Nine Things We Want to See in the New “Harry Potter” Series
Many fans are wary of the announcement of the new Harry Potter streaming series on Max. We get it – the original source material is beloved, and letting other creators play with it is a huge leap of faith. But if the creators play their cards right, they’ll have the opportunity to make something special by enriching the already existing content without messing with the original canon. One way they can do this? Showing the story from various points of view.
Take notes, Warner Bros.: Showing us other points of view will allow creators to play with the material without messing with the integrity of the original story. Below are nine things in the original canon that we would like to see expanded in a television series.
The Beginning of Sorcerer’s Stone
A fresh new start calls for a fresh new take on the beginning of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. This is a great opportunity for the creators to take a step back to the murder of Lily and James Potter. Let us see James and Lily playing with baby Harry. Let us see the confrontation with Voldemort. And then let us witness the fallout with Sirius confronting Peter Pettigrew on the street. Allowing this new take without sacrificing the integrity of the original canon will breathe life into this new adaptation.
The Marauders
Fans are hungry for it. We want ample screen time with the Marauders. The Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban season could devote a whole hour-long flashback episode to the history of the Marauders and could serve as an experimental pilot for a future spin-off series. It’s a no-brainer. Give us younger James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Lily.
The First War Against Voldemort
A television format is a great way to give us unlimited points of view with adult characters. When the adults talk about the first war with Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, give us a visceral idea of what it was like by showing us a flashback of the first war. Show us how hard it was to trust people. Show us the first Order of the Phoenix. Showing the horror of Voldemort’s reign will add the needed weight and seriousness for when he returns at the end of the season.
Romance
Please, for the love of Merlin, give us more cohesive romance plots. Let us see those blissful days with Ginny in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Let us see the conflict between Lupin and Tonks. Show us the Ron and Hermione tug-of-war from their perspective. Give us dialogue and chemistry – the television format is perfect for this.
Arthur Weasley’s Work at the Ministry
Not only would it be fun to see what kind of fires Arthur has to put out on a daily basis, but it also opens the door to a whole new side of the magical world that is untapped and unexplored – the world of government and wizard politics. The Harry Potter story is ripe with it. Imagine all the untapped potential of a magical political drama.
Meetings with the Order of the Phoenix
Because of Harry’s limited perspective in the series, we don’t know what went on in those meetings with the Order. It would be very interesting to hear exactly what is reported. Let us be a fly on the wall, privy to all the intel each member brings. What sort of insight does Snape bring as a double agent? What sort of information does Lupin carry about the werewolves? We want to know.
The Dark Days at Hogwarts
Show us how bad it truly was during the Death Eaters’ reign at Hogwarts. We want to see Ginny, Neville, and Luna attempt to steal the sword of Gryffindor. Let us see the dark turn as the Carrows teach the students how to use the Cruciatus Curse on each other. Let us sit in on a lesson of anti-Muggle studies. How did Snape balance his allegiance with Dumbledore while pretending to side with Voldemort? This is all juicy stuff that we weren’t privy to, and we want to see it on screen.
Luna’s and Ollivander’s Kidnappings
The kidnappings of Luna Lovegood and Ollivander are something that would grip the audience and move the plot along. We would love to see how this all played out. Did Luna go quietly? Did she put up a fight? What sort of defenses did Ollivander have before being taken? Being able to see this confrontation would excite fans and enhance the story.
Mrs. Longbottom on the Run
Neville’s resistance at Hogwarts led to Death Eaters attacking his grandmother in retaliation. But Mrs. Longbottom held her own, sending a Death Eater to the hospital before she left to live on the run. This confrontation is fantastic material for television that would show us the very real consequences of rebellion. We would love the opportunity to cheer on an elderly heroine in a television reboot.
The list could go on and on. The possibilities are endless. What would you like to see in the series? Comment below.
