#show commentary

This post is going to be personal and introductory to me and where I stand as a fan of the show.

When I decided to make this blog I really wanted to talk and tell the world why I think this show is cool, and it’s worthy of respect, even if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Yes, is different. Yes, it’s weird. Maybe it is even cringe, if you care about that. But… I have seen that this show has been special not just for me, but for other people and I think that matters more than perfection and correctness, considering the current state of things.

You know, and it’s not just for the sake of escapism or just because okay is silly and it doesn’t matter. I mean, if that are some people’s reasons to watch it perfect! Go for it!! But, for me it is more than that.

We often make fair arguments about the show, against shallow or bad intended criticism. I read them and I think, yes, makes sense, they are overblowing silly stuff… But, the reason why we defend this show it’s because it brings us something special, and because it caters to us deeply and I think that is very important to talk about too!!

Considering that part of the reason why I talk so much about the show (besides being kinda fixated on it), it’s that for me it was unfair to see how much negative unfair stuff. So, here I have my list of (some) reasons why I like Helluva Boss. My opposite version of these kinds of posts of why I stopped liking it.

Reason 1: This show doesn’t try to cater to everyone, and THAT is a good thing!

This might be controversial, or not, but I wholeheartedly believe that the reason why most of mainstream media nowadays falls so flat and devoid of soul, it’s that they are trying too hard to cater and be liked by everyone.

That it’s just… hardly possible, and less now that public opinion and politics are so divided. I think that even the notion that things in the past were liked by “everyone” is kinda a lie… It was just because hiding queer and minorities was accepted, because all media catered to the majority and because doing the bare minimum for minorities was the standard. Also “normies” usually didn’t had much access to things like queer cinema or comics, and the internet didn’t had enough presence for this kind of people to discover those things and rant about them with other… let’s say similar people. They just had less issue with those things existing, because they were out of their sight, and there was no right wing making noise and fuzz about it.

Reason 2: I watched the show just when I was just discovering and accepting my neurodivergence, and it made me feel seen in different ways.

This show has one of the best neurodivergent coding that I have ever seen without been too on the nose, it feels natural and they just kinda exist.

At the same time, we see them struggling with things like Blitzø with his spelling, and Stolas having a hard time socializing in parties. The first time we saw Stolas in a party at the Circus I just thought… Oh man, I know what that is like. Then, I saw some people on the internet not understanding why Stolas doesn’t just… talk to people… and I thought like: What??? Then it hit me… I realized how that wasn’t a shared experience for everyone.

A lot of the things this show has are experiences of people that didn’t fit in, like neurodivergents, and that was so valuable to me and one of the main things this series touched me. So, this differences we have with other people are also not painted in a idealized way. It’s realistic, and at the same time they are unapologetically just how they are.

Reason 3: This is a labor of love, and these are rarely found in animated shows, or are cancelled.

Labour of love shows and movies need to be supported right now. I know this show won’t be cancelled or that it’s highly unlikely and that just… gives me peace to engage with it. You can say it has flaws or anything, but it is being made with love and passion. That’s undeniable.

Reason 4: Helluva Boss has male leads that display different expressions of masculinity and their romance is top tier.

You know… it doesn’t bother me that most of the leads of this show are male… because these men not are just queer, they display a varied of behaviours related to masculinity and the negative ones are not applauded.

It’s not the same to have a male focused show where male say to each other: are you going to punch like a girl? Or they just sit to watch soccer and not touch the kitchen (Blitzø is shown cooking his own meal), or are not shown as any traditional way men are according to traditional masculinity.

I always asked myself why the issue with the Helluva Boss women being not focused most times has never bothered me, considering it bothers me in other shows, and this is the exact reason.

Helluva boss men are queer, and they aren’t mysogynistic. Millie is appreciated and elevated by her boss. Moxxie is flawed and is not traditionally masculine, but his arc is about finding his own courage.

Blitzø’s initial issues with temper and treating others badly are not painted as: he is just a man and he can’t prevent it. It’s a result of his trauma and the series addresses that as a problem he needs to overcome to make fulfilled bonds with his found family and love interest.

Reason 5: The female leads are actually cool!!

They are unapologetical, they have their own agency, they have their own set of issues… so, they are both capable and relatable at the same time, the same way male leads are. Millie is shown to be very resourceful on fights. She is actually very good and Blitzø saw that on her.

I understand why fans of the Helluva Women might feel disappointed that they are less focused and less utilized in some plots. But… they are good characters.

Reason 6: The animation, The music, The aesthetic.

Self explanatory. I sing the songs in the shower sometimes.

Reason 7: The humour is quirky… a lot of the times it works with me.

You know… I don’t like a couple of jokes of the series… But, most of the times, the humor of the series works with me. Being an autistic person, I have a very weird relationship with humour. I don’t laugh at all with shows like “Arrested Development”. There are some humor that I just don’t get why it is funny, even if I understand the jokes. With Helluva Boss I manage to laugh a lot of times! I love silly humor and this series delivers that to me most of the times.

Reason 8: Helluva Boss queernes is cool and good actually.

This has been discussed before… and the only thing I want to add is that after this show, I find some common queer representation boring and insufficient. Blitzø cross dresses as if it was a normal thing and it’s not framed as: oh how funny the man looks like a woman and that is just so funny... Nah… he looks like a DIVA and serves cunt. Phrases like: Be nice to him, he is gay… show support and normalization of being queer and I find it very endearing.

Reason 9: Helluva Boss has adult drama and is silly at the same time.

I have always disliked the idea that when you grow up you are meant to not like or not engage with some things anymore… Because I am an adult, and I still like silly things. Like the way my humour doesn’t match with some adult comedies, and maybe it matches with children’s humour. Helluva Boss gives me both. Helluva Boss makes me laugh and cry. I can be a hopeless romantic and feel like a clown at the same time.

Reason 10: Helluva Boss is deep down a light hearted story with angst and some hard themes.

I still remember when he admitted he could do things around Vincenzo without any repercussions. He felt safe to play hockey with Vin - even drink, knowing the other wouldn’t throw things at him and even if Vincenzo shouted at him, at least Hanseok wasn’t there.

There are so many characters who were affected by Hanseok’s actions. And Myunhee’s. Holy shit.

I felt bad for Seunghyuk actually, but I wasn’t too sad about his death if I’m being entirely honest. He just wasn’t on par with the others, and him flaking out felt justified!

Now before I talk about my fanfics on a separate post, let me just say one thing. Vincenzo cares so much more than he lets on, even if he’s still part of the mafia. He cares. I wanted to hug him when he broke down having the talk with his mom. It hurt when he lost her.

And he cares about Geumga Plaza so much. Even if he’s incredibly stubborn about it. I do wonder, if they all had official mafia rankings, which they’d fall into. Chayoung could easily be the don but since Vincenzo technically started the whole thing: is he don and she’s like the consigliere?

As you can tell, I’m very normal about this series.

Inzhagi leaving as a testament that Vincenzo’s time in Korea was also coming to an end? Chef’s kiss.