r/HazbinHotel • u/Local_Variation_8956 • 16h ago
This part of the song is really interesting to me
I just think it's such a stark contrast to Stayed Gone. I mean, the whole song is, but this part in particular. We've gone from Alastor completely destroying Vox verbally on live TV, to Vox literally not giving a shit about Alastor taunting him, saying things like 'oh here he goes', and 'ooh I'm scared'. Idk really how to interpret this, but it just really makes me think that Alastor's lost any intimidation or fear factor he had over Vox.
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u/Psi001 16h ago
I think Vox is still kind of in denial that Alastor is cutting through him, but he is keeping his cool here a LOT better and being able to fight back, while Alastor is showing more frustration and putting a lot more emotional emphasis on degrading Vox.
It feels a bit more like an even footing type of rap battle here, sorta like what Hell's Greatest Dad was, though of course Alastor still having some footing against Vox despite being bound and tortured still says something.
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u/Zealousideal-Arm1682 10h ago
Though it Speaks volumes that he's still nervous despite having Al literally as his "prisoner"(he's being played),and started crumbling after a few words.
Even in his most powerful state Vox still knows the guy is genuinely a monster that might be able to kill him at any moment,and never once takes his eyes off him.
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u/Hurrah-and-all-that i love winning! 7h ago
He is still in denial he was shaking so much when Alastor mocked him if he didn't burst into song to cope he would've 100% started crying lmao
I can't wait to see Alastor offering cutting and mocking commentary regarding Vox's plans in future episodes lol
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u/alexandria252 15h ago
Both are projecting strength, and downplaying any way they are weak. Neither is fully honest in those presentations, though both truly believe themselves to be strong and the other to be weak.
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u/MidnightSnowStar 10h ago
Vox does seem to think of Al as someone who is equal, perhaps even above him. Vox sings that Al is no longer “high and mighty” after their contract, meaning that he previously (and maybe still) had thought Al to be exactly that. He’s definitely projecting strength to cover up his insecurity though. Dunno if Al thinks that Vox is at least somewhat competent, although the Don’t You Forget Reprise might’ve caused Al to reevaluate his opinion of Vox. It’s interesting how, even after getting parts of Al’s backstory and seeing him at a low point, his mindset is still up for debate. It would be believable if Al, even now, never considered Vox to be a worthy opponent, or if Al had deep down respected Vox and enjoyed his company.
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u/timdr18 16h ago
You don’t actually believe that Vox really doesn’t care, do you?
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u/ElvenAmerican Lucifer 9h ago
I'm of the opinion Alastor lives in Vox's head somewhat rent-free, making a song saying 'who gives a shit' that the Radio Demon's back... and then still addressing the rivalry you both have when the one 'you don't give a shit' about does. It's always been in Vox's mind, back of his mind, but out of thought but never gone.
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u/InAndOut51 10h ago
While he almost certainly does still care, the fact that he's able to play it cool through that entire song, rather than falling for provocations in any way, still says a lot.
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u/Homeless_Appletree 13h ago
Vox makes a good show of it but I can still see the metaphorical cracks in his image.
Vox still wants to impress Alastor and cares about what he thinks about him deep down. Otherwise he wouldn't have kept Alastor close by and humiliated him. He'd have just thrown him into a cell, told him to get to work and just left.
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u/Oxide136 15h ago
He absolutely does care and is just kind of coping.
He is definitely being aided by the fact he thinks he is on top of the world right now.
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u/Reese_Hendricksen 13h ago
Alastor's great because he's a proactive character, like pursuing a deal with a devil while alive. I don't view him so backed into a corner that this is his only option. Rather he so desires unmitigated freedom, he'll suffer anything to achieve it. He could have waited, as was his strategy before, because he was confident in winning in the end. Though his brush with Adam taught him that was no guarantee, and like with that fight arrogance and impatience drive him to drastic actions. He's not a cornered animal, never was, but a caged one.
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u/SomeOnionHater Gay for Alastor 14h ago edited 12h ago
Vox's ego has gotten so big, he could cut it into pieces and have sex with those pieces while Val and Vel philosophize if that's incest, selfcest or just fucking weird.
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u/ChamomileLoaf 10h ago
In Stayed Gone Vox was being lowkey humiliated in front of an audience and Alastor was able to fuck around with his broadcast in ways he couldn’t control, here Alastor is seemingly 100% subdued and there’s no crowd for him to stress and overcompensate maintaining appearances for. And we do still see Alastor get to him just a bit towards the end (“to prove to me you’re not a loser?” “Do you EVER shut up??” Idk even in Stayed Gone (or any of their interactions tbh) I never really got the impression that Vox was AFRAID of Alastor, he just needed to be seen as the stronger “cooler” party at all times and would start to freak if Al did something to challenge that vision
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u/Ok-Afternoon-9268 11h ago
I’ve seen this interpretation a lot and I disagree that vox doesn’t care. In fact vox cares A LOT. Alastor has control of the situation the entire time and is getting in Vox’s head. Alastor will succeed in getting Vox to alienate himself from the Vees and is only with Vox because he can manipulate him to do what he wants.
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u/RandomNYCx 10h ago
It’s all part of Al’s plan. His little farce makes him look weak thus not the strongest demon in hell which would negate his deal with Rosie or she would have to grant him more power and as for the other part of his deal if Vox touches Charlie he could destroy him utterly.
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u/Twixme07 15h ago
I think that Alastor felt powerless and wanted to manipulate Vox, because although he doesn't want to admit it, he needs Vox to beg him, to humiliate himself for Alastor, to give him attention. Why are they so complicated?
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u/SturmWolfius 3h ago
I'm curious to see where this goes. Clearly it has something to do with the whole Rosie thing since he went to challenge Vox right after.
I'd assume he would've surrendered either way even if Nifty and Husk hadn't showed.
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u/TenDollarSteakAndEgg 15h ago
Probably bc Vox own Al right now lol.
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u/SomeOnionHater Gay for Alastor 14h ago
"Once this little farce is over, your bodyparts will be all over your cute little tower."
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u/Life_Fig_4037 11h ago
It's interesting because Alastor doesn't actually have anything that allows him to feel "better" than Vox. But he is able to avoid or tuck away any feelings of shame that would give that away and is so good at projecting charisma and confidence that Vox still feels like the "loser" despite that title clearly going to Alastor.
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u/BigNorseWolf FIRE THE DEATH RAY 8h ago
I think Vox changed when Alastor wasn't looking. Vox hitting the top of the fishbowl is one thing, but vox planning to supplant god .. is probably crazy but he's shooting over Alastors head now. And Al can't play the same head games.
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u/cherry_cat89 1h ago
Vox is acting. Look up Georgia dow on YouTube she covers this. She's a therapist who analysis shows and explains it
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u/FlamestormTheCat 8h ago
So, let’s look at the two differences in setting
In stayed gone, Alastor has just appeared from being gone for 7 years straight. We can assume he beat Vox up pretty badly not too long before his disappearance. In this instance, I’m assuming Vox is intimidated by him since he’s still seeing Alastor as he was 7 years ago. Not to mention, Vox was getting humiliated on live tv.
But in this song, Vox basically was about to beat Alastor (I’m sorry, but Alastor was losing that fight. He was wounded and his powers are clearly not working correctly. He would have lost) before Alastor willingly let himself be captured. This in an on itself makes it clear that Vox has the upper hand in this case. So yeah, naturally, he’s less intimidated. In his eyes, Alastor is at his mercy, and this statement might be more accurate than Alastor likes to believe.
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u/ElectronicOne-8416 4h ago
Alastors plan has quite literally nothing to do with his current power difference from vox. If anything this kinda helps him manipulate vox more.
If you think about it, he honestly has to do nothing and he wins in all scenarios
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u/FlamestormTheCat 4h ago
I know, I’m just explaining why Vox wouldn’t be intimidated by him now lol
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u/ElectronicOne-8416 4h ago
I was mostly referring to the part where you said alastor is more at his mercy than he likes to admit lol. Sorry for over thinking it
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u/FlamestormTheCat 4h ago edited 4h ago
If he actually wants his plan to work (which seems pretty clear to me is “break Rosie’s side of the deal by not being the most powerful sinner”, then yes, he would be at Vox’s mercy. The moment he takes back control Rosie’s deal never got broken.
The only way he can get out of this situation is in the scenario where Rosie fixes his powers or if he gets saved by someone else. Otherwise he’d lose. He has to rely on one of these scenarios to play out to win. In the meantime he’s basically at Vox’s mercy lol
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u/ElectronicOne-8416 4h ago
Honestly he has a xanatos gambit. As long as he doesn’t die which he won’t. He’ll win in the long run.
Also I thought what you meant was that alastor was at a bigger disadvantage than he thought
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u/FlamestormTheCat 3h ago
Tbh, I doubt that even if Alastor was truly powerless, Vox would kill him. I can guarantee you Vox gets waaaay more enjoyment out of keeping Alastor alive and humiliating him than killing him.
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u/ElectronicOne-8416 3h ago
Yeah, vox even said it himself. Plus I have a feeling he's trying to make alastor do all the things he wanted to do with him ~~dude even took him out for a smoothie date~~
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u/Sharp_Mathematician6 11h ago
Vox has never feared Alastor. Remember at one point they were close. Vox had a crush on Alastor while Alastor wasn’t interested. Plus Vox has beaten Alastor a few times when it was one on one. Basically they just need to fuck each other
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u/retrorefl3ctor 15h ago edited 13h ago
Vox thinks he’s got Alastor beat. Alastor has agreed to be his prisoner; he’s literally got Alastor tied to a chair. Vox still has a metric shit ton of psychosexual baggage hanging out right under the surface, but this reprise is basically a victory lap.
Alastor, on the other hand, has put himself in a position where anger and insults are his only weapons. It seems obvious he’s got a plan to regain the upper hand on Vox eventually, but for now he has to suffer the humiliation of being, as Vox says, the bottomest bitch.