Evil Wizard Rant

[Joel007]

The classic villain requires a wall against which to place his back, being inherently untrusting and usually surrounded by idiots (in comparison to their intellect).
He doesn't regard Harry as a serious threat, having worked out what saved him the first time and how that defense no longer operates. Voldemort, or to catch some of the feel of the books, you know who is smart enough to realize that Harry is really just a catalyst for events.

[dustinzgirl]

Originally Posted by Saltheart

Why does he keep getting outsmarted by a teenager? Why doesn't he just get a pistol and go on a massacre, or why doesn't he simply shoot the boy, for god's sake!

Because evil always underestimates good.

Because then there woudln't be a story, and everyone knows wizards (except a few, perhaps) don't use guns.

[PTeppic]

Originally Posted by dustinzgirl

Because evil always underestimates good.

And in this series because there's also an almost xenophobic dismissal of Muggles by the wizarding community, particularly the followers of the Dark Lord. Why waste effort to dominate us? There's almost an assumption they can already, even for "lesser" magic folk. We're little more than animals who wander round in the background to them.

[The Pelagic Argosy]

Originally Posted by Saltheart

Why does he keep getting outsmarted by a teenager? Why doesn't he just get a pistol and go on a massacre, or why doesn't he simply shoot the boy, for god's sake!

This reminds me of Seth Green's rant in Austin Powers. I never realized before that Voldemort is basically a Bond villain. Voldemort's elaborate plan to sabotage the Tri-Wizard Tournament was the equivalent of slowly lowering our hero into a shark tank or pointing a "laser beam" at his crotch. Voldemort is always surrounded by his trusty henchmen. Instead of stroking an ugly cat, he has his pet snake Nagini at his side. And tell me that Wormtail isn't a slightly taller version of Mini Me.

[PTeppic]

Isn't this ultimately what you get when writing for children, c.f. YA or adult audiences?