The Golden Trio from the Harry Potter series is one of the main reasons why fans love these stories so much. Harry, Hermione, and Ron are three very different characters with distinct personalities.
While each fan has their favorite of the three and different perspectives on the things they did, each of these three had their strengths and weaknesses. Ron might be the most underrated of the three, but there are reasons why he was the best member of the trio and also why he was the worst.
Best: He had the most knowledge of the wizarding world
One of the most helpful things that Ron did for the other two was to provide his knowledge of the wizarding world. He was the only one that grew up in wizarding society, so he knew a lot of things about the culture.
While Hermione might have done a lot of research, Ron had the time of knowledge that only comes from growing up in a certain society. His knowledge of Hogwarts and beyond often was essential.
Worst: Because he was the laziest of the three
Hermione was by far the most book smart of the three and worked the hardest while Harry was somewhere in the middle where he could be quite lazy but also could work hard. Ron was definitely the laziest and was always putting off his schoolwork and expecting that Hermione would help him.
His unwillingness to really try and his insistence that Hermione should just do it for him was really annoying.
Best: He showed how bravery and a good heart mattered just as much as being special
Harry is clearly very gifted and is the Chosen One in the series, and Hermione is known as the most intelligent person her age. Ron, on the other hand, doesn’t have any extremely stand out traits or skills. Despite this, he shows that you don’t need to be a fated hero to make a difference.
His bravery and willingness to put his life on the line to do the right thing were really inspiring.
Worst: Because he didn’t treat Hermione very well
While Ron and Hermione might end up together and get married, many fans have pointed out that their relationship might not make a lot of sense.
These two didn’t get along very well even as friends, and Ron could be especially immature about how he treated Hermione. He got upset at her easily and could be quite mean. He even blamed her for Scabber’s death and stopped being friends with her because of this, and this is just one example of Ron not being that kind to her.
Best: Because he fought through his insecurities to be a better person
Ron might be the most obviously flawed of the three of the trio, but this also makes him the most relatable in many ways. As a more “average” person, he gets insecure about Harry and about his many siblings.
Having insecurities and not feeling good enough are things that many fans can relate to. While he might have made mistakes, his willingness to try and make up for them sets him apart.
Worst: He was easily jealous and lashed out at his friends
Because of Ron’s tendency to be insecure, he could also be highly jealous. This often was a problem in romantic relationships, but he could also be jealous in his friendships. His jealousy of Harry led him to stop being friends with Harry when Harry was announced as a Hogwarts champion.
Instead of handling things more maturely, he often lashed out at people he cared about when he got jealous.
Best: Because he was the funniest member of the trio
While Harry could be a little snarky, Ron was by far the funniest of the three. While the movies made him into too much of the comic relief, in the books he provides needed balance to the more serious natures of Harry and Hermione.
His jokes and humor were important in many stressful situations.
Worst: He was the most immature
Given that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are quite young during the series, it makes sense that they would all have moments of immaturity. This makes them great characters and relatable to a young audience.
However, Ron was the most immature of them all. He wasn’t great at handling emotions, and he could be rather tactless and rude to the people around him.
Best: His bluntness could be a big asset at times
While Ron’s lack of tact was often a problem as it offends people around him, on the flip side, his blunt nature could be a real help. He wasn’t afraid to say what needed to be said, and he provided some common sense when Harry and Hermione lost their heads.
One key moment of this is when he reminds Hermione to use her magic during the Devil’s Snare obstacle in the first book. While not always good, when used correctly, Ron being blunt was an important thing that the trio needed.
Worst: He abandoned Hermione and Harry in a dire time
By far the worst mistake that Ron ever made was when he left Hermione and Harry during the Horcrux Hunt. The main reason this is excused is that he was partially influenced by the locket Horcrux, but this item just made feelings he already had more intense.
This was a huge moment and the biggest act of disloyalty that any of the three ever showed one another.
