A new season of Prime Video’s Hazbin Hotel has arrived, and with it, a fresh wave of recycled discourse.
A reminder: This show is meant for adults, which means that it has adult themes. A central one that remains throughout both seasons is that of the abusive relationship between film overlord Valentino (Joel Perez) and porn star Angel Dust (Blake Roman). Valentino owns Angel’s soul, which automatically puts them at a power imbalance, and which is very clearly stated (and shown) in episode 4 of season 1, “Masquerade.”
The thing about the internet is that it’s willing to look past pretty much anything to make its point. As viewers, we are aware that this is a toxic, dangerous relationship. However, the nuances of depicting a toxic relationship like Angel and Val’s are not, let’s say, appreciated.
Media literacy is at an all-time low. Users online are reactionary and quick to make their own assumptions without listening to reasons why that may not be correct. Anymore, the online world is black-and-white with no room for gray areas. But those gray areas are important, because the world itself is full of them.
In the recent season premiere of Hazbin Hotel, there is a moment where Vox (Christian Borle) asks Valentino to stop hitting Angel Dust in public. When Val tries to say he hasn’t, Vox plays a montage of various moments of it happening. As viewers, we know it’s bad. We have seen how Val treats Angel, and every moment in the montage is despicable. However, as we are firmly seated within the realm of the Vees at this narrative moment in time, it is downplayed and made funny because the Vees, our central characters in this scene, don’t see issue with it. In fact, Vox laughs before he controls himself.
Critical thinking and media literacy are not optional
X was quick to latch onto that moment after the episode aired. An important aspect of any storytelling is to give the viewers enough to be able to draw their own conclusions. Being hit over the head with what you’re supposed to be feeling is infantilizing, and it takes away critical thought. As user Sophie pointed out, “The montage also shows the audience how Vox downplays Angel’s abuse into a cheap form of entertainment.”
If you can’t watch something and immediately come to your own conclusion that it’s bad, then that is not on the creator. Something like abuse, which is central to Angel’s storyline, is going to be shown. To omit it would be downplaying the abuse that he suffers at the hands of Val. And showing it is not glorifying it, unless it’s purposefully framed in a way that is supposed to be enticing to the viewer. We’ve seen how cruel Valentino is. We’ve seen how it affects Angel.
The most concerning thing is the willingness to dogpile in these instances. Just because this montage is a different tone than what we see during “Poison” in season one does not mitigate the damaging effects. Abuse is serious. We understand that. If you don’t, then that is not on the creator of an adult television show to educate you.
As one user pointed out, “It’s an example of ‘crossing the line twice’ they show you the exaggerated version UNTIL it clicks that ‘Oh wait, that’s actually fucked up and I can’t even deny it anymore.’” It’s being shown to get the point across and to remind you that these are, in fact, bad people who are in Hell for a reason.
I cannot stress the importance of critical thinking enough here. We are shown that Angel’s abuse is well-known enough that it’s public knowledge. It is implied that, up until this moment, Vox didn’t care that it was happening. It is giving us additional information on the dynamic of these characters, which is important context towards the story as a whole.
Bad characters don’t need neon signs over their heads
The unfortunate fact is that many people just want to be spoonfed their information. And if not that, then they want their hands to be held while they are told in precise language why bad things are bad. It is, frankly, concerning. If you can’t extrapolate that Valentino is an abuser whose abuse is downplayed by his business partners because they are all awful people who see no issue with it, then it may be time to take a night class.
Also, this show takes place in Hell. I’m not sure how people are overlooking that. Historically, good people don’t tend to end up there (Pentious, my beloved). Down-on-their-luck sinners, like Angel, are pushed into these situations because they have no choice, much like up on Earth. We also still do not know all of Valentino’s and Angel’s backstories.
As humans, we need experiences that differ from our own. We need to be shown those bad things so we can know they’re bad, otherwise things like actual abuse get normalized. Living a sheltered, almost puritanical life is not conducive to growth. Plus, watching a show is optional. Seriously.
This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.
