It's time for another overanalytical rambling critique of the Helluva Boss show, the topic today being:
Why Stella Isn't a Well-Written Villain
There is somewhat of a split in the fandom on whether Stella's character was retconned, or if the team decided to take the easy route to make the end goal of Stolitz more reachable, but we're not going to discuss that as that is not the focus. Instead, we'll be focusing on the aspect that is missing to make Stella a compelling character and that is a motive.
Every good and memorable villain has some sort of motive that drives them to do what they do. In fact, you could say that for any well-writtren character needs some sort of motive as their actions, way of talk, and even personality traits circle around that very aspect. And in season 1, you could argue that Stella had a motive, even if it was fairly simple.
In episode 2 season 1, it's pretty much well established that this affair has been going for quite a while and this wasn't just a "one time thing". We can see why she wouldn't want to see his "imp-sucking-face". Now people will argue and say that shows that she's more upset about him sleeping with an imp instead of the cheating itself, but I believe it's a combination of both the cheating and doing with a lower class, as well as the fact he's not trying to hide it much.
We can debate whether or not Stella ever did love him, or if she was just using him for status, but we do know that image and reputation is very important to her. This is a huge embarrassment to not only her and Stolas, but to Octavia as well being the precautionary heir. In her mind, Stolas has ruined everything.
So what can she do? Distance herself from the problem of course. But she's still living under his roof, she's surrounded by all his stuff, and even the bed that she sleeps in has been tainted by this. Even if she destroys it all, it doesn't deal with the problem at hand since he's still around, doing the same shit that gotten her in this mess in the first place. So what now? She could get rid of the imp, but he could always just find another one since she thinks he just wants to fuck any imp. No, she has to stop the problem at the root, and that would end up being Stolas.
If he's gone, the whole affair would be over. That's why she calls the hit man. We might even be able to suggest that she calls right in front of him as a warning sign, to stop all this funny business. But he doesn't. So she leaves, a temporary solution for the time. He's not going to stop unless she gets involved herself. That's her motive.
But now, it's revealed that her image and reputation aren't that big a deal for her since she doesn't put up any sort of act in public. She's just a bitch who badmouths her husband and doesn't care how people perceive her. And she doesn't want to have nothing to do with her husband to the point of having him killed, no, she wants to stay and torment him because...she's just sadistic like that? But she also does care about her reputation since she's concern about what the Ars Goetia think, even though it didn't seem like she care about during the whole scene before...see how confusing it gets? It's less about her being sympathetic or being three-dimensional, it's more the fact that there's no established motive for her anymore. She's just some obstacle that is used for a plot device, and not a very good or interesting one at that.
Next time: Stolas' and Blitzø's Affair and what Affect it has on Hell's Rules and Standing
