The thing is ... it isn't actually clear what Voldy's motives are. Is it "take over the wooorld"; "reeeeee, muggles"; "immortality" or "must destroy Harry Potter"?
The thing is ... it isn't actually clear what Voldy's motives are. Is it "take over the wooorld"; "reeeeee, muggles"; "immortality" or "must destroy Harry Potter"?
Actually, the "reeeeeeeeeeee muggles" motivation could have been quite compelling. Voldemort could hate and fear muggles because he can see them slowly outstripping the Wizarding World (the place that is his home, which he loves and is deathly afraid of losing. Let's face it, the man did not have a home before he came to Hogwarts). As a child he watched the Luftwaffe level London from an altitude no broomstick can reach, and that was decades before Man went to the fucking Moon.
What has the Wizarding World done in the last sixty years? Another cursed teapot? Actually, disregard that, what has the Wizarding World done in the last six hundred years?
Voldemort could be convinced that the backwards, quaint ways of his community (of which he is fond) will be its downfall. In his eyes it must progress, experiment and catch up (his claiming of immortality being the ultimate example of Magic's true might), or else the Muggles will discover them and destroy them, just as they tried to do a few hundred years ago. This goal could be so imperative to him, that anything that stands in its way must be destroyed. This means he must have absolute power and absolute obedience.
Actually, I'd argue that in Harry Potter there's an implicit assumption that the muggle world is basically irrelevant and that muggles aren't thought of as real people by any of the characters (including Muggle Borns) with the primary difference between the two sides on muggles being basically between someone who thinks animals in the wilderness should continue to exist in their natural state and may find it enjoyable to watch them and someone who likes torturing them and cutting them up for fun.
A good few of the most hardcore Potterheads think that's just the Wizarding World's arrogance talking (and Rowling getting a bit caught up in her own world). Indeed, this could be another reason the version of Voldemort I've proposed could be so extreme and frantic is that he (much like Harry would, as he is a child of both worlds as well) can see the danger and no one is listening.
On that topic, one of my favourite reddit posts of all time was on ask science-fiction, where in a thread about a Muggle and Wizard war, a redditor called "MikeOfThePalace" role played a "Wizard in the Know" and laid out just how much trouble they'd all be in.
Yeah, the sheer totality of not applying spells creatively does well to justify the Statute of Secrecy as "Okay, hol up, they have how many people with weapons that kill a man from a hundred paces faster than anyone can track in organized armies?" Also population disparities, as the Wizarding World clearly indicates a prior status as some manner of aristocracy.On that topic, one of my favourite reddit posts of all time was on ask science-fiction, where in a thread about a Muggle and Wizard war, a redditor called "MikeOfThePalace" role played a "Wizard in the Know" and laid out just how much trouble they'd all be in.
So you're talking shit because Wizards quite manifestly don't do their homework, given there are people who's literal job is to understand Muggle affairs who… very obviously don't? Also, Wizards live on Earth too, it'd be a fucking insane pile of R&D projects to have literally any grip on dealing with the fallout of what you suggest.A group of wizards (who've done their homework)
Just because a capability is shown on screen does not mean you can extrapolate it works as intended with no catches in all conditions. This is most prominent with the Death Eaters not collapsing Muggle Britain with all these force-multipliers to shred the social order rapidly. You need a matter of WEEKS for a lone asshole to fundamentally shatter a modern government with the no-limits fallacy you people insist on. And the Death Eaters were no small supply of assholes.The thing people forget is that the magicals are researching new spells, techniques, etc.
So, as a more recent example of how not to do a villain, let's talk about the new rendition of Zurg in the new Lightyear film.
Spoilers warning, of course.
Seriously, how do you fuck up Zurg? He is one of the most bitch basic antagonist archetypes in history: that of the warlord. He is a robot overlord who wants to rule the universe and will merrily step on everyone who gets in his way, not an old man who wants to "finish the mission." All they had to do was give him a little bit of a comedic flair, and have him effectively command military forces whilst dispatching a few named characters. That and give him his cape. It feels like they tried to over complicate a simple but effective (and imposing as hell) archetype of villain and made a complete mess in the process.
It's a shame really, as aesthetically they had a lot to work with. Zurg's theme is an absolute banger as well.
And/or antagonist, I might add.
For me, it is power. Not so much in overwhelming, god like power, but power that is proportionate to the story. The villain should have power, if not direct power over the protagonist, and exert it competently and consistently. Through this their influence is made known to the audience and builds up their threat value whilst giving a very real obstacle for the protagonist to overcome. Even in boring real life, someone with power who knows how to wield it is a very dangerous person and the same principle applies to fiction.
TL;DR, there can be no threat without power and its thoughtful exertion.
Charisma. He can kill a millions of people, but if your villain lacks charisma, then he's basically just a brick wall to overcome. There's no rush of hate for the villain, no twisted admiration, no begrudging sympathy, or even just a burning need to stop the villain. "Oh, I'm generic nazi villain 28, you can tell I'm bad because I have Nazi in my name" has no heart, no soul. But the twisted madman who spent months hounding the hero for a petty slight you grow to love, or even love to hate.
For example, Xanatos was a great villain in Disney's Gargoyles because he's charismatic, calculating, and always has an escape plan.