Today, I discovered
something mind-blowing about my favorite Hazbin Hotel character. On Twitter, a
user by the name of “puppyclown struggle tweets” or “StinkyRatBoy” proposed a
theory they had kept for a while. They claim: “Alastor is on the autism
spectrum.”
My first response in my
mind? “Nonsense! Alastor is the most extraverted, sociable and manipulative
character we’ve seen so far. You can’t just assume he has a neurological
disorder out of nowhere! It’s an insult!”
But then I read their
reasons for it…and it slowly clicked into place. As I read them, they began to
make sense…it was a reflection of my own personality. Indeed, I am also
asexual/aromantic and on the autism spectrum. Whether Vivziepop meant for
Alastor to be on the spectrum remains uncertain at the moment.
What did they say? Here
is their first reason:
“Alastor
is often speaking in a very loud voice, something that autistic people do since
they have trouble regulating their volume.”
Reason 2:
“He
has little social awareness, telling Charlie to her face that he wants to see
people fail and he doesn’t see why that would make her not want to partner with
him.”
Reason 3:
“He
also doesn’t see why people constantly run away from him (as
shown in the Alastor comic) getting
pretty annoyed when people are too sacred to speak with him, despite him
knowing of his reputation.”
Reason 4:
“His
discomfort with people touching him probably being a sensory problem, something
I myself struggle with, despite not understanding other people’s physical
boundaries, constantly dancing with them and pulling them into side hugs
without permission.”
Reason 5:
“Tying
back to social problems, he sees Husk as a friend, despite how much Husk wants
to make it clear that he doesn’t like being roped into Alastor’s schemes and
interests. He reads Husk’s refusal as just him being in a bad mood.”
Reason 6:
“His
hyperfixation with radio, entertainment and old technology being so strong that
it causes him to dislike it changing and becoming more modern and foreign to
him. Entertainment is his special interest and he doesn’t want someone showing
up and making it different.”
Reason 7:
“Of
course, there’s troubles with physical hygiene, something that autistic people
are known to have a hard time with for any number of reasons.”
Reason 8:
“Him
constantly smiling could also be his inability to emote the same way
neurotypical people around him do, which is why people find it so strange.”
Reason 9:
“One
more thing! Hs little sound effects and song clips he plays are auditory stims.
I said what I said.”
They certainly said it
indeed! Despite me having autism as well, myself and the majority of fans
didn’t fully pick up on those traits. We knew that the majority of the Hazbin
characters were LGBTQ…but so far, there haven’t been any characters with
physical or mental disabilities. If what StinkyRatBoy says is true…and if it’s
confirmed by Vivziepop herself…it could be revolutionary, both in the show and
real life.
If Alastor has autism,
it could add more depth to his backstory and his character. Being a French
Creole colored asexual man in the early 1900s wouldn’t be the ideal status to
have in the predominantly white straight male society. Many fans speculate that
his mother was kind to him and taught him everything he knows about dancing,
music, cooking and Voodoo culture. His father is often portrayed by fans as an
abusive alcoholic who wanted to shape Alastor into the ideal “macho man,” that
was expected at the time. (No “women’s” work, no theater, got to have sex with
girls and provide for the family). His abuse toward Alastor and his mother may
have laid the groundwork for Alastor’s decent into becoming a serial killer.
With his expertise with
radios, music and entertainment at a young age, it’s no wonder he became such a
renowned broadcaster in New Orleans. Along with music being his special
interest, it may have been the very thing that kept him sane when he was
ruthlessly bullied by his peers, his father, and society in general. It was his
escape, a mental state where he felt safe and secure. Entertainment represents
the good side of him…the killing part is what got him into Hell. Murdering
racist men and criminals may have been both a new special interest and his way
of coping with the trauma he faced. In addition, Alastor’s name, means “spirit
of vengeance,” thus it was also his way to get revenge on those who wronged him.
Alastor’s side hobby of hunting deer and taxidermy may also have been a way to
cope.
Now in Hazbin Hotel,
Charlie will have to find a way to redeem Alastor (and like Angel, Husk and
Niffty, he can be redeemed, but it will not be easy). Charlie and the others
will eventually learn of Alastor’s condition and his asexuality. (Many people
on the spectrum also identify as asexual and have trouble with relationships).
As demonstrated by the “Day In The Afterlife” comic, Alastor seeks true
friendship and belonging, despite his sadistic nature. He has several allies
like Mimzy, Rosie, Husk, Niffty and Charlie, yet also misses his mother. Alastor
likes seeing others fail as it reminds him of his powerful status…but when he
helps the other Hazbins (and betrays them), he may very well learn that he too,
is a “lost cause.” More than ever, he wants to see his mother in Heaven…but
he’ll have to develop for the better, first. Not to mention villains like Vox
and maybe the angels might try to take advantage of his condition. (Does Heaven
discriminate against those deemed “abnormal”?)
Charlie will likely
learn of his condition and help him better express his feelings without feeling
vulnerable. “You’re never fully dressed without a smile” is a motto he’s lived
by in both his lives. His smile is a mask he wears to hide his true feelings of
loneliness and leftover trauma. (World War One, the Great Depression, the
Spanish Flu, his death etc. is a new level of trauma!) Niffty will likely help
out Alastor with his hygiene…even demons need to bathe, eat and sleep. (His
yellow teeth, bags under his eyes, thin body and raggedy nails don’t help
matters). Husk will teach Alastor about personal space…and hopefully, Alastor
will free Husk and Niffty from working under him in the future. And Charlie of
course, will help him get in touch with his feelings, creating a relationship
of friendship, mentoring, and hints of romance.
Embracing change and
expressing feelings is very hard for those on the spectrum…but with therapy,
effort and practice, it can be achieved by many. It will take a long time for Alastor
to redeem himself, let alone allow himself to cry or fall in love. But the
journey, rather than the Heaven destination, is what matters most. After
overcoming his evil nature, Alastor will learn to embrace his feelings and
condition…even if it means adapting to a moderate amount of change. (There are
other ways to seek out justice and entertainment.) I bet his mother will be
very proud of him once Alastor is able to make friends and truly be happy.
Proper representation in
media, matters, and Vivziepop has already gone above and beyond. A majority of
her characters are LGBTQ or are in LGBTQ relationships. Representing someone
with a disability will make the show all the more intriguing, and the
characters more relatable. Her show deals with a variety of issues that young
adults face in real life: sex, drugs, slavery, rebellion etc. With Alastor
supposedly being both LGBTQ + and having a neurological disorder, it is a
portrayal not often seen in many cartoons.
Hopefully in a few
years, we’ll get to see more of our deerly beloved radio host in the first
season of Hazbin Hotel; we wish him all the best on his journey of redemption
and friendship formations!
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