History Recap / HelluvaBossS2E1TheCircus

** The phrases "Not Divorced" and "''Still'' Not Divorced" are displayed in parts of the episode, as if there is no better message to say that their marriage is anything but happy, and yet they are somehow still together.

* SpannerInTheWorks: Both Stolas' father's neglect and Blitzo's father's greed lead to their sons bonding together through the years, eventually leading to events that put the wrench in Stolas and Stella's already-turbulent marriage.

** During her "Not Divorced Anniversary" party, Stella boasts that she's "glad one egg" fell out of her so ''she'' doesn't have to sleep with her husband anymore. When she later tries to intimidate Stolas out of demanding a divorce, he reveals that the said egg was the ''only'' thing his family wanted from their marriage and the ''only'' reason he put up with her for as long as he did. Once Octavia approached adulthood, it was ''Stolas'' who no longer had to put up with ''her''.

* LieBackAndThinkOfEngland: Stolas' father Paimon had him marry Stella not out of love, but to succeed a "precautionary heir" to the Goetia family. According to Stella, her and Stola's sex life amounted to this. She saw it as proof of him being terrible in bed, but it's implied he just couldn't stand to do anything with ''her''. After they had Octavia, their union quickly turned into a SexlessMarriage.

* ArcWords: "Divorced". The phrases "Not Divorced" and "''Still'' Not Divorced" are displayed in parts of the episode, as if there is no better message to say that their marriage is anything but happy, and yet they are somehow still together. By the end of the episode, Stolas finally declares that he and Stella are getting ''THE'' divorce and damn the consequences.

* ArcWords: The phrases "Not Divorced" and "''Still'' Not Divorced" are displayed in parts of the episode, as if there is no better message to say that their marriage is anything but happy, and yet somehow still together. By the end of the episode, Stolas finally declares that he and Stella are getting ''THE'' divorce and damn the consequences.

* FurryReminder: Several shots in the episode remind the viewer that members of the Goetia family are owls. A portrait of Stolas as a newborn shows him to be red, featherless and wrinkly, like a real baby bird would be just after they hatched. A portrait before that one also shows that Stolas was laid as an egg.At the circus, Stolas and Paimon make hooting sounds multiple times when they see something in the show which they like. Stolas eats multiple mouse kebabs whole at the party, and angrily hisses when Stella keeps badmouthing him. Blitzo tries to do a NeckSnap on Stolas while they're in bed. Stolas {{No Sell}}s the neck snap, because an owl's head can turn around completely behind them.

--->"Bestowed to mainly succubi and incubi by the King Sin of Lust - [[WhamLine these crystals allow access to the mortal realm]]. Any hellborn in possession of a registered crystal may be granted portal summons. It is common practice to have the crystal paired with another object for convenience. Jewelry is the most popular option. This writing in runes shit was fun at first but I know I am def not doing it right. I should be spending more time with friends and family."

* TemptingFate: Stella's "Not Divorced Anniversary" party just so happened to be the same day Stolas started his affair with Blitzo, which ended up becoming one of the biggest stepping stones leading to a divorce.

-->"Bestowed to mainly succubi and incubi by the King Sin of Lust - [[WhamLine these crystals allow access to the mortal realm]]. Any hellborn in possession of a registered crystal may be granted portal summons. It is common practice to have the crystal paired with another object for convenience. Jewelry is the most popular option. This writing in runes shit was fun at first but I know I am def not doing it right. I should be spending more time with friends and family."

* HisStoryRepeatsItself: From the start of their relationship, either their playdate or their first night together, Blitzo looked to steal something from Stolas (his family's valuables as a child and the grimoire as an adult), and Stolas, [[LoveMakesYouDumb being too smitten]] to realize it, [[SelectiveObliviousness chose to believe the "comfortable lie"]]. On both situations, Blitzo is bought by Stolas for companionship, the difference being that at childhood he was old by his father and as an adult he offered himself.

* HisStoryRepeatsItself: From the start of their relationship, either their playdate or their first night together, Blitzo looked to steal something from Stolas (his family's valuables as a child and the grimoire as an adult), and Stolas, [[LoveMakesYouDumb being too smitten]] to realize it, [[SelectiveObliviousness chose to believe the "comfortable lie"]].

* PrecisionFStrike: Stolas gives one to Stella the morning after Blitzo first seduced him, as a brilliant "screw you" and humiliating ''her'' in front of their peers for once.
-->'''Stella:''' (''after Blitzo runs off'') WHAT ''THE FUCK'' WAS THAT, STOLAS?!\\

** In "[[Recap/HelluvaBossS1E1MurderFamily Murder Family]]", Stolas said he "allowed" Blitzo to use the grimoire, while in the [[Recap/HelluvaBossS1E0Pilot Pilot]], Blitzo said he only "slept with that privileged asshole [one time]" in order to get it, and showed a flashback with him sneaking out. This episode confirms ''both'' claims, as it turned out Blitzo didn't have sex with Stolas in exchange for the book, but actually did steal it and just gave the owl some PitySex. A satisfied Stolas just let him be until he needed the grimoire back, leading to his deal set in "Murder Family".

** Blitzo's dad, Cash Buckzo, sells him to Paimon for five dollars and a thin condom. And when Blitzo objects, Cash tells Blitzo to rob the place blind, emotionally manipulating him with PuppyDogEyes and invoking his mother in order to get Blitzo to agree.

* LieBackAndThinkOfEngland: According to Stella, her and Stola's sex life amounted to this. She saw it as proof of him being terrible in bed, but it's implied he just couldn't stand to do anything with ''her''. After they had Octavia, their union quickly turned into a SexlessMarriage.

** When Stolas takes the book on Asmodean Crystals, the translation goes as follows:

-->"Best owed to mainly succubi and incubi by the king sin of lust - [[WhamLine These crystals allow access to the mortal realm]]. Any hellborn in possession of a registered crystal may be granted portal summons. It is common practice to have the crystal paired with another object for convenience. Jewelry is the most popular option. This writing in runes shit was fun at first but I know I am def not doing it right and I should be spending more time with friends and family."
* FurryReminder: Several shots in the episode remind the viewer that members of the Goetia family are owls. A portrait of Stolas as a newborn shows him to be red, featherless and wrinkly, like a real baby bird would be just after they hatched. A portrait before that one also shows that Stolas was laid as an egg.At the circus, Stolas and Paimon make hooting sounds multiple times when they see something in the show which they like. Stolas eats multiple mouse kebabs whole at the party, and angrily hisses when Stella keeps badmouthing him. Blitzo tries to do a NeckSnap on Stolas while they’re in bed. Stolas {{No Sell}}s the neck snap, because an owl's head can turn around completely behind them.

* HisHistoryRepeatsItself: From the start of their relationship, either their playdate or their first night together, Blitzo looked to steal something from Stolas (his family's valuables as a child and the grimoire as an adult), and Stolas, [[LoveMakesYouDumb being too smitten]] to realize it, [[SelectiveObliviousness chose to believe the "comfortable lie"]].

* GilliganCut: After tying Stolas to a bed and blindfolding him, Blitzo intends to make off with the grimoire, and just leave Stolas to his fate. But Blitzo [[ConscienceMakesYouGoBack decides to stay anyway]], giving some PitySex to Stolas wanting to "do this real fast". Cut to the next morning, where Blitzo literally jumps from a balcony onto the breakfast table, telling Stella "Sorry I fucked your husband!" as he runs out.

* SureLetsGoWithThat: Stolas is confused when Blitzo suggests they play "treasure hunt" by collecting his family's valuables and then throwing them out of a window and asks if it is some kind of "imp game". Blitzo responds with shrugging and a nonplussed "''Suuure'', why not?"

* UsedToBeASweetKid: The flashback of his childhood shows that Stolas was yet to develop his CondescendingCompassion towards imps, since he was courteous enough to present himself to Blitzo with a bow. Sadly, Paimon quickly reminds him imps are the ones meant to bow ''to them''.

* ForgottenFirstMeeting: 25 years after their playdate together, Stolas still remembers Blitzo and is able to recognize him, while Blitzo seems to no longer remember Stolas. It's even left ambiguous if Stolas's calling him "his first friend" had stirred back memories or Blitzo thought Stolas was desperate enough for affection that he had become delusional about him.

* PitySex: After blinding and tying Stolas to the bed, Blitzo was ready to just take the grimoire and leave, but hearing Stolas so desperate for affection moves him to at least give him a quickie... That turns into a whole night of passion.