I genuinely adore the fact Vox was also a serial killer when he was alive (and such an audacious/creative one too, killing people Final Destination style live on air) because it subverts the “unethical capitalist is squeamish and avoids getting his actual hands dirty” trope. It was popular VoxAl fanon that Al was the one covered in blood and Vox was his not-totally-willing accomplice who didn’t really get it but followed Al’s whims cuz he’s gay, and while I thought it was cute, I always questioned how plausible it’d be, considering they’re both Overlords in Hell and so Vox definitely would have killed people with his own two hands before. I never got the impression he was squeamish, so the canon delights me to no end.
That said, my niche take is that his backstory doesn’t invalidate the fact he also cultivated success with his charisma and interpersonal skills, since those traits are how he rises to power in season two. He wasn’t killing the competition or overusing his hypnosis as a crutch—he was just playing all of the Pentagram like a fiddle with his rizz alone (UNTIL HIS FATAL OBSESSION WITH ALASTOR RUINED IT ALL). He’s a charming cult leader through and through.
To me, “Brighter” emphasised his greed, lack of patience, and obsession with control more than anything. Vincent Whittman could have possibly become the God of Entertainment on his merit alone if he decided to go the long honest route, but he wanted to “cancel every question mark,” as the song says. It wasn’t a shot in the dark, it wasn’t up to chance—he didn’t want to just do his best and wait for the stars to align in order to seize his moment, he wanted it so he took it.
In the entertainment industry, execs are not just going to replace established broadcasters who have a loyal viewership, even if the new upstart is more talented and charismatic than them. The people are used to seeing the same faces until those faces retire. Vincent just made them retire a little earlier than expected!
And I personally think this cutthroat nature compliments the fact he’s manipulative and charming: Unless he’s led astray while having a manic episode, he’s calculated and tactical. He wants to micromanage his life and everyone in it—to the point he’s synced with the technological infrastructure of the Pride Ring to help him do that—and he doesn’t care how underhanded or violent his methods are as long as they ensure his victory. (Plus, it’s not like cults and cult leaders don’t lean into violence IRL either ahaha.)
