Alastair died in the 1930’s and at that time “Little Orphan Annie” was a popular radio program. The musical at least has the song “never fully dressed without a smile”. I just always thought his line about smiling was a reference to that.
Could also be a reference to Hamilton. "Talk less. Smile more. Don't let them know what you're against or what you're for." A combination of the two sources.
What I found interesting is his shadow can choose not to smile (I think we see it after his fight with Adam). So I suspect the permanent smile is a part of his deal.
Hard to believe that we are eight months out from Hazbin Hotel's release and some losers still do nothing with their time but click on videos they don't want to see then complain about it being Hazbin Hotel.
Damn!😅 Sorry, you have to deal with that. Also, just a brief side note. It does seem like Alastor respects women more than men, but he has been shown to have killed female overlords, he knocked Vaggie around in the pilot and is definitely manipulating Charlie. Although when he got mad at Husk he threatened to tear his soul apart, but when he was mad at Mimzie he just told her to leave. So, it’s not really clear where he draws the line when it comes to either sex.
hi, english is not my native language, so maybe i didn't understand what you wanted to say, but i translated it like that, that you insulted people who do nothing and watch videos about hotel hazbin, until season 2 came out? sorry for misunderstanding, i still don't understand what they are complaining about. I will be grateful if someone could explain it to me, rephrase maybe 🤗stay safe everybody
@@CartoonUniverse aaaaaaa now I get it, thank you so much!!! It's okay, it's up to you to decide what video do you want to make 🤗good luck, you are good person and very talented!!!
@@Actionfan19 I was going to say the same thing. It seems that it’s the fakest of smiles. Whether that was his choice or someone else’s and he just embraced the smile
While we know he fakes a smile even when not feeling it, I wouldn't go so far as to say he never truly smiles. Such as when spending time with Rosie or Nifty, and when he is feeling like he has the upper hand. Plus the fact that no one who has known him for a longer time, such as Nifty and Husk don't question the smile leads me to believe he has always subscribed to the "smile to keep everyone guessing" way of thinking rather than it being a new development from the 7 year absence over which he propably made the deal for his soul. The stitches we see upon him making the deal with Charlie, might be there to keep him from telling anyone of the deal and what it is forcing him to do. So yes, partially faked but not full time, I think.
Yeah, Alastor has definitely smiled for real plenty of times when enjoying the misery of others, taunting Vox and Lucifer, getting the upper hand and bonding with Niffty. He’s even laughed a few times mostly at others misery again like with Sir Pentious’ “attack” and got an even bigger “true smile” when singing 🎵 “I know something yooouu don’t know” 🎵. So yeah we can’t really say he’s never “truly” smiled since he’s shown to use it for genuine happiness quite often. However, if he could/was willing to frown he would have when Carmela Carmine ignored him or during his “defeat” by Adam and especially afterwords in the tower.
@@jasmidnurmi9857 I guess, but the stitches were holding back his smile, if they weren’t there? He would rip his face open, since stitches keep things closed, not open
I actually belive it would be fun for vivzie to make "Alastor's radio" lets just say few auditions no visual at all where Al talks plays music and disturbingly murders someone. I would love to hear that.
I like how Husk eventually managed to crack Alastor's smile. Alastor's smile was the perfect poker face and cost Husk his soul. But by the time the series starts, Husk has finally figured out Alastor's mask.
For a man like Alastor a smile is nothing more than a suit of armor, something to protect him from the people who think they can take advantage of him. A means to catch his opponents off guard and move into an advantageous position. To him a smile is a tool, not an expression.
Alastor's relationship with his mom is what I've been looking forward to the most in the entire show. i hope its a good, long storyline in the series❤🤞
You can get a sense of Alastor’s true emotions through his eyes and the one of the few times he seemed to have any real happiness was when he was with Rosie, particularly when they were singing together during “Ready for This”.
i can tell if alastor ever smiling for real of fake smiling because there are times he's not smiling with his eyes and the only time he's ever actually smiling genuinely is when he's seeing someone else in pain
Thinking on it, Alastor's smile kind of reminds me of the smile worn by the protagonist of Fire Force. He was taught, even when sad or scared, to smile. This ostracized him
actually there are a couple frames in an episode where alastor doesnt smile. its during the scene where charlie is in bed, sulking at some failure and alastor coaxes her into a deal. theyre really easy to miss.
Alastor: Are you nuts? I’m not happy, I’m miserable! Charlie: but you smile all the time.😮 Alastor: My face is sewn up like that! I can’t! stop! smiling! Do you have any idea how horrible it is to look like this?!😆
Charlie: I- I didn't know. Alastor: Do you even think it was ever that simple I mean I'm sometimes happy like when spending time with Rosie and nifty and when I have the upper hand but that's half the time the other half I'm utterly miserable!
He’s a con man that hides his emotions behind a false smile - concealing his fear of change and his desire to be free of some ill-advised bargain with a being that has yet to be introduced to us (I hope season two changes this). Truly he is a multi-layered character with an aura of mystery about him…
@@KichimuraWashuu303not only that, I think they made their deal when Alastor was still alive. Why else would he show up to Hell with an unbelievable amount of innate potential, when it took other Overlords countless years to gain their power? I also think Roo knows Lillith personally.
I honestly believe the only time he actually smiles is when Nifty made him that crown, he is fond of the little crazy lady and honestly I think that’s the only time he did.
Honestly when you re watch the show you can see Al subtlely trying to nudge/rush the hotel folk into making choices more quickly. And once the the catman pointed out Al was on a leash it made more sense. He was under a deal and it had a time limit
One theory, is that he’s like Willem Dafoe’s the Smile Man. Where he is smiling, but not on purpose. Probably had something either when he was alive, or after he died where he has to live and die with a permanent smile.
That's actually more likely to be to keep him from talking about his deal and not smiling because if it was just for the smile he'd never not be able to have one which we see him without one many times
If you look at the pattern on his mouth, those stiches are crossing over his mouth and would be limiting how far it can open. If the stitches were holding him in a smile they would not cross over his mouth. The other important fact to think about, alastor actively uses his smile as a weapon and toppled overlords. Anyone who made a deal with him would want to limit the power of that smile to stop him from regaining control, it would be a horrible plan to give alastor a new weapon he can use to amass new power.
Your idea of him using the smile to mask the fact that he feels afraid all the time is really interesting! I'm not sure how things will play out in canon because we haven't gotten a good look at his inner landscape yet. If he actually does feel high levels of fear often, that possibly contradicts the headcanon some folks have that he has antisocial personality disorder. Disordered traits exist on a wide spectrum, but from what I understand, people with antisocial PD often have underactive amygdalas, resulting in feeling less fear and more boredom than the average person. If it turns out he's constantly feeling overstimulated, not understimulated, that would be an interesting twist! You might be on the right track in thinking he is a vulnerable narcissist. He definitely has some NPD traits, perhaps moreso than AsPD traits. Maybe he hides his tail because he could never fully control it and it gave away his emotions. Probably the deer ears were a learning curve when he first manifested as a demon. He would have had to practice to make sure they did not betray what he was actually feeling, and maybe he never fully mastered control of his tail. If they keep the backstory of him being a mixed race man in the southern US born in the late 1800s or early 1900s, he undoubtedly would have been subjected to a lot of trauma over his lifetime. Putting on a composed, happy mask while secretly freaking out underneath is definitely one way some people cope with severe trauma.
Thing is he would have had to be White passing even to get a radio host career in segregated 1920s Louisiana. He could be a little swarthy and have a little kink to his hair and pass it off as Greek or other South European ancestry. I've noticed that White passing people with Black ancestry are often insecure in their whiteness and are even more overtly racist than purebred Caucasians, either due to insecurity or feeling like their drop of ancestry gives them N word privileges.
I sill think alastor smile is part of his punishment. he uses it as an effective tool but also hates it. he once again as to put on a mask that has no feeling behind it and bottles up what he actually feels. this sort of thing happens in life then continuing in dealth is just torture.
You know when we see him make a deal with Charlie I see that there look like stitches on his grin which along with that it being green like the glow of the deal makes me think that maybe his is forced to have a smile by the demon who controls his soul
I didn't really catch onto it in the first watch through, but Alastor still managed to be rather expressive of how he is feeling at times despite always smiling. For instance, his expression shifts briefly after Zestiel appears. His eyes widen, his iris contract, and he abruptly glances towards the egg boys. The impression I get in that moment is that Alastor had a moment of panic, and that Zestial may be someone that even HE doesn't want to get on the bad side of. It's even possible that Zestial is the one whom Alastor is bound to.
I came across a fan comic once that described Alastor's childhood, making him a weird, neerdy boy with a caring mother and abusive father. I would like to think that it was his father who gave him his view on men and need for control, and his mother, whom he loved, who influenced him to put on a permanent smile.
I'm almost certain that the stitches on Alastor's face that we see at times is keeping his smile permanent. However, instead of someone doing it to him, I think he put the stitches on himself. After all, they are the exact green that his magic always is.
When he makes a deal with Charlie we see green stitches on his mouth like there forcing him to smile I think the reason he always smiles is because of his deal
After watching this video, I cannot helped but wondering about this: Can doubt be used against Alastor and the Overlords? If doubt can killed many Jedi and Sith, I am certain that doubt can killed plenty of Overlords as well. By making these Overlords doubted themselves, their beliefs and their intentions, deaths will not be far behind them once their power bases have been underminded and doubt overtaken them.
I think Alastor is actually unable to not smile. I mean, with all those different shades and forms the sinners have, it could actually be possible that Alastors smile may be not just a mask, but his actual face being, stuck in a permanent smile by nature, which he uses to his advantage, as he has no other choice anyway.
When Alastor makes a deal with Charlie his smile is stitched together I wonder if he did that himself or if its a punishment? And ya know he disappeared female overlords too so maybe not all women are safe from his wrath.
there is also another reason why whenever alastor goes to his demon form you can see on his mouth there is stiches that might imply that no madder what he has to smile and it might have been apart of his deal to never stop smiling.
So recently I got the idea of an eventual plot or rather of a possible storyline for Hazbin Hotel. Idk why but this idea just popped up in my head and I thought maybe it would be interesting to share the idea with you all here. So my idea was that, just as he announced, Alastor somehow finds a way to either complete his deal or to avoid/leave his deal. Then he focuses on his own plans. Eventually for now he sticks with the Hotel in Order to defeat the Vees since they would be his main rivals. Once he has completed that and either killed them or even forced them to submit to his will, he would turn against the Hotel, like that splitting the main cast and becoming the new and eventual main antagonist of the show. Like this the main cast would split up into 2 different groups. On the one side Alastor, Niffty and Husk (Husk since he has no choice and is getting forced) and on the other side Charlie, Vaggie, Angel Dust and eventually Cherri Bomb and a few other new characters. This would especially be bad for Angel Dust and Husk (obviously), since they would be on two different sides. I would suggest that other characters like Mimzy and Rosie would stick with Alastor, although Rosie might be worried and in the end rather stick with the Pro-Hotel side. Following that I could also imagine that it eventually turns out, that during the gamble against Husk, where Husk lost his soul, Alastor was cheating and not actually owns Husks soul. As we know people that are owned by Overlords kinda look like the Overlord they are bind to. As we saw with Voxes employees. And ik that Husk has the same colors on his character as Alastor if you want so. But yet I think it would be an interesting option. Then Husk could try to change sides and either succeeds or gets imprisoned or even killed by Alastor (no front to the Husk fans). Of course this is just a possible idea and it will most likely not be like this. Including that I did not include characters like Lilith, Lucifer, Sera, Lute and Emily in it. First of those mainly bc they are very strong and I dont have an idea how Alastor would want to go against them in actual combat. Lucifer might be manipulated and like that neutralized with Charlie’s deal she made with Alastor somehow (if you got other ideas let me know!). This is just a theory and idea I got and saw as interesting and worth to share. Anyway let me know your thoughts on this please and have a great day! :D (And man thx if you actually read all of this.)
He stops smiling his deal breaks and whoever got him on a chain gets full control of him imagine the tragedy, being forced to smile at every moment of your life knowing one slip up means your soul is doomed.
What I think about is, what if Alastor had an abusive Father growing up? Someone who is the direct opposite of what he strives to be? A violent and brute "manly-man" who hit him and his mother? Someone who took him on hunting trips to kill and flay animals because he wanted a "proper son", although Alastors true interest where stuff like Musik and cooking with his mom. Maybe when his father wasn't around, he was influenced by his mother with "Always smile my dear no matter how hard life becomes", dancing with her, Musik in the radio playing. Maybe these few silly and joyfully moments with his mom where his escape from the fear him and his mother had to go through daily. And that's what stuck with him. Smile no matter what. Don't show your enemies you are afraid. Maybe he and his mom where not allowed to smile. Maybe his father was hitting him for "being a smug little s***". And then... When maybe his father beat up his mom so bad one day that she died, Alastor just snapped. So he killed his father, with a big insane smile on his face. This could be the reason he is so protective and fond of women because he idializes them like this gentle, fair creatures (like his mom) and despises any loud, angry and brute men like his father. Alastor became this smiling, cultivated gentleman his mother wanted him to be, striving to be the best version of himself, but on the other hand had this dark desire to punish every man who remotely resembles his father, doing it with a smile, because it makes him feel invincible. Then after he came to hell (and maybe got his powers from Roo) the thing with his deal just made it impossible for him to ever take this masking smile off again. He never wanted to be vulnerable ever again, so his smile became his strength and his prison. This arc would add to the long list of daddy-issues characters in the hella-verse and would make some sense. That's my theory at least 😅
Hey, i also want to mention that when alastor makes a deal with charlie, they light up and you can actually see green strings sewed into alastors mouth like it was sewed to smile..
what if his constant smile has something to do with his sinner form? if he did not smile in life, what if he was more or less forced to adopt the policy cuz he found himself, at least far as we know literally incapable of not smiling, and learned to make the most of it for his own benifit
Well...Deer are considered very cautious animals. The moment danger is nearby, they run as fast as they can. It would make sense that Al is guarded at all times. It could add more to the "sad and complicated" relationship between him and Vox. Plus, this could set up a nice character arc where he'll be in a position to lose his smile and flat-out cry. Him learning to open up his negative feelings to the people that he can trust.
I cant wait for that moment that he stops smiling, wether it be when his deal is revealed to everyone or when we meet the person who has control of him or whatever but I can’t wait
I believe the voice actor of Alastor actually tweeted that the smile is a force manifestation of his pride and honestly I believe did it when he was alive and whenever he died it transferred over being a main noticeable details of him when he was alive he would use this to create the illusion of happiness so that way no one would suspect that he murdered people because people would assume oh these people have gone missing oh it can't be the radio host he's always so happy and cheerful why would we ever suspect someone who seems so happy of murdering people
One detail I really like and that I think supports this theory is when he makes the deal with Charlie it looks like there are green threads stitched ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF HIS HEAD that constantly FORCE his mouth into a smile. I don’t doubt he resents the way he died and maybe I’m over/wishful thinking but I have an easier time believing that though he recognizes the power it holds his constant smile is the thing he dislikes most about himself that hell manifested. Part of the reason in addition I think this is unless there is more to his death story than I am seeing it seems it had less to do with any trait he hates about himself and more of a wrong place wrong time sort of thing (though I can see the argument especially since he was burying a body at the time). The smile seems a bit more in line with what hell would exaggerate about his appearance in my opinion. I do see an argument for both the deer traits and the smile being the trait. I just like the idea and narrative potential of his signature trait of an unending smile being the trait he hates so much that’s it’s the exaggerated physical trait hell manifested on him like Angels feet and Carmella’s hands.
I think the quote as you mentioned, "you're never really dressed without a smile" says enough anyways. What do you do with clothes, you wear them. They cover things. So using that logic, Alastor wears a smile, to hide something. Aka, the smile has never been real.
I dont think Al is necessarily afraid all the time, but rather stressed and anxious. Neurotic about some things and with a need to control that can drive him to kill.
Alastor was also a person of colour in the early 1900s American South. Alastor very specifically hates others having control over him, dismissing him, looking down on him... things that would have absolutely been his daily lot at the time. A good false front would have been a defensive necessity for him in his mortal life, especially if he was moving in mixed circles. This was a time of race laws and 'strange fruit' after all. And we probably do have a scene with his honest smile... the balcony scene with Niffty.
I wholeheartedly agree with everything in this video; he very much behaves like what I call the "Master of Fear" trope- someone who is able to effectively inflict (project) fear in others because they're intimately familiar with fear themselves, and do so to make themselves feel better about their fear. Alastor uses his power defensively (as if he gains it just to be able to protect himself), and loves doing intimidation tactics and power displays as if trying to make himself seem more of a threat than he feels he is, just to keep other demons away from him (from attacking him). That's my analysis on him, anyway. There is just one thing I don't totally agree on- that Alastor's mother was a single mother, at least always was one. The scary scene with Husk in episode 5 shows he has a spark of abusive rage in him. That kind of rage doesn't come from observing bad people in society, but more so generational trauma- exposure to abuse instills abusive tendencies. Alastor comes off to me as a soul that originally had a kinder, more sensitive disposition, one born different enough to break generational trauma, but if one is exposed to extreme toxicity and/or abuse long enough even a good soul can be poisoned by anger and violence. Because of that and his strong misandry, I really think there was a time where he had an abusive father figure in his life. Finding criminals to kill later in life was just a continuation of that hate he learned.
"You're never fully dressed without a smile" was a common phrase and belief in the time period Alastor was alive, particularly for women, so I think that's more what informed his repetition of it. Likely he heard his mother being told this and took it to heart himself. (This last part is just my speculating, I'm open to being proven wrong)
I personally feel like there are two real smiles we get to see: one, when he's talking to Rosie, and the other, when he's doing his 'I know something you don't know~!" shtick. But, that's just my opinion.
This guy never smiled that people had to edit his face to see how he would look without his psycho smile all the time
No real smile
crazy hiw a smile completely changes his expression
I saw that and it didn't look natural. Like, it's as if him not smiling is just something that should never happen. lol
That, and hang onto every in-between frame where his smile drops to form a word while he's talking (like in "...dooming everyone you love?" in ep 7)
its because my man IS psycho and enjoys it
Alastair died in the 1930’s and at that time “Little Orphan Annie” was a popular radio program. The musical at least has the song “never fully dressed without a smile”. I just always thought his line about smiling was a reference to that.
Yeah it actually was
Another theory is that Alastor's smile stems from his mom, who told him to never stop smiling even when he is sad.
Could also be a reference to Hamilton. "Talk less. Smile more. Don't let them know what you're against or what you're for." A combination of the two sources.
No, viv doesn't like bringing real world events into her stuff, like when people asked if baxter died in the titanic
Alastairs👍
I always get this impression from Alastor. The longer the show goes on, the more you REALLY get the sense that his smile is falling apart.
What I found interesting is his shadow can choose not to smile (I think we see it after his fight with Adam). So I suspect the permanent smile is a part of his deal.
Hard to believe that we are eight months out from Hazbin Hotel's release and some losers still do nothing with their time but click on videos they don't want to see then complain about it being Hazbin Hotel.
Indeed, he always Charming bro.
Damn!😅 Sorry, you have to deal with that. Also, just a brief side note. It does seem like Alastor respects women more than men, but he has been shown to have killed female overlords, he knocked Vaggie around in the pilot and is definitely manipulating Charlie. Although when he got mad at Husk he threatened to tear his soul apart, but when he was mad at Mimzie he just told her to leave.
So, it’s not really clear where he draws the line when it comes to either sex.
hi, english is not my native language, so maybe i didn't understand what you wanted to say, but i translated it like that, that you insulted people who do nothing and watch videos about hotel hazbin, until season 2 came out? sorry for misunderstanding, i still don't understand what they are complaining about. I will be grateful if someone could explain it to me, rephrase maybe 🤗stay safe everybody
@@ЧувакКрутой Haha, bad translation! It was a comment about rude people who are mad I made more hazbin hotel videos. Hopefully that translates well.
@@CartoonUniverse aaaaaaa now I get it, thank you so much!!! It's okay, it's up to you to decide what video do you want to make 🤗good luck, you are good person and very talented!!!
I feel like no one talks about how strong Alastor’s facial muscles have to be to hold that smile for every moment of every day
Unless he's forcing it with stitching like it seems to be implied after he makes his deal with Charlie.
@@Actionfan19 I was going to say the same thing. It seems that it’s the fakest of smiles. Whether that was his choice or someone else’s and he just embraced the smile
Yeah, he’s probably in constant pain.
We see during his magic, that his smile is sewn on. Like a sort of spell
@@Actionfan19yes it is
I just hope he never stops smiling because that is the time when it’s about to get real.
Yep
While we know he fakes a smile even when not feeling it, I wouldn't go so far as to say he never truly smiles. Such as when spending time with Rosie or Nifty, and when he is feeling like he has the upper hand. Plus the fact that no one who has known him for a longer time, such as Nifty and Husk don't question the smile leads me to believe he has always subscribed to the "smile to keep everyone guessing" way of thinking rather than it being a new development from the 7 year absence over which he propably made the deal for his soul. The stitches we see upon him making the deal with Charlie, might be there to keep him from telling anyone of the deal and what it is forcing him to do.
So yes, partially faked but not full time, I think.
Yeah, Alastor has definitely smiled for real plenty of times when enjoying the misery of others, taunting Vox and Lucifer, getting the upper hand and bonding with Niffty. He’s even laughed a few times mostly at others misery again like with Sir Pentious’ “attack” and got an even bigger “true smile” when singing 🎵 “I know something yooouu don’t know” 🎵.
So yeah we can’t really say he’s never “truly” smiled since he’s shown to use it for genuine happiness quite often.
However, if he could/was willing to frown he would have when Carmela Carmine ignored him or during his “defeat” by Adam and especially afterwords in the tower.
Yes, I believe the same thing he does it keep people guessing, but he does smile for real at times as well
Stitches don’t do that mate.
@@LOL-bs1hg Not literally of course, but they could symbolize how he has been forced to remain silent on this topic.
@@jasmidnurmi9857 I guess, but the stitches were holding back his smile, if they weren’t there? He would rip his face open, since stitches keep things closed, not open
I actually belive it would be fun for vivzie to make "Alastor's radio" lets just say few auditions no visual at all where Al talks plays music and disturbingly murders someone. I would love to hear that.
Reminds me of Gorillaz pirate radio for some reason 💀...
Except Murdoc is always like extremely drunk and high 💀🙏
Reminds me of Welcome to Nightvale podcast. I can see Alastor and Cecil getting along swimmingly.
I think he genuinely smiles as well like when he is crowned king roach
Yep, and other times when he's doing something he likes too or that makes him feel happy
yes, I think Niffty is the only one who ever makes him smile on the inside and that's why he keeps her around.
Alternatively, I think he keeps Husk around because he sees Husk as a mirror to the part of Alastor's self that he keeps guarded from everyone.
Alastor is gonna be one of the best Pandora box mysteries we ever find out about in this show. Closely following Lillith and Rue.
I like how Husk eventually managed to crack Alastor's smile. Alastor's smile was the perfect poker face and cost Husk his soul. But by the time the series starts, Husk has finally figured out Alastor's mask.
He does a real one when makin the deal with charlie
For a man like Alastor a smile is nothing more than a suit of armor, something to protect him from the people who think they can take advantage of him. A means to catch his opponents off guard and move into an advantageous position.
To him a smile is a tool, not an expression.
Alastor's relationship with his mom is what I've been looking forward to the most in the entire show. i hope its a good, long storyline in the series❤🤞
You can get a sense of Alastor’s true emotions through his eyes and the one of the few times he seemed to have any real happiness was when he was with Rosie, particularly when they were singing together during “Ready for This”.
And on his "ears"
Alastor has the will of d.
i can tell if alastor ever smiling for real of fake smiling because there are times he's not smiling with his eyes and the only time he's ever actually smiling genuinely is when he's seeing someone else in pain
Thinking on it, Alastor's smile kind of reminds me of the smile worn by the protagonist of Fire Force. He was taught, even when sad or scared, to smile. This ostracized him
No it was his teeth and habit of smiling in awkward moments that lead to it
Um no...shinra has a nervous tick where he can't help but smile when nervous, anxious or overstimulated.
actually there are a couple frames in an episode where alastor doesnt smile. its during the scene where charlie is in bed, sulking at some failure and alastor coaxes her into a deal. theyre really easy to miss.
Well I mean he can’t always smile while saying some words. Especially since it’s animated.
Alastor is never fully dressed without a smile… even if it’s a fake one.😈🙃
😑
Alastor does genuinely smile twice throught the show
If Alistair ever stopped smiling then his enemies would be fucked
Agreed
Yep because if someone like him is always smiling then stops it means you really fucked up and now death is the least of your worries
Alistairs👍
@@exonymousprime I think the Vees will get their souls added to his collection
@ivanhunter6492 Me too and oh how much hope so and want to see it hahahahhahaaaaa
Alastor: Are you nuts? I’m not happy, I’m miserable!
Charlie: but you smile all the time.😮
Alastor: My face is sewn up like that! I can’t! stop! smiling! Do you have any idea how horrible it is to look like this?!😆
Charlie: I- I didn't know.
Alastor: Do you even think it was ever that simple I mean I'm sometimes happy like when spending time with Rosie and nifty and when I have the upper hand but that's half the time the other half I'm utterly miserable!
He’s a con man that hides his emotions behind a false smile - concealing his fear of change and his desire to be free of some ill-advised bargain with a being that has yet to be introduced to us (I hope season two changes this). Truly he is a multi-layered character with an aura of mystery about him…
Even with the ever present smile, we can at least read Alastor most of the time thanks to his ears, eyes and words he says.😉
If he’s leashed to who I theorize, then he has every right to be afraid.
Roo?
Other than Lilith, she seems like the most likely candidate for Alastor's soul owner.
@@caelanjarman2466 Very true
Eh how@@caelanjarman2466
@@KichimuraWashuu303not only that, I think they made their deal when Alastor was still alive. Why else would he show up to Hell with an unbelievable amount of innate potential, when it took other Overlords countless years to gain their power? I also think Roo knows Lillith personally.
I honestly believe the only time he actually smiles is when Nifty made him that crown, he is fond of the little crazy lady and honestly I think that’s the only time he did.
Honestly when you re watch the show you can see Al subtlely trying to nudge/rush the hotel folk into making choices more quickly.
And once the the catman pointed out Al was on a leash it made more sense. He was under a deal and it had a time limit
"Catman" 💀
Al? Weird al?
Al short for alistor and cat man means husker.
@@insanegaming613 ik
Alastor's mouth is stitched to make him constantly smile as you can see when he makes the deal with Charlie
One theory, is that he’s like Willem Dafoe’s the Smile Man.
Where he is smiling, but not on purpose.
Probably had something either when he was alive, or after he died where he has to live and die with a permanent smile.
When he makes a deal with Charlie, we can see stitches on his lips, probably meaning whoever he sold his soul to stitches his smile or forced it
That's so true and interesting. It really took my attention during my first watching time.
That's actually more likely to be to keep him from talking about his deal and not smiling because if it was just for the smile he'd never not be able to have one which we see him without one many times
If you look at the pattern on his mouth, those stiches are crossing over his mouth and would be limiting how far it can open. If the stitches were holding him in a smile they would not cross over his mouth. The other important fact to think about, alastor actively uses his smile as a weapon and toppled overlords. Anyone who made a deal with him would want to limit the power of that smile to stop him from regaining control, it would be a horrible plan to give alastor a new weapon he can use to amass new power.
Your idea of him using the smile to mask the fact that he feels afraid all the time is really interesting! I'm not sure how things will play out in canon because we haven't gotten a good look at his inner landscape yet. If he actually does feel high levels of fear often, that possibly contradicts the headcanon some folks have that he has antisocial personality disorder. Disordered traits exist on a wide spectrum, but from what I understand, people with antisocial PD often have underactive amygdalas, resulting in feeling less fear and more boredom than the average person. If it turns out he's constantly feeling overstimulated, not understimulated, that would be an interesting twist! You might be on the right track in thinking he is a vulnerable narcissist. He definitely has some NPD traits, perhaps moreso than AsPD traits.
Maybe he hides his tail because he could never fully control it and it gave away his emotions. Probably the deer ears were a learning curve when he first manifested as a demon. He would have had to practice to make sure they did not betray what he was actually feeling, and maybe he never fully mastered control of his tail.
If they keep the backstory of him being a mixed race man in the southern US born in the late 1800s or early 1900s, he undoubtedly would have been subjected to a lot of trauma over his lifetime. Putting on a composed, happy mask while secretly freaking out underneath is definitely one way some people cope with severe trauma.
Thing is he would have had to be White passing even to get a radio host career in segregated 1920s Louisiana. He could be a little swarthy and have a little kink to his hair and pass it off as Greek or other South European ancestry. I've noticed that White passing people with Black ancestry are often insecure in their whiteness and are even more overtly racist than purebred Caucasians, either due to insecurity or feeling like their drop of ancestry gives them N word privileges.
I sill think alastor smile is part of his punishment. he uses it as an effective tool but also hates it. he once again as to put on a mask that has no feeling behind it and bottles up what he actually feels. this sort of thing happens in life then continuing in dealth is just torture.
You know when we see him make a deal with Charlie I see that there look like stitches on his grin which along with that it being green like the glow of the deal makes me think that maybe his is forced to have a smile by the demon who controls his soul
Bro was the Smiling Friends’ 1st client
Honestly, I would love a cross over of that.
I didn't really catch onto it in the first watch through, but Alastor still managed to be rather expressive of how he is feeling at times despite always smiling. For instance, his expression shifts briefly after Zestiel appears. His eyes widen, his iris contract, and he abruptly glances towards the egg boys.
The impression I get in that moment is that Alastor had a moment of panic, and that Zestial may be someone that even HE doesn't want to get on the bad side of. It's even possible that Zestial is the one whom Alastor is bound to.
Zestial would know why alastor left for 7 years
I hope we get to dive into Alastairs backstory doofenshmirtz style
Ahh, Vox the TV man, how unexpected. By that I mean totally expected.
*Giant birdcage trap falls down*
"doofenshmirtz style" lmaooo
I came across a fan comic once that described Alastor's childhood, making him a weird, neerdy boy with a caring mother and abusive father. I would like to think that it was his father who gave him his view on men and need for control, and his mother, whom he loved, who influenced him to put on a permanent smile.
EXACTLY
Great video
Alastor’s a great character!!
He’s my favorire along with Charlie
I'm almost certain that the stitches on Alastor's face that we see at times is keeping his smile permanent. However, instead of someone doing it to him, I think he put the stitches on himself. After all, they are the exact green that his magic always is.
When you die and go to hell, you gain a trait that you dont like to your body, what if the thing he didn’t like is his smile
This might just explain why he seems to have a fairly close relationship with everyone's favorite goblin character, Nifty. I love that little psycho.
Duh no one smiles to be happy it's to fake happiness no one is ever happy
Wow what a statement 😂
It's like a poker face
Another great video, @CartoonUniverse. Looking forward to learning more about Al's mom!
I ALWAYS wondered why Alastor uses his Faked Smile
“ smiling faces smiling faces tell lies they don’t tell the truth “ so that’s what it meant
When he makes a deal with Charlie we see green stitches on his mouth like there forcing him to smile I think the reason he always smiles is because of his deal
I think it’s either the last episode or the second to last but only one truly happy smile was on alastor’s face.
I’m here for this, but I do think at least one of the times he smiles with just him and Nifty it’s legitimate
After watching this video, I cannot helped but wondering about this: Can doubt be used against Alastor and the Overlords? If doubt can killed many Jedi and Sith, I am certain that doubt can killed plenty of Overlords as well. By making these Overlords doubted themselves, their beliefs and their intentions, deaths will not be far behind them once their power bases have been underminded and doubt overtaken them.
I think Alastor is actually unable to not smile.
I mean, with all those different shades and forms the sinners have, it could actually be possible that Alastors smile may be not just a mask, but his actual face being, stuck in a permanent smile by nature, which he uses to his advantage, as he has no other choice anyway.
He’s been forced to smile because someone answers soul
He's afraid of what will happen if he fails. We all work for someone. Everyone is afraid of something
I think he only actually smiled once, when he made the deal with Charlie
When Alastor said you’re never really dressed without a smile. I think it implies this from the very beginning from the pilot.
That's what I like about him. He's pure evil and sadistic, but still human, with feelings thoughts and a story. It's hard to hit that middle ground
8:56 is the relationship between Alastor and his mother reallh supposed to be in season two?
He doesn’t fake it he forces it as a tactic. After a while dealing with overlords in hell it probably became more natural for him
If you always smile...then you never do.
I know a fake smile when I see one "I fake a smile most of the time" I knew Alastors smile is forced it has a deeper meaning
If I made a deal with that thing I would be scared out of my mind too.
When Alastor makes a deal with Charlie his smile is stitched together I wonder if he did that himself or if its a punishment? And ya know he disappeared female overlords too so maybe not all women are safe from his wrath.
see the part about women should be kept out of the line of fire Unless they themselves choose to be there
this guy never fails to bring up a fire video everytime
there is also another reason why whenever alastor goes to his demon form you can see on his mouth there is stiches that might imply that no madder what he has to smile and it might have been apart of his deal to never stop smiling.
Omg Alastor is emo
So recently I got the idea of an eventual plot or rather of a possible storyline for Hazbin Hotel.
Idk why but this idea just popped up in my head and I thought maybe it would be interesting to share the idea with you all here.
So my idea was that, just as he announced, Alastor somehow finds a way to either complete his deal or to avoid/leave his deal. Then he focuses on his own plans. Eventually for now he sticks with the Hotel in Order to defeat the Vees since they would be his main rivals. Once he has completed that and either killed them or even forced them to submit to his will, he would turn against the Hotel, like that splitting the main cast and becoming the new and eventual main antagonist of the show.
Like this the main cast would split up into 2 different groups. On the one side Alastor, Niffty and Husk (Husk since he has no choice and is getting forced) and on the other side Charlie, Vaggie, Angel Dust and eventually Cherri Bomb and a few other new characters.
This would especially be bad for Angel Dust and Husk (obviously), since they would be on two different sides.
I would suggest that other characters like Mimzy and Rosie would stick with Alastor, although Rosie might be worried and in the end rather stick with the Pro-Hotel side.
Following that I could also imagine that it eventually turns out, that during the gamble against Husk, where Husk lost his soul, Alastor was cheating and not actually owns Husks soul. As we know people that are owned by Overlords kinda look like the Overlord they are bind to. As we saw with Voxes employees. And ik that Husk has the same colors on his character as Alastor if you want so. But yet I think it would be an interesting option.
Then Husk could try to change sides and either succeeds or gets imprisoned or even killed by Alastor (no front to the Husk fans).
Of course this is just a possible idea and it will most likely not be like this. Including that I did not include characters like Lilith, Lucifer, Sera, Lute and Emily in it. First of those mainly bc they are very strong and I dont have an idea how Alastor would want to go against them in actual combat. Lucifer might be manipulated and like that neutralized with Charlie’s deal she made with Alastor somehow (if you got other ideas let me know!).
This is just a theory and idea I got and saw as interesting and worth to share.
Anyway let me know your thoughts on this please and have a great day! :D
(And man thx if you actually read all of this.)
Mmmh... I don't know, it scares me how relatable this is
He stops smiling his deal breaks and whoever got him on a chain gets full control of him imagine the tragedy, being forced to smile at every moment of your life knowing one slip up means your soul is doomed.
Thank goodness a video without mentioning ghost effers.
This is great please do more videos like this. This is great.
Ah man I HOPE this is the direction they go with in the show - it's so compelling
This is one of the most depressing theories I've heard abt his smile's origin. I love it!
Alastor did kill some female overlords as well tho, so there is that
What I think about is, what if Alastor had an abusive Father growing up? Someone who is the direct opposite of what he strives to be? A violent and brute "manly-man" who hit him and his mother? Someone who took him on hunting trips to kill and flay animals because he wanted a "proper son", although Alastors true interest where stuff like Musik and cooking with his mom. Maybe when his father wasn't around, he was influenced by his mother with "Always smile my dear no matter how hard life becomes", dancing with her, Musik in the radio playing. Maybe these few silly and joyfully moments with his mom where his escape from the fear him and his mother had to go through daily. And that's what stuck with him. Smile no matter what. Don't show your enemies you are afraid. Maybe he and his mom where not allowed to smile. Maybe his father was hitting him for "being a smug little s***". And then... When maybe his father beat up his mom so bad one day that she died, Alastor just snapped. So he killed his father, with a big insane smile on his face. This could be the reason he is so protective and fond of women because he idializes them like this gentle, fair creatures (like his mom) and despises any loud, angry and brute men like his father. Alastor became this smiling, cultivated gentleman his mother wanted him to be, striving to be the best version of himself, but on the other hand had this dark desire to punish every man who remotely resembles his father, doing it with a smile, because it makes him feel invincible. Then after he came to hell (and maybe got his powers from Roo) the thing with his deal just made it impossible for him to ever take this masking smile off again. He never wanted to be vulnerable ever again, so his smile became his strength and his prison.
This arc would add to the long list of daddy-issues characters in the hella-verse and would make some sense. That's my theory at least 😅
Hey, i also want to mention that when alastor makes a deal with charlie, they light up and you can actually see green strings sewed into alastors mouth like it was sewed to smile..
I feel like Alistor's smile is actually compulsive and forced not by him but by whatever the deal he's stuck in is, LITERALLY forced to smile.
what if his constant smile has something to do with his sinner form? if he did not smile in life, what if he was more or less forced to adopt the policy cuz he found himself, at least far as we know literally incapable of not smiling, and learned to make the most of it for his own benifit
Ah yes Zestial, known for his empathetic intense torturing of other people.
he can't even stand it when carmilla is bummed out and has to sing about how great she is
To be fair, he has maybe five minutes of screen time in the whole first season - we know almost nothing about him.
LIKE A DEER SCARED OF EVERYTHING
DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS
😭
Alastor acts like a predator but in reality is prey sacred of everything
Well...Deer are considered very cautious animals. The moment danger is nearby, they run as fast as they can. It would make sense that Al is guarded at all times. It could add more to the "sad and complicated" relationship between him and Vox. Plus, this could set up a nice character arc where he'll be in a position to lose his smile and flat-out cry. Him learning to open up his negative feelings to the people that he can trust.
The radio demon needs therapy someone please call a therapist please
Jambalaya
he's masking
I cant wait for that moment that he stops smiling, wether it be when his deal is revealed to everyone or when we meet the person who has control of him or whatever but I can’t wait
I believe the voice actor of Alastor actually tweeted that the smile is a force manifestation of his pride and honestly I believe did it when he was alive and whenever he died it transferred over being a main noticeable details of him when he was alive he would use this to create the illusion of happiness so that way no one would suspect that he murdered people because people would assume oh these people have gone missing oh it can't be the radio host he's always so happy and cheerful why would we ever suspect someone who seems so happy of murdering people
0:46 to 0:53 “its not about the money its about sending a message” heath ledger’s joker
One detail I really like and that I think supports this theory is when he makes the deal with Charlie it looks like there are green threads stitched ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF HIS HEAD that constantly FORCE his mouth into a smile.
I don’t doubt he resents the way he died and maybe I’m over/wishful thinking but I have an easier time believing that though he recognizes the power it holds his constant smile is the thing he dislikes most about himself that hell manifested.
Part of the reason in addition I think this is unless there is more to his death story than I am seeing it seems it had less to do with any trait he hates about himself and more of a wrong place wrong time sort of thing (though I can see the argument especially since he was burying a body at the time). The smile seems a bit more in line with what hell would exaggerate about his appearance in my opinion.
I do see an argument for both the deer traits and the smile being the trait. I just like the idea and narrative potential of his signature trait of an unending smile being the trait he hates so much that’s it’s the exaggerated physical trait hell manifested on him like Angels feet and Carmella’s hands.
I think the quote as you mentioned, "you're never really dressed without a smile" says enough anyways. What do you do with clothes, you wear them. They cover things. So using that logic, Alastor wears a smile, to hide something. Aka, the smile has never been real.
I dont think Al is necessarily afraid all the time, but rather stressed and anxious. Neurotic about some things and with a need to control that can drive him to kill.
Alastor was also a person of colour in the early 1900s American South.
Alastor very specifically hates others having control over him, dismissing him, looking down on him... things that would have absolutely been his daily lot at the time.
A good false front would have been a defensive necessity for him in his mortal life, especially if he was moving in mixed circles. This was a time of race laws and 'strange fruit' after all.
And we probably do have a scene with his honest smile... the balcony scene with Niffty.
even tho i am sick, i still am gonna remind you about King Boo Easter egg
I always thought his smile was caused by his deal, like a curse
This was a video I needed
I would love to see Alistor's Sainted Mother show up at some point, and throw his entire existence into turmoil.
I wholeheartedly agree with everything in this video; he very much behaves like what I call the "Master of Fear" trope- someone who is able to effectively inflict (project) fear in others because they're intimately familiar with fear themselves, and do so to make themselves feel better about their fear. Alastor uses his power defensively (as if he gains it just to be able to protect himself), and loves doing intimidation tactics and power displays as if trying to make himself seem more of a threat than he feels he is, just to keep other demons away from him (from attacking him). That's my analysis on him, anyway.
There is just one thing I don't totally agree on- that Alastor's mother was a single mother, at least always was one. The scary scene with Husk in episode 5 shows he has a spark of abusive rage in him. That kind of rage doesn't come from observing bad people in society, but more so generational trauma- exposure to abuse instills abusive tendencies. Alastor comes off to me as a soul that originally had a kinder, more sensitive disposition, one born different enough to break generational trauma, but if one is exposed to extreme toxicity and/or abuse long enough even a good soul can be poisoned by anger and violence. Because of that and his strong misandry, I really think there was a time where he had an abusive father figure in his life. Finding criminals to kill later in life was just a continuation of that hate he learned.
"You're never fully dressed without a smile" was a common phrase and belief in the time period Alastor was alive, particularly for women, so I think that's more what informed his repetition of it. Likely he heard his mother being told this and took it to heart himself. (This last part is just my speculating, I'm open to being proven wrong)
*As a creepy auto voice on a computer once said* wHy DiD yOu dO iT? wHy DiD yOu dO iT? wHy DiD yOu dO iT? wHy DiD yOu dO iT?
I personally feel like there are two real smiles we get to see: one, when he's talking to Rosie, and the other, when he's doing his 'I know something you don't know~!" shtick. But, that's just my opinion.