Power in Hell isn't just about how many souls you’ve got tucked in your back pocket. It’s about who’s watching. In the neon-soaked, chaotic landscape of VivziePop’s Hazbin Hotel, the hierarchy is messy, but one trio has managed to grab the throat of Pride Ring's culture and squeeze. They’re called The Vees. You know them—Vox, Velvet (or Velvette, if you're being formal), and Valentino. They represent the modern trinity of media, social influence, and exploitation.
While Lucifer is busy moping in his circus-themed depression and Alastor is playing a long game nobody quite understands yet, the Vees are actually running things. Sorta. They represent the shift from the "Old Hell" of deals and shadows to the "New Hell" of screens and clicks. It’s flashy. It's loud. And frankly, it’s a lot more relatable to our own world than we’d probably like to admit.
The Strategy of the Overlord Triumvirate
Most Overlords work alone. They’re paranoid. They've spent centuries building walls. But the Vees? They realized early on that a monopoly is better than a rivalry. By tethering their brands together, they created a closed ecosystem. Vox provides the hardware and the broadcast, Valentino provides the "content," and Velvette ensures that the content stays trendy enough to keep the youth obsessed.
It’s a nasty cycle.
Vox is the undisputed leader, or at least he likes to think so. As the TV Demon, he’s Alastor’s direct antithesis. Where Alastor is analog, Vox is digital. During the events of Season 1, specifically in the song "Stayed Gone," we see the cracks in his high-definition veneer. He’s obsessed. Not just with power, but with the fact that Alastor almost took him down years ago. That insecurity drives the Vees' entire expansion. They don't just want to be successful; they want to be unavoidable.
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Valentino is the one everyone loves to hate. For good reason. He manages the visual entertainment—mostly the adult industry—and his relationship with Angel Dust is the emotional core of why the Vees are so terrifying. He doesn't just own a soul; he breaks it. His power comes from pheromones and physical intimidation, acting as the "muscle" and the primary revenue generator for the group.
Then there’s Velvette. She’s the backbone of their relevance. In an afterlife that lasts forever, you’d think things would stay the same, but Velvette keeps Hell moving at the speed of a TikTok scroll. She’s the "Backbone of the Vees," as she claims during the Overlord meeting. She handles the social media, the fashion, and the public perception. Without her, Vox and Val are just two old men screaming at clouds.
Why the Vees Actually Matter to the Plot
A lot of people think the Vees are just side villains. They're wrong.
While the Heaven vs. Hell conflict is the "main" story, the Vees represent the internal rot that makes Charlie’s job impossible. Charlie wants to redeem souls. The Vees want to keep souls addicted. You can’t go to Heaven if you’re trapped in a 24/7 cycle of consumerism, drug-fueled parties, and mindless media consumption.
The Alastor Rivalry
The beef between Vox and Alastor isn't just a petty spat. It's a fundamental war over how Hell should function.
- Alastor represents the mystery of the deal.
- Vox represents the transparency (and manipulation) of the screen.
- Alastor disappears for seven years; Vox uses that time to build an empire.
When Alastor returns, it breaks Vox’s brain. We see him literally glitching out. This tells us something huge about the Vees: they are fragile. Their power is built on a house of cards made of public opinion. If the public stops caring, or if a bigger, scarier predator like the Radio Demon starts mocking them, the Vees lose their grip.
The Dynamics of a Toxic Workplace
Honestly, watching the Vees interact is like watching a car crash in slow motion. They "love" each other, but it’s a parasitic kind of love. Valentino throws a tantrum and breaks Vox’s monitors; Vox has to calm him down like a handler. Velvette looks at both of them with a mix of disdain and necessity.
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They are a dark reflection of the "found family" at the Hazbin Hotel. At the hotel, Charlie and the gang are trying to build each other up. At V Towers, they are just trying to use each other to stay on top. It’s a brilliant bit of writing by Vivienne Medrano and her team. It shows that even in Hell, "success" looks miserable if you’re doing it for the wrong reasons.
Breaking Down the Influence of Velvette
People underestimate Velvette because she’s the "social media one." Big mistake. In the episode "Respectless," she takes on Zestial—one of the oldest and most feared Overlords—and she doesn't blink. She knows that in the modern era, fear is less effective than mockery.
By dismissing the old guard as "dinosaurs," she effectively shifts the power balance of Hell. She's the one who discovered the angel's head, proving that they can be killed. She’s the one pushing for war. While Vox is distracted by his crush/obsession with Alastor, Velvette is the one actually looking at the big picture. She’s dangerous because she’s smart enough to know that the status quo is changing, and she wants the Vees to be the ones holding the knife when it does.
What's Next for the Vees?
Season 1 ended with the Vees watching the battle from their balcony. They didn't fight. They waited.
With Sir Pentious "ascending" to Heaven and the exorcists being pushed back, there’s a power vacuum. Lucifer is now involved with the hotel. Alastor is back in the spotlight. The Vees see this as their moment to strike. Vox’s final lines in the season finale song "The Show Must Go On" basically confirm that they are moving into a primary antagonist role for Season 2.
They aren't just going after the hotel anymore. They’re going for the crown.
Understanding the Soul Contracts
In Hazbin Hotel, soul contracts are the ultimate currency. Valentino owns Angel Dust’s soul, but only within the studio. This nuance is crucial. It shows that even the Vees have limits. They operate within the "laws" of Hell, using loopholes and fine print to keep people enslaved.
If Charlie wants to win, she doesn't just need to fight them with magic. She needs to fight them with "contractual liberation." She needs to provide a better alternative to the flash and glamour the Vees offer.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Theorists
If you're trying to keep up with the lore or predict where the show is going, keep your eyes on the background details in V Towers. The show is packed with "blink and you'll miss it" environmental storytelling.
- Watch the blue screens: Whenever Vox is on screen, the data scrolling past usually contains easter eggs about other sinners or upcoming plot points.
- Analyze the lyrics: "Stayed Gone" is more than a bop; it’s a roadmap of Vox’s insecurities. Pay attention to the line about "his gaze is 80% video." It implies Vox is more technology than person at this point.
- Track the moth motifs: Valentino’s power is visually tied to smoke and moths. Whenever you see those patterns outside of his club, it means his influence is spreading.
- The Carmilla connection: Velvette has a clear rivalry with Carmilla Carmine. Since Carmilla provides the weapons, and Velvette wants to start a war, this is the conflict that will likely define the next arc.
The Vees are the perfect villains for the 2020s. they are the embodiment of the attention economy, the predatory nature of "stardom," and the fear of being forgotten. They don't need to breathe fire or have giant wings to be scary. They just need you to keep watching.
To really get the most out of the Vees' storyline, go back and re-watch "Respectless" and "Stayed Gone" back-to-back. Look at how the color palettes shift from the vibrant, aggressive reds of Valentino to the cold, calculating blues of Vox. It’s a masterclass in visual characterization that tells you everything you need to know about why they haven't turned on each other—yet.