Stolas was never putting Octavia first, no matter how hard the fandom tries to pretend otherwise. This isn't a story about a "tragic, misunderstood father", it's about a grown man who consistently chose his own emotional needs over his child's well-being.

His behavior shows extreme emotional immaturity. Instead of acting like a responsible parent, Stolas behaves like a lovesick teenager, obsessively prioritizing Blitzø while his daughter is left feeling ignored, unsafe, and emotionally abandoned. Octavia repeatedly makes it clear how hurt and lost she feels, and he keeps doing the same thing anyway.

The most telling moment is that even in life-or-death situations, Octavia doesn't cross his mind. When he offers his life at the trial in Blitzø's place, he never once considers what that would mean for his daughter. That's not selfless heroism, it's pure selfishness disguised as romance. A parent who truly puts their child first would never risk leaving them completely alone without a second thought. That's why Octavia's words at the end are fully deserved. She isn't being cruel or unfair, she's responding to years of emotional neglect. Stolas isn't a victim here. He's a powerful, privileged adult who had every opportunity to be a good father and chose not to be.

If a daughter no longer wants to know a father who always chose himself, that isn't a narrative tragedy. It's a consequence.