Just thought I'd add my own two cents...

[sweettalkeress.livejournal.com]

A little late to the party but enjoying every minute of it. I was thinking of Harry Potter plot holes and similar and suddenly I came across this little list online, and was amazed at how well it fit some of the complaints you guys make.

The list itself is criticizing another fantasy series by an unrelated author and so it may not be entirely compatible with Harry Potter, but most of the items on it are. A few of the juiciest items on the list are recapped below, but feel free to visit the original list to see if there’s anything I might not have mentioned.

*The Hero must not know jack shit about how the real world works. Instead he must rely completely on his mentors to tell him things and never question what they tell him. This is so that the reader can learn about things as he does in massive info-dumps.

Do I need to say more?

Evil is Evil. Good is Good. If someone is designated evil, then no matter what they do, it will be evil. If someone is designated good, then no matter what they do it will be good.

It’s Okay If A Gryffindor Does It, anyone?

The Hero is the only one who can save the world. If he doesn't it's DOOOOOMM!!

That’s why everyone sits around waiting for Harry to succeed rather than aiding the war effort on their own!

The Hero is the only one who fits the Prophecy. There must be a prophecy. Preferably with things like Chosen One, Prophecy, Future of the World Depends on It, Ancient Evil and Dark Lords.

Well, technically Neville fits the prophecy as well, but everything else checks out!

There must be a slave that the Hero frees who will become instantly loyal to him

Oh, hello, Dobby!

*Characterization is over-rated. In fact it's not needed at all. Stereotypes are all you need.

See Voldemort, personality and backstory!

The Hero is more important than anyone. Any other events that happen in his vicinity that would be potentially more interesting should be ignored in favor of whatever he's doing.

Much of DH is composed of this.

The climax doesn't have to be at all climatic or satisfying as long as the Hero looks good or does something impossible. Better if he does both.

The end of DH, oh, dear God, the end of DH!

That's about all I was planning on writing but you should check out the list and see for yourself just how well it fits here!

Comments

[sunnyskywalker]

Although he does have The Power Most Characters Know Not, competence. And he cares about other people's problems even when they don't relate to him (see: standing up for halfblood kids instead of keeping quiet and using his pureblood status to stay out of trouble). Which says to me he may actually have that much-vaunted Power of Love. Fortunately, Neville didn't have anyone telling him he had to fulfill some silly prophecy and could carry on saving half the school and Harry's bacon.

[condwiramurs.livejournal.com]

COMPETENCE! Roflmao yes.

Neville rocks.

Neville

[terri-testing.livejournal.com]

What was that Dan Hemmons line about Neville? Something like

"Voldemort didn't mark Neville as his equal because he knew he was outclassed..." ?

[charlottehywd.livejournal.com]

I know this is a bit late, but Neville seriously ought to have been the main character of the story. Harry is way too much of a blank personality-wise... well other than the angst thing, which I don't really count.