The Seven Best “Harry Potter” Easter Eggs in “Father Brown”
Are you wondering what Arthur Weasley has been up to lately? He’s been dressed as a priest and solving crimes in a rural English village. Mark Williams, who portrayed Mr. Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise, has been part of the Father Brown television cast for the last six years. The show takes place in a 1950s town called Kembleford, and Williams stars as the quirky, kindly main character, Father Brown. The episodes are entertaining, but if Potterheads look closely, there are countless nods to Harry Potter within the series. Here are the most entertaining Easter eggs that can’t possibly be coincidences.
1. There’s a Boggart
In the episode “The Kembleford Boggart,” Williams’ character solves a murder with unusual clues left behind. The episode is centered around a young novelist who writes about a lethal boggart. This isn’t the same boggart that Professor Lupin teaches Harry about, and it takes more than saying Riddikulus for Father Brown to solve the case.
2. Cursed Child Connection
One of the secondary characters on Father Brown is Sid Carter, played by Alex Price. He left the show in the fifth season to join the cast of none other than Harry Potter and the Cursed Child! It was startling to see the loyal, charismatic Carter become the scheming, villainous Draco Malfoy. I like to imagine that before Carter left the show, Williams shared with him some advice on what’s it like to be part of the wizarding world.
3. The Local Train
Featured in several episodes throughout the seasons is the Kembleford Dragon, the town’s train. If the name isn’t magical enough, then its appearance certainly is. The vintage train is in beautiful shape and amazingly, looks exactly like the Hogwarts Express. The train often starts off episodes traveling down the green countryside heading off to Hogwarts – I mean Kembleford…
4. Father Brown Meets Witches
Some episodes are more mysterious than others, and that’s the case in Season 5’s “The Eve of St. John.” Williams’ character investigates a death in a local coven of witches. There are some wonderfully awkward scenes between Father Brown and the witches. Generally interested in other people’s religious views, Father Brown is a rather open-minded priest. While Williams’ character isn’t a wizard in this episode, he does invite the witches to his home for a festive dinner that would rival Mrs. Weasley’s cooking.
5. Katie Leung Guest Stars
Mark Williams is joined by a Harry Potter costar in the exciting episode “The Prize of Colonel Gerard.” Katie Leung, famous for playing Cho Chang, stars as the adopted daughter of a tyrannical father. She’s at the center of the murder that is committed and evolves rapidly as her character changes. When Leung and Williams appeared on-screen together, I experienced a rush of Potter nostalgia. It was brilliant to watch them figure out the crime together. Hopefully, in the future, there will be more Harry Potter guest stars!
6. Reference to the Sorcerer’s Stone
There’s a nod to Nicolas Flamel in the Father Brown episode “The Alchemist’s Secret.” While the Sorcerer’s Stone isn’t mentioned by name, the magical formula that everyone is searching for is described as being able to transform lead into gold. That line sounds familiar! Father Brown and his friends explore an old school to find out information about the formula, and then they search underground tunnels to find its hiding place. This is the perfect episode for fans of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
7. “Are You a Wizard?”
Few Easter eggs in the Father Brown series are as obvious as the one in the episode “The Maddest of All.” When Father Brown goes undercover in a mental institution, he meets a young patient called Jeremy. Jeremy asks Williams’ character if “he’s a wizard.” Williams then displays a brief faux magic trick out of nowhere, making this scene all the more fantastical. One of Father Brown’s magic tricks involves having a key appear out of nowhere to get into a secret room. It’s just like Alohomora all over again!
