#hhs2

Lucifer: *still on the couch, jaw tight, duck soap opera blaring forgotten in the background* …You know what? No.

“Charlie”: No? What do you mean no?

There’s a sharp click of the remote as he mutes the TV. The sudden silence is heavy.

Lucifer: I mean no! Charlie, before you send me anywhere, before you tell me what you need… *low, dangerous laugh* …I’m done jumping when you call.

On the other end, Vox-as-Charlie stays quiet. Listening. Recording.

Lucifer: I have spent years biting my tongue with you. Letting you yell at me. Letting you blame me. Letting you look at me like I’m the problem every time something goes wrong *stands, his wings flaring slightly, anger rolling off him in waves.* Every time I try to help, I’m the villain. Every time I step in, I’m “overstepping.” And when I don’t step in? Then I’m a deadbeat who doesn’t care.

He scoffs.

Lucifer: You want to talk about trust little lady? Well guess what! You don’t trust me. You never have. Not really.

His voice sharpens, heat finally breaking through.

Lucifer: Vox humiliated you, has hurt you, silenced you, mocked your dream, turned your hope into entertainment for Hell. And yet when I tried to stop him. When all I was trying to do was stop him from hurting you, — YOU FUCKING YELLED AT ME!

“Charlie”: *looks around with a ‘not expecting this’ expression*

Lucifer: *drags a hand through his hair, pacing.* You told me I embarrassed you. That I made it worse. Do you have any idea what it took for me not to instantly cry because you were yelling at me?! How your mother did that sane shit?! Oh except at least you don’t throw hands when you were mad at me!

“Charlie”: *covers the phone speaker with his hand, mouthing the words*Holy fuck was Lilith abusive?

Lucifer: *anger turns bitter, more personal.* I didn’t do that as a king. I did it as your father *stops pacing* And I’m done being punished for that. So no. I’m not going to your location. I’m not walking into another situation where I’m set up to be the bad guy for caring. I’m tired of being blamed for Hell. Tired of being blamed for Heaven. And I am especially tired of being blamed for you getting hurt when all I ever tried to do was protect you.

He exhales through his nose, controlled but seething.

Lucifer: If you actually want me in your life, Charlie, then you don’t get to summon me like a weapon and scold me when I swing. *takes a deep breath* Figure out what you really want from me. Because until then—the answer is no. I’m done being the bad guy *ends the call*

with Alastor, it was obvious. everything about him — the personality, the manners, the design, that nightmare smile — all of it screams “this man absolutely killed people”. so when his backstory dropped, it made sense. it was consistent. it fit him.

but Vox? Vox’s whole brand of villainy has always been a completely different flavor. he’s all about subtlety, image, manipulation. his power comes from scheming, networking, using people, climbing socially and strategically. he uses relationships and business connections like tools, discards people the moment they stop serving him (cough narcissist behavior cough), thrives on scandals and will even use hate towards his own entertainers for clout (see: “Hazbeen Guarantee”), treats his employees like garbage, tells Sir Pentious to literally off himself when he fails an undercover mission (season 1), and actively enables and encourages Valentino’s disgusting behavior — even suggesting "sacrificial employees" to calm his moth boyfriend down from his tantrum (also season 1).

so yeah, he’s awful. but repeatedly wetting his own hands with blood? i don't know. he never really gave me that kind of impression.

a more coherent (and honestly more interesting) approach would’ve been something in the “Ernesto de la Cruz” (from Pixar's Coco) lane — killing one key person who stood between him and total network control, like the Bob we see in "Brighter". or showing him as the kind of guy who weaponizes sabotage, absolutely plays dirty, and will use any kind of trick and cheat to pave his road to success: falsifying documents, breaking equipment so rivals get “unfortunate accidents”, spreading lies, planting rumours, driving someone to a breakdown or even suicide just to take their job... that would still be dark as hell, but way more aligned with the kind of villain he is.

there's also the credibility issue: can i really believe that multiple high-profile murders all happened in the same workspace, always conveniently clearing Vox’s path, and literally no one noticed a pattern? no suspicion? no investigation? it stretches suspension of disbelief in a way that doesn’t feel really right to me. i’d honestly buy a story where Vox metaphorically stabs people in the back — not one where he’s literally doing it... lol.

i wonder what the narrative goal is here. do they need a “true, evil evil villain” now that Adam's been dead for a while and Lute... really didn't do anything this season, despite the EPIC set-up they gave her with "Gravity" (i was SO expecting to see so much more from her this season, but alas... she only got her tiny moment in the finale, only to be immediately stopped by Patrick Stump. lmao). or is this supposed to set up a future redemption for Vox himself, making it even more meaningful and valuable — the whole “the worse the past, the bigger the turnaround” thing? or maybe they needed to create both similarities and differences with Alastor — so similar in their modus operandi, but so different in the ways they became successful in their respective fields. i’m not convinced, but i’m curious.

what do y’all think?

also, what is UP with that dramatic, jojo-posing, k-pop choreography, and the expressions he makes... i love this stupid evil tv-head man so much lol

Go on. Just try and give me a non gay explanation for this. I dare you.

okay but in all seriousness, either alastor wants to sit on this man’s throne, or he wants to sit on that man. No in-betweens. And I cannot wait. PLEASE.

Mood.

"It's good to finally be recognized for my mastery of the craft."

"Take this as a sign, my friends. You are NEVER too old to find your true calling in life."

"You know, it wouldn't be a bad career opportunity. A merger between Hyde Consolidated and Voxtek would be incredibly profitable for all involved."

You can trust him, Vox. Totally.

it's a very intentional wordplay. the same song that has him, a known cult leader, inspiring and calling people to violence and genocide by exploiting their fears is planning to create a weapon of mass destruction and also in the same fucking song sings that he will "Make hell great again." i had to watch the episode first without subtitles and it's pretty clear especially if you don't have subtitles on what it's supposed to sound like.