The Potter Discussion: Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and the Wizarding World Fandom

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In this episode, we discuss the similarities of the TV show cast to the film cast and what that might mean for the show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:30 Might point to reduced creativity when making the sets. If they’re recasting the cast, why not just use the same sets. To be fair, the silhouette of Hogwarts is iconic as well as some other places, so those should stay the same. But we will hopefully explore the cast...

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In this episode we discuss cameos that should appear in the new Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:14 Tom Felton as Lucius Malfoy. If we have a reminder of all Draco went through in the films, we could understand his character earlier on. Perhaps we could make deeper revelations on his character by the end of the TV show compared to the film. 

·      11:38 Harry Melling as a background wizard. Dudley’s...

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In this episode, we flip the script and discuss how the story would change if Harry was sorted into Slytherin. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Listen to episode 285 about the new cast for the trio here!

·      2:13 Harry and Draco are going to become friends. They both have difficult families, and are somewhat alone in the world. They can connect with each other, because the one thing they both want more than anything is a...

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In this episode, we discuss the recent casting of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and who should be cast next. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:36 The Deadline article said Malfoy, Cho Chang, and Cedric Diggory were more prized roles. Really? Chang and Diggory cover only a few books. Malfoy is an important casting, however. The actor has to understand how little Malfoy understands about himself.

·      10:19 Neville has a long ...

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In this episode, we analyze the larger implications of Fred's death. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:14 Fred is killed in the Battle of Hogwarts in the seventh book. It really represents the death of Harry’s past, and puts into starker contrast the fact that he can never go back. Of course, Harry can’t go back to events that have already happened, but this is just a symbolic death that more absolutely illustrates t...

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In this episode, we discuss the Battle of Hogwarts in the TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:09 The charge of the houselves. This moment is only in the book, but is impactful. Kreacher has finally found something that he believes in, and it would be a shame if his arc ends without that final resolution of charging into battle. This shows us that everyone is involved. 

·      10:21 Fred’s death. This is one of the m...

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In this episode, we discuss characters that don't deserve a second chance. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:30 Umbridge. She will never deserve a second chance. She was an evil toad in the books and and an even worse person in the books. She likely didn’t have a good time of it when she was carried away by the centaurs, but it’s hard to feel bad for someone who was as horrible as her.

·      7:37 Bellatrix. She’s a h...

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In this episode, we talk about moments in the films that should be in the TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:10 Harry breaking the elder wand. In the book, Harry simply repairs his own wand then returns the elder wand to Dumbledore’s grave. It’s a nice message, but the film does this much better. Harry snapping the wand and throwing it off the bridge shows a much more powerful ending and a more finite ending to a ...

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In this episode, we discuss places we need to see more of in the TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:37 Diagon Alley. In the book, this is the meeting point of the Muggle and magical worlds. It is the first place Harry sees that is truly magical, and also acts as a sanctuary for him later on. When it is taken over, that should mean something for the larger state of the wizarding world.

·      10:29 The Burrow. We ge...

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In this episode, we discuss some of the major castings that HBO recently confirmed. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:17 Still nothing on the trio? We’ve already heard a lot surrounding other characters, and now we have confirmed other casting. But the series revolves around Harry, Ron, and Hermione, not these others. They are still important, but why would HBO cast the trio last? Perhaps they are going to dive into the p...

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In this episode, we discuss scenes that should never change. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:37 Ollivander’s wand shop. This scene sets up the conflict between Voldemort and Harry, and without the careful assembly of this scene, the effect is lost. There’s wind and light when Harry finds his wand, and Ollivander tells him of the twin cores and the greatness and terribleness that awaits him.

·      8:41 Ron leaving the te...

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In this episode, we discuss why certain scenes shouldn't have been from Harry's perspective. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:50 James and Lily’s murder. This scene is pretty blurry and vague because it’s from Harry’s perspective. Now that we know what’s going, seeing what Voldemort is feeling and how he is defeated would mean more than shots of a baby. This scene from Lily or James would show us how they stood...

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In this episode, we discuss the core trait of certain characters in Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:23 Dumbledore – Wisdom. He had lived through a lot. Wars, duels, deaths, and so much more. The lessons he has learned are infinite, and can be synthesized into some pretty potent knowledge bombs. Those lessons he teaches Harry are some of the most valuable Harry ever learns.

·      8:39 Harry – courage. When ...

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In this episode, we design what the first episode of the Harry Potter TV show should be. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:33 We open in Godric’s Hallow. It’s important that we see the Potters as one big happy family so we can better understand the conflict of their death. For a good few minutes they’re living their lives; perhaps Sirius is there too.

·      9:14 Voldemort arrives and kills them. This should be more than a...

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In this episode, we discuss the casting annoucement of John Lithgow as Dumbledore and what we can expect. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:00 What did we get in the book versus the film? In the book, Dumbledore is very wise and much more chill than the film. In the film, Dumbledore has a much more intense way about him. Especially when Michael Gambon took the part, Dumbledore became an intense guy with a lot of energy.

· ...

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In this episode, we discuss how certain things give the wizarding world its magic. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:38 Owls. Owls are closely tied to the story because they are symbols for magic. In the beginning, owls are the first introduction we have to the wizarding world. Later, Hedwig’s death represents the beginning of a new era for Harry and the difficulty of the path ahead.

·      7:34 Moving portraits. They aren...

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In this episode, we discuss characters we should have known better. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:34 Luna. We hear something of her backstory, but we don’t have the chance to truly understand who she is and where she came from. We did get to meet her father, but only for a moment.

·      6:31 Lupin. He has only a few moments of venerability, but those give us such a sophisticated perspective of who he is. More of those...

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In this episode, we break down Nymphadora Tonks. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:40 What role does she play? This is a difficult question because we see her in many different settings despite her short time in the story. She begins as a way for Harry to share his grief about Sirius. But in the end, she becomes a representation of all the sacrifices that have been made so Harry can win.

·      10:12 Strengths and weakness...

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In this episode, we discuss how I would take over the world as Voldemort. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:59 Start with Hogwarts. Voldemort should have focused on Hogwarts more intensely early on, because most of his greatest enemies are there. He has to start planting spies much earlier if he wants to turn it into a more valuable asset of information. 

·      9:50 Take control of Gringotts and Olivander’s.  These two ar...