Why Harry Potter Is the Least-Loved Hero in His Own Story
The Harry Potter franchise is one of the most beloved stories in the world, but rarely does the series' protagonist top anyone's #1 favorite character; it's one of the biggest ironies in the pop culture world. He may not come last very often either (that spot is taken by the likes of Delores Umbridge or Lucius Malfoy), but hardly ever does Harry beat out Ron, Hermione, Luna, or even Snape for the top spot, even though it's through his lens that we experience the whole story.
The everyman
Harry is intentionally designed as the "everyman." He's not the spectacle, but the anchor. While other characters are exaggerated, eccentric, or mysterious, Harry is "just Harry:" he's familiar, he reacts as the audience would, fears what we'd fear, and asks questions we'd ask.
As opposed to Ron, who acts as comic relief, or Hermione, who impresses with her intellect and actually answers Harry's (and the audience's) questions, Harry's role is to be the center point around which these characters orbit. He's the steady presence in a world much more vibrant than himself. Even though he's technically the main character, he doesn't have much of what's generally considered "main character energy."
"The Chosen One"
Harry's particular brand of heroism is quiet and restrained. Similar to The Lord of the Rings's Frodo Baggins, he didn't choose power; it was bestowed upon him. He was destined to take on this role, making it more of a burden than a blessing. As such, he's not aspirational in the same glamorous way as characters like Sirius Black or Minerva McGonagall, who were dramatically driven to choose their roles. This makes Harry human, but it also makes him less magnetic.
Flaws and lack of talent
Another factor that makes Harry human but not very likable is his flawed personality. He's impulsive, emotional, and prone to charging into situations without thinking them through. He can be stubborn to the point of recklessness, mistrusts people who are trying to help him, and lets pride or anger cloud his judgment.
After all, he's an angsty teen boy wrestling with jealousy, frustration, and insecurity. This makes him highly relatable, but kind of annoying. Of course, he's not the only aggravating teenager in the story, but the fact that he's the main character means that we see his flaws up closer.
Harry is also astonishingly average when it comes to his talents. He's not at the top of his class, he's not the funniest, the most athletic, or the handsomest. His success relies a lot on the talents of his friends, sheer luck, circumstance, or someone stepping in right at the nick of time.
J.K. Rowling didn't write her main character to be bland by accident; it was by design. Harry not being anyone's favorite is unexpectedly complimentary to the narrative. The world loves Harry Potter because the world inside it is so rich, so layered, that he doesn’t need to be adored above everyone else. The mark of a great protagonist is how deeply they make the audience feel, not how adored they are. They shouldn't steal the scene, but simply be the doorway to it.
So Harry Potter may not be anyone's favorite, and that's okay. He's the one who makes everyone else unforgettable.
