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HBO's Harry Potter series reboot proves its ongoing popularity and profitability as a successful fantasy franchise. While many characters helped solidify the series' legacy, there is one prominent figure that contributed more than others, becoming a household name as a villain: Lord Voldemort.
A large part of what helped Voldemort thrive within the fandom was his layers as an antagonist, such as his sad family history and limitless potential as a young wizard. Like many of Harry Potter's characters, Voldemort, too, has many harsh realities he has to live with, even more so given his choice of the darker life path.
10 Dark Magic Ruined Tom Riddle's Good Looks
Although Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets describes a young Tom Riddle generically, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince makes his attractiveness apparent as Harry frequently calls him "handsome." After years of using dark magic, however, Voldemort eventually substitutes his beauty with a snake-like appearance, preferring to be feared over remaining a charming Harry Potter character.
That said, a young Tom Riddle had proved that his good looks presented many benefits. Not only could he more easily manipulate others, but his innocent and handsome face made for a much more subtle and deceptive villain -- something Voldemort could have used to his advantage if he hadn't been warped by dark magic.
9 Voldemort Has No Real Friends
Voldemort may have an abundance of terrifying Death Eater followers, but it's demonstrated time and again that he doesn't have any real friends. While Dumbledore mused that Voldemort likely never felt any affection for his groupies, the Dark Lord makes it clear how disheartened he was to be forgotten by them all in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
He may believe himself to be above friendship, but ultimately, his inability to form any real friends contributes to his demise as he isolates himself. By failing to develop any true connection with others beyond fear and worship, Voldemort has no one willing to make sacrifices for him and fight for his return, unlike Harry.
8 Being An Elitist Left Tom Riddle Little Time For Fun
Whether it be getting into the exclusive Slug Club or emerging as the "most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen," Tom Riddle was an elitist through and through. He constantly strived for perfection and the highest places.
Unfortunately, this meant that Tom likely never got a moment to enjoy simpler things like Quidditch and young romance as he was too determined to shape his elitism into tyranny. His ambition and intelligence made schoolwork a breeze, pushing him toward the more intriguing Dark Arts and a path of ruthless conquering.
7 The Dark Lord Constantly Dealt With Dumbledore's Disrespect
Despite rising to power and becoming one of the strongest Dark Wizards in Harry Potter, Lord Voldemort was never able to make Albus Dumbledore respect or dread him. Much to his chagrin, Dumbledore always saw him as the disturbed young Tom Riddle Junior rather than the terrifying Dark Lord.
As one of the most powerful and revered wizards in the Wizarding World, Dumbledore's submission meant everything to Voldemort as it would symbolize his dominance and solidify his Dark Lord status. Yet whether it was rejecting his application to become a professor or dismissing his preferred name, Dumbledore never gave any respect to Voldemort.
6 Voldemort Was A Hypocrite
Voldemort's entire mission as the Dark Lord is to enforce wizard supremacy and push the pureblood agenda in both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds. However, his ambitions make him a complete hypocrite when considering his own blood status.
Born from a Muggle father and a witch mother, Lord Voldemort is a half-blood fighting a pureblood war that he has little right to spearhead. His bigoted actions are just overcompensating for his own insecurities and tragic family past, making him the series' biggest hypocrite.
5 The Dark Lord Never Understood Love
Not understanding love proves to be one of Voldemort's biggest mistakes, whether or not he acknowledges it. The series makes it clear that love is the distinguishing factor that both separates Harry from Voldemort and strengthens him against the villain.
Not only does Voldemort grow to live a meaningless life devoid of love or any real relationships, but his ignorance and refusal to understand work against him on more than one occasion. Plus, it also makes for a lonely life for him, with even his child with Bellatrix in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child being little more than a strategic transaction.
4 Young Tom Riddle Grew Up An Abandoned Orphan
Before he grew into a villainous and bloodthirsty tyrant, Lord Voldemort was a misguided and isolated young boy who grew up in an orphanage. Despite his eventual contempt, Tom Riddle Jr. once craved to know his family and confirm that he wasn't abandoned.
This is evidenced especially when he asks Dumbledore about his father during Voldemort's first meeting with him in the books. The realization that he was left by his father and that his mother refused to attempt magic to save herself is a harsh reality that further propelled Voldemort's character into darkness.
3 Tom Riddle Wasted All His Potential
As mentioned frequently throughout the series, Tom Riddle Jr. was a promising and talented young wizard long before he donned the villainous role of Lord Voldemort. Sadly, his dark path ruined all his possibilities.
Had he not taken a liking to the Dark Arts and oppressing others, Tom Riddle Jr. could have well become another prominent and acclaimed member of the Wizarding World rather than the notorious Dark Lord. Plus, by applying his charisma and ambition elsewhere, Lord Voldemort could have easily tested the powers of his potential instead of meeting his end in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
2 Voldemort Brought About His Own Downfall
As a competent and impressively overpowered wizard, Lord Voldemort really has no one to blame for his downfall but himself. Rather than making sensible evil choices, he always preoccupied himself with torturing Harry rather than making quick work of killing the boy.
Influenced by his ego, vanity, and condescension, Voldemort's prioritizing of theatrics and his refusal to study magic that he sees as beneath him (such as love) ultimately lead to his destruction. In hindsight, his self-imposed downfall is a harsh and completely avoidable reality.
1 The Dark Lord Is Constantly Being Bested By A Child
Despite his years of magical mastery and experience, Lord Voldemort finds himself constantly being bested by a young Harry Potter, whether it was as an infant or an adolescent. As a far too prideful and narcissistic man, this harsh reality hits deeper than others for Voldemort, as proven by his continued obsession with Harry.
His arrogance and high self-worth make Harry's triumphs over him all the more hurtful, as he can never fathom how the less-developed wizard keeps winning. Voldemort's mockery and failure to see Harry as a true threat are exemplified, especially in their final showdown in the books, with Harry's emergence as the stronger wizard finally hitting home.