It does not make a lot of sense, but it was sort of established earlier in that particular universe (the “phenomenal cosmic powers, itty bitty living space” thing).
My main problem with this always was Aladdin suggesting to Jafar “Hey, you know, the genie’s still more powerful”, and Jafar reacts exactly how Aladdin had planned, by wishing specifically to be the most powerful genie.
Why was that the only option he could think of? Where was it written that a sorcerer could not be more powerful than a genie?
Aladdin tricks him by saying if a genie gave him his power, the genie could take them back too… But in the end it’s still the genie who makes him a genie too, so why would that be any different?
Yeah, the fact that all genies are bound to lamps there is dumb - one even gets created for Jafar. How does that make any sense, even in that fantastical setting? And it’s not like they all have to be bound, since they can be wished free.
Jafar wished to be “the world’s most powerful sorcerer.” so you’re right, he could have wished to be still more powerful. Or to be a free genie. Maybe there are universes where the Disney villain didn’t hold the idiot ball at the end and succeeded in their plans. Now that would be an interesting “What If” series!
It’s even worse than the villain being an idiot in this case IMO. It’s being an idiot exactly in the right way, despite it seeming quite far-fetched.
It somehow requires that Jafar believes only a genie can be ultra-powerful, but ignores that a powerful genie is supposed to be bound.
They wanted Aladdin to win by being cunning, because it’s supposed to be his main thing, and that’s okay, even if they need Jafar to be an ass for a few seconds. But for this to work, Aladdin didn’t just need to be cunning, he had to be a freaking psychic.
Always thought that was such a gyp, Jafar getting turned into a bound genie, as if that were the default state for djinn.
It does not make a lot of sense, but it was sort of established earlier in that particular universe (the “phenomenal cosmic powers, itty bitty living space” thing).
My main problem with this always was Aladdin suggesting to Jafar “Hey, you know, the genie’s still more powerful”, and Jafar reacts exactly how Aladdin had planned, by wishing specifically to be the most powerful genie.
Why was that the only option he could think of? Where was it written that a sorcerer could not be more powerful than a genie?
Aladdin tricks him by saying if a genie gave him his power, the genie could take them back too… But in the end it’s still the genie who makes him a genie too, so why would that be any different?
Yeah, the fact that all genies are bound to lamps there is dumb - one even gets created for Jafar. How does that make any sense, even in that fantastical setting? And it’s not like they all have to be bound, since they can be wished free.
Jafar wished to be “the world’s most powerful sorcerer.” so you’re right, he could have wished to be still more powerful. Or to be a free genie. Maybe there are universes where the Disney villain didn’t hold the idiot ball at the end and succeeded in their plans. Now that would be an interesting “What If” series!
It’s even worse than the villain being an idiot in this case IMO. It’s being an idiot exactly in the right way, despite it seeming quite far-fetched.
It somehow requires that Jafar believes only a genie can be ultra-powerful, but ignores that a powerful genie is supposed to be bound.
They wanted Aladdin to win by being cunning, because it’s supposed to be his main thing, and that’s okay, even if they need Jafar to be an ass for a few seconds. But for this to work, Aladdin didn’t just need to be cunning, he had to be a freaking psychic.
I guess Jafar thought the idea of all genies being bound by default was ridiculous, too.
To be fair, Jafar’s power hungry nature and one-track mind is a real obvious character flaw.