Compare and Contrast: Crowley and Crouch, Jr.

If you have been keeping up with our Castium Revelio column, you may be aware that on May 31, a six-episode series entitled Good Omens starring David Tennant was released on Amazon Prime. In the series, Tennant plays a demon working with an angel to find the lost Antichrist and prevent Armageddon. Now, I know that Crowley is a 6,000-year-old immortal being, but I can’t help but draw comparisons between Tennant’s most recent character and his portrayal of Barty Crouch, Jr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

For starters, both want to bring about the rise of a demonic leader.

In Barty Crouch, Jr.’s case, he is working to help restore Voldemort to power. Although he is Kissed by a Dementor before he can see the Dark Lord fully restored, his actions nonetheless allow his master to regain a corporeal figure. In Crowley’s case, his original mission was to bring the Antichrist to the Chattering Order of St. Beryl, who would pass the child off to unsuspecting parents to be raised until it was time for Armageddon to begin. Just like how Voldemort gaining a body eventually led to the Battle of Hogwarts, so too would Armageddon ideally lead to Satan’s release and the beginning of the final battle.

Both men represent evil but work with the opposition.

In Good Omens, when Crowley, a literal demon, becomes too comfortable with his life on Earth, he works with the angel Aziraphale to prevent the apocalypse. Similarly, Crouch, Jr. goes undercover as Mad-Eye Moody to teach at Hogwarts and put Harry in harm’s way. The major difference, though, is the fact that Crouch, Jr. remains loyal to his dark master. Crowley, on the other hand, begins to stray from his original mission and defy orders. In some cases, he even performs miracles and other “good” acts, demonstrating that he may not be as committed to the cause as he initially claimed.

Finally, both are tasked with a special role.

Much to the dismay of other demons, Crowley was selected to deliver the Antichrist, which would set the plan into motion for Armageddon. This, of course, parallels when Barty Crouch, Jr. was tasked with interfering in the Triwizard Tournament so that Harry Potter would end up in the graveyard with Voldemort. That is where the parallels end, however, because Barty Crouch, Jr. is more than eager to please his master. Furthermore, he follows the orders to the letter and is even willing to die. In comparison, Crowley is less than pleased to have been selected for his important role. He even tries to undermine the entire plan simply because it interferes with his personal comfort. For example, he never bothered to follow up on the placement of the Antichrist, leading to an epic mix-up. It would be like if Barty Crouch, Jr. added Padma Patil’s name into the Goblet of Fire instead of Harry’s – something I just can’t see happening!

Okay, so maybe the two characters are not exactly alike, but they sure do bear a striking resemblance!