The Secrets of Harry Potter

Eric: So, what about The Secrets of Harry Potter when they went through all the movies, what did you guys think of that?

Andrew: Bad. Bad, bad, bad, bad.

Eric: Bad?

Matt: Bad?

Eric: Wait a minute, wait a minute, bad?

Andrew: I'll tell you why I didn't like this and then you guys can say why you did, because I'm interested to hear this.

Eric: Okay.

Andrew: This "Secrets of Harry Potter" thing - it was 45 minutes long - 40-45 minutes long...

Eric: I thought it was longer.

Andrew: And it's nothing but - longer? Even worse. It's nothing but review and analysis of what has happened already.

Eric: Bull!

Andrew: And this is before - and this was all shot before the seventh book came out. And it's all pointless stuff! Who wants to hear about this?! It's, it's - it's terrible content! I'll tell you what's good content: interviews with the cast. There's none of this on this DVD, which is absolutely mind-boggling.

Eric: What the hell? They interview everyone!

Matt: No. No.

Eric: They interview Jason Isaacs himself while he's narrating the freaking...

Andrew: Ohhh...

Eric: ...featurette.

Andrew: Okay, That's true.

Eric: They interview Ralph Fiennes. They interview everybody. And it's simply...

Andrew: Okay. All right, you're right, but not about the film.

Eric: Okay. No, you're right. Some of it is, is, is dumb because what they do in the first 15 minutes of this behind-the-scenes, you know, The Secrets of Harry Potter thing - what they do in the first 15-20 minutes is they talk about things in Book 7, like "Oh there was a - was there someone else at the Potter's house the night of the thing? We're going to find out!" And Steve Vander Ark's there and he's like "We don't know! What you think isn't what happens and we don't know."

[Micah and Andrew laugh]

Micah: I wonder how that was for WB...

[Everyone laughs]

Eric: I know! I know! They put this movie out with this guy - geez.

Micah: ...when the DVD was coming out, that Steve Vander Ark was going to be in it.

[Micah laughs]

Eric: You know - anyway, they talk about all this stuff that we still don't know post-Book 7, so it's funny that they still bring up these questions that just simply aren't answered in Book 7. Or satisfactorily, in my opinion. But that's just my opinion. Anyway, I thought most of the featurette was based on things that we - cohesion between the films.

Matt: Right.

Eric: Which is what I'm always saying there should be. I thought they brought out some of the important things.

Micah: Exactly.

Eric: And they showed exactly how you can follow it.

Micah: You brought up my point, Eric. The cohesion and how you follow them - the problem with that was - is that you were following it through the narration by the actors, not the actual scenes that were in there.

Eric: Right.

Micah: And that just goes to show you how much has been left out throughout the course of the series that they have to spend 40-45 minutes...

[Eric laughs]

Micah: ...on the fifth movie's DVD explaining to everybody what has taken place. That's exactly what I thought about when I saw this.

Eric: Yeah.

Micah: And the other reason why they did this and this was in an article - I forget who did it. It was either MTV or somebody else like that. And the reason behind this whole thing was they wanted to show that Dan, Emma, and Rupert, particularly, knew what was going on. They knew more than just what they were acting - that they had an understanding of their characters and what was going on in the series as a whole. And they made a point of stressing this and I think all of us are in agreement that those three, at least, have read the books, they know what's going on, but I think that was, on the large part, why they did this for this DVD.

Eric: I was impressed with Gary Oldman, how into it Gary Oldman seemed like he was in this - in this interview. Did you guys get that?

Micah: Well, they - there were so many people in this.

Eric: Yeah.

Matt: Mhm.

Eric: They really left nobody out. Everybody was interviewed throughout the course of this thing...

Eric: Except Alan Rickman!

Micah: And that goes back to...

Eric: Except Alan Rickman.

Micah: Yeah. [laughs] You and your theories that he never does any interviews, I guess, holds true.

[Andrew laughs]

Andrew: You know, Alan Rickman, he doesn't come to the premieres either anymore. I'm really confused. Is he like...

Eric: Does he hate Harry Potter?

Andrew: Well, does he hate the fandom?

Eric: No, no, no, no. I'm sure he's just a private person and - and he's one of those people where you - he can command respect and he'll get it because he's a good actor. But I think come Movie 6 - and I don't know if it was in the Half-Blood Prince preview, but did you guys see any of Tom Felton or Alan Rickman in Book 6 - or Movie 6, in the preview?

Andrew: Yes!

Matt: Yes.

Andy: On the train...

Eric: Tom Felton?

Andrew: Yes! Yes! Eric, if you go to MuggleNet, I took a thumbnail...

Eric: Sweet. Okay.

Andrew: Of the scene that he's in.

[Andrew laughs]

Eric: All right, I'm going to MuggleNet. They show the train thing? Is that in the movie?

Andrew: Yes!

Matt: Yes.

Eric: Oh my god! That's amazing!

Andrew: That's the exact scene that they show on the - on the clip!

Eric: Oh my god I am so using my DVD that I've had for a month-and-a-half and going online and finding this Half Blood Prince...

Andy: It won't be on your one, but, I don't think.

Andrew: No, no, it will, I think, because it's online. Andy Will it?

Eric: Well, if it's on You Tube, I'll just go on You Tube. Where's your link?

Andrew: I'm pretty sure it's to the same site.

Eric: Oh my god, that's on the train. That's so amazing. They're using Tom Felton and everything - because Tom Felton wasn't interviewed on this DVD and I was upset.

Andrew: Well, while Eric continues to be uninformed about everything that's going on...

Eric: Oh my god!

[Matt laughs]

Andrew: What is there else to discuss here?

Eric: The editing thing - edit your own thing.

Andrew: Well, let me just say one more thing about The Magic of Harry Potter. To be fair, I have not watched this whole thing. I just started watching it and I was like "Okay, I don't want a review of everything." You know, we get this so many times.

Eric: It's bad the first time.

Andrew: We get it in the movie now. We get all these flashbacks in the movie now. It's disappointing.

Eric: It's true. It's true. They do show a lot of...

Micah: No, I agree.

Eric: The first and second movie though and even...

Matt: Well, it was released on the History Channel, too, so a lot of people have already even seen it.

Eric: Oh was it?

Matt: Yeah. It was released when the movie was released.

Eric: Oh, that sucks! Really?

Andrew: Really?

Matt: Yeah.

Eric: Really?

Matt: I was kind of upset because it showed a lot of clips from the movie and I'm thinking, "I don't want to see this right now! I want to see the movie first."

Eric: Oh.

Andrew: Right.

Micah: Right.

Eric: That's really interesting.

Micah: So, what was with them putting Steve Vander Ark in there – with them putting in the other two authors that were there...

Eric: Well, I thought that John Granger did a good job.

Micah: I got an e-mail from somebody who just said, "Well, if I wanted to do that I'd just listened to MuggleCast."

Andrew: [laughs] Right.

Eric: Yeah.

Micah: Or, you know, if I wanted to know about the whole story and have people comment on it, I mean, was it really necessary for them to take those – what was it? Four people? Or three people that are the supposed experts – and I'm not saying that they aren't experts, but why do you want to sit there if you're a fan and listen to these guys talk about the story? Wouldn't you rather that they incorporate maybe more actors, even? I mean...

Andrew: Yeah.

Eric: My question to you guys, do you think – now, we're getting a lot of this stuff. It's – all of this stuff is basically repackaged is what we're coming to the conclusion. Because Andy says what they were putting on the History Channel or was that Matt? Was this on the History Channel?

Matt: Yeah...

Eric: This Secrets of the...

Micah: Well, dude, I don't know one has an accent and one doesn't. If you can't tell the difference you might have problems

Andrew: [laughs] Oooh, Micah.

Matt: Ohhhh. Pullin' out the sarcasm.

Eric: Anyway, geez...

Andy: What's buggin' Micah?

Eric: Yeah. What's...

[Eric laughs]

Andrew: Yeah. What is buggin' Micah?

Eric: What is buggin' Micah? You know, Micah, they just want to see, because you've got...

Micah: I'm just kidding.

Eric: You've enhanced your mystique, now that they all know about you, Micah, because you go from the cubicle to the dungeon, and they want to know what happens, you know, every step of the way!

DVD Not Up To Par

Eric: But, okay guys – do you think that they're ripping us off? Because Harry Potter is a huge franchise and all we get is, what, two, three, seven teeny little clips of deleted scenes? There are more to DVDs than deleted scenes. There're commentaries, there're – I'm pretty sure there is a commentary on this DVD, isn't there?

Andrew: No! There....

Eric: There's not?

Andrew: There is! There is on the HD DVD version.

Eric: Oh. Wow.

Andrew: My understanding is if you want a lot of features, you need to go to the HD DVD version.

Matt: They did that with the fourth movie too.

Andrew: Yes. Yes, you are correct.

Eric: But this is Harry Potter! They have so many things to show us and they aren't showing us anything and it's the biggest movie thing in the – and they show us nothing!

Andrew: Yeah. When I popped in this special features disc and I saw the four options plus the languages button, I was like, "This is it?"

[Eric laughs]

Matt: Yeah.

Andrew: Where's the next button? Where's the next button? Where's the next page of special content? This is Harry Potter! You know, and the previous DVDs have had a lot of bonus content. I was just looking at the backs of them before we started. Three and four both had interviews with J.K. Rowling and, understandably, maybe she couldn't do it for Order of the Phoenix because she was finishing up the book. However, I'm not impressed with Order of the Phoenix special features–wise.

Matt: Well, the other DVDs also had those stupid games that no one ever played.

Andrew: That's true. Unless they cut the crap.

Eric: Yeah, like the Womping Willow of the interactive – but there was an advertisement on mine for the DVD game. Did you guys see that?

Andrew: Yeah. You know, I meant to buy it but I forgot. Maybe that's why they're cutting down. They're just re-selling games they could put in the – I'm sure it's junk. No DVD game is good.

Eric: Except for...

Andrew: Whether it's Harry Potter, Hairspray, any other thing you or I like in this world. DVD games are just bad because you can't control a game with a menu. It's not good. The loading times are too slow. The graphics are never that good. It's just not a real game. It's bad. Let's move on now, though. We've voiced our concerns with this DVD. Obviously, there are many.

Bonus Disc at Target

Matt: I did! And it's...

Andrew: And you love it!

Matt: I do. I love it better than the second DVD: Special Edition.

Andrew: What's on it for those of us who couldn't get to our local Target?

Matt: Ah, well - Target - not only do they give you an extra disc, but you failed to tell them that you get a little 3D movie thingy on the front cover!

Andrew: Which is so cool! Tell them what it does.

Matt: It has two of – in my opinion – the best posters that Warner Brothers has released for this movie. It has the one side – one picture has the Dumbledore's Army all like in a ready position with like a red and orange sky and mist on their feet so it's almost like they're on a cloud, like all facing left. And then on the other side is the Death Eaters all facing Voldemort. Jason Isaacs has the globe in his hand and Bellatrix is in the back just looking creepy as she can.

Andrew: Yeah.

Eric: As she does.

Andrew: It's what's on the back of the two-disc Special Edition, and, I assume, the single-disc.

Eric: Oh yeah! Yeah, would you look at that.

Andrew: It's got that full panoramic – see, that's the great thing about...

Eric: So, you've got this nice little holographic thingy...

Andy: Mine is that way as well.

Matt: Yeah, it's a holo – that's the word – holographic.

Andrew: Now wait a second. I'm confused about one thing. Is it when you turn it you see a different picture? Or you have to look on the opposite side?

Matt: No, if you just tilt it to the right or to the left.

Andrew: Oh tilt it, that's what I meant. Cool, that's very cool.

Matt: It's very nice. Oh, sorry the DVD. The DVD is labeled Building the Magic: The Sets of Harry Potter and it goes into detail of all the sets and productions, mainly narrated by Stuart Craig, who does the set design.

Eric: Oh my gosh!

Andy: That's awesome.

Matt: And it's really cool, they go into deep detail about Grimmauld Place which had a lot of cool little tidbits. They have all these little meanings for every single thing that's in each set, and it's so cool. You get to see a deeper explanation on the Black Family Tree and it gives a little detail on Umbridge's office, the Room of Requirement and the Ministry of Magic. So, it has a lot of cool stuff.

Eric: Now, some of this was in some of the features of the DVD, I remember...

Matt: Yeah.

Eric: I recall seeing some of it, but certainly not to this extent. This seems like a really cool thing.

Matt: Yeah. Let me see, what was some of the stuff they talked about? Oh, Grimmauld Place was definitely my favourite because they went a little deeper into it. For instance, in the kitchen, the kitchen table is measured 20 feet long and it's supposed to signify – especially the scene during Christmas with the Weasley family - that the Weasleys were on one side, light and cheery, and on the other side is Harry and Sirius on completely the opposite side of the table. Even though they are in the same room, at the same table, they're still kind of segregated.

Eric: Both families - yeah.

Andrew: I just love that whole concept and while I was watching the movie, I was thinking, "What were they doing with the placement of the characters here; they seem kind of far apart? Harry seems far apart from the Weasleys," and I didn't realize they did that on purpose to make it look like that there was some separation there. That was great.

Matt: Mhm.

Eric: This stuff is just – they've spent so much time building these sets, and somebody remarks, "Sets are meant to be destroyed" on the DVD, but they've spent so much time on this and they think it out. They say, "Grimmauld Place is built on all these weird angles because it's wedged in between these two buildings." That sort of thing - they put so much thought into it that they could really make these good featurettes that just aren't showing up on these DVDs.

Andrew: Yeah.

Matt: Yeah.

Andrew: Was there anything else?

Eric: It's not going to bore us, because I think they're cool.

Andrew: Was there anything else on there Matt?

Matt: A couple of things. On the Room of Requirement, they were talking about how neutral they wanted the room to be, because it's pretty much neutral until you decide on what you want the room to be.

Andrew: Right.

Matt: And there was this issue with their shoes and the floor, they had to wear these socks.

Eric: Isaw those.

Andrew:

Eric: Yeah what was that about? I saw those in the...

Matt: Apparently the floor - your shoes leave marks when you step on the floor, and since they're moving around all the time, I guess it's the tar on their shoes or something because you see the floor - it's kind of like a grill.

Andrew: Right.

Andy: Yeah.

Andrew: Right.

Matt: There are a bunch of holes and stuff. They didn't go into too much detail. I was just wondering - why are they all wearing blue socks?

Andrew: Yeah, you see that on the regular DVD and you're left to wonder, "What?" I know beneath those grill-looking things on the floor, those are lights coming up, but I don't see how...

Eric: Oh, Andrew's been to that set.

Andrew: Unless the lights would burn your shoes or something?

Eric: I suppose that's just for the scenes shot from the feet up, because otherwise they'd have to digitally enter everybody's shoes, which they may have done.

Andrew: Yeah, that would have sucked.

Matt: Oh, okay. Also on the Room of Requirement, they were talking about the mirrors and why the room was mirrored. It was meant to reflect you, yourself, and what your needs were.

Andrew: See, I always get excited when there are mirrors because you always hope maybe, "Oooh, maybe I'll be able to see a camera.

Matt: They spend so much money trying to cover up cameras and equipment with CGI, maybe if they just used regular walls they probably would have enough money to put in Dobby or something.

Andrew: Yeah.

Eric: Yeah, exactly. Exactly.

Andrew: I have to say I think the biggest blooper in a Harry Potter film is in Chamber of Secrets during the duel between Harry and Draco. I think during the Dueling Club?

Eric: What happens?

Andrew: You know, it's like, "Wands at the ready!" and... [hums] I think that's the music they used. Anyway...

Matt: Yeah.

Andrew: Yeah, that was it.

Eric: Yeah, "Gilderoy Lockhart."

Andrew: Yeah, that was a great song. I love that one.

Matt: Mhm.

Eric: I like it too. It's probably my favorite one, actually.

Andrew: The camera cuts to Harry and he's walking down the dueling platform and right there next to the dueling platform is a crewmember, straight up in jeans. Just sitting there, looking up. You can see him clear as day.

[Everyone laughs]

Andrew: He's a big part of this, but you don't notice it because he's not the focus of the scene. He's in focus though, he's very clear! And when I saw this - I guess I read it on MuggleNet or IMDB or whatever, and I was just like, "Wow, they really screwed up."

Eric: Is that in the movie?

Andrew: It's straight up in the movie because I went back and looked at it. It was there. And I'm going to go watch it tonight to have another laugh.

Eric: Oh my gosh.

Andy: Me too.

Eric: Yeah, me too.

Matt: Most people won't see it though, because apparently it's most people's least favorite movie of the series.

Andrew: Oh wow, that's a debate for another show.

Eric: Oh no, that should totally not be there.

Matt: Oh, sorry.

Eric: No Andrew, speaking of dueling, in "Trailing Tonks," when she goes in and has lessons from the instructor on how to fight, how to duel, the five positions on wand wizardry.

Andrew: Yeah, that was very cool.

Eric: That was really cool and just shows how into it they really get with fighting styles. And they want to make it - I mean, The Matrix is obviously something where they over - they did every sort of fighting style and they taught it to all the actors. But the actors have to learn them and learn how to use their wand.

Andrew: Right.

Eric: How to use their props in a way that would seem in a way that would be very well done.

Andrew: Yeah. One thing, I've got to jump back to this Target promotion real quick. Maybe the reason why the special features are lacking on the regular disc is because they wanted to save them for Wal-Mart - sorry, Best Buy and Target.

Eric: Because they favor Target over – yeah. What's up with Best Buy? Because you said Target and Best Buy?

Andrew: Oh. Well, Best Buy is giving away some collectibles. I'm not sure if it comes with bonus material. But - maybe they did cut back on the Special Edition DVD so they could save stuff for Target. But I'm wondering, Matt how much did that cost at Target?

Matt: A lot.

Eric: Check your receipt.

Andrew: $25?

Matt: I never keep my receipts. I'm a guy!

Eric: Dude, why don't you keep your receipts? I keep all my - no I'm joking.

Andrew: $25? $30?

Eric: I keep my receipts.

Matt: It was about $30.

Andrew: $30. Okay, at Wal-Mart it was about $25. I guess that would make sense then.

Matt: Well its $25, plus California tax.

Andrew: Plus it was a roll back, because at Wal-Mart you always roll back?

HD DVD and Blu-Ray

Eric: Oh, geez, which is like... [laughs] Anyway, guys, what about High Definition? Because you said there are more special features on the High Definition DVD? Do you think Warner Brothers is trying to get people to up-convert?

Andrew: Yeah. They might just be trying to get everyone to buy the more expensive product.

Eric: A crap gimmick.

Matt: This was the first time I saw all the movies on High Definition, too. Were they waiting for the DVD to be released or have I just...

Andrew: They're all available in HD?

Matt: Yeah, I saw them all on Blu-Ray and HD DVD.

Andrew: Blu-Ray and HD?

Eric: Oh, geez.

Matt: Yeah.

Eric: I really want a player. I'm going...

Andrew: Every movie?

Matt: Every movie. [mimics Andrew]

Andrew: Don't mock me, I'm just surprised!

Eric: How much are Blu-Ray DVD players? Do you guys know?

Matt: Oh.

Andrew: I didn't know WB was producing for HD and Blu-Ray DVD. I thought movie companies go to one or the other. Are you sure about that, Matt?

Eric: Yeah, they hate each other for it.

Matt: Yeah, I saw them with my own eyes.

Andrew: All right, well, I believe you. Allegedly.

Matt: Yeah, sure you do. [laughs]

Eric: So wait. How much are the players?

Andrew: Uh...

Matt: They're at least $500, I think.

Andrew: Yeah, they're a lot.

Eric: Oh, that's as bad as Playstation 3.

Andrew: Well yeah, if you buy a 360, then you have an HD0DVD player built in.

Matt: Well Playstation 3 is in HD – yeah. You get the better deal with the PS3. So, go out and buy it!

Andrew: Yeah. Today! I'm waiting for laptops. Why aren't laptops HD DVD yet? I mean, they've got the displays. They've got the graphics card. It's just a shame WB started – you know what it is? The Special Edition is turning into VHS! Because now – I'm dead serious too.

Eric: Yeah, yeah. It's true.

Andrew: Blu-Ray and HD DVD.

Eric: Yep.

Andrew: They're going to start cutting back. Before you know it, they're not even going to have menus. We're going to have to fast forward through the DVD, just as we had to do with VHS - like we were talking about last week.

[Andy laughs]

Andrew: This is a joke!

Matt: It's not even – I don't think there are even going to be HD DVDs, I think it will all be Blue-Ray. Because Blu-Ray has higher resolution.

Andy: Someone has got to win.

Andrew: Someone's going to win! But it's not going in Sony's favor because they have not won with past attempts. They started the beta tapes. They tried to make their own mp3 player for a while.

Eric: Yeah, well beta did a better quality than VHS.

Andrew: Well, so is Blu-Ray. We'll see who wins.

Eric: That's true! That's very true.

Andrew: Okay, I think that's it for our DVD discussion. I'm sure we'll take some emails next week about it. That was long though. We'll keep chugging on here.

Muggle Mail: Switchblade Kittens

Andrew: It's time for Muggle Mail, now!

Andy: All right, the first Muggle Mail comes from Kirstie, 21, of [in American accent] Melbourne, Australia.

"Hey guys. Just wanted to clear up something about the MTV list that Andrew mentioned in the last episode. You were saying how Switchblade Kittens weren't a real wizard rock band, as they started out as a punk band and then brought out a second today which is wizard rock. They reason they actually got the top spot is because the Switchblade Kittens actually started wizard rock with their song, "Ode to Harry," which was released in 2000 and was the first ever wizard rock song. Most people don't know this. They think Harry and the Potters were the first, but no... Switchblade Kittens were the first. They should be giving credit for being the first, however I do agree that they shouldn't have gotten the top place or got higher than Draco and the Malfoys."

Eric: I'm finding this coasty person kind of agreeable. Don't you think?

Micah: Yeah.

Eric: She's like, "Just to let you guys know, the Switchblade Kittens were the first. I don't think they should get top place, but they were the first." I didn't know that. I find that quite interesting.

Micah: Well, I'm glad we cleared that up. I don't listen to wizard rock. So, thanks for the e-mail.

Matt: You liar! I saw your iPod.

Eric: Oh geez, Micah. I'm getting you a whole set of wizard rock.

Micah: No, I swear. I do not. I'm going to get e-mail for this. I don't. I don't listen to it.

Muggle Mail: Petunia

Andrew: The next email comes from Sarah J., 22, of St. Paul, Minnesota. She writes:

"Hi everyone. I have a thought to add to your discussion on why Petunia wasn't sad when she, Dudley, and Vernon left Harry knowing they would probably never see him again. Although one would hope that Petunia does feel some concern for Harry as a close family member, I think here you can parallel her feelings toward Harry with Snape’s. Harry is a constant reminder to Petunia of the world she could never enter. To Snape, Harry is a constant reminder of the love he never had. Petunia might have felt relieved to say goodbye, because she could finally cut magic out of her life for good and wouldn't be reminded constantly of the shame and inadequacy she felt as a child. On another level, she might secretly like that Harry goes to Hogwarts and makes magic, something she so painfully yearned to experience with Lily. A miniscule yet significant part of her mundane life on Privet Drive. Love to know what you guys think."

Eric: Ohhh.

Matt: Oh, mundane life, huh?

Eric: Mundane life.

Andrew: Yeah, she's using some big words there.

Eric: I think Petunia would hold her life in high regard. But I think this is an excellent character analysis from Sarah of Petunia.

Matt: I agree.

Eric: It's really cool. And she makes the - oh, what's it called? What's it called? Comparison? What's it called? What's it called? What's it called?

Matt: Comparison?

Eric: No, it starts with an "A."

Matt: Analysis?

Eric: No, no.

Matt: Analogy?

Eric: Analogy!

Matt: Yes!

Eric: Thank you. She makes the analogy! You rock. You rock with a "W" in front of it!

Matt: Kudos!

Eric: Absolutely. So, it's Harry and Snape because - yeah. Yeah, what'd she say? Constant reminder to Petunia of the world she could never enter. So, that's why it's easy to be mean to Harry. That's good, Sarah.

Muggle Mail: Dudley

Andrew: All right. Next email comes from Bill Stafford, 41 of Chicago, Illinois. He writes:

"I am perhaps your oldest listener."

Yes, Bill. You're up there, but we have some listeners as old as 50's and 60's. It's great.

Eric: Yeah, we have a 64-year-old librarian from somewhere in the Mid-West. But yes, you're up there, sir.

Andrew: "I got interested in Harry Potter while reading the books to my daughter, now 15-years-old. I've always been quite proud to proclaim that I read first five books out loud."

That is a pretty good accomplishment! Only you and Steven Fry...

Eric: Wow! Your neighbors must've been pissed! [laughs]

Andrew: "I found out about MuggleCast this summer when my daughter started downloading the podcasts. It is interesting to me, as an adult, to listen to you, enjoying your perspectives as well as those of your fans. In MuggleCast 123 you hit upon an interesting question, 'What are Dudley's feelings towards Harry?' I consider Harry's treatment by his aunt and uncle to be abusive. Having grown up in an abusive environment, I feel that I can offer an interesting perspective on Dudley. As a small child, one believes their parents to be all knowing and infallible. So at young age, Dudley would've seen his parents' treatment of Harry as normal and/or correct. As we grow, we begin to see things from our own perspectives and split off from parents. That is especially difficult in a situation such as this, when a child has participated in ridiculing and mistreating another child. I think that Dudley had seen through some of his parents' prejudices and is starting to make amends. Harry's help in saving him from the dementors seems to have had an effect on him and he had started to see Harry as more of a human person. What exactly is a wizard? So the interesting discussion points are, I think, what must've it been like for Dudley to have seen Harry treated poorly, then be saved by Harry, and then start to reconcile his new feelings/inner beliefs with his past treatment? What is it like for a child to grow up being shown preferential treatment over another child? I think that Dudley is maturing and will grow beyond that prejudice, or I'm just an old idiot that should stop listening to the podcasts for kids."

We are not for kids!

Eric: That's not true, Bill! We're for 41-year-old men from Chicago, Illinois named Bill Stafford. Bill, this podcast is for you. Mr. PC Handyman, we podcast so that everybody gets good stuff out of these books because these books are for everyone just like our podcast.

[Micah laughs]

Eric: So, thank you, Bill, but we ain't for kids and we aim to please.

Andrew: Wow.

Matt: That was beautiful!

Eric: That was really good, guys! What do you think? What must've it been like for Dudley to sit outside Harry's room with a cup of tea and be so moved that he doesn't clean it up and Harry trips over it in the first pages of the second chapter of the book?

Andrew: Well, we were saying last week that we learned through last week's chapter that it was there to be nice to Harry, it wasn't to be mean. And even if he did stumble over it a bit, it wasn't meant to be stumbled on.

Matt: Or maybe Dudley was just sitting there with his legs crossed, looking at the door, hoping to get a glimpse of Harry.

Andrew: Maybe...

Eric: Ummm, that's incest.

Andrew: Yes, that's true. [laughs]

Eric: So, Chapter-by-Chapter...

Andrew: Wait, wait, wait! We didn't answer this guy's e-mail.

Matt: Well, the way that Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia always showed is that Dudley was always this great kid and Harry wasn't. And apparently - this is what I believe. I believe that after the dementor attack, Dudley realized what kind of person he was and what kind of a person Harry was. Because, I think he believes - well, I think we all know - Dudley wouldn't do what Harry did if the situation was reversed.

Andrew: No.

Eric: Well, Dudley's friends didn't do what Harry did. Dudley's friends were all scattered.

Matt: Well, Dudley's friends were away. Yeah, and then Harry saved his life. If Dudley...

Eric: And carried him back to his parents.

Micah: And this is the kind of stuff, I think, when Dumbledore shows up in Half-Blood Prince, he makes some off-the-cuff remark to Vernon and Petunia about how they raised Dudley.

Eric: Yeah.

Matt: Yeah.

Micah: Do you remember that? And I think...

Matt: Yeah, he said something about, like, whatever they've done to Harry they've done much worse to Dudley or something like that.

Eric: Damage to Dudley, yeah, exactly. That was a great quote. And did JKR ever say what Dudley saw when he looked at the dementor?

Andy: Yeah.

Micah: Yeah, we talked about it last week. I think that was just basically what Matt was talking about before

Matt: Yeah, that Dudley was seeing himself for the first time for who he was or something like that?

Micah: Right?

Matt: Cool.

Micah: And J. K. Rowling actually last week updated her site.

Eric: Did she?

Micah: Where she talked about Dudley and Harry and their future hope. She basically said they'd be on Christmas Card terms for the rest of their lives.

Matt: Christmas card terms.

Micah: And that Harry would've taken his family to visit Dudley's when they were in the neighborhood, which were occasions that would be dreaded by Harry.

Matt: Uh, Dudley has kids?

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