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Lionel St. Swithens

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This page is for the character. For the episode in Season 2, see The Shame Wizard.

“ Whether they know it or not, people need shame. It protects them from the sickening filth that festers within. Their humiliating inadequacies, self-destructive proclivities, stupid magic tricks, their fundamental otherness, and of course, the uncontrollable urge to squirm on a glow-ed worm. For you see, shame is the cone you place around the head of your dim-witted dog to prevent him from gnawing at his own genitals, because they will become infected. ”
—Lionel St. Swithens in Smooch or Share

Lionel St. Swithens is a Shame Wizard and the main antagonist for Seasons 2 and 5. He is also a regularly appearing character in Human Resources. His goal is to cause immense shame. He is portrayed by David Thewlis.


Biography[]

Lionel first appears in "The Shame Wizard", where he manifests himself to Andrew Glouberman after Leah Birch accidentally catches him masturbating to her swimsuit while fantasizing about her. He uses Andrew's shame in order to evoke masochistic and pity feelings in him for Lola.

He later appears to other characters as well and shows up at the school pajama party in order to make many children feel shame. By the end of the night, the kids chase him away, wanting to live a life without shame.

In "The Department of Puberty", Andrew accidentally meets Lionel at his workplace in the Monster World, Andrew is shown the importance of shame.

Appearance[]

Lionel is a scary and sinister humanoid entity in a dark large robe, with heterochromia iridum (his left eye is red and his right eye blue). He is tall and skinny with the ability to float in the air. It is unknown if Lionel is able to walk as he and all Shame Wizards are only shown to float. Additionally, in "International Creature Convention," Asha remarks that "(his) legs look like (they're) decaying."

Personality[]

The shame is the polar opposite of the hormone monsters. Whereas the hormone monsters encourage the negative aspects of people, mainly deviance and acts that border on immorality, shame wizards stokes people's deepest shame. There are two personas that Lionel displays throughout the series, one when he is at work and his true persona.

On the surface, Lionel is a cruel and sadistic individual, who enjoys seeing people wallow in self-pity. He constantly points out their flaws and their terrible actions when given the opportunity, and will even try to make them feel awful over things they have little to do with.

Outside of work, Lionel tries to be social and nicer than he is to the children. He has been shown trying to socialize with other monsters when not trying to stoke the shame of humankind, though they constantly rebuff his attempts to befriend them, under the assumption that he will try to make them feel shameful out of amusement. Lionel, when opening up to Coach Steve, reveals his own insecurities in his lack of friends and social life in general, and how people always shun him and leave him out of friendly gatherings. His harsh attitude when stoking the shame of others is also implied to stem from his poor relationship with his mother, and absence of his father, whom is revealed to have abandoned him as a child.

Despite his methods and tactics, he isn't malevolent, in fact, far from it. While Lionel admits to Andrew (with a hint of remorse) that while he gets too harsh and carried away when doing his job, he genuinely cares about people and wants them, including Andrew, to better themselves. His actions stem from a noble goal in encouraging self-improvement in others, and had stated that without shame, humanity would have no self-restraint and partake in disgusting and lewd acts while also causing mayhem in many ways. It is apparent that his harshness towards people when staking their shame also stems from this desire to have people better themselves.

Relationships[]

Family[]

  • Rita St. Swithens - Rita is the mother of Lionel, and their relationship is shown to fluctuate between healthy and antagonistic. Rita is shown frequently ignoring Lionel, as she claims to have forgotten where he works and apparently ignores his emails. ("Bad Mummies.") In the same episode, however, she signs a copy of her book for him and he declares (out of earshot) his desire for "one night with her." Later, in "On the Daughterfront," Lionel tells Montel that attending Notre Shame may make them want to have sex with their own parents, which may imply that this sentiment is typical in Shame Wizard culture.

Clients/Victims[]

Friends[]

  • Coach Steve - Coach Steve reveals he considered Lionel his best friend before they ever met. ("Smooch or Share.") He drew Lionel on the bathroom wall as a lizard, because he thinks his name is Shane Lizard. Lionel never corrects this, and spends the majority of the episode trying (and failing) to shame Coach Steve, then venting to him about his mother and absent father. In the opening of "The Shane Lizard Rises," it is shown that the two remain friends and even have breakfasts at a diner. Lionel confides in Coach Steve his confidence issues with his clients at Bridgeton Middle, and misinterprets his frequently unrelated responses as advice and consolation.
  • Andrew Glouberman - Andrew was one of Lionel's victims throughout Season 2 and overall. Their relationship is mostly antagonistic, with Lionel constantly shaming Andrew for his perverted actions and pointing out his flaws. Despite all of this, In The Department of Puberty, He admits to Andrew that he is perhaps too harsh at times, but he just wants the best for him and to try and help him be a better person. Lionel says that he doesn't want him to grow up and become a man who "waits six months for a customized sex doll." implying that he doesn't want Andrew to grow up to be a sad and pathetic man. At the end of their encounter, Andrew hugs him as he thinks that Lionel needs a friend. Towards the end of the episode, he wishes Andrew a good night.
  • Montel LaBeverly - In "The Jizzmitzvah," Montel reveals that Lionel has been mentoring them, and in "On the Daughterfront," Montel decides to attend Lionel's alma mater, Notre Shame University. In "Yipee Ki-Hate, Motherf**ker," Montel refers to Lionel as their idol and considers shooting their father instead of him when forced to choose between them.

Love Interests[]

  • Grace - It's revealed in the episode The Department of Puberty that Lionel has a one-sided attraction to Grace despite her being one of the many people who is rude to him and rebuffs his attempts to befriend her because of the misconception that he'll make her feel ashamed for her actions.
  • Maury - In "The Department of Puberty," Maury tells Andrew that he "wants the deets" about his interaction with Lionel, mistakenly believing it to have been sexual. In the episode, "The Shane Lizard Rises," while Lionel is shaming Matthew, Maury tries to defend Matthew which leads to an exchange of words that leads to a make out session. In "Pity Party," Maury and Connie have a threesome with Lionel. In "Yipee Ki-Hate, Motherf**ker," Maury calls Lionel "fucking scrumptious" and says that it was the best sex he'd ever had.
  • Connie LaCienega - Connie has a threesome with Maury and Lionel in "Pity Party."
  • Asha - Asha leads Lionel on by using him as a pawn in a sexual roleplay with her husband. This is unsuccessful as it leads to Lionel mistakenly wounding him by shooting him. ("International Creature Convention.")

Episode Appearances[]

Big Mouth[]

Human Resources[]

Trivia[]

  • Lionel collects Nazi dildos.
  • Lionel's real name is only mentioned once in Big Mouth, by his mother (and possibly in a dream) in "Everything We Forgot to Tell You About Sex." as he simply refers to himself as "The Shame Wizard". In Human Resources, however, everyone addresses him as "Lionel".
  • He is the only character in both shows who has heterochromia.
  • In Human Resources, it was revealed that he has sexual feelings towards his mother, Rita St. Swithens.
  • David Thewlis uses his V.M. Varga voice from the crime-drama show Fargo when voicing Lionel as they both speak in a low, raspy British accent.
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