don't see repetitive Stokes and lines for the shapes. He is really confident with his mark making and you can tell because his lines aren't shaky at all.

By looking at his line quality and how clean it is you can tell he drew it quickly.

Not to mention he actually has a huge range of items he can draw confidently including and not limited to horses, weapons, leashes, cars, demons, and of course genitalia.

Blitzø isn't what you call a one trick pony 🐴 when it comes to what he can draw.

You can see this skill demonstrated in his other doodles.

You can even see this ability demonstrated in his drawings on the whiteboard

Okay anybody who has drawn on a whiteboard knows that they are difficult to draw on.

Whiteboards smear and are very streaky. In this photo you can tell where Blitzø made a mistake or changed information. Notice that none of his drawings have any smears. That means he did these drawings in literally one take.

I also want to mention his drawings in spring breakers. He is speed drawing directions and illustrating a plan perfectly to his employees.

HE IS LITERALLY RAPID FIRE SPEED DRAWING HERE

His drawing of Veroskika which he DREW FROM MEMORY.

Demonstrates the following:

Line control, Line Confidence, Line Fluidity, Variation in Line weight, and still has relatively correct proportions!?

Basically shut up MOXIE?!!! He did a good job!

Why have we not seen more detailed Blitzø artwork?

Okay so I as we know in the show Blitzø puts his doodles everywhere. So if he is good at Art why isn't he showing his artwork he spent a long time on????

The answer: he's insecure

Showing someone your art is a very vulnerable action. This is especially true if you spent a long time on it.

If someone doesn't like or makes fun of your doodle you can brush it off and be like well it's only a sketch and I did it in under 5 min.

It's a lot easier to show someone a silly little horse drawing you did than something you poured your heart and soul into.

We already are aware that Blitzø is insecure and has self-esteem issues. He literally covers his face in the photos of himself throughout his apartment. He is a very guarded individual. Of course he wouldn't show people the art he spent hours on. What if people reject them? They judge him for spending that much time? What if they see how much he actually loves them?

Blitzø feels like the kind of person who would crumple up or destroy his art that he spends long amounts of time on. It's a way of self-sabotaging yourself and further self-loathing.

Now do I think he has these hours long art pieces/drawings????

ABSOLUTELY

My guess is that Blitzø most likely has a hidden sketchbook. Artists tend to draw their loved ones and especially their children and partners.

There is no doubt in my mind that Blitzø hasn't been doing long observational drawings of Stola's especially when he is sleeping.

He has most likely been drawing Loona all the time. Why do you think he takes all the photos? Those are his references. He has probably been drawing detailed artwork of his loved ones this whole time (and of course horses too lol).

In conclusion

Blitzø actually can draw really well because his doodles demonstrate high levels of skill in line quality.

Going forward I would really appreciate if someone actually finds Blitzø's sketchbook or portfolio of his artwork he spent large amounts of time on. It would be really cute. It would be adorable if Loona or Stolas found them.

Blitzø could gain more confidence and put is artwork he really cares about on display 🥺

I also just want Moxie to find out and eat his words. (Guys I swear I don't hate Moxie 😂)

Thank you for joining me here today on my Ted talk on how I think Blitzø is actually a talented artist. I'm just an art teacher who has problems with how much helluva boss lives in rent free in my head.

I think a bunch of us have already posted/fawned over how smooth/nice Stolas' laugh was in this moment (jfc Bryce Pinkham your VA work never misses). And how significant it is that Blitzø can get a laugh out of him even when he's having literally one of the worst days of his life and feeling serious grief.

But I've been mulling over how good that laugh must've felt to Blitzø.

IIRC, he hasn't made Stolas laugh since Seeing Stars. It's been at least 4-5 months, probably more like 6+.

And of course we know that, when Blitzø was in denial about Stolas' feelings, one of the things that hurt the most was the thought that Stolas laughing at his jokes was fake. We know he has lifelong insecurities about how his humor is perceived, stemming from Fizz always being more liked and charismatic.

This is the first time Blitzø has made Stolas laugh, not since the not-a-breakup, but since very, very soon after Ozzie's.

It's the first time he's made Stolas laugh knowing it was real and letting himself feel that it was real.

Even if Stolas is feeling like shit and the happiness is just for a moment, it's there and it's genuine. The real, walls-down Blitzø is who he's connecting with. Blitzø knows he can and does make Stolas happier just by being himself.

And oh lordy does it make him so relieved and happy, too.

Look at that face. Man down! He's smitten all over again. His heart's going to vacate his chest and ascend straight out of Hell.

There's been discussion on how/why Blitzø fell for Stolas, and here we're seeing evidence. He fell for the tall, pretty bird who has a really nice laugh, who exchanges banter easily with him, who goes along with his offbeat ideas like dancing on the balcony, who understands that being compared to a tall-tall horse is a compliment... the one who thinks he's funny even when no one else in Hell does. Blitzø would fight 1,000 Andrealphuses and all of Hell for that laugh.

Why Blitz is uniquely in a place to be there for Stolas

I know we all "know" this, but I just wanted to point this out as someone who's written for characters having to comfort each other a lot. You kind of have two territories for hurt/comfort scenes. 1) A character who has no idea what the other is going through, and feels a bit lost but does the best they can. and 2) a character who knows exactly what the other one is going through, because they have been through the exact same thing, and it makes their sympathy all the more devastating.

Backstory aside, I just wanted to point out Blitz's expressions as it really hits him what Stolas has lost:

First you have Stolas trying to contact Via. "Pick up pick up pick up... Via dear please, pick up. Please pick up. No... no, no, no. Shit." Where have we seen Blitz do this before? On screen, when he was trying to contact Barb. Off-screen, when he was trying to contact Fizz when he was the hospital. "I tried, for everything I had, Fizz." The way he looks at Stolas here: Blitz knows what it's like for family and friends to shut you out when you've fucked up. His response? To take the phone away. "Hey, it'll be okay."

Then you have THIS devastating scene which was storyboarded just brilliantly. We've known in theory what Stolas has lost, but now it's literal, physical. We get the visual of his home, his family, his powers and privilege and the only life he's ever known, as twisted and lonely as it was, and he's physically blocked from it, Via walks away and the door seals behind her, he is shut out of that world completely and with a finality that he can't ignore anymore.

Who else lost everything they knew in a sudden, very physical literal sense? Blitz, with the fire. The circus, his family, his mom, his sister his best friend, his job - his entire life, physically gone, burned to the ground, and he was also blocked from making reconnections by his father, the same way Andrealphus is doing now with Via. Right after that devastating shot of Stolas's tears in the reflection of the ice, is Blitz, right there, providing his jacket (even though he hates the cold ;-;) This is the face of someone who knows what that specific type of trauma and complete loss is like. But right there, behind him, is proof that it does get better, that you can recover from that loss: IMP is with him, the new family and life he built for himself from literal ashes.

I also want to point out the incredible character growth here. Blitz, a man of many words, who has a snarky comment and ill-place joke for every situation, doesn't feel the need to say anything or try to do something to help "cheer up" Stolas. He just sits with him in silence. Then later, when they do connect, he isn't too brash. He brings up his sister. Initially this surprised me, cause Barb isn't given a lot of focus in the story; I would think first of the fire itself or Blit'z mom or Fizz. But he's right: Barb is the closest comparison to what Stolas is going through with Via. The fact that Blitz brings it up means he knows exactly what this is, he's known it the whole time. "I miss her every day. But... you just gotta keep tryin."

Stolas has just lost everything, his entire life is turned upside down and he's not afforded the chance to try to get any of it back. But who better is in a place to help him see the light on the other side, who is living proof that if you "just keep trying" then you can make a new life for yourself, and hopefully, one day be able to re-connect with the people who were important to you, than Blitz.