[HPforGrownups] Re: Eye Roll

[Alexandra Y. Kwan]

No: HPFGUIDX 24752

Hello,

--- Indigo <indigo at indigosky.net> wrote:
> The Evil Overlord list was meant as a joke, and IMO
> shouldn't be 
> taken so seriously.

Just because it was meant as a joke doesn't mean it
doesn't give some good advice.  I think every villain
who plans to take over the world should be forced to
read through it, memorize it, and *follow* the
instruction given.

And...surely you don't think I took it seriously?

> It was in character for Voldemort [Wormtail, et al]
> to give the long 
> speeches.  It was appropriate.

It's also extremely cliched and while JKR, like other
excellent writers, had taken cliches and given them
new and fabulous twists, she failed in this case,
imho.

> Voldemort's a megalomaniac. 

I know what it means, and even if I don't, there are
quite a number of good, online dictionaries.

> It's perfectly in character for a megalomaniac to
> explain his grand 
> scheme to the hero because in the megalomaniac's
> mind, the hero is 
> defeated, powerless, and has no way whatsoever to
> make any sort of 
> comeback.  

Probably, but it's also extremely boring for a reader
who had read all of the other books carefully. 
Exposition we do not need.

> And in Voldie's view? He's surrounded by his Death
> Eaters. Lily 
> Potter's dead so she can't protect Harry twice.

That bit I've always been okay with; a bit like a cat
and mouse game, I think.

> [snip Wormtail]

He's always been a stupid, selfish, despicable bit
that I don't care to contemplate.  His greatest
moment, as Sirius or Lupin had said, must've been
betraying the Potters.

I like villain with a grand scheme, without being
grandiose.

> That's what makes villains villainous. They're
> flawed.

No, that's what makes villains caricatures.  Of course
they're somewhat flawed; that's the nature of being
human.  But flawed doesn't necessarily mean having
mental disorders and/or insane.  I like them sane,
brilliant, and even gorgeous.  I like them lounging
back and watching with a cold smile while someone else
torture the hero with maniacal laughter.

I might be able to accept that being dead/undead
warped Voldemort's mind and made him the way he is
right now, but if you tell me that how he was at his
height of power and still have all those followers,
I'm going to laugh you out of the room.

Anyway, I think we should keep an eye on Lucius
Malfoy.  With Voldemort being the way he is, Lucius
just might be able to manipulate the hell out of
Voldemort.  Probably get Voldemort to defeat the world
*and then* give the guy a stab to his back and control
the world himself.  Or subtly using Voldemort as a
puppet (so subtly that Voldemort won't realize it, of
course).  Now, *that* would be a villain.

little Alex

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