She’s the feisty goddess who looked long and hard before choosing Bell to become a part of her familia. Fiercely loyal but also not really one to plan ahead, Hestia has a lot more going for her as a character than you might think from her generic loli appearance. Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon would definitely not be the same without Hestia.
When we first meet Hestia she seems as generic as they come. She’s the loli/little sister type character who is way too fixated on the boy she lives with and very hands on. She crawls into his blanket and sulks when she doesn’t get her way. With her bouncing breasts taking centre stage in a lot of her screen time, and even other gods mocking her for being so small accept in her boobs, it would be very easy to dismiss Hestia as a one note character that we’ve all seen before.
That however overlooks a lot of Hestia’s most wonderful character traits. Her genuine affection for Bell, whether that of a goddess or something more not withstanding, she’s fiercely protective of her familia (which in the anime initially consists of only Bell). Hestia may be largely powerless in the mortal world but she still isn’t going to let those she deems a danger near him. And yet, her jealousy and protectiveness doesn’t make her stupid. When Lily comes along, despite Hestia not trusting her initially and those misgivings turn out to be true, once Lily commits to following Bell, Hestia accepts the logic in Bell having assistance in the dungeon. She may not like it but she does what is right for Bell’s protection.
This willingness to compromise her own position in order to protect Bell is a reoccurring theme and something that sets Hestia apart from other possessive characters who put their own needs first at almost all times. Hestia incurs a massive debt to another goddess early on in order to buy Bell a knife that will guard him in the dungeon. However, rather than using the money earned by Bell in the dungeon to pay for it, Hestia takes on a range of part-time jobs and continues to work to pay the debt herself.
Affiliate Link
However, the surest sign of Hestia’s feelings and her strength as a character, as well as her impulsive nature, is her decision to enter the dungeon after Bell and his party don’t return. Despite being a goddess she is completely helpless in the dungeon and she knows it. She knows she can’t do any good, she knows that her presence won’t change anything, and yet she cannot simply sit and wait for Bell to return. Then, when push comes to shove and Hestia sees Bell in real danger she breaks a significant taboo and unleashes her power within the dungeon.
While Hestia definitely falls in with a lot of generic tropes she is very much her own character and she is fun and delightful. Her love for her familia is admirable and the effort she goes to in order to protect them is extraordinary. I can’t wait to see more of Hestia in the upcoming second season as I love her in the books.
Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James
- Maka Albarn – Soul Eater
- Kuronuma Sawako – Kimi Ni Todoke
- Yato – Noragami
- Takeo Gouda – My Love Story
- Zen Wisteria – Snow White With The Red Hair
- Yamato Kurosawa – Say I Love You
- Sebastian Michaelis – Black Butler
- Madoka – Madoka Magica
- Rimuru Tempest – That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
- Yuki Soleil – The Price of Smiles
- Emma – The Promised Neverland
- Subaru – My Roommate is a Cat
- Xianming Lin – Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens
- Haruhi Fujioka – Ouran High School Host Club
- Hestia – Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon
- Haruitsuki Abeno – The Morose Mononokean
- Reiko – Natsume Yuujinchou
- Angelo Lagusa – 91 Days
- Jean Otus – ACCA
- Saitou Kazuki – Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens
- Liliruca Arde – Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon
- Diamond – Land of the Lustrous
- Naofumi – The Rising of the Shield Hero
- Itsuki – The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
- Ririchiyo Shirakiin – Inu X Boku SS
“This willingness to compromise her own position in order to protect Bell is a reoccurring theme and something that sets Hestia apart from other possessive characters who put their own needs first at almost all times. ”
Isn’t that great? It makes her so relatable and sympathetic at the same time! She actually put her insecurities aside to help Bell!
“Then, when push comes to shove and Hestia sees Bell in real danger she breaks a significant taboo and unleashes her power within the dungeon.”
Really glad you mentioned that! It remains my favorite moment in that or the companion series. It showed not only what she was willing to do, but what she would actually do, for him.
Even Hermes was impressed, if I remember correctly…
Nice to see Hestia getting some love!
Not sure if Hermes was impressed or stunned but Hestia certainly made an impression. Gotta love Hestia. She’s just a great character.
Such a great series! Glad that you do it justice.
Hestia is great, and a real highlight of the series for me.
Interestingly, she’s one of those characters that tends to get described as a “loli” where I don’t feel that quite “fits”… and not just because of those heaving honkers. (Megumin from Konosuba is another example, although she lacks said honkers.)
I’m not sure exactly what it is that makes me feel this way; I think it’s mostly to do with attitude and position in society — when I think “loli” I think “dependent child” rather than simply “young-looking character”. Hestia’s clingy behaviour isn’t enough to brand her “loli” for me, particularly as she demonstrates herself to have increasing amounts of strength, initiative and confidence as the series progresses.
Your mileage, as ever, may vary! 🙂
Yes, while her appearance is quite loli and occasionally she gives in to somewhat childish behaviour, underneath that she is a shrewd goddess and that makes her a far more interesting character.
Hestia is bestia!!!
Hestia made that show work. I can’t think of a single other god/dess whose familia I would have wanted to be in.
I don’t know, the smiths are pretty cool and we don’t really get to see a lot of the smaller familias. But of those we do see, Hestia’s is the best.
Put a gun to my head and I’d probably agree to be in Loki’s familia!
Actually, just ask politely and I’d likely say yes…
Now I’m curious, why Loki?
I like her as the head of a familia (well, except when she gets all handsy with Ais, but Ais seems to be able to take care of herself!). She’s assembled some seriously powerful folk, and they’re focused and dedicated. Generally speaking, teams take on the characteristics of their leader, and I think that characters like Finn, Riveria (another of my favorites), the sisters Tione and Tiona, and Gareth speak well of her leadership.
She’s mostly irreverent and carefree, until things get series. Then she shows how much she care for her familia.
I guess that’s a long-winded way of saying I like her vibe!
The familia does have a good vibe.
I haven’t watched this show since it first aired, but thank you for reminding me of why I liked Hestia so much back then. I’ll definitely be watching season 2.
I am so excited about season 2. It feels like a sequel I’ve been waiting forever for and having read quite a bit ahead in the books now I know we’ve got a lot to look forward to.
Wait, there’s a season two? Yes!
Soon
I think Hestia is often overlooked because of Aiz and the other girls, so it’s nice to see her get some love. She really is one of the main reasons the story works so well. I love her feuds with the other goddesses too.
Yes, the relationships between the goddesses are really interesting. I still don’t really get the appeal of Aiz. She seems so boring when compared to the rest of the cast.
Part of it’s probably how much Bell puts her on a pedestal and then she is one of the top ranked adventurers. I think she’s also a bit of a mystery. Anyhow, you’re making me want to rewatch it.
Go for it. It’s great fun.
I actually like Hestia over Aiz. She’s the kind of person you’d want as a best friend in life.
Without a doubt. Hestia’s got your back, no questions.
I’d agree. Hestia would be great fun to have as a friend.
Actually, that gives me an idea for a blog post: 10 animated (western and cartoon) characters you’d want as a best friend!
That would be great to read. Let me know if you end up posting it.