On the subject of Evil.

I finally remembered what I wanted to post about, that other day when I was thinking about Lucius Malfoy.

Mmm, Lucius.

OK, getting hold of myself now. I was thinking about characterization and about HP villains. In any fandom with more than one canon source, you have to decide which you're going to follow when you write. For HP, I, like most fen I know, go with the books. I don't even picture the actors when I write, or when I re-read the novels. Except for Lucius Malfoy.

Now, I'm sure that part of that is that Jason is the sexiest thing since James Spader and I could listen to him read the phone book and watch him flare his nostrils for fucking ever and not get bored.

But another part of it is that Movie!Lucius is interesting. He's compelling. He's capable. I think that these characteristics are sorely lacking in JKR's villains.

Think about your favourite villains -- books, TV, movies. The good ones both attract and repel us at the same time. We enjoy their presence in the story. They are good at what they do. The better ones engage our compassion and make us identify with them. And the best ones do that for the hero as well. It makes for a much richer conflict.

I find JKR's villains uninteresting, unattractive, and uninspired. I think one of the reasons we want to make fanon Draco smart and attractive and capable is that by doing so, we are giving Harry a worthy rival. Someone worth striving against. Someone worth defeating.

Something that's been missing from the story so far -- and I hope it will make an appearance before the end -- is Harry's temptation to the Dark Side. None of the villains so far has tried to turn him (unless I've forgotten something) and none would be likely to make him consider it. There is nothing seductive about JKR's evil.

And, really, isn't seductive just what evil should be?

Hence, Lucius Malfoy.

Mmm.

 

Postscript
If the GoF movie can make Voldemort half as creepy-wrong-sexy-disturbing-fascinating-fucked-up as Orochimaru, I will be in heaven.

It's not you, it's me.

There's been a bit of a downward trend in my friend-of list lately and I wanted to post and say: that's totally OK. I realise that a lot of people have me friended for HP content and while there will continue to be HP content here (wow, some today even), there will also be Stargate, Fullmetal Alchemist, Farscape, Death Note, Gundam Wing, Samurai Champloo, Prince of Tennis, bits of Star Wars and LotR and TXF now and again, and whatever the hell else takes my fancy.

I'm not monofannish. However, a year ago, there just wasn't much besides HP and Stargate that was engaging me creatively. Now there's more in my brain and so I'm a lot more fragmented than I used to be.

All this is by way of saying that if you want to drop me from your reading list, please just go ahead and drop me. I won't mind or freak out or cry. Today, or any day. If you and I have something of a relationship so you feel awkward or badly about it, you could always leave me a comment or some email to ease the way. Suggested text:

Dear Hal,

As you know, I admire your amazing brain and lust after your fabulous body. However, our interests have diverged and so I must bid your journal adieu for now. Please know that I will always love you.

Yours devotedly,
[your name here]

I'm not trying to chase you away, by any means! But neither should you stay if you'd rather not.

By the same token, you should feel free to lurk or to comment or to friend me or to talk about me behind my back. It's all good. :)

Just don't steal my beer.