Dimension 20‘s comedic riff on Harry Potter has a Dark Lord plot that’s far more compelling than the storyline for Voldemort. Dropout’s TTRPG series, Dimension 20 largely functions as an anthology that hops around between stories from season to season. While some revisit characters and settings from previous parts of the series, with a rotating cast joining the one-off “Side Quests” that typically are expansions on previous seasons or well-known media archetypes. Among the best seasons of Dimension 20 is “Misfits and Magic,” which dives into a world clearly designed to resemble the wizarding world of Hogwarts and Harry Potter.

Among the elements of Harry Potter the series takes deliberate aim at is the inherently evil “Dark Lord” archetype. In Harry Potter, Voldemort is a straightforward villain with no redeeming qualities, his dark powers and isolated upbringing setting him up to become a memorable (if one-dimensional) threat. “Misfits and Magic” subverts Voldemort’s lack of a true character arc by giving their take on that character a far more compelling storyline. It underscores the central themes of the season and sets up plenty of hilarious (and critical) contrasts to Harry Potter. Here’s how Dimension 20 pokes fun at — and improves — Voldemort.

Misfits & Magic Perfectly Subverts Harry Potter’s Voldemort

Dimension 20‘s Evan Kelmp Succesfully Fuses Voldemort’s Fate With Harry’s Character Growth

Dimension 20‘s 10th season, “Misfits and Magic,” has a hilarious riff on Voldemort that explores the storytelling potential of giving the “Dark Lord” like Evan Kelmp a character arc. The season focuses on four average American teenagers — the jockish Jammer, internet influencer Sam, goth geek Dream, and quiet wanderer Evan — as they are accepted to the Gowpenny Academy of Arcane Arts. The series is an overt parody of the Harry Potter imagery and style, even playing a meta layer of comedy by having the characters refer to Harry Potter in-universe (and revealing the magical world has never heard of it).

The entire cast is delightful, but the highlight is Evan Kelmp. Played by Brennan Lee Mulligan, Evan is isolated from the world almost by necessity. A shy and anxious teenager with low self-esteem, Evan is also unwillingly hosting a malovolent mystical entity that gives him absurd power. This status as the supposedly fated “Dark One” is one he resists at every turn, in direct contrast to the natural evil evolution of Tom Riddle into Voldemort in Harry Potter. This sets up the true strength of the character, and gives him a complex and endearing story that elevates him beyond parody.

Dimension 20 Gives Their Voldemort A Really Sweet Arc

How The “Dark Lord” Grows As A Person In “Misfits And Magic”

While each of the “Pilot Program” students get compelling arcs in “Misfits and Magic,” Evan ends up with the one that most directly parallels the source material it’s poking fun at. Given a chance to affirm his own sanity and finally develop bonds with people who aren’t scared off by his abilities, Evan is given the chance to grow beyond the initially frustrated teenager he’s shown to be. Whereas the first episode sees him lash out, Evan grows more controlled and capable as the series progresses. It all stems from the realistic friendships he develops, and how they impact him.

Evan bears a lot in common Harry Potter in his series of the same name. Both are plagued with unsure feelings and fears about their potential. Both are shown to grow through the love and acceptance of others, and reaffirming those bonds end up giving them a power that their dark counterparts can’t overcome. However, Evan explores that character beat far more overtly (and hilariously) about how that love keeps him from becoming a “Dark Lord,” and the genuine danger of his potential corruption gives his growth real stakes. It’s a really strong story, and more compelling than Voldemort’s arc.

How Dimension 20 Flips Several Harry Potter Characters Against (And Alongside) Evan

Evan’s Growth Is Contrasted Against The Harsher Parts Of The Wizarding World

Evan’s strength as a character works in part because of the pieces of the Harry Potter parody that become more critical of the books and films. The world-building of “Misfits and Magic” subverts and twists the world of Harry Potter at several turns. The season is overtly critical of the practice of placing children into Houses based on their personality, comparing it to tracking in education. “Misfits and Magic” overtly confronts inherent questions of bigotry. Evan and the other three “N.A.M.P” students (which draws attention to Harry Potter‘s messy approach to commentary on slurs) confront the wizarding world’s accepted prejudices.

Evan and the rest of the cast get the chance to confront teachers and students who view change and the non-magical ideas as worthless. This plays into one of the story’s most empathic storylines, focusing on Evan’s bond with School Nurse David Stitchnit. Established as having a trans daughter and showcasing a greater sense of understanding than anyone else in the magical world, Stitchnit brings a soft and meaningful understanding to the show that helps Evan find a level of self-acceptance. It adds to his arc, making it feel more powerful and personal than anything Voldemort experienced in Harry Potter.

Dimension 20 Proves Voldemort Could Have Been Redeemed

Evan’s Arc In Dimension 20 Highlights The Importance Of Love & Friendship

Voldemort isn’t necessarily a complicated character in either the Harry Potter films or movies. While there are tragic elements to his origins, Tom Riddle in his youth and Voldemort in his prime are portrayed as unredeemable force, a foreboding figure who transcends death through horrible acts of murder. That fits neatly into the typically morally stark world of Harry Potter, which is rooted in a heroic fantasy coming of age story. However, Evan is more compelling for effectively fusing the guilt and self-doubt that plague Harry for much of his series with the genuine power of a feared Dark Lord.

It lends more stakes to Evan’s outbursts, and plays into the character’s overall growth into a more self-assured character. Voldemort’s story is exciting but one-note, whereas Evan’s place in the center cast of “Misfits and Magic” allows him to take center-stage in an exciting way. Even if characters like Voldemort still became monstrous villains, having a tragic arc with the depth of Evan Kelmp’s would make them more complex and compelling characters. Making Tom Riddle purely evil even from a young age makes him boring and removes the potential for the strong kind of arc Evan gets in Dimension 20.