A meta I would love to read if you're ever inclined to write it: what do you think are the major similarities and main differences between Angel and Harry Potter (the two characters)? I love both of these people so much and know you do too!
I do love them tons!! I compared Sirius to Angel in a previous ask, but Angel and Harry seems like a tricky comparison to make because Harry’s a teenager in the books. Let’s see how it goes though!
Harry and Angel have both gone through a lot. Imo, Harry’s trauma is worse because he was young when his parents died, is young in the books, and can’t be blamed for most of what happened to him and to those around him. But for different reasons, Angel and Harry were “meant” to have a huge role in a fight against evil. Harry is indirectly mentioned in a prophecy the same way Angel is, and it’s interesting how both prophecies work.
Neville could’ve been the Chosen One, but Voldemort chose Harry. And before Spike got a soul, Angel was the only vampire the Shanshu Prophecy could’ve referred to. Spike shook things up a bit. However, in the end, much like with Harry, we know the prophecy is meant for Angel, because the PTB, and more importantly, Wolfram&Hart, chose him. In both Harry and Angel’s cases, there’s an interesting relationship between hero and villain. Harry and Voldemort are connected, and Harry himself had the power to become evil. But he chose good every single time. Angel did the same, but it’s much more complicated with him. Angel and Wolfram&Hart are connected too. Angel’s a threat to Wolfram&Hart, but also, potentially, a powerful ally, because the Prophecy doesn’t say in which side of the fight (good or bad) he’ll be in.
On a different note, Harry and Angel are introverts with low self-esteem who found friends willing to risk it all for them. Harry’s parents are dead, and so is his entire biological family, with the exception of Aunt Petunia. Angel’s family is also dead, and he killed them, while Harry caused his parents’ deaths (in a way!). Harry and Angel really wanted a family of their own, and Sirius and Connor were that family, the family they never thought they’d find. Sirius meant the world to Harry, but sadly, partly because of Harry’s love and concern for Sirius, he died. Connor died at Angel’s hands, partly because of Angel’s love for Connor. But Connor got a happy ending, unlike Sirius…
I think both Harry and Angel thought it was their responsibility to finish the fight they were “assigned” to, no matter what. Harry knew he could die in the Battle of Hogwarts, and took comfort in seeing his loved ones again, like Angel did with Connor in Not Fade Away.
I know they’re more similarities between Angel and Connor but I’m running out of ideas! For example, Harry’s scar is a reminder of his past and of his link to Voldemort, and Angel’s vamp face is a reminder of his past and of the demon which lives inside of him. You can think of Voldemort as Harry’s evil counterpart, and Angelus as Angel’s counterpart (neither can live while the other survives).
Also, another similarity between Harry and Angel is that they can both be very calculative, but they’re also impulsive and often make decisions unilaterally.
In terms of differences… Harry’s a kid, a wizard. He’s not a demon. He doesn’t truly struggle with being good. There’s never a point where he goes “is being a good person really worth it?”. He’s just good, in the purest way. He has flaws, like being stubborn, a bit impulsive, at times naive. But his goodness is simple. The Harry Potter series is not very morally grey. It gets dark, but even characters like Snape, Dumbledore, Draco don’t add much in the way of moral ambiguity. It’s not that kind of universe. And no one really debates whether to care or not. They all care a lot. Those kind of struggles which we see on Angel, and which define Angel’s character, don’t actually exist in HP. That’s a big difference right there, perhaps the biggest.
Anyway, that’s it for today! Thanks for the ask! And sorry you had to wait so long!
