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hisui555 · 2 months

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Hazbin Hotel thoughts : Foils 4

(Foils 1 here)

(Foils 2 here)

(Foils 3 here)

Masterpost here.

(Or the one where I'm starting to think I'm not really creative with title names.)

Anyway, I'm on a roll (seriously, what's happening. Motivation is perking up from its deep slumber. Didn't happened since last October. Is it a full blue moon tonight or...?) and I did say I was gonna talk about Lucifer and Sera, so here goes.

Lucifer VS Sera, and for good measure Charlie VS Emily. Both Lucifer and Sera come from Heaven (revelation of the century, wow, I know - oh lookit dat, my sarcasm is awake early today), happen to both be Seraphim (with Lucifer as one of the most powerful and Sera having been involved in the creation of Earth apparently, if Ep 1's intro is to be believed) and a parental figure to their younger charge : Lucifer is Charlie's literal dad and Sera is a mentor motherly figure to Emily. They also both want to protect the ones they love, but go about it in different ways : Lucifer made a deal that no hellborn demons are hurt during the yearly Exterminations, while Sera enforces Heaven's flawed system to keep the heaven-bound souls and Emily joyful and safe. However, hurt Charlie and Lucifer will come down on you like a meteor, despite having spent time estranged from his own daughter, while Sera keeps Emily out of the loop despite always being with her (they are no on-screen scenes of Emily alone up to now, even if at one point Sera did separate to talk to Adam, which means that Emily was showing Vaggie and Charlie around on her own, off-screen).

This is fairly interesting to see that while Lucifer - due to depression, growing cynism (10 000 years at least of waking up each morning and being met first thing looking out of the window by Hell's cesspool of sin and violence - the reminder of his broken dreams and awful unforeseen consequences of his well-meaning gift of free will) and plain just life going sideways with his wife missing for 7 years and his daughter going down the same road as him, also unintentionally hurting Charlie by not supporting her dreams (at first) - is not much involved in Charlie's life but still wanting to reconnect with her and is ecstatic when he has the chance to ("My daughter wants to see meeee !"), Sera is always present in Emily's life, working together with her ("It's my position as the Head Seraphim to protect our people at all costs ! And it's your position to keep them happy and joyful") in tandem : one takes care of the technical side, the other of the emotional side of things. Bread and circuses (funnily enough, Lucifer and the other Sins have a circus theme going on) - yet she's more distant and disconnected from Emily, keeping her (and the majority of Heaven) in the dark and using her position to uphold the status quo over what Emily wants or feels. Lucifer, while reluctant at first, actually agrees to help Charlie the way Charlie would like it to go, and is there to pick her up when things go south, fully supporting her once he comes around (More Than Anything and Finale).

Sera and Lucifer are also kind of two sides of the same coin : the latter is a known dreamer, extremely creative and open-minded, which blew up in his face when he changed things, unintentionally made shit hit the fan and got casted down to Hell for it. Sera on her side upholds the rules, doesn't dare to question the system, strives to not change a thing even if she seems to deeply regret how it's done, and lives in constant fear of her or her loved ones suffering Lucifer's fate. At the point of the first season, both are motivated by the same thing : fear, especially of losing or seeing their loved ones hurt, and especially this exact thing happening to their daughter figure - a very relatable thing. Yet Lucifer, after some prodding, chooses to fully stand by his daughter's side (and what's more, she (unknowingly) succeeds !) while Sera feels forced to squash Emily's hopes with the intention to spare her anguish and pain. At the end of Ep 6, both have disappointed their daughter figure at least once, but Lucifer did it in the past and strives to get better, while Sera is currently doing it and worsening things (in Ep 8, she's probably keeping Emily from intervening in any form about the Extermination). Lucifer, the fallen angel, dares to go where Sera, the high seraphim, would not, overcoming a fear Sera still can't shake off.

Quick aside, they make a nice foils triangle with Carmilla : Sera on one side as an angel not changing the status quo even if it's flawed and even if it brings her anguish and she has to put her daughter figure's feelings down for it, Carmilla on the other side as a demon who broke the rules by defeating the undefeatable to protect her daughters no matter what and helping out indirectly, and Lucifer in the middle as a fallen angel that has tried but given up, ending up doing a pendulum swing from one side to another, both with his own daughter in mind too - first not supporting her dream to avoid her getting crushed, then saying 'screw it let's do it' and standing by her side no matter what. Probably not intentional, but the fact that he starts with his more angelic form (ep 5) like Sera and ends up in his more demonic form (ep 8) like Carmilla when at peak protectiveness is smile-inducing to observe.

Charlie, Emily, Odette and Clara really should organize a tea party sometime.

Which brings us to Charlie VS Emily. Not gonna lie, they're a lot alike (the sun also rose today, also, breaking news : water is wet), idealistic, optimists, two piles of sugar sweetness in the shape of a young woman (chronological age notwithstanding) with a certain naïveté to them - basically, they're each other's counterpart in their respective realms of Heaven and Hell, as high-ranked figures in charge of seemingly less important stuff that actually have their weight : Charlie is the Princess of Hell and founder of the Hotel, wanting to repent Sinners, while Emily is a seraphim in charge of making citizens in Heaven happy. Both strive to bring joy and kindness to their own people and fully believe in their cause, so it's no wonder that they immediately click very well together. In Welcome To Heaven (both the song and episode), Emily is absolutely gleeful in meeting both Charlie and Vaggie, can't wait to show them around, and openly welcoming no strings attached (which contrasts Sera's tempering : "You're gifted to be here", and "of course it's just temporary, I'm sorry you can't stay" - she's quick to remind everyone that it's not where the two demons belong).

However Emily looks like a Charlie that's still sheltered. To be fair, while Charlie is, in some measure, still naive about her own world (though not naive enough to think every Sinner wants redemption), with not-really-thought-through plans (Puppy dog kisses and puffy-wuffy clouds, anyone ?), has grown up under the protection and love of her parents, and is ready to Fluttershit the shy (yes, you read that right) out of everyone who comes knocking, she's still out there working for it (even during Exterminations, as seen when she found Vaggie), knowing it'll be a hard road and that she's going to get rebuked a lot. She's also more or less on her own, at least since 7 years, estranged from her parents and managing the Hotel alone (later with the help of her girlfriend since 3 years). Emily on her side, from her own point of view, lives in a world where nothing is wrong (as far as she knows), has been kept away from what's really going on (though no fault of her own) and is always around her mentor, having the task of keeping people happy. The moment the truth is out, her world shatters ("What are you saying, let me get this straight - you go down there and kill those poor souls ?!") and the pedestal her mentor figure was on, in her eyes, completely falls apart. However, just like Charlie, she shows inner strength and maturity, immediately calling out and condemning said actions, showing that she's not a child to coddle - just like Charlie who is capable of showing a more competent and dangerous side. They also have both less human forms (Charlie's demon form, Emily's seraphim form) that partially pop up when they become emotional or agitated (the horns and eyes for Charlie, the halo and torso eyes for Emily).

Where Charlie rekindles her bond with her father, realizing how much alike they are and at one point having believed in the same dream before also rekindling said belief, Emily on her side ends her episode realizing how different she is from Sera, who fed her beliefs and morals she herself doesn't hold - and rightfully calls her out on the hypocrisy, because just like Charlie, who's out during Exterminations to help her own people, she's willing to risk herself (falling) for what she believes is right, fair and just. Is it any wonder why the joined duet of Charlie and Emily is such a cathartic banger ? Everyone together now !

If Hell is forever then Heaven must be a lie !

If angels can do whatever and remain in the sky !

The rules are shades of gray, when you don't do as you say,

When you make the wretched suffer just to kill them again !

As a side note, I also wanted to talk about the representation of Heaven itself : I was awaiting the classic "everyone looks like humans with wings, back to how they looked like on Earth for the Winners, with some form of uniformization", just like St-Peter basically. But the show did me one better : Heaven is just as diverse as Hell - there are animals, anthros, monster-like people, some have still object-heads and item-like bodies, just with a vaguely gold-and-white aesthetic and some angel wings. There are things that crawl, fly, twist, people with multiple eyes and limbs, fangs, gills, scales and fur, just like Hell. The only ones uniformized (and looking like flat-out classic demons) are the Exorcists - and those are the fanatics hellbent on carnage and suffering. When Sir Pentious ascends, he's still a snake, just with a more angelic-like design. Take Molly's wings out and put her in Hell, or stick them to Angel Dust and put him in Heaven, and you won't see the difference. Heaven dips just as much on the "monster, abomination, humanly incomprehensible" side as Hell, and just like Hell, not everyone is a jerk (even if not everyone is nice either. Right, Adam ?) : Emily is genuinely kind and open-minded, St-Peter is accomodating, and despite agreeing to actions that bring the misery to thousands of people, Sera is sincerely compassionate and regretful of her decisions (even if she believes them necessary - funny, since she was the one to call Charlie "misguided" earlier).

Again, it's a spectrum. There's no real box to fit people in, simply because here, Heaven and Hell are just like us humans : flawed. They have the big lines down, but the edges are blurry, and a lot of people fall through the cracks. They're like two districts of the same city, each on the opposite side of the road. Once more, people being people.

Again, Masterpost here.

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel thoughts #hazbin charlie #hazbin hotel charlie #hazbin lucifer #hazbin hotel lucifer #hazbin sera #hazbin hotel sera #hazbin emily #hazbin hotel emily

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caranfindel · 3 years

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Walker 1.17

Here we are at episode 17. No recap but plenty of random comments. And some blurry caps.

Oh no. A debate. And I'm watching on the app so I can't skip it. Oh, the horror.

Doesn't seem like Cordell would be tasked with driving either of these candidates. Don't they have someone who has a connection to neither of them?

Trey's mom is such a contrast to Micki's mom. That's going to be an interesting wedding reception.

If Trey’s mom isn't staying with them, why didn't she leave her suitcase in the car? (Oh, maybe she took a cab.)

Richard Speight! \o/ Can we thank him for the pretty tonight?

This seems like a Significant Moment when Micki gets her gun out of that chest. (Spoiler alert: it's not.)

Whew! Thank goodness for the bomb threat. I almost had to sit through the debate.

I think the most important thing in this episode is going to be Jared's curls peeking out under his cowboy hat. It must have been awfully humid in Austin that week.

I mean. Come on.

Cow! (Too obscure?)

Wolverines! (Too obscure?)

Remember what I said about not needing bad Photoshopped photos?

Why did they use pictures of Jared as a 30-year-old? I know there are teen photos out there.

Ah, we've answered the question of what time of year this is supposed to be. Thank you, Walker.

That's two mentions of Rebecca Ferguson. Foreshadowing or red herring?

You know, my kid’s high school doesn't give out yearbooks at the end of the school year any more. You have to come back and get it in the spring. I don't like it.

Is this chick Ruby, or was the other chick Ruby? Anyway, she is up to no good. Parents out of town indeed!

Some of this music sounds just like the music they made fun of on Supernatural. Like, the Dr. Sexy MD music.

Why doesn't Micki just kick Travis's gun away. (Was Stella's thug boyfriend named Travis? I can't ever remember.) Also, this Travis reminds me of Ash.

So, what's the difference between police and Rangers? Are rangers like sheriffs and deputies, or state highway patrol, or what?

Hmmm, Geri really started paying attention when Cordell said he was going to talk to the guy who falsely confessed to killing his wife. Almost like she has a vested interest in this or something.

This Ruby chick is really up to no good.

Why is this reporter being dumped at the Walker ranch?

Oooh, Stan is the bad guy! Despite his white hat! Don't hit the reporter, Stan! It's pretty much guaranteed to get you bad press! Oh no. Oh no no no. Right before the election, accidentally killing a reporter? Bad look, friend. I guess it's pretty convenient that the reporter didn't drive himself, though, because there would be a car to get rid of.

Well, I thought this deathbed confession was going to involve Geri, not Stan!

But seriously, these curls.

Stan washing his hands. Out, out, damned spot! I hope you thought to delete that reporter's recording.

Oh, you saw Grandpa taking a pill? Look, Stan, old people take pills. It could have been ibuprofen for all you know.

Enough with Becca Ferguson already!

Shouldn't these guys be doing some last-minute electioneering? Pressing the flesh?

Anyway. I’ve been a little snarky about most of this episode, but then we get to this last bit. And friends, it gently caresses my buttons and whispers sweet nothings into their ear and then pushes them. Hard.

First, is Stan literally going to try to kill Cordell on the road? And claim it was an accident? Oh, no, wait, that ain't Stan.

This rollover seen from the inside is actually pretty good, especially since it ends with hurt Jared. Thank you, Richard Speight. You know how to make our boy look good.

Hello my name is caranfindel and I have a problem.

Karli is right, Stella, your dad is fucking hot!

Now he’s being forced to dig a hole. Are they going to bury him with the reporter? How long would it take one man to dig this hole? Have y'all not heard of a shallow grave? (I know, everything's bigger in Texas.)

Hello, Bigger.

You know, if anyone ever held a gun to my head and made me dig my own grave, I'd just lie down and say "shoot me now." But Cordell is obviously the kind of guy who’s going to stay alive and come up with a way out of this.

Then Cordell does this amazing thing where, when the guy holding the gun is distracted, he hits him with the shovel, grabs his gun, shoots the other guy, and then grabs the first guy, pulls him close, and shoots him point blank. It's glorious. Unfortunately, it's impossible to get a cap, and I can't find gifs on Tumblr.

I tried, though.

He's also fucking hot holding a gun on his former buddy. And luckily our friend @jaredwalkertexasranger did capture this in gif form.

Mmmmm...

Is this the first time we’ve seen Cordell kill anybody? I didn’t watch the first few eps so I could have missed it.

And what do we think he is going to do with Stan once he gets him in the car? Drive him off to an even more secluded location and put a bullet in his brain? Nah. If he was going to do that, he could have done it right here at this convenient hole. I think he's taking him in, no matter what he said.

Also, Geri is still involved, right?

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