The Circus

"I don’t care what your arrogant brother thinks! The only thing the Goetia family wanted from our marriage is already 17 so it’s over! I’m done!"

- Stolas, to Stella

The Circus is the first episode of the second season of Helluva Boss and is the 8th episode overall. It premiered on July 30th, 2022 on Vivziepop’s YouTube channel.

Synopsis
So you guys like backstories? Cuz things sure did happened.

Plot
On his 11th birthday, Stolas is excited to find out what his duties in life will be and happily gets ready to meet his father Paimon. As his Imp servant takes him inside his father's chambers, Paimon reveals that Stolas will be learning astrology and the stars along with prophecies involving the mortal realm; to do so, he is granted a grimoire and told his studies will begin immediately so he can become a mighty and powerful leader of followers to pass on his knowledge to. As Stolas swears to do his best, Paimon also reveals that he is also required to sire an heir to the Goetia family and is betrothed to another demon named Stella; seeing a picture of Stella strangling two dogs, Stolas begins to cry. Flustered by this, Paimon decides to take Stolas to the circus to cheer him up.

As they arrive at the circus, Stolas is sitting glumly while his father (viewing it from a mirror instead of being there in person) excitedly claps at the various attractions. When the ringleader brings out several imp clowns, many of the other audience members are frightened by it while Stolas remains dejected. However, two young imp performers named Blitzo and Fizzarolli begin their routine and Stolas is immediately captivated by Blitzo. As the imp tries several times to make a balloon animal and fails, the audience begins losing interest while Stolas remains fixed upon him. Later on, Paimon and his servant approach the ringleader, Cash Buckzo, and inquire about hiring Blitzo as a playmate for his son. While Blitzo and Fizzarolli play with their balloon animals, Cash approaches Blitzo and tells him he is now to spend the day with Stolas; before leaving, Cash tells Blitzo to try and steal as many items from the Goetia house as possible.

As Stolas begins sharing about some of his many books, Blitzo becomes bored and suggests they play a game of gathering up all the most valuable items in the house. Even though Stolas is a little perplexed by this, he soon joins in and the two begin to laugh as they go all around the house; Blitzo briefly stops to toss out the bag of treasure to his father before returning to Stolas. They both head outside beneath a tree where they share their dreams in life: Blitzo to run his own business and Stolas to join the ranks of the Goetia.

Twenty-five years later, Stolas gets up one morning and checks in on his daughter Octavia; he then goes to the kitchen where he overhears Stella insulting him during a phone call; he then discovers a party is to be held later that day, where Stella invites him to come if he desires. After overhearing more insults thrown at him and drinking half a bottle of absinthe, Stolas learns that an Imp was found to have been trying to break into his study; seeing that it is now an adult Blitzo, Stolas recovers himself and requests the Imp be given to him for punishment. Entering his study, Stolas comments how it has been a long time and offhandedly quips that Blitzo must have been sneaking in to seduce him. Blitzo (having actually come for the grimoire) is perplexed but adapts quickly and begins to seductively claim that was the case. An embarrassed Stolas backpedals but soon finds himself on his bed. Blitzo keeps the charade up by blindfolding Stolas and tying him down, much to the latter's surprise and pleasure. Blitzo grabs the book and prepares to leave, but after a passionate speech from Stolas, he decides to have sex with him "real fast." The next morning, Stolas groggily gets up and hears Blitzo crash into a table down below and apologizing to Stella for sleeping with her husband. As an angry Stella demands answers, Stolas confirms that it did happen and laughs.

Stolas then wakes up after returning home from his disastrous date with Blitzo and groggily takes a few pills. He goes through his phone and reflects on Blitzo's words regarding their relationship, pausing on a photo with him making a funny face and Blitzo looking off to the side and indifferent. After singing a brief song on the balcony, Stolas is approached by Stella who chastises him for singing. Stolas asks to know why she is here, and Stella replies that it is fun to torment him over his affair. Stolas sticks up for himself and admits that he would feel bad for doing so if the two had any feelings of love for the other; reminding her that their duty as husband and wife have been fulfilled with Octavia's birth, Stolas demands she leave and they get a divorce. Taken back by this, Stella angrily tries to shame him by mentioning the Goetia family and her brother Andrealphus will be ashamed of him and is about to slap Stolas when he grabs her arm and admits he does not care what they think. Frustrated that she lost her power over him, Stella agrees to leave but swears Stolas will pay for the transgression. After Stella leaves, Stolas slumps against the railing and solemnly stares up into the sky.

Characters

 * Stolas
 * Paimon
 * Cash Buckzo
 * Blitzo
 * Fizzarolli
 * Octavia
 * Stella
 * Andrealphus (mentioned)
 * Mister Butler
 * Goetia family butler (non-speaking cameo)

Locations

 * Hell
 * Stolas's mansion
 * Earth (mentioned)

Songs

 * Stolas Sings

Transcript
View the episode's transcript here.

Trivia

 * This has scenes shown in storyboards from the trailer for season two, to which some shots were completed and improved.
 * This is the third episode that takes place in Hell, the first being "The Harvest Moon Festival" and "Ozzie's".

Cultural References

 * Stolas' plush demon toy in his portraits bears a resemblance to Max from .
 * One book Stolas owned when he was a kid is a reference to the  book series.

Continuity

 * When Stolas wakes up after a night of sex, Blitzo runs off with the grimoire after apologizing to Stella for having sex with her husband, indicating that the pilot is canon with the series.
 * It is revealed that stolas met blitzo at the mammon circus which is in the greed ring, revealing that the trip to looloo land in the episode of the same name isn't the first time stolas has gone to the greed ring.
 * Considering how stolas is still wearing his date outfit, then we can assume it is shortly after blitzo dropped stolas off after being humiliated at Ozzie's, and with how stolas wakes up after getting wasted in bed, then the guilt and hurt feelings are still fresh

Gallery

 * The Circus/Gallery