In this episode, we discuss season 4 episodes 7 and 8 of Tea Leaves, our version of the Harry Potter TV show. Harry faces some of the most and least profound challenges of the season in this episode. Hagrid is revealed as a half-giant against his will as Rita Skeeter continues her rampage, and the Second Task is some of the darkest content we've seen yet. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:35 Episode seven begins with Harry triumphant in the common room. He has emerged from the first task with a great score and the egg in hand, and he feels on top of the world. After the tense relationship between Ron and Harry, they finally find their common ground again and can forgive each other.

·      17:19 Life at Hogwarts. He sends a letter to Sirius, goes to help Hagrid with the blast ended skrewts, and Hermione shows him and Ron the kitchens with the house elves. Winky is in a bad way, calling Ludo Bagman a very bad wizard and lamenting her glory days with Mr. Crouch.

·      22:03 The Yule Ball. What a fun time of emotions running high and breath of fresh air from fighting dragons in the first task and death. Ron and Hermione exchange words at the end of the night.

·      30:58 Episode eight begins with Hagrid drama. Rita Skeeter overhead Hagrid and Madame Maxime talking at the Yule Ball about his being half giant. Malfoy makes fun of Hagrid for it and the trio gets very mad at Rita.

·      36:04 The egg. Cedric tells Harry to take his egg to the prefect bathroom and figure it out, so Harry does. He eventually figures it out with the help of Moaning Myrtle. He gets stuck in a trick stair on the way back and it found out, but Moody comes and saves him. Lucky him…

·      44:02 The Second Task. It isolates Harry and prepares him for the intense challenges ahead. He’s incredibly nervous, and for good reason. Though he comes out all right, none of the champions comes out quite the same.

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In this episode, we discuss episodes five and six of Tea Leaves, our version of the Harry Potter TV show. Harry has more strange encounters with Mad-Eye Moody, and is continuing to confront his identity as the fourth champion in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:56 Harry goes up to the Owlery, and jumps on a table for Moody. He wants to confide in Sirius the dreams of Voldemort he’s been having and the pains in his scar that have come along with them. He wonders if there’s something greater stirring. Then, he goes off to class and learns all too well about the imperious curse.

·      18:38 Viktor Krum drops his name into the Goblet of Fire and the four champions are chosen. This moment should show us why we should care about Krum, and what makes him ticks. He respects competition but doesn’t seek fame. That evening, Dumbledore chooses the name at the evening feast. In a startling change of events, Harry’s name also flies forth and he becomes the fourth champion.

·      41:13 Episode six begins with Harry walking down to the champion’s room. The staircase he walks down is huge and the camera is still in an unbroken shot to show just how small Harry is. Over the next few days, he learns about the dragons, tells Cedric, is coached by Moody, and finally competes in the First Task. He emerges victorious and the episode comes to an end.

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In this episode, we discuss episodes three and four of Tea Leaves, our version of the Harry Potter TV show. The trio make their way from the Death Eater ravaged grounds of the Quidditch World Cup to Hogwarts. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrive, and Dumbledore officially sets into motion the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Listen to the last episode, Tea Leaves S4 S1+2 here!

·      2:00 We open on another forest. It’s on the Quidditch World Cup grounds, but it’s a bit gloomier than before. The air of dark magic should still hang over the grounds, a scar of the Dark Mark hanging in the sky. The Weasleys and Harry and Hermione make their way back home.

·      20:56 Off to Hogwarts! Charlie Weasley hints on Platform 9 ¾ that he will be seeing them sooner than they think. On the train, Draco hints at something similar in between bragging about his father wanting to send him to Durmstrang. Harry also sees Cho and maybe forms a little crush. They arrive and meet Professor Moody, and Dumbledore reveals the Tri-Wizard Tournament in a dramatic end to the episode.

·      35:19 Episode four begins with classes. They go to herbology, care of magical creatures, and divination. They encounter Malfoy when they leave and then comes the Malfoy/ferret/Moody encounter.

·      41:46 Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. We separated the welcome feast and their arrival because this should be a bit more of a serious moment. The flying carriage and ship arrive, and the Tri-Wizard Tournament has begun.

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In this episode, we discuss the first two episodes of Tea Leaves season four, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Voldemort kills Frank Bryce at the Riddle House, Harry returns to the Burrow with Hermione and the Weasleys, and they all go to the Quidditch World Cup. Not only do we see an exciting game, but the Death Eaters attack and cast the Dark Mark into the sky. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Listen to episode 339 The End of an Era here!

·      2:03 Goals for season four. 1. Explore complexity within and between characters 2. Begin the true rise of dark magic 3. Draw Harry closer to the outside world

·      13:29 We open episode one in a forest. It’s nighttime. The darkness coalesces into a pale, frail form on the ground. It’s Voldemort right after the events of the Philosopher’s Stone. Then we move to Little Hangleton and follow Frank as he goes to the Riddle House and gets killed.

·       29:53 Harry jolts awake in a cold sweat. He is in 4 Privet Drive, and just had the worst dream. He writes to Sirius about it and goes down to eat breakfast with the Dursleys. They get a letter from the Weasleys about the Quidditch World Cup, and Vernon begrudgingly lets Harry go. They arrive to get him with quite the banging entrance, and Harry goes back to the Burrow to enjoy a magical life again at last. They wake up on the morning of the Quidditch World Cup and make their way to their portkey. Along the way, Harry’s party picks up Amos and Cedric Diggory. They grab the portkey and the episode ends.

·      42:50 Episode two opens with another quiet forest. This one is more cheerful. In a flash of light they drop to the ground. They enjoy the Quidditch World Cup, and then run from the Death Eaters as they infiltrate the camp. The Dark Mark is cast in the sky, and the episode comes to an end.

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In this episode, we reflect on our just finished season three of Tea Leaves, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Tea Leaves is a series where we make our version of the Harry Potter TV show, episode by episode. Next week will begin season 4, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:03 We are entering the “Dark Hogwarts” era. The first three seasons feel like the introduction to the wizarding world and setting up the conflict. The fourth season represents the beginning of the true conflict of the story.

·      12:00 The best moments are the most personal, and we should see a lot of those. Harry’s past is going to come alive before our very eyes this season. We are going to see a much darker current emerge in the story, and that kind of story demands a different kind of storytelling. Humans are empaths so we should be able to feel what Harry is feeling.

·      18:38 Malfoy follows the pattern of the story to a tee. He is something of a static bully for the first three books, but the moment the fourth book begins he becomes something more. Malfoy’s journey as a Death Eater defines his arc and reflects the greater conflict, and the Goblet of Fire is the kicking off point of his journey.

·      24:54 Complexity. Characters like Neville have just as complicated a past as Harry, and now that the first three seasons are over, we can dive into their characters more deeply. 

·      30:14 This is getting real. That’s what we’ve been dancing around this whole episode. Now is the time; it’s finally beginning. Voldemort is on the rise, and Harry must rise to meet him.

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In this episode, we discuss the season finale to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Dumbledore sends Harry and Hermione back in time to save Buckbeak and Sirius from their fates. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:58 Quick recap and Harry in the hospital wing. It’s important that we begin this episode with something quiet and calm after the crazy adventure last episode. Fudge and Snape walk in and tell Harry that Sirius will receive the dementor’s kiss any moment. Dumbledore gives Harry and Hermione their task and sends them back in time.

·      16:17 The insanity of the time turner. Harry and Hermione land in the hospital wing and make their way down to Hagrid’s hut. They narrowly escape with Buckbeak then make their way to a vantage point on the Shrieking Shack. Once they all emerge again, Hermione howls to draw Lupin away and they run to Hagrid’s hut to hide. Harry sees the dementors from the window and rushes to the lake, casting the famous patronus. They fly with Buckbeak up to the locked classroom with Sirius and send them away into the moonset. They make it back to the hospital wing just as Dumbledore closes and locks the door.

·      34:50 The end of the year. Lupin is resigning much to Harry’s dismay, and the trio packs their things and loads onto the Hogwarts Express. On the way back they get a tropical bird with an owl for Ron and a signed letter for Harry to visit Hogsmeade. We zoom out of the train and find Frank in a faraway English village looking out over the Riddle house. A light flicks on, and the screen cuts to black…

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In this episode, we discuss Harry's patronus lessons with Lupin. Gryffindor continues to dominate on the quidditch pitch and Sirius Black breaks into Hogwarts again. The trio go on their Shrieking Shack adventure and Harry tries and fails to protect himself and Sirius from the descending dementors at the lake. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:31 I went to Scotland! Here is one of the tour guides I really loved who showed me around the Harry Potter world in Edinburgh.

·      7:26 Quick recap and Harry and Lupin’s lessons. The boggart dementor should be smaller than the actual thing so we can have some differentiation. When Harry is falling through his memory in the presence of the dementor, I don’t like the film version of the fade to black. I would rather see it through Harry’s eyes and watch the memory bleed into his reality. Lupin is there every step of the way, and we should really begin to trust Lupin in this opening.

·      26:18 Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw quidditch match. More dementors get on the field, but it turns out to be Malfoy. Lupin is still impressed with his production of a patronus. Afterward, they return to their dorms and celebrate. Black breaks back into Hogwarts when they go to bed, and he and Harry have a dramatic chase through the castle. We look into his eyes for the first time.

·      41:06 Episode seven opens with studying for OWLs. Harry and Ron are trying ot study for divination, but it’s hopeless. Harry goes into for his OWL and Trelawny has a real prediction. There is clearly something afoot…

·      43:26 The Shrieking Shack. This is the final sequence of this episode, and it is of course the famous Shrieking Shack chase. This scene should have the audience hating Sirius and turning on Lupin. We should see the horrible image of Lupin helping up Sirius and hugging him like a brother, but we soon learn the truth. Lupin transforms and the black dog defends the trio. Sirius collapses at the lake and Harry tries to defend him against the hundreds of dementors, but it’s no use. 

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In this episode, we discuss episodes four and five of season three, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. After Sirius Black's break in, the air in the castle in intense. Harry plays a quidditch match against Hufflepuff where he sees dementors and the Grimm. He gets the Marauder's map and goes to Hogsmeade where he learns the truth about Sirius. Episode five follows the Marauders at Hogwarts. We watch their relationships grow and develop, and how they go off into the world. We spend the last few minutes from Peter Pettigrew's point of view as he betrays James and Lily. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:35 Quick recap and the tense atmosphere at Hogwarts. After Sirius broke into Hogwarts, the air in the castle is tense. There’s no telling where Sirius could be now, and the illusion of Hogwarts’ safety is broken. Snape teaches DADA in Lupin’s absence, his first lesson being werewolves. How interesting…

·      18:07 Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff. This is the most intense quidditch match to date. Harry and Cedric are battling for the snitch through the impossible storm and cold. Eventually, Harry sees the great Grimm appear in the clouds, and then the dementors flying through the air. He falls from his broom and the screen fades to black.

·      32:34 Harry recovers in the hospital wing. He slowly comes to with his team all around him. They bring him the remains of his Nimbus 2000. Lupin is his final visitor. Lupin offers Harry lessons to defend himself against dementors, who agrees. 

·      34:45 The Three Broomsticks. Harry gets the Marauder’s Map from Fred and George, and he immediately uses it to get into Hogsmeade. He overhears a conversation in the Three Broomsticks where he finds out that it was Sirius who betrayed his parents and got them killed. Harry returns to the castle furious, devastated, and confused. The episode ends with Hagrid telling the trio that Buckbeak has been set for trial. The last shot is Harry staring at the Map in his bed, reflecting on the awful day he has had.

·      38:38 We open episode five with James Potter walking through the Hogwarts grounds. The first half of this episode should be spent with James, Sirius, Lupin, Peter, Lily, and Snape. They have a complex series of relationships that make a huge difference for the story to come.

·      44:50 They all go off and live their happy lives. We see everyone go off and continue being great friends. However, the whispers of Voldemort are spreading, and soon the conflict arises. We’ll take a closer look at the first war in later seasons, but we will visit the wreckage of the Potter’s house yet again in this season. Instead of following Sirius afterward, we follow Peter and his guilt. We end this episode with Sirius and Peter’s confrontation from Peter’s POV.

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In this episode, Harry explores Diagon Alley after escaping from 4 Privet Drive. He learns that Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban to find him, but he hopes that Dumbledore will keep him safe at Hogwarts. The trio meets a dementor for the first time on the Hogwarts Express, and Professor R. J. Lupin is there to help them. They go through the first few classes of their time at Hogwarts, and episode three ends with Sirius Black's break in to Hogwarts. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:22 Quick recap and Harry in Diagon Alley. He gets to explore a little bit and we get to go along for the ride. He spends a lot of time admiring the Firebolt. Ron and Hermione arrive after a while and they all go around buying their books and supplies. The night before they leave for King’s Cross, Harry hears Mr. and Mrs. Weasley talking about Sirius Black’s true goal being to find Harry.

·      17:53 Off to Hogwarts! They get Ministry cars from the Leaky Cauldron to King’s Cross. On the platform, Mr. Weasley takes a confused Harry aside to tell him not to go looking for Sirius Black. On the train, they have their first terrifying encounter with a dementor. They arrive at Hogwarts and the episode ends with the welcome feast.

·      32:36 Episode three begins with divination class. We learn about the wild predictions of Professor Trelawny, and then McGonagall dispels them. We have our hippogriff class with Hagrid, then off to the bogart. Lupin jumps in front of Harry when his time comes to face it, and Harry asks Lupin about it later. This episode ends with Sirius Black’s first entrance into Hogwarts, the Gryffindor dormitory door slams shut, and the castle is in chaos. 

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In this episode, we discuss the first episode of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third season of Tea Leaves. We meet Sirius Black, and follow Harry through the beginning stages of his story at Privet Drive. He takes the Knight Bus to the Leaky Cauldron and meets Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:01 Set up some goals for the season. 1) Introduce Death Eaters. 2) Explore the Marauders as a means to Harry’s past. 3) Deepen Snape’s character.

·      10:26 We open this season at night. The leaves are orange and yellow, and Sirius Black walks through the wrecked Potter house. He sees his friends dead and realizes that he must now go on without them. Hagrid arrives and takes Harry away. We then see

·      18:22 Now we see Harry. He’s doing homework in his bed like in the film. We see him living at Privet Drive, following the Dursleys’ orders and just being all around miserable. His Hogwarts letter arrives with his Hogsmeade permission form, and he strikes a deal with Mr. Dursley. Aunt Marge is coming to visit so if he can behave for her, Mr. Dursley will sign his form. It’s game on when Aunt Marge arrives. What a beloved member of their family! Harry cannot believe that he will have to put up with her for so long. The very last night, she pokes and prods about Harry’s parents. She seems to be simply inflating in her rampage, and soon she begins to float above the table. Mr. Dursley tries to hold her down, but it’s no use. 

·      28:30 In a huff, Harry storms out of the house. He goes a few blocks away. He sees the Grim in the bushes and stumbles backward, accidentally calling the Knight Bus. It takes him to the Leaky Cauldron where he meets Fudge, not the expel him but to make sure he’s safe. Harry retires to his room at the Leaky Cauldron and reflects on the crazy day he’s had. He goes to sleep with thoughts of Sirius Black, Azkaban, and great black dogs swirling through his head.

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In this episode, we discuss Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, and Albus Dumbledore and how they evolved over Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. We also discuss Voldemort's continuing rise to power and how that sets up Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:16 The goals we set for season two. 1) Explore Hogwarts. If there’s one that we could have done more with, it’s probably this one. However, we still did a ton in this regard. 2) Develop relationships. Check! 3) Begin Voldemort’s journey. We absolutely did this as well, especially with the diary. Tom Riddle as a shadow of the Dark Lord functions very effectively to set up his rise to power.

·      21:20 The power of dark magic. With Sirius Black in our future, the idea of dark magic should evolve in this season. Seeing Ginny floating above the Chamber of Secrets, for example, would be a sight that would really draw the line between dark and light magic.

·      26:41 Harry and Dumbledore. It should be clear that Dumbledore is pulling the strings here. He has a say in the goings on of the wizarding world. Additionally, Harry has a deep dark past, and that past is what influences a lot of Dumbledore’s decisions.

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In this episode, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger come to the end of their second year at Hogwarts. We spend most of the episode in Ancient Greece following the inventor of the horcrux: Herpo the Foul. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Listen to Tea Leaves S2 E7 here! Read more about Herpo the Foul here (if you dare)!

·      1:56 Quick Recap and Herpo the Foul. We open in Ancient Greece, thousands of years ago. Herpo the Foul lives in a big, nonmagical family. He feels like he can’t make his voice heard, and that he has no power. This leads to the formation of an obscurus and his magical journey begins. This part of the episode should be the majority. We explore his life and how he used his powers to gain an edge, eventually breaking out of simple curses and discovering horcruxes. The similarities to Voldemort should be obvious.

·      26:13 Back to Harry. We open in the girls’ bathroom with Fawkes, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Lockhart returning from the Chamber. Harry and Ron go up to Dumbledore’s office where they are scolded, but also rewarded. Harry hands Dumbledore the diary and we should feel the weight of that moment, especially because of how much buildup we had in the previous part of this episode. Lucius and Dobby enter, and Harry gives the diary to Lucius before they leave, who hands it to Dobby. Dobby is free! Finally, we have a final shot of the trio getting on the train and going back home. It is the end of this year, but certainly not the end of the story. Soon, they will learn of the horrible, terrible, escaped Sirius Black…

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In this episode, Harry and Ron follow Hagrid's advice. They follow the spiders into the Forbidden Forest and talk to Aragog. Then, they delve into the Chamber of Secrets with Lockhart in toe and face Tom Riddle for the first time. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Listen to Tea Leaves S2 E6 here!

·      1:20 Quick Recap and Follow the Spiders. Harry and Ron make their way into the forest after Hagrid tells them to follow the spiders in the last episode. The spiders lead them to Aragog, who tells them the history of Hagrid’s expulsion. He reveals that Hagrid is (obviously) not the heir, but that he can’t speak of the creature at the castle because it’s too terrible.

·      18:30 The chaos builds in the castle. Harry and Ron rush to the staff room the next day because they figured it out. But there’s a staff meeting at that same time so they hide. McGonagall reveals that Ginny has been taken down to the Chamber, and that Lockhart simply must go down to save her, seeing as he has been talking about he knows everything about the Chamber. Harry and Ron go the Lockhart to help him, but find that he’s a fraud. They pressure him at wand point to go with them.

·       24:14 The Chamber of Secrets. The version in the books and films is actually pretty good, but there are too things in particular I want to point out. The first is the ancient air of magic. We can’t forget that this chamber was made over a thousand years ago by Salazar Slytherin himself. Harry and Ron should realize that, and it should add to the tension. The second thing is adding a moment between Harry and Riddle. Like the fragmented memory we discussed in the last episode. We should see their shared mind.

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In this episode, Harry sees the memories from Tom Riddle's diary and begins to wonder: who's the real heir of Slytherin? Lockhart throws a Valentine's Day party, and Hermione gets petrified. After Harry and Ron's visit to Hagrid to discuss the basilisk ends in Hagrid arrest, they are resolved to "following the spiders" to finally see the end of this saga. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Listen to Tea Leaves S2 E5 here!

·      1:33 Quick Recap and Riddle’s first memory. This memory isn’t really coherent. It’s more to show us who Riddle is and how important he will be. Quick shots of Riddle, maybe standing in the Chamber of Secrets, maybe somewhere in the castle.

·      14:17 Polyjuice! This whole saga is going to be fun. The trio takes the potion in the bathroom, and Hermione unfortunately grabbed the wrong kind of hair and becomes a cat. Harry and Ron are still on a timer, however, so they must forge on. They go talk to Malfoy and find that he is not the heir.

·      20:55 Valentine’s Day. This is a great time for Lockhart to be an idiot. The Great Hall is adorned with a million gift shops of decorations. Ginny sends Harry a singing dwarf.

·      23:30 The diary has been stolen. His bed sheets are hanging off the frame and his trunk was rifled through. He finds that the diary has been stolen, and he rushes down to tell Ron, but instead he finds out that Hermione was petrified. 

·      28:50 Harry and Ron go talk to Hagrid to get more information on the basilisk that Hermione found out, but he is taken to Azkaban. He tells Harry and Ron to “follow the spiders.” The episode ends with Riddle’s second memory. He shows Harry how Hagrid was found out as the heir and was expelled. Harry thinks Riddle is a true Hogwarts hero, but still wonders: how in the world could it be Hagrid?

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In this episode, the hidden force within Hogwarts continues to roam the castle, petrifying students and ghosts alike. Tensions on the quidditch pitch rise, and suspicions of who this heir could be rise with them. An unexpected suspect rises to the top of the pool: Harry. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Listen to Tea Leaves S2 E4 here!

·      1:44 Quick Recap and Dumbledore’s office. They are examining Mrs. Norris, trying to decide what happened to her. The air is intense, with little conversation and noise. Lockhart is of course trying to break in to offer his well-traveled advice, but they won’t hear of it.

·      8:08 The Gryffindor vs. Slytherin Quidditch Match. We should see more of Harry and Draco’s complex relationship with intense searches for the snitch. In addition, Dobby’s bludger is on a mission to take Harry out of commission. Harry crashes and Lockhart takes all the bones out of his arm.

·      16:51 The Hospital Wing. Dobby reveals to Harry that it was him that blocked the platform, and that he enchanted the bludger to go after Harry. We aren’t too happy with Dobby at this point. We also see Dumbledore and McGonagall bring in Colin Creevey, also petrified. This is getting real.

·      24:35 The trio decides on using poly-juice potion to continue their investigation, then go dueling. Lockhart’s Dueling Club isn’t exactly a raging success, seeing as Snape wiped the floor with him. When Draco and Harry duel, Draco summons a snake and Harry speaks parcel tongue to it, though it doesn’t know it. Justin Finch-Flechley thinks he was almost attacked. 

·      30:52 Justin got attacked! Harry found him and Nearly Headless Nick petrified in a hallway, just when classes get out and the entire student body sees him. Now Harry is seen as a threat and the need to investigate these attacks grows. 

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In this episode, Harry and Ron crash their flying Ford Anglia into the Womping Willow. Snape brings them both up to Hogwarts, and they serve their detentions. A mysterious voice echoes from somewhere far away, and Harry begins to wonder who, what, and where it is. Something is afoot at Hogwarts....

Topics/Summary:

·      3:33 Quick recap and Snape taking Harry and Ron up to the castle. It is important that Snape is the one to bring these two up to show his ability to move outside the lines, especially early on. Dumbledore defends Harry and gets his punishment down from expulsion to detention.

·      15:23 Detention. I was debating whether to have any middle time between their conversation with Snape and their detention. Of course they need time to put their bags down and say hello to their friends, but that might change the air of the detention. Harry is addressing Gildroy Lockhart’s fan mail and hears a voice. As he walks back to his dormitory, he hears it again and begins to wonder what it might mean…

25:25 The final beats of the story. The whole quidditch practice showdown happens, and Ron’s wand backfires on him. We also have Professor Lockhart’s class and we begin to understand just how incompetent he really is. The final sequence of the story is the Deathday Party. Harry, Ron, and Hermione go to Nearly Headless Nick’s party, and as they leave, Harry hears the voice again. It is closer and more intense than ever before, so he runs after it. They come across the horrible scene with Mrs. Norris, the water, and the writing on the wall: “The Chamber of Secrets has been opened; enemies of the heir, beware.”

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In this episode, we analyze the second trailer released by HBO for the Harry Potter TV show. This one is for a behind-the-scenes special called Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic. It is a behind the scenes look at the production of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first season of the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

Listen to episode 326 analyzing the first official trailer here!

·      2:54 Dominic McLaughlin looks so much like Harry! But it’s not in the way that he looks like Daniel Radcliff, but that he looks like the Harry from the books.  There are still some differences, but that continues to support the idea that these characters will be similar, but not the same.

·      9:00 Wow! We’re getting behind the scenes footage! It’s crazy to think that we just got the release date to the TV show itself, and we’re already getting full releases of behind-the-scenes specials. We’ve almost graduated the point where the product itself is the goal, but an expansion of the fandom and the story.

·      14:56 Philosopher’s Stone? Christmas? We glossed over some of the most important pieces of information we learned from the trailer. For one, the project is called Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, not the Sorcerer’s Stone. And it will be released this year! Christmas has the right feeling of magic and family to make for the perfect release date.

·      21:13 Still no Voldemort? HBO has confirmed that he has been cast and will appear in at least a few seasons, so it’s odd that we haven’t heard a peep. They’re really keeping this under wraps! I don’t really care about the name of the actor playing him, just the interpretation of the character. In this way the casting does actually matter, so any information would be great!

·      27:29 Snape and Dumbledore and still stealing the show! Even in the special trailer, these two had big features and interviews. I want them to have a heavy feature, but it would be a shame if they took over the screen.

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In this episode, we analyze the trailer for the Harry Potter TV show. We have our first looks at Hogwarts, The Hogwarts Express, 4 Privet Drive, Snape, Dumbledore, and many more exciting characters and places in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:36 4 Privet Drive looks similar to the films. The Dursleys clearly have a mean streak, and Petunia has a big feature. Is she going to be the one doling out punishment to Harry the most? The cupboard under the stairs is more depressing than the films for sure. The whole house looks similar, but it feels a little darker.

·      12:40 Harry looks great in action! This is the first time we’ve seen him acting live.

·       14:22 Rubeus Hagrid makes an appearance, but it’s not what I imagined. His voice is just the voice of a normal person, not the big clumsy person we know and love. I’m sure we will grow to love him as we always do, but right now I don’t see the vision.

·      18:35 The Hogwarts Express is fantastic! It looks pretty much the same which is the right choice. They did it right the first time and I’m glad they didn’t mess with it. However, King Cross is something of an improvement I think compared to the films. Hogsmeade Station is also a cool place which comes across well.

·      23:41 Hogwarts is …… interesting. In every shot, I thought one of two things: this is a sky lodge, or this looks exactly like the film. I’m a little disappointed that this is our first impression of the castle because the best parts of the castle are big and bright, not closed off and lit with torches like the majority of what we saw.

·      30:30 The characters look awesome. I am blown away by Snape and Dumbledore! Snape clearly has such depth and I’m so looking forward to seeing him develop. And Dumbledore looks like a combination between the Gambon and Harris versions which might be the best of both worlds. Ron is something of a dufus, but that might open the door for the biggest character transformation in the whole series.

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Nox

In this episode, we compare Gilderoy Lockhart and Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. With the upcoming Harry Potter TV show, there will be many opportunities to dive deeper into both of these characters. Though Riddle doesn't teach at Hogwarts and Lockhart doesn't make horcruxes in his spare time, they are far more similar than what meets the eye.

Topics/Summary:

·      1:59 Gilderoy Lockhart and Tom Riddle seem different, but the truth is they are eerily similar. They are both mirrors for things waiting for us in the future of the story. Tom Riddle is a mirror for the later form of Voldemort, showing us what is to come. Lockhart is a mirror for the fear Voldemort inspires in us as he rises to power. It isn’t enough for the story to tell us to be afraid of Voldemort; we have to see it too.

·      17:18 Similarities and differences. On the surface, these two characters seem like total opposites. They come from different lives, even different times. However, the deeper we go into their character, the more similar they become. They both have power over people and that leaves a mark.

·      24:09 Both Lockhart and Riddle disappear in this season and will reappear in a different form in a future season. What does that mean? An interesting question to ask within this subject is: who changes the most? The truth is, it’s really hard to tell.

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Nox

In this episode, Harry finally sees the Burrow for the first time and meets the entire Weasley family. They go shopping for their Hogwarts supplies at Diagon Alley, and meet Gilderoy Lockhart for the first time. Finally, Harry and Ron miss the Hogwarts Express and have to take the Ford Anglia to school. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      3:10 Quick recap and life at the Burrow. I want to see what a wizard family does in a day. How do they live? This is Harry’s first time seeing a magical dwelling like the Burrow, and I want to make the most of it. The Weasley family is a lively bunch and that should come across.

·      9:59 Off to Diagon Alley! Harry’s mistake with the floo powder sends him to Knockturn Alley and he sees Draco and Lucius shopping for some dark artifacts.

·      16:48 Flourish and Blotts. Now that Harry has escaped, we get to see the famous Gilderoy Lockhart in his element. He is a rambunctious idiot. We officially meet Lucius, and he plants the diary with Ginny.

·      27:07 Trip to Hogwarts. They cram their car full of things and people and the rush to the platform. Harry and Ron can’t pass through to Platform 9 ¾! They are stuck so they have to make a decision. They decide to take the flying Ford Anglia to Hogwarts. The episode ends with Hogwarts fading into view and another year on the horizon.

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Nox

In this episode, we examine characters like Dobby, Petunia Dursley, and Severus Snape and discuss how their defining moments differ between the Harry Potter books, films, and what we should hope for in the new Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Listen to episode 322 Tea Leaves S2 E2 here!

·      2:10 Dobby. He’s the foundation for this episode. Dobby has his big moment at the very end of his arc when he sacrifices himself for Harry and friends to escape Malfoy Manor. That shouldn’t be his moment to shine! Earlier on, perhaps he runs into Draco at Hogwarts and refuses some ridiculous order. The TV has room for moments like these.

·      13:49 Petunia Dursley. She is Harry’s last connection to his family, and it’s super easy to forget that when she’s being mean to Harry. But a few moments earlier in the story when we see Petunia’s softer side would go a long way. She really wanted to go to Hogwarts, and her refusal is why she’s so bitter. We should have an opportunity to see past that ice wall. 

·      20:19 Snape. His story is truly heartbreaking story, and his love for Lily just wasn’t meant to be. But I don’t want to see that side to him only after he has died. The climax of his arc should be his death and the memory he shares with Harry, but we should see little hints of that emotion behind the greasy hair.

·      24:18 Horace Slughorn. He needs more screen time! After the Half-Blood Prince, Slughorn falls into the background. In the Harry Potter TV show, there should be no characters looked over for the sake of time. He has such a heartwarming story, and he showed real courage in overcoming his shame. We should see more of that!

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Nox

In the this episode, we discuss Harry's conflict with Mr. Dursley and the Weasley's rescue from 4 Privet Drive in our version of the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:59 Quick recap and Harry at Privet Drive. He is back in Sad Harry mode with his previous life. We want to set this baseline of him hating his muggle existence so later on it means something to him.

·      9:37 The Masons are the driving force. Their story is why Vernon is so uptight, and why he is so adamant that Harry be as quiet as a mouse. This will be the conflict that leads to Harry’s imprisonment, so it’s very important that we set it up early.

·      18:08 Things start to heat up. The Masons arrive and while the Dursleys are greeting them in the driveway, Dobby apparates into Harry’s room with a loud crack, and maybe knocks something off a shelf. The Masons hear it from all the way outside and the tension is already set before they even walk in.

·      29:27 Harry can’t believe what he has done. The whole cake fiasco had lead Harry to believe that he is expelled and will never see Hogwarts ever again. After Dobby drops the cake on Mrs. Mason’s head, Vernon locks Harry up. After a few nights, Ron and the twins come to Harry’s window bars, rips them off, then struggles with the Dursleys to get Harry out. Finally, he’s free.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the latest news on the Harry Potter TV show and what it might mean for the story. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:18 So what happened? HBO announced that they are already casting for season two, and they also mentioned that they have cast Louis Shelton as future Ron for the first season. He won’t play a huge role in the story, but it opens the door.

·      9:14 Filmmakers are following the books closely. You could also argue that they are completely branching out, but we have to know more before we can say for sure. With characters like the Flamels, the TV is breaking new ground. But with a future Ron, we technically have seen him before.

·      15:16 Flash-futures are dangerous. Imagine we are in the Great Hall or something like that and we flash forward. We watch a scene that is to come, and then are pushed back to the present. In that moment, the present loses some value. It feels like we’re losing ground, even though we saw something from the future.

·      21:09 It is very possible to avoid that danger. If we keep the flashes brief and avoid full scenes, and integrate them into the story, the flashes will only enhance the present. Dumbledore thinking about the future in his office is a great opportunity to explore this.

·      25:46 Despite all the negatives, there is a huge upside. If we avoid the full scenes, the filmmakers can make these visions of the future truly impactful. The truth is we don’t know everything. Some actors and creative choices are still unknown to us, so there is still potential to be surprised.

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Nox

In this episode, we begin the second season of our version of the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:54 Let’s set some goals. 1) Explore Hogwarts. We haven’t seen the whole grounds by now, and there is so much more history to explore. 2) Develop relationships. Especially for arcs like Snape and Harry, beginning to see their relationship take form will lead to a huge payoff later on. 3) Begin Voldemort’s arc. Tom Riddle is the main villain of this book, and we can use his past and memories to understand a little more about Voldemort. This Tom Riddle feels almost closer to the Goblet of Fire Voldemort than the back-of-the-head thing from last book.

·      10:33 We begin in the days of old. That’s what I wrote in my notebook. We should begin with the founders of Hogwarts and their dynamics. Salazar Slytherin wanted to keep Hogwarts for pure-blood students and that’s why he was cast out, leading to the creation of the Chamber. 

·      18:15 Moving forward through time. As the founders fall into the legend, the Chamber falls into legend with it. We lose a little bit of the gravitas if we snap forward in time and skip over the thousand years in the middle. We should end this section with Hagrid and Tom Riddle’s time at Hogwarts, and seeing the Chamber open for the first time.

·      25:24 Now we move into the present day. But not with Harry. The diary Riddle was the driving force in the Chamber, but something had to have worked in the background for that to happen. It would make sense for Voldemort himself to have given Lucius the diary and sent him off to get the gears turning.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss what role the set might play in the new Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Read the interview with Lox Pratt | See the new leaked set photos

·      1:43 So what did Lox Pratt say? He gave us the insight that the TV show would go into Draco’s home and perhaps show us another side to the professors as well.

·      8:14 There were also leaked photos of the set. The first photo is a house, the second a timetable, and the third a courtyard. There are some interesting details that might point to some features of the Harry Potter TV show. The house is labeled for an old couple, and seeing as it is only for the first season, that might be the Flamel residence?

·      19:34 Location vs. Set. The location is literally where the characters are, but the set is where and how the scenes take place. How should we feel? Why are the characters making these choices? Those are the questions a good set can tell us. With scenes at Malfoy Manor, Draco has an opportunity to show us how he really feels. Imagine how much we would learn in a scene with Draco walking the grounds of his house in the summer.

·      25:02 Is this getting too complex? We are seeing so many peaks behind the curtain, and without the finished product to put it all together, it’s hard to see the whole picture. With so many new sets and characters added, the filmmakers are now walking the line between two similar to the films and too complex for audiences to understand. I don’t think it will be too complex in the end, but you never know.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss composer Hans Zimmer signing onto the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:35 Hans Zimmer is scoring the TV Show! He is such a well-known composer in the film world. His music is famous for how profound it is, no matter the film. From Kung Fu Panda to the Dark Knight, Hans knows how to create a world.

·      11:05 Hans has a huge sound. I’m interested how music of that size will fit into the world of Harry Potter. John William’s themes are so personal and quiet, which isn’t what Hans is known for.

·      19:45 There’s a lot of room to explore. Music is a 3D art, and that dimensions will hopefully be used. However, this world has boundaries, and it would be a shame if Hans ventured too far.

·      24:40 His music is intense! It’s full of electronics and different textures. But is that the right feel for Harry Potter? Maybe not. John Williams was famous for his orchestral scores, and Hans would do well to stay in the acoustic world.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the finale to season one in our version of the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Listen to Tea Leaves S1 E7 here!

·      1:40 Quick recap and Harry waking up in the hospital wing. Dumbledore comes to see him and explains what went down. I like that they discussed Harry’s family and why Quirrell was turned to dust when he touches Harry. However, it would be super beneficial for the story to discuss Voldemort’s journey and Flamel’s choices more.

·      14:14 Harry heads down to the feast. All exams have been cancelled, and Dumbledore gives his speech. It should be lighthearted, but I want to get some hints of the darkness to come. Neville gets his ten point that gives Gryffindor the house cup, beginning a wonderful arc.

·      20:05 Packing up. This is the quiet peace of the episode because it’s been so crazy for so long. Hogwarts is a huge place, but it is also incredibly personal. I want a few minutes to walk the grounds one last time and live in this world.

·      24:45 Leaving Hogwarts. We aren’t going to end the season at Hogsmeade station, but Hagrid’s goodbye should still mean something. The trio bords the train and watches as Hogwarts fades away. When they get off in London, they say their goodbyes to each other and the cameras pan out to see everyone having their same conversations, and we fade out.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the trio's journey through the trap door in our version of the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Listen to episode 315, QuizMaster: Trap Door Edition here!

·      1:19 Challenge question and recap of Tea Leaves S1 E6.

·      7:56 The first shots of the episode show us the quiet stillness of the castle at night. The moon is shining, and there is an eerie air about the corridors. The trio approaches the door and goes through to Fluffy’s chamber. There should be a harp playing and a flute, and they jump through. Fluffy shouldn’t wake up like he does in the films to preserve this eerie air.

·      12:50 The devil snare. It should remain largely the same because a lot of important details in terms of character dynamics are revealed. But when they all escape there should be a more magical escape. Perhaps all the devil snare recedes in a flash and they are left in a room with a door to the key room.

·      18:05 The flying keys. They should stay pretty much the same. The balance of this whole trapdoor sequence is struck already, and we shouldn’t mess with that too much.

·      19:51 The chess match. This is one of the most intense parts of the trap door adventure. The pieces are smashed to pieces when they are taken, and the trio are standing in the face of these blocks of rock are slowly moving towards them to find their next victim. Ron sees the moves and sacrifices himself so Harry and Hermione might go on. Perhaps a sacrifice like that is required by the room for them to move on.

·      24:52 The potions riddle. Hermione is an absolute boss in this scene because she shows us all how critically she can think. Those skills come in handy for sure later on in the story.

·      28:21 The final scene. Quirrell turns around and Harry is shocked that it isn’t Snape. Most of this scene should stay the same, but there’s one moment I want to see. When Voldemort offers Harry power, immortality, and his family back, I want to see Harry’s reaction. The fact that Harry doesn’t react to power and immortality, but he considers his family back for just a moment is super important. That one moment shows us more about Harry than we’ve learned in the rest of the book for that.

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Nox

In this episode, we test our knowledge on the trio's journey through the trap door. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:04 Warm Up Round

·      4:03 Question #1: How do the trio get around Fluffy? What instrument do they play?

·      10:10 Question #2: What spell does Hermione use to get past the devil snare?

·      14:50 Question #3: What position does Ron play in the chess game?

·      18:26 Question #4: How many potions does Snape leave? How many are poison?

·      23:54 Question #5: What does Voldemort ask Harry?

·      28:22 Question #6: Why does Harry, not Quirrell, get the stone?

·      30:05 Question #7: True or false; the whole thing was a complete secret and none of the students found out.

·      32:07 Challenge Question

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Nox

In this episode, we discussed the major developments of 2025 and made some predictions of what's to come next year. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:20 The most important part of this year has been the TV show. We got announcements, casting, and updates on filming that showed us that this thing is underway! There were little details of course, like Hogwarts Legacy, but those things couldn’t hold a candle to the TV show. The leaked photos were the most exciting part of the announcements this year because they were our first true looks at the new world.

·      8:27 Casting announcements made this even more exciting. Learning who would be playing the characters that have defined a generation was super cool, and it isn’t even over yet. 

·      17:36 Filming will wrap this year. I’m not too worried about this one coming true because the filmmakers said that they hoped for a late 2026 to early 2027 release date. With promotions starting a few months before that, and production wrapping a few months before that, we are absolutely going to see the end of filming for season one.

·       22:38 Season two is going to begin churning. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if some minor casting and filming has already taken place for season two. The kids are growing up already, and we don’t want a huge gap between seasons.

·      25:33 We’re going to get some build up and huge casting. Voldemort? They are keeping his identity under wraps very well, and though it’s infuriating, it’s effective. Whether it’s with a trailer or some official release, we are going to see the last few people who make up this new universe.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback and our first encounter in the Forbidden Forest in our version of the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:36 Quick recap, and Hagrid Spilling the beans! If we learn all these new things about Fluffy in a more natural manner, it shows us just how much that information means. Also, if the trio knows it, Snape might too.

·      9:43 Norbert is born. Norbert plays a small role in the story, but still he has a lasting impact. We should have the chance to see why Norbert means so much to Hagrid. Harry and Hermione have to bring Norbert to astronomy tower to be taken away, but they are caught. Off to the forest!

·      19:34 Off to the Forest! This is our first encounter with Voldemort and an introduction into the dangerous life of Hogwarts.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss Netflix acquiring HBO and Warner Bros., and what that means for the TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:40 They need this money back. Netflix is going to invest in some big projects to make the 82.7 billion back. Harry Potter is already in production, and it will attract a huge fan base. They would be smart to keep this show in the works.

·      7:24 Is the show going to change? In a dystopian media overlord world, the answer would be yes. But I think we still live in a world with some creative freedom, I don’t think Netflix will step in and make any changes. I hope….

·      13:53 Spinoffs! Netflix has a whole bunch of money and we can hope for more HP content on top of the TV show. Marauders? Hogwarts founders? Voldemort? Dumbledore? Dare we say: Fantastic Beasts?

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss why we absolutely need quidditch for a function story. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:30 Quidditch reminds us of the magic of this world, and ties the story to reality. However powerful Voldemort is or however detentions Harry gets, quidditch will always be there to remind us just how magical the castle is.

·      13:00 It develops the plot socially. Harry and Draco’s relationship is explored on the quidditch pitch. In the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry’s past and the dementors are exposed during a quidditch game. We could argue that both Ron and Hermione, and Ginny and Harry got together in no small part because of quidditch.

·      26:56 Harry being made quidditch captain. Dumbledore doesn’t want to give Harry more responsibility, but there’s more to it. Quidditch represents the purest good of the magical world. Harry is made quidditch captain to protect the core of comradery and magic.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the first classes at Hogwarts to Harry's first Christmas with his new magical life in our version of the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:06 Quick recap, and classes begin! Classes are the life of the castle and the core of what it means to be a student at Hogwarts. I want to have a more in-depth view of a class at Hogwarts so we can better understand the everyday life of the students.

·      9:56 First flying lesson. This is a pivotal scene. Quidditch symbolizes the good of the castle and the things that Harry is fighting for. It is his safe ground at Hogwarts and the thing he can always rely on. When his Firebolt spins out of the sidecar during his escape from 4 Privet Drive in the Deathly Hallows, it marks the end of his childhood and beginning of his true fight.

·      17:58 There’s a troll in the dungeons! With this sequence we see the bond of the trio. Harry and Ron save Hermione from the troll, and Hermione takes the blame from the professors. We also see the lengths Voldemort’s followers are willing to go to defend him which sets up the following he will later gain.

·      25:23 The Midnight Duel and the first quidditch match. These two things are related because they set up Snape. We think he’s no good from the beginning, and seeing Fluffy for the first time and then seeing Snape curse Harry’s broom is pretty damning evidence.

·      28:30 Christmas. This will finish out the episode. Harry and Ron have their first Christmas together and Harry gets the invisibility cloak which he will use for many years to come. We see the mirror of Erised, which will act as the final shot. 

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the old world of magic with the new one and what that means for the TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:10 Harry vs. Flamel. Nicholas Flamel is an old-world figure for sure. He has been fighting this fight for hundreds of years, and it is crazy to think that his path has lead here, to Harry. The glow of the story obscures just how important he is and how big a sacrifice he makes, so hopefully the TV will show us these important things.

·      13:22 Horcruxes vs. Hogwarts classes. These two things are so incredibly different, they almost can’t exist on the same plane. There isn’t room in the story for both of these things to exist in the same place. That might be why as Harry’s search for horcruxes start becoming important, classes fade into the background.

·      19:41 The First War vs. the Second War. This in interesting because the Second War really isn’t new. This is more of an old vs. older situation. Still, Harry learns a lot about himself with both of these and they are both still worth including.

·      24:27 The Ministry. They have a ton of old traditions, and that is glazed over in Harry’s trial because we are so worried about him getting expelled. We can’t forget that the Ministry is an old institution and it has traditions and customs that represent the very oldest of the magical world.

·      27:30 Lily and James vs. Petunia and Vernon. They’ve probably met, but we don’t really have an on-screen contrast between them. When Harry says goodbye to the Dursleys at the beginning of the seventh book, it is a parallel of his own parents, like two situations unfolding at the same time.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the rumors of a narrator and photos of Nicholas Flamel for the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:20 The TV show will feature a narrator and Nicholas Flamel. The narrator is just a rumor right now, but we have seen leaked photos of Flamel shooting scenes with Dumbledore. These two idea seem to be contrasting because the narrator is pulling us towards the books, while the scenes with Flamel is pulling us towards the TV show.

·      7:38 The narrator is going to ruin the TV show. It will take away from the voice of the characters! The most effective scenes where we learn the most about the characters is where we aren’t told how to feel. We have to read the faces of the characters and experience the story in a much more real way.

·      16:27 Flamel is great news. I initially thought that these scenes were towards the beginning of the story where they were discussing where to move the stone, but it is very possible that these are the scenes where Dumbledore is asking Flamel if he is alright with the stone being destroyed. Those are some heavy scenes, and we can all learn something from Flamel finally resting after his long, rich life.

·      23:30 We are moving forward! We are breaking new ground and finally exploring like we hoped we would. Additionally, these scenes with Flamel might indicate to us that we are going to get a glimpse of other, older worlds of magic.

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Nox

In this episode we discuss Harry's journey to Hogwarts in our version of the TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:21 Quick Recap, and opening at Kings Cross. We could also open in the Leaky Cauldron, but it would be better for us to take that extra time exploring the wizarding world than the Muggle one. We see Harry meet the Weasleys, go through the barrier, get on the Hogwarts Express, and arrive at Hogsmeade Station.

·      13:15 There’s Hogwarts! The moment where the students round the bend and see Hogwarts is the biggest milestone so far. We see the symbol of magic in the wizarding world, and the place where the core parts of the story will take place. As viewers, we have seen this place more times than we can count, so it’s almost as if we are showing it to Harry for the first time.

·      20:53 The Sorting Ceremony. The doors to the Great Hall swing open, and we see the beginnings of the Hogwarts factions form. Draco and Harry are the most important sortings of the ceremony. The hat barely touches Draco’s head, and he is sorting into Slytherin. Harry goes through a bit of a conversation with the Sorting Hat, and it is important to see Dumbledore reaction to all of this. We end with Harry standing in his dormitory with his trunk, Hedwig, and the window with the Hogwarts grounds.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss what Halloween should include in the TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:22 We have more time to explore the stories. Voldemort kills the Potters, a troll breaks into Hogwarts, the Chamber of Secrets is revealed, Sirius Black breaks into the Castle, and Harry’s name is picked from the Goblet of Fire all on different Halloween nights. Getting more from all of those moments would be invaluable.

·       12:00 What are magical traditions of Halloween? For all we know, Halloween was a magical celebration to begin with. Why did it start, and who started it? These are the questions we can have answers to if every moment doesn’t have to move the plot forward.

·      18:22 The ambience of greater Hogwarts. The Great Hall is all decked out with decorations, but the rest of the castle should also have those touches. Darker halls, moving suits of armor, things like that. Those things would remind us that the castle is a safe place, but not completely.

·      24:05 Professors have themed lessons. Getting some real-world application into their teachings is always a valuable thing, especially if it relates to something happening right now. I think the professors should jump at the chance to teach some magic that isn’t as well known, but still relates to their studies.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss Harry's journey from the hut on the rock and his introduction into the wizarding world. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:19 Recap and opening with the hut on the rock. We should see a little bit of what the Dursleys think about this revelation. Petunia always wanted to hear this for her, so how does this show within her? Vernon is adamant and denies it, and Dudley has no idea what’s happening.

·      12:30 Hagrid and Harry’s journey into the Muggle world. Hagrid enchants the boat to row them back to the mainland, and maybe we get a glimpse at the beautiful English countryside that represents the identity that has been revealed. In the Leaky Cauldron, Harry gets his first look at what it means to be Harry Potter in the wizarding world. He shakes hands and wonders what he got himself into.

·      20:00 Diagon Alley! We aren’t going to skip a single scene. The archway opens and he is faced with pure magic. Everything from the bank to the bookstore should be examined in detail. The conversation with Ollivader should remain unchanged because it’s super important!

·      26:40 The final scene is in the Leaky Cauldron. Harry and Hagrid are discussing the day, and Harry asks Hagrid why he is so famous. Hagrid tells Harry the backstory of Voldemort and his parents, and Harry finally begins to see the full story.

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In this episode we discuss what seeing a glimpse of affection for Harry from the Dursleys would do for the story. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:54 What is the 1% difference? It’s that little moment where we see the Dursleys for real. It could be a simple look or a complete scene. No matter how it’s delivered, we should see that just maybe, the Dursleys care about Harry just 1%.

·      16:03 Does their relationship get better or worse over time? Petunia would see Harry and dislike what he represents: her family and her denial from Hogwarts. But she might grow to like him as he grows up, then hates him again as he becomes more like James. Vernon would follow her lead and dislike Harry as a baby, but would see the person behind that and like him in the end. But he would still seem cruel because he doesn’t want to let those feelings out. Dudley sees Harry as competition from the beginning so he hates him, but begins to see Harry as an equal.

·      24:15 This is a relationship for a more mature audience. The first films were for kids, so the Dursleys were seen as the mean family who made Harry’s life terrible. But after twenty years of analysis, we see that there are more layers to their relationship. I want to see that nuance and see more of the layers that make 4 Privet Drive so special.

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Nox

In this episode, we design the second episode of the first season of our Tea Leaves series. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:48 Recap of Season 1, Episode 1

·      3:55 We open with Vernon and Petunia finding Harry. They make the decision to keep them in, and I want to see what they were thinking when making that choice. Harry is their family, so they couldn’t just turn him away, right? Perhaps Petunia has to tell Vernon more of her life story.

·      10:06 Harry’s childhood. We should spend a little time looking at his infancy, and moving into his schooling as a young kid. Perhaps there are strange happenings with the magical things surrounding him.

·      17:42 Now, Harry is ten years old. This is where the film opens in the present day. It’s best to have a clear line between the past and the present so there’s no confusion between his muggle life and his wizard life. Dudley’s birthday and the zoo scenes are super important, so we should keep them pretty close to how they appear in the books and films.

·      25:55 The letters start arriving now, and Vernon has to nail the post flap shut. He is fighting the war against the letters from Hogwarts, a battle he loses. When the fireplace scene happens, Vernon decides to go far away, and they go to the hut on the rock. Hagrid breaks down the door just like he does in the films, and tells Harry, “Harry, you’re a wizard.”

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Nox

In this episode, we begin a new series called Tea Leaves where we will design each and every episode of the Harry Potter TV before they are announced. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      3:06 We open in Hogwarts. But not in Harry’s time, but Lily and James’. We will get to see the Marauders, Snape, and Lily and James in their youth and watch them go through their drama and different relationship. Lily and James find each other and get married, and we get a glimpse of what life was like before Harry and the fight against evil.

·      10:47 The years before Hogwarts and their death. Lily and James had friends over a bunch, and Snape and Sirius were big parts of their lives. We can watch as the dynamic shifts in their group as Voldemort rises to power and Peter Pettigrew betrays them.

·      15:43 The buildup to their death. We can’t forget that this is in the middle of the first wizarding war with Voldemort. Perhaps it starts with whispers of Voldemort’s power, and how people are going missing and turning up dead. Lily and James are in the Order, and they are fighting to keep the world safe for Harry. Dumbledore is ordering them around to find and kill Death Eaters. I want to feel afraid when we watch Voldemort creep into their house in Godric’s Hallow and kill them.

·      23:24 After they are killed, there is panic. The rest of the Death Eaters try to pass as normal people and rejoin society. The Order has to round everyone up. Then we move to the end of the episode, where Dumbledore orders Hagrid to Godric’s Hallow to get Harry from the rubble of the house. Hagrid sees Sirius and how distraught he is, which he mistakes for guilt. Hagrid delivers Harry to Dumbledore on Privet Drive, and Dumbledore places Harry on the Dursley’s doorstep with the words: “Good luck, Harry Potter.”

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In this episode we discuss the new leaked photos of a scene involving Mr. Dursley. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:44 This could suggest that the show is going in chronological order. Because this is an episode-by-episode filming, they are filming each scene closer to where it will be placed in the episode.

·      10:34 It is closer to the books than the films. Mr. Diggle is wearing a violet robe and Vernon looks how he does in the books, which suggests that there is a clear inspiration from the books.

·      18:32 Vernon looks younger. In the films, Richard Grifiths played Mr. Dursley as an older character than the books. That might have been a creative choice from the filmmakers, but he does looks younger in the photos of him that we’ve seen.

·      25:08 Will Petunia and Dudley look an act differently? They look more differently than Vernon. Dudley certainly doesn’t resemble his counterpart in the films. This could suggest that the TV will show us a different side to these characters, for better or worse.

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Nox

In this episode, we break down the character of Harry Potter. Happy five years, and enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      4:20 Why haven’t we done a breakdown of Harry before? He’s only one character. It’s everyone else around him that make the story pop. Also, we understand Harry pretty well. The point of closer analysis is better understanding a character who might not be in the limelight. Harry is absolutely in the limelight.

·       9:31 What is his role in the story? Simply put, he is a figurehead. He represents the revolution against Voldemort; the person who others look to in fighting evil. He has had a hard life with no one to lean on, and that gives him a drive to help others avoid a similar fate.

·      15:16 Strengths and Weaknesses. A big strength is his loyalty. The people in his inner circle mean the world to him, and he will never betray them. Harry has strong values and isn’t afraid to make sacrifices for the good of others. Weakness: idiot. That says it all.

·      25:11 His foils. Who are the characters who undo him? Obviously, Bellatrix does. She in pure evil and there are no redeeming qualities. People like Draco and Dudley aren’t foils because in the end, they find an understanding in the end.

·      29:02 Final analysis. To summarize all of this, I’ll use one word: hope. Harry represents the hope of fighting against Voldemort, and also a brighter future for all. Voldemort is a force of evil that seeks to destroy, but Harry seeks to protect. Voldemort simply fights against, but Harry has something to fight for.

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Nox

In this episode, we talk about why Jude Law should play young Dumbledore in the new TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Listen to episode 298 called “Warwick Davis is returning as Flitwick? Who else should reprise their role?” here!

·      2:14 Why two actors? Well, Dumbledore has a complex past. He feels like he was a different person back in his Grindelwald days, and a different person warrants a different actor. Choosing another actor to play a younger version of himself would show us that he is truly a three-dimensional character.

·      13:27 Why Jude Law? In Fantastic Beasts, he was fantastic. When interacting with Creedence we saw that Creedence’s pain was his own, and that Dumbledore truly regrets the difficult like that Creedence had. He also showed Jacob a huge amount of respect for diving into battle with no way of protecting himself.

·      21:13 What if there was only one actor? If Jonathan Lithgow was the only actor, we would lose the perspective of Dumbledore’s past. He would become a one-sided character, and we can’t have that.

·      25:24 Who else should have multiple actors? Dumbledore was one of the only flashback characters that didn’t have multiple actors. Voldemort had something like four actors. I think Aberforth deserves multiple actors, as well as McGonagall they play important behind the scenes roles that should be explored.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss which actors should reprise their roles in the new Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      Listen to episode 287, “Tom Felton is returning to Broadway. Who should return to the TV show?” Here!

·       4:10 Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy. He was the perfect blend of haughty, rude, and fearful. He portrayed a fantastic arc, and really showed us what it means to be afraid. Without a doubt, he would be a great addition. 

·      10:21 Alan Rickman as Snape. He shouldn’t return. His performance was too perfect. There are no changes I can think to make to it, and so I don’t think Alan Rickman should change that. Getting another actor puts a stopper in the bottle of his performance and really immortalizes it.

·      18:25 Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom. This is an interesting case, because there’s no chance for him to return as Neville, but there are other possibilities. Perhaps, he can be a herbology professor who watches over himself in a way, and sees just how much he grows.

·      24:41 Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange. I don’t think she should return, because she absolutely crushed it. We should get some new blood in there to preserve the performance.

·      27:00 Jude Law as Dumbledore. I know, he doesn’t really count, but the Fantastic Beasts Dumbledore is pretty close to the same time as some of the flashbacks we got in the films. It would be super cool if Jude Law played the younger version of him. It would put in a natural separation that Dumbledore himself wants between who he was, and who he wants to be.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss how to reintroduce an old world. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:33 It’s not welcome, it’s welcome back. None of this is going to be brand new, so I’m hoping the filmmakers realize that they shouldn’t be trying to reinvent the wheel. We didn’t know what any of the characters or sets looked like when the films were coming out, but now we have an image for some of those. Now we’re past that and we don’t need a definitive answer.

·      10:59 We don’t need the background. You know when actors have lines just to introduce things to the audience? We need some degree of that or else we wouldn’t really know what was going on, but we don’t need nearly as much as we got in the films. Getting rid of the fluff is going to leave room for bigger and better things.

·      19:03 Make stuff up! They don’t have to grab everything directly from the films or books. In fact, making some new material that is still true to the story would be awesome.

·      22:54 More history. How amazing would it be to see an episode about the founders of Hogwarts? Or even just about a day in the life of a wizard hundreds of years ago? Or about the history of magic itself and the thousands or millions of years it has taken for it to evolve?

·      27:17 Some of it is going to be similar, and that’s ok. The story is the same and the characters are all the same, so we are bound to get things that are pretty close to the films or books. That’s just the nature of a remake. And it might even help us connect better with the TV show, seeing things we are already familiar with.

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Nox

In this episode, we analyze the Malfoy family and discuss what should be carried over into the TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:53 Something has to change. I’m not saying something is wrong, that’s just a fact. The books are the books and the films are the films. The TV has to show us something new, and that will mean they have to change something. They can either put in more, or less. More would make them worse and more potent, and less would draw the curtain back a little and show us a softer side to them.

·      11:03 Lucius is terrible. Should we keep that? I think we should, but not for the reason you might expect. We saw enough in the films to understand that there is so much more under the surface than we might imagine. I want to see more of that.

·      14:53 Narissa is the good guy. Should we keep that? For her, it might be worth a change. We don’t know her as well because she was introduced later in the story, so if we can change some moments around to gain more perspective on her sooner, that might be more valuable. 

·      19:41 Draco is the victim. Keep that? For sure. There isn’t much wrong with how he was portrayed. We got more of those deep, vulnerable scenes from him that really show us who he is. Draco is under immense pressure when Voldemort orders him to kill Dumbledore, and that should be preserved.

·      25:17 More Malfoy inner workings. We didn’t get many scenes where the three Malfoys were interacting with each other outside of other company, and those kinds of scenes might be the most important in terms of understanding who they are as a family.

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In this episode, we discuss why we need more flashbacks from the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:33 The Marauders. We didn’t get any flashbacks from the Marauders in the story, even though we know a lot about the characters individually. Each of the characters are vital for Harry’s life, and their relationships define more of the story than we think. Their dynamics and choices lead to many of the major events we have in the story.

·      12:57 Snape. He is one of the densest characters we have in the story, and his past is complex. We have seen some of his flashbacks, but that was only a taste. If anything, the few moments we have seen of his past have shown us what we are missing.

·      18:40 Dumbledore. The Fantastic Beasts films were three big flash backs, but they only focused on a specific time frame. What I would really love to see is Dumbledore’s childhood in Godric’s Hallow, and then his search for horcruxes in greater depth.

·      24:11 Voldemort. We have seen something of his childhood, but nothing too in depth. However, what I would love to see is his transformation into Voldemort. The closest thing we have is when his eyes flashed red while holding Hufflpuff’s cup for the first time, but I want more than that. 

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Nox

In this episode, we test our knowledge on the first book in the Harry Potter series. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:38 Warm up round

·      5:15 Question #1

·      10:06 Question #2

·      14:48 Question #3

·      18:46 Question #4

·      22:35 Question #5

·      26:15 Question #6

·      29:06 Question #7

·      31:52 Challenge Question

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the official beginning of filming on the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:00 Leaked Dursley photos. They look authentic for the time, and the book. This is part of a larger idea of separating the films from the core of the fandom, and instead bringing the books back to the foreground. Looking at these photos, I don’t see Richard Griffiths and Fiona Shaw, but rather Vernon and Petunia Dursley.

·      17:29 Harry! Big news: we got the first official look at Domonic McGlaughlin as Harry Potter. He is holding the clicker-thingy with all these official markings like “scene 1, take 1” and all that. Domonic doesn’t look like Harry, but Dan Radcliffe does. That might be pointing to the fact that now the TV show is going for a much more specific goal.

·      24:18 Hagrid! Nick Frost as Hagrid was also in an official release. He doesn’t look as bushy as Robbie Coltrane, but his clothes defiantly look similar. He has a striped shirt underneath and a thick green coat on top. His face is much brighter. Does that point to a difference in character?

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the lack of casting for Voldemort and what that might mean for the TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:19 If we haven’t had an official casting, we might have a story that isn’t based around the trio. Of course the story is going to be centered around the trio because that is what it is, but having a big buildup around Voldemort might suggest the filmmakers are going to explore his character more.

·      7:31 Traits that we need. Voldemort needs to be cool and collected. Without his calmness, he can’t have his flying rages that show us the vat of acid underneath. He also has to have a haunted air to suggest something greater about his past. Finally, a fire that is fueled by rage is a necessity for the villain of the series.

·      19:10 Possibilities. Tom Hiddleston? He clearly has emotional depth, but his screen presence isn’t as grandiose. Cillian Murphy? Fantastic cool demeanor and haunted nature complimented by his passion. A great option. Benedict Cumberbatch? Looks the most like Voldemort and has the snake acting down to a tee. Another great option.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss aspects of the Dursley family and 4 Privet Drive and if we give them a yay or nay. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:24 The Dursleys are mean to Harry. Yay! This is the hallmark of the Dursley household. We would really be missing something if they were complete angels to him. It might be an interesting story if they were kinder, but the fact that they are trying to stamp the magic out of him that make them so memorable.

·      8:06 The cupboard under the stairs. Yay! We absolutely need to see the cupboard under the stairs. Harry is only there for the first book of the series, but it marks a very important checkpoint in Harry’s life. It is where his Hogwarts letters were addressed, and it is where his journey begins.

·      14:13 The Dursleys are stupid. Nay! It is easy to be stupid and mean. But if they were a little smarter, we might hate them more. The same way Umbridge is smart and can get her way, the Dursleys might benefit from a little more brains.

·      19:56 4 Privet Drive is a nice place to live. Yay! If 4 Privet Drive and the surrounding area is pretty nice and a pleasant enough place to live, it means more for Harry to dislike it so much. If it was a terrible place, he would have more of an excuse to hate it. But it is the Dursleys themselves that make it such an uncomfortable place for him.

·      23:37 Harry and Dudley are friends from the start. Nay! The moment when Dudley and Harry part ways at the end is the most important for the Dursley/Harry arc. That is the capstone of Harry’s time with the Dursleys. Harry only realizes what he had until it is gone. 

·      27:22 The Dursleys accept Harry’s help in fleeing Voldemort. Yay! The two form a sort of alliance by the end of the story, and that truce is what allows the Dursleys to accept Harry’s help and find shelter for the conflict to come. They accept Harry’s word and part ways as equals.

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In this episode, we rank the seven most important sets of the Harry Potter films. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      2:11 #7: Ollivander’s Wand Shop. We aren’t there for too long, but what goes on here is extremely important. This is where Harry got his first wand and learned of the twin cores, themes that would follow him forever.

·      9:49 #6: Gringotts’s Bank. This beats Ollivander’s because more happens here. Harry gets his fortune here, and it is the first building he went in in Diagon Alley. This is also the site of their flight from the security after getting the Hufflepuff Cup from the Lestrange vault.

·      16:36 #5: Platform 9 ¾ and the Hogwarts Express. What an iconic set. We take these two for granted after seeing the films so many times, but we can’t deny just how integral they are for the story and just how much we would miss them if they were gone. 

·      21:10 #4: The Ministry of Magic. The first time we go here is in the fifth book, but it is one of the most important places for the story after that. It represents the forces of evil trying to take away Harry’s freedom, the freedom of the rest of the wizarding world by extension. 

·      25:18 #3: The Burrow. There is a incredible amount of character with the Burrow. It is messy, but full of family. As Voldemort’s power grows, it comes to represent all that is good with the wizarding world and the resistance that will never stop fighting. The Burrow is true to itself.

·      29:05 #2: 4 Privet Drive. This is a now brainer. 4 Privet Drive is a tough place for Harry, but it is the place where he grew up and learned about himself and his past whether he likes it or not. Name a more iconic place than the cupboard under the stairs, I dare you. When Harry is saying goodbye to this home in the final book, we realize just how much his childhood home meant to him despite all he went through within its walls.

·      34:42 #1: The Great Hall. This is where the story begins and ends. Harry is sorted here and finds his friends and family. In the end, this is where he has one final duel with Voldemort and claims victory for the wizarding world. 

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In this episode, we discuss the TV show's connection to the HBO show 'Succession' and how the filmmakers should take some inspiration from it. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      3:30 Different cinematography. Longer shots, less music, and more personal moments can really make a difference in how we understand the show. Now that the audience in older and has a better handle on the story, a more sophisticated portrayal could go a long way.

·      15:05 Focusing on relationships. Further, how relationships change. Succession follows a business family which is incredibly dysfunctional, and it is the relationships that really drive the story forward. Though Harry Potter isn’t similar in that way, focusing on a relationship driven story could show us more of the characters we think we know. 

·      19:56 The day doesn’t always have to be saved. If an episode ends on a huge downer, that might add something to the show.

·      24:23 More on Voldemort’s rise to power. We don’t have a strong connection between Tom Riddle and Voldemort. Additionally, we only really see the inner workings of his life at the final few acts of the story. It is an interesting story we should see more of. 

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Nox

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 castle more, so they will be forced to come up with new sets.

·      9:34 Will this be a character driven story? If these characters are the same, they might be trying to explore different parts of the story. But connecting to the characters is why the fandom has lasted this long, so why wouldn’t this story be character driven?

·      16:46 If the TV is the same, what is this whole thing for? With a similar cast of characters, what are we really going to learn? A lot! I think there are a lot of things to be gained from this show even if the cast is very similar to the original. With the hours of time they have, I think it is literally impossible for them to avoid showing us more of the story that we got in the films.

·      22:00 The new actors should play the character, not the actor. The film actors brought these characters to life with their own interpretations. But the books are the original stories, not the films. The TV show actors should build their own versions of the characters.

·      25:53 Actors should act in the moment, not the future. There are no secrets now. Everyone knows what is to come. But that opens to door to explore the story more deeply. However, they shouldn’t rely on the audience’s knowledge of what’s to come to give individual moments meaning.

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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 arc is one of the most heartwarming in the story, despite the fact that he starts as a big bully. If we see him as a wizard, that will show us his evolution as a character. We get a glimpse at what life could have been when he says goodbye to Harry, and I want to keep that at the back of our mind when watching his character from the beginning.

·       18:53 Matthew Lewis as a herbology assistant. Neville grows up to be the herbology teacher at Hogwarts. We can’t put him in as Professor Sprout, but on the side would work well. I want to give the viewer the reminder that Neville has a long arc ahead of him and is headed for greatness.

·      22:55 Mark Williams as Slughorn. Slughorn is very wishy-washy when it comes to the memory, and I want Mr. Weasley to come in and bring some integrity to the character. That would be a great choice to bring some honor to Slughorn.

·      25:15 The reason why I chose these cameos is to remind us where we came from. I want to keep the films in mind when watching the TV show, but we shouldn’t lean on them and use them as the sole point of comparison. The TV show should be another piece to the fandom that will give us another perspective on the characters we think we know so well.

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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 relationship. Harry has no friends or family, and Draco’s family doesn’t care for him. This would create the perfect environment for them to become friends.

·      10:47 Dumbledore and Voldemort’s strategies would have been different. Dumbledore has Harry in his circle in the original story, so it is easy for him to reach out. Voldemort is far removed from Harry and spends his time trying to get at him. If Harry was in Slytherin, Voldemort might try to make a relationship with Harry and Dumbledore would have to work hard to get messages and ideas across to Harry. 

·      17:52 Harry would feel more disconnected from his parents. Being in their same house is really how he can feel close to them, but if he isn’t in the same house, that wouldn’t be the case. The people he meets as a Gryffindor can tell him what they were like, but without them, most of his parents is lost to time.

·      23:11 Harry’s relationship with Sirius would be very different. If Harry is basically a Death Eater, he would be thrilled with Sirius when he breaks out. When he learns that that supporter of Voldemort is his godfather, that would be the best day of his life. Learning that Sirius wasn’t a supporter of Voldemort would be a nasty shock. For Sirius, he would be devastated to learn that James and Lily’s son is in Slytherin and part of a Death Eater family.

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Nox

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 arc, and one that should be thoroughly explored. We need an actor who can show just how much Neville learns, but also how much heart he has from the beginning.

·      14:29 The Weasley family should fall into place now that we have Ron. Every one of them has a big part in the story and we should have them soon. Ginny might even be improved upon because of how fiery she was painted into the story, but how mild she came across in the film.

·      19:09 The Dursley family should be terrible. I want to watch the first season and really hate the Dursleys. In the films, they’re certainly mean, but we don’t dislike them as much as we could. The moment when Hagrid takes Harry to Hogwarts would be so much sweeter if he was escaping from a terrible family.

·      22:38 Voldemort. If the whole first episode is focused on Voldemort, that would be a major victory. He has an ancient air about him that suggests he has been through a lot, and he is willing to kill to achieve his goals. Ralph Fiennes is the perfect actor for this, and we need someone with the same deadly calm.

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Nox

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 the finality of this battle.

·      12:34 This is not a game. Fred is light-hearted and full of life and humor. He is a character who we except to live forever. We know that there will be some death, but Fred seems almost removed from this. So when he is killed, it is a shocking blow that really shows us that this battle will not be without blood.

·      15:48 The battle will not be without sacrifice. Voldemort has to sacrifice a lot to get where he is. Killing and making horcruxes is his MO. Fred’s death shows us that Harry and the others also have to make sacrifices in order to win. Those sacrifices will often be in the form of death.

·      23:13 The end of Percy’s arc. He returns to Hogwarts for the beginning of the battle, then witnesses the death of his brother. These are the two major events in the story that mark the end of his arc. He made choices in early books that he may come to regret, and the time he spent with the ministry took him away from his family and gave him less time with Fred. This is the fragmented ending he merits.

·      29:40 It makes it personal for the Weasleys. Seeing some members of the Order dead is terrible. But it’s not quite personal for other people. To see Fred dead in the Great Hall hits right at home for them.

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Nox

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 most shocking deaths in the battle because it represents the death of Harry’s past. Fred was full of life and humor with so much ahead of him, but that all came to an end. We don’t even get to see it in the film, despite the fact that it is a big moment in the book.

·      15:56 Peeves. He is famously left out of the films, but he has been cast in the TV show. Peeves in fighting on the front lines along with all the rest of the students. This is impactful because he was once the thorn in the side of the castle, but know he puts his jokes aside to stand and fight. It highlights just how important this battle is.

·      19:39 The epic final showdown. It is epic in the film, but it’s not the same as the book. As cool as it is to watch, I prefer the sequence in the book because of the symbolic nature of the Great Hall and the more final sense in the air.

·      24:23 Details that we should include, or not. The flying duel in the air is super weird. They crash into the castle and Voldemort squishes their heads together? I’m good. Harry breaking the elder wand in the film is a great detail that should be included in the TV show. I also want to have a more effective explanation for the transfer of ownership of the elder wand, because it was the motivation for Snape’s murder.

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Nox

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 hotshot in the death eater business ladder, and she is making her way up. That’s only because she is a terrible person who kills and tortures. In the third book, she breaks out of Azkaban and then kills Sirius in the fifth. These aren’t actions that we can forgive.

·      13:46 Lucius. This one isn’t as certain, and I might revise my original thoughts to say that he does deserve a second chance. He seems like a mean person on the outside, but as the story progresses, we realize that perhaps what he really wants is family. It becomes increasingly obvious that that is what he really desires.

·      17:55 Peter Pettigrew. Peter searches for power, and the biggest bully on the playground. This leads to his betrayal of James and Lily, and eventually why his hand exacts revenge on him in his last moments. He has no loyalty, and therefore no honor.

·      22:16 Quirrell. He isn’t pure evil like some of these characters are, but he still doesn’t deserve a second chance because I don’t think he would make the most of it. He only seeks power, and he certainly finds it. He succumbs to Voldemort’s draw.

·      25:25 Voldemort is not on this list. He has a complicated past with a lot of dark twists and turns, which leads to his complexity as a character as we know him. I don’t think we can fully understand him, so perhaps a second chance would give him the opportunity to choose a better path.

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Nox

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 painful journey. 

·      10:04 McGonagall teaching the students to dance. This is a really funny scene and one that deserves a spot in the TV show. But it is also a perfect example of what is to come. Just as Harry has to learn to dance, he also has to learn how to fight and hunt Voldemort. 

·      15:15 Harry and Hermione in the tent. After Ron leaves, Hermione wallows in sadness. Harry sees this and leads her in a dance. This illustrates Harry and Hermione’s relationship which is one we don’t get to see to often. 

·      19:14 A weird Voldemort death. Voldemort isn’t human at the end, but in the book, he just dies and they put him in a room off the Great Hall. The film makes the wise decision of showing a weird death fitting of someone who has departed humanity, and the TV show should be taking notes. This moment should be more than an old man keeling over.

·      24:21 Neville’s bridge. He is always making progress, and this last sequence is the final test for him, a test he passes. This bridge scene where he takes down a hoard of death eaters is such an important scene that isn’t in the book, and the TV show should include it to finish off Neville’s arc in style.

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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 get a lot of the Burrow in the film, but it’s not exactly the same feel. The Burrow is a representation of what Harry lost, and the life he could have had. That doesn’t really come across in the films, and the TV show should focus on that more. 

·      16:30 The Hogwarts Grounds. We never really get to explore the grounds. Something standing in exploration’s way is the plot. With the limited time of a film, we have to have a reason to go out into the grounds. But with hours more in a TV, we should be able to walk about the grounds without a direct reason that relates to the plot.

·      21:32 The Ministry of Magic. This is a weirder one, but world building is important. The Ministry works in the shadows and has a big effect on the plot. We should be able to understand more about how it works and why Voldemort taking it over means so much.

·      27:04 Hagrid’s Hut. It is a magical house and a cool place, but it is also where the trio are in danger. If it’s being out of bed after dark or running from werewolves, they seem to be in peril in Hagrid’s hut. But I’d rather the hut be a place for them to decompress and feel safe. That would be much more valuable than fearing for their lives. When it burns down, it would be a stronger symbol if it was a warm, happy place.

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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 past more…

·      9:38 More past? If we have castings of characters that have an important role in the past events of the story, that might mean that the filmmakers are going to give us more of that backstory. Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape are some of the most important people for the lore of Harry Potter. That must mean something.

·      16:29 These choices are overall good. They all have the look and their interviews and previous roles are in support of their choices. My only worry is with Paapa Essiedu. He has a very active energy that could be put to good use, but thinking of Snape, energetic doesn’t come to mind. Alan Rickman portrayed a very cool and stoic Snape to a perfect degree. I don’t want to put Essiedu in a box, but that portrayal is going to be hard to top.

·      23:45 I want Voldemort! There have been no whispers about who he might be, other than perhaps Cillian Murphy which will probably not come to pass. He is the center of the conflict of the story and the one who drives it forward. Without him, there is little to be had when it comes to backstory and plot. We should be afraid of him. He should be a deadly calm that breaks into madness. When will we find an actor like that?

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Nox

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 tent. This scene is really hard to watch, and that is because of the intensity of it. Harry and Ron exchanged words they never would have, and even have a little scuffle. Without the slow bubble and the escalation, this scene means less. We should be mad at the both of them, then realize what just happened when he leaves

·      16:05 Battle of the Ministry of Magic. What a great scene. We don’t need the exact shots and lighting, but we absolutely need the intensity that is brought by the progression of the battle. The true fight is between Dumbledore and Voldemort, so the run up to that should be a slow ramp up to an explosion of a duel.

·      21:00 Final sequence of the Prisoner of Azkaban. Starting when the trio goes down to Hagrid’s hut, this is a long sequence. We need to have Sirius standing up to Lupin and getting terribly injured so we realize just how hard he is willing to fight. We also need the fear inspired by the dementors and the fight by the lake to understand the growth of true evil in the world.

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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 fast and fought for their family and gave their lives so Harry could go on.

·      11:21 The sorting ceremony. This is a smaller moment, but we could consider it the beginning of Harry’s journey. We should be able to see Dumbledore and how he acknowledges this as the true commencement of the second war against Voldemort.

·      16:15 The graveyard. This is Voldemort’s big moment and his return. Who else to show us how Voldemort is feeling than the big man himself? After thirteen years of suffering, he can finally walk on his own two feet again and bring darkness to the world. We would learn something about him if we could experience his triumph.

·      21:17 The Battle of the Ministry of Magic. Sirius, Bellatrix, Dumbledore, or Voldemort would be such a better choice than Harry! We could begin with him, but once the fighting starts, seeing the duels from Harry’s eyes is pretty lame. 

·      26:48 Dumbledore’s death. This is the climax of Snape and Voldemort’s plan. Snape kills Dumbledore to cement his place by Voldemort’s side. Notice how Harry isn’t really involved? Yeah. Snape’s eyes are really the only ones we should be seeing through in this scene. He is forced to kill his mentor and protector, and move into the final stages of their plan. This is the end of their friendship and the end of Dumbledore’s life. 

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Nox

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 it comes to his friends, he never shies away from a challenge. In the Deathly Hallows, Voldemort make it clear that if Harry didn’t sacrifice his life, the rest of his friends would be killed. Harry swallowed his fears and was willing to give his life for Voldemort’s defeat.

·      14:23 Ron – loyalty. From his family, Ron learned that being true to your allies is the most powerful connection. He is intensly loyal to Harry and Hermione, and will protect them to a fault. During the chess match through the trapdoor in the first book, he gives himself up so the other two could go on.

·      18:36 McGonagall – principles. She is a very ridged person through many years of fighting Voldemort and teaching at Hogwarts. Her principles of integrity and loyalty are at the fore of her person all the time, and when they come under attack, she meets the challenge. Umbridge tried to take the spirit of Hogwarts in the fifth book, and McGonagall puts her down.

·      23:25 Snape – love for Lily. It took me a long time to boil down his character to one trait, but this was the one thing that influenced his path the most. He made all of his major decision because of his love for Lily and his growing desire to protect Harry. That’s why he joined Dumbledore, turned spy, and sacrificed his life for Harry’s victory.

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Nox

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 few flashes of light and some long, dark cloaks. Not as scary as a horror movie, but some level of true fear might go a long way. We should also get more of Lily and James protecting Harry.

·      15:25 Hagrid takes Harry away. The key part of this scene is Sirius. We only learn he was there in the third book, but to see his reaction would plant some great seeds for the later books. Hagrid is also not too distraught in the films. Only McGonagall shows any kind of emotion, which shouldn’t be so. Two people were just murdered!

·      18:47 Dumbledore talks to the Dursleys. It should be too long, but he should knock on the door and explain the situation with more than a letter and a kid on their doorstep.

·       20:23 Now we flash forward. Opening in Harry’s cupboard under the stairs on Dudley’s birthday. This would be a nice homage to the film. Dudley should be just as nasty, and Vernon and Petunia should be ordering Harry around just as we saw in the film.

·      24:37 The reptile house. This scene should remain the same. The only change I would make is the magic. When the magic disappears, there’s a comical woosh and it’s gone. If the magic could be more magical, we might have a greater sense of awe.

·      26:58 The letters and the hut on the rock. It should play out pretty much as we see it in the film, but when they arrive at the hut on the rock, Hagrid should be a little scarier than the film. He’s very lumbering and big, some more suspense would go a long way. Then, he says, “Harry, you’re a wizard” and the journey begins.

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Nox

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.

·      12:51 How will he be translated? In an ideal world, it will be in the small moments. It’s the little conversations and interaction that really give the characters their dimensions, so if we could have that with Dumbledore, we could get a more rounded view of him.

·      17:00 Was he translated well? Yeah, I guess. On the whole it was fine, there were just little details that weren’t so great. The change in character gave the films a challenge to match the characters yet continue to build upon them.

·      21:52 Should he be the same? No, defiantly not. But that isn’t because he was bad in the film, but because he should be more expanded. If one of the films was stretched out, would Dumbledore be the same? Probably not, the same way the show won’t be the same in the best possible way.

·      24:31 Prediction. I predict that Dumbledore won’t be perfect, which might be a fail in my book. Absolute perfection would be the only way to succeed, and the bar is too high for true perfection. But that’s not to say that he won’t still be a fantastic character.

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Nox

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’t at the very core of the story, but they are integral for the overall feel of the castle. The point of a painting is for it to be frozen in time, which is why the portraits moving are such a fascinating part of Hogwarts.

·      12:57 Hogwarts grounds. One of the most interesting parts of the grounds is their lack of magic. Of course, there is a giant squid and a forbidden forest, but its just the lake, the mountains and the castle. Nature surrounding the castle is very important for the feel of the story.

·       17:35 Diagon Alley. This is the first place where Harry sees a bunch of wizards and magical things in one place. Essentially, this is the first place he lands after entering the world of magic. For him, this is the coolest place he has ever seen. Later in the story, the darkness represents the state of the wizarding world as a whole.

·      21:59 Great Hall. This is a fantastic place. It has an enchanted ceiling, candles floating in the air, and suits of armor and torches everywhere. You really can’t beat the ambiance of the Great Hall. The beginning and the end of the story as we know it happens in the Great Hall, which speaks to its importance.

·      25:30 Quidditch. Something that can never be replaced is quidditch. What is the story without this sport? There is so much development of the story and of characters that would be lost without quidditch. Just like the rest of the things in this episode, all these little details are the very things that make this series so great.

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Nox

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 would go a long way.

·      11:47 Dumbledore. It’s pretty obvious why we need more of Dumbledore. He has such a big impact on the story, and it is too big to overlook his past.

·      14:35 Snape. We do get a good look into Snape’s inner workings, but we don’t understand why he hates James so much. Absolutely, his relationship with Lily is explored, but not his interactions with James. 

·      18:07 James. Our view of James is through other eyes, whether that be memories or some other form. All we need is a few moments of him being himself. That would give us a more neutral view of his character.

·      21:45 Sirius. We know a lot about him, but always it is always helpful to have more context around the Marauders.

·      23:21 McGonagall. She is one big question mark. We don’t know a thing about her past, what she did before Hogwarts, or where she found her rock-solid morals. It might give us an interesting perspective on her interactions to know where they came from.

·      26:10 Voldemort. The line between Tom Riddle and Voldemort is a little too solid for my liking, so a few scenes that could show us more plainly his transformation would go a long way.

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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 weaknesses. For strengths, Tonks is very positive. She always has a good outlook and doesn’t let what others say get her down. However, one of her weaknesses is how she gets in her own head and blames herself for her problem. For example, she blamed herself for Sirius’s death.

·      16:12 How would the story change if she wasn’t in it? We probably wouldn’t have the same perspective for the story. She helps Harry with Sirius in the Half-Blood Prince, and later she is killed in the line of duty. Without her, we wouldn’t understand just how much had to be sacrificed for Harry to beat Voldemort.

·      25:09 What is Tonks’ defining moment? It may have been when she died, because that is when the true value of her sacrifice came into focus. That’s the moment that represents the culmination of her actions. She died fighting for a better world for her child. If she had the chance to take it back, she probably wouldn’t. To rap it all up, Tonks is the representation of what we are all fighting for and the hope that was the difference between victory and defeat.

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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 are the most important shops in the wizarding world. If Voldemort could take control of the wand production, he could influence who gets to learn magic at Hogwarts. If he controlled the bank, he could hire an army large enough to defeat Dumbledore ten times over.

·      15:59 Infiltrate the Ministry. Voldemort does this, but it is too late. If I was him, I would start planting spies in the Ministry earlier, and hopefully work up to installing a puppet minister. How hard could it be to get Fudge out of office and support someone else for the position?

·      20:51 Incite more killings and disappearances. The thing that scared the public the most was all the disappearances and killings of civilians. He does some of this, but if he could ramp it up, he might be able to drum up enough fear to influence the war.

·      24:49 Protect the horcruxes. To be fair, he does this well. However, it obviously wasn’t good enough. He should think of a way to better protect his horcruxes, which would guarantee his success. 

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In this episode, we discuss how the story would change if Harry were more like James. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:56 Why are these episodes are important? Well, it isn’t too early to start discussing possibilities for the show. He probably won’t turn out exactly the same in the TV show than in the book or the film, so we should use the time we have to examine all outcomes and possibilities for the story.

·      6:00 He wouldn’t be as close with Ron and Hermione. The trio is a classic group and they are very tight knit, but it might not be as strong if Harry were more like James. Hermione and Harry balance out Ron’s brashness to some degree, and all is well. However, Hermione might not be able to keep the group together if both Harry and Ron were even a little bit bold.

·      12:11 Harry would be more popular and less respected. If Harry were more like James, he would probably be more of the popular quidditch star which would overshadow what he did with Voldemort. Additionally, he would enjoy the attention instead of shrinking away from it like he does in the written story.

·      20:39 He would have more confrontations. James is more of a hot-head, and can be exited into a fight much easier. If Harry picked up these traits, his relationship with Malfoy would probably be more violent. Further, Voldemort could prey on this weakness and get Harry off his game much more than if Harry had his head on straight.

·      26:11 He would fiercely protect his friends and family. We’ve talking a lot about the bad, but this is something towards the good. James sacrifices himself to give Lily a chance to escape with Harry on the night they died, and that sentiment transferred to Harry would result in a very committed person so protecting those who he cares about.

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In this episode, we discuss the most important side characters from each book. Enjoy!

Listen to episode 267, QuizMaster: Potions here!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:23 Challenge Question

·      2:25 Professor Quirrell. Quirrell drives the story forward with a masterful hand, and we wouldn’t have the same conflict without him. Snape is also a good option for this, but it is the contrast between Quirrell and he that makes the first book so interesting.

·      7:25 Professor Lockhart. He is an absolute idiot, but an important idiot in the second book. Lockhart allows Harry to begin his journey as a hero. He also allows him to realize his connection with Voldemort which evolved later.

·      13:13 Professor Lupin. I was so close to putting down Sirius Black, but in the end, Lupin takes the cake. He somehow finds a way to be everywhere. He is at the center of the conflict surrounding Sirius even though we don’t know it, and he is one of the most important Harry has when it comes to a connection to James.

·      16:42 Barty Crouch Jr. This is one of the easier ones on the list, because if we pick out any one event in the fourth book, Crouch had something to do with it. He was influencing the Tri-Wizard Tournament, the search for Voldemort, and the rise of Voldemort all at the same time.

·      18:34 Professor Umbridge. This is another easy one. What would happen in this book without her? We wouldn’t have the trial, any of the conflicts at Hogwarts, or Dumbledore’s Army without her.

·      21:05 Draco and Dumbledore. I’m going to cheat a little bit here and choose both Draco and Dumbledore because it is the dance of death they do in this book that drives forward the plot. Dumbledore’s death was Dumbledore’s own fault as much as Draco’s.

·      24:37 Snape. Finally, Snape. He is doing everything. He is probably the most powerful person in the wizarding world at this point just because of how many sides he is fighting for. Snape could take down anyone he chooses and influence the entirety of the war. One of the most impactful scenes of the book is when Snape is dying in the Shrieking Shack. These reasons are more than enough.

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Nox

In this episode, we test our knowledge on potions. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:55 Warm Up Round

·      4:22 Question #1

·      9:07 Question #2

·      14:21 Question #3  

·      18:25 Question #4

·      22:19 Question #5

·      25:26 Question #6

·      27:50 Question #7

·      29:36 Challenge Question

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss what the story would be like if we swapped some character's roles. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:07 Harry and Dumbledore. With this dynamic, it is possible that Voldemort would win. Dumbledore is naturally a smart and all-knowing kind of guy. Harry certainly has enough experience to make good judgment calls, but Dumbledore just has that perspective that gives him the skills to plot Voldemort’s downfall.

·      9:00 Draco and Hagrid. These two are polar opposite and enemies throughout the story. All Draco wants is to get Hagrid fired, but his mind might change if he himself was thrown out of Hogwarts are the hands of Tom Riddle. Hagrid would have a hard life considering the fact that he would he a Dumbledore fan in the Malfoy house.

·      15:30 Petunia and Lily. Harry’s childhood is famous for being horrible, with a family that hates him. But that might change if he had someone on his side at number 4. He might actually enjoy his time in the muggle world if he had someone like his mother who actually took care of him and acted at the Dursleys should have. 

·      22:08 Draco and Ron. What an interesting story it would be if Harry spent his summers in the house of his worst enemy at Hogwarts, and he had to sleep in the same dormitory as him as well. On top of that, some of the core people to Voldemort’s plan are the parents of his best friend in the whole wide world. 

·      25:20 Harry and Voldemort. These two are more similar than we think at the beginning of the story. Their stories start out pretty much the same, with their parents dying and being cast out. The difference is Voldemort didn’t find a home and Harry did, even if it was an unhappy one. Harry wouldn’t be a very good dark wizard because he has too many morals, even if he had the troubled childhood Voldemort did. Tom Riddle will always be evil, even if he had Harry’s life.

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Nox

Thanks for a fantastic year! I hope it has been a good one for you, and that there are many great things to look forward to in the coming months. We'll certainly be busy over here in the studio as the TV show releases more info. Happy holidays and new year!

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the perfect Harry Potter Christmas. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:22 Opening presents. The rest of the day would feel off if the day didn’t begin with a mountain of magical goodies at the foot of Harry’s best. Seeing all the things he gets is flooring, considering how few friends he has made.

·      7:50 Christmas breakfast. After waking up and opening presents, a good Christmas breakfast is a great way to kick off the festivities. Without a good first meal, the tone for the rest of the day wouldn’t be as merry.

·      11:49 Winter walk. The grounds of Hogwarts are absolutely huge, so exploring it is always a treat. To add to that, the wintertime makes it so much more magical, especially on Christmas. It would be just a blast to walk around the snow and ice of the grounds, maybe stopping by Hogsmeade and getting a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks.

·      17:27 Lunch and a snowball fight. We have seen our fair share of snowball fights at Hogwarts, but now we are making it official. It would be even more fun to use magic. Snowballs would be flying and there might be some injuries, but it is all worth it for some winter fun.

·      23:32 Sitting by the fire. As the sun sets, the perfect way to end the afternoon is by the fire with something like a book or a boardgame. The common room is likely very well decorated and it is the perfect place to spend some time. Additionally, it would be fun to explore the castle a bit. There is more than meets the eye, that is for sure.

27:05 Christmas Dinner. It goes without saying that this is the climax of the day. Maybe it is still snowing and some more torches have been added to the hallways, and the vibes are set for the most important meal of the holiday season. Christmas at Hogwarts is truly magical, and a dinner is the right way to cap it off.

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In this episode, we flip the script and discuss what would happen if Harry grew up with Sirius. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:22 The story wouldn’t be as good. It sounds strange to say, but it is true. The magic of the story comes from Harry’s ignorance for the first 11 years of his life, then the spark that comes from his realization that there is so much more to his life and an explanation why strange things happen around him.

·      7:29 He would be more powerful. It took just a few years at Hogwarts for Harry (or more accurately the piece of Voldemort inside him) to grow into a powerful wizard. But if Harry knew he was magical years earlier, he might have been able to land on his feet at Hogwarts and learn magic faster.

·      11:55 He would be more like James. That might also mean that he might be more of a bully. Dudley didn’t do much for Harry, but he did teach Harry humility. Harry wasn’t about to become a bully at Hogwarts after being tortured for years at home. But if he didn’t have that and he had a much bolder and James-like father figure at home, he might be a little different.

·      18:33 The Mirror of Erised might not show his parents. In the end, it probably will. Harry isn’t a completely different person after all. But, when he is with Sirius, he has the person who was the closest person to his father. Petunia was Lily’s sister, but they were far from close. Harry might miss his parents just a bit less with Sirius around.

·      23:00 The story wouldn’t happen. This is true of every Flip the Script. The differences would be smaller than others, but they would bump the story in such a way that would send it into a totally different direction.

·      25:40 Harry would have less character. He would still be famous, but nothing about him other than that would be different. He would just be another student from another wizarding household coming to Hogwarts.

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In this episode, we discuss some major updates for the Harry Potter TV show from an interview with some of the executives. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      Read the article here

·      1:18 The first season will be eight hours long. That is a heck of a lot longer than the few hours we had for the first film, so what might this mean? The hope is they won’t face problems of time. If the season comes out and they make some excuse about cutting something for time, we will know something was up.

·      8:21 30,000 submitted tapes? Wow. That is the number of people who auditioned for the trio. Now we have to continue to ask the age-old question, who will they cast? Will the actors play the characters from the film or the book? They had better be really good at acting and find a middle ground between the characters we know and the names on the page. 

·      19:08 Peeves will be included. That was an explicit statement they made. Hopefully, this will tell us that they are in fact trying to include as many things from the books into the show as they can.

·      21:16 They will keep the iconic sets and expand what we haven’t seen. They said that they want to explore the aesthetics of the castle further, while keeping the iconic sets such as the Great Hall. This is great news! Changing the original and iconic sets would be a certain disaster.

·       25:40 “No one can replace Alan Rickman, but we can find the next generation.” This is great news. Alan Rickman is impossible to top, and it is good that the filmmakers have realized this. Snape is technically 31 in the first film, and Rickman has a much more ancient air about him. It is good that they aren’t trying to replace who we know and love, but expand upon their characters and show us more facets of who they are.

·      29:09 Mark Rylance and Cillian Murphy and are two names that have come up for Dumbledore and Voldemort respectively. The filmmakers themselves have thrown Rylance’s name around before. He isn’t perfect, but it might work well depending on how they spin it. Ralph Fiennes himself put a stamp of approval on Murphy’s name for Voldemort, but Murphy seems just a bit too young to capture Voldemort essence.

·      33:25 “We have a much larger sandbox.” I hope what they mean by this is they are going to use the basis of the films to expand into places we haven’t seen and characters we haven’t met. They have such a good chance to make this a fantastic series, all they have to do it grab it.

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In this episode, we discuss new magical holidays to add to the calendar. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:31 Magical Veteran’s Day. A ton of people fought in the Battle of Hogwarts! And that wasn’t even the first time Voldemort was a serious adversary. We should create a holiday that celebrates those who fought, living and dead, to protect the forces of good and their triumph over evil. It is better to celebrate Harry’s victory than Voldemort’s loss.

·      9:09 Harry Potter Day. This is along the same lines as the previous, but celebrates the first victory over Voldemort when Harry was just a baby. I got this idea from the first conversation we are party to in the entire series between Dumbledore and McGonagall when she says this day might be known as Harry Potter Day in the future.

·      15:05 Day of the Dead. This is a holiday celebrated in Mexico in the muggle world, but this could work in the magical world. This day is to celebrate friends and family that have passed away. At Hogwarts, those people are still around in the forms of portraits and ghosts. They keep the secrets of the castle and can collect and distribute information faster than any other.

·      20:05 Magical Games and Sports Day. We don’t need a day to celebrate quidditch, but this is more than that. In the Goblet of Fire, Hermione summed up the Tri-Wizard Tournament and other sprots like it well. She said they were for international magical cooperation, not winning or losing. To have a day set aside to celebrate this would only encourage more growth in the category.

·       22:40 Magical Creatures Day. Time and time again, magical creatures are looked over and mistreated. Without fail, they are often the ones who hold up the rest of the wizarding world. By sheer numbers, there are probably three times the number of magical creatures compared to magical humans. Taking a day to celebrate them would be the least we could do to repay them.

·      26:18 National Magical Statute of Secrecy Day. This one is more of a joke, but it still would be funny. What if wizards took one muggle and lifted all charms of concealment on Hogwarts, placed them in the castle, then let them loose back into the muggle world without wiping their memory? That would be fun.

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In this episode, we discuss who could have been a spy in Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:52 Professor McGonagall. She is of the utmost moral fiber in the series. You really want to have McGonagall on your side, and we are lucky that she was fighting for us. If she were a spy, it would be because she genuinely thought Voldemort’s world would be for the greater good. 

·      8:20 Ron Weasley. This one is a bit of a curve ball, but it still fits. Ron is probably the least likely to become a spy, but that is why the reveal would be so good. During the fourth year, he and Harry go through a rough patch in their friendship. Why shouldn’t Ron become friends with someone else like Draco? Through the Malfoys, Ron might be introduced to the ways of Voldemort and fall victim to his promises. It’s a longshot, but anything is possible. 

·      13:08 Percy Weasley. Percy wasn’t in the best standing with his family for a few years in the middle of the story. He was too committed to order and supporting the ministry, not to mention his own deep-rooted ambition. During that time, he might come to realize that the change that has to happen in the world must come from those who have the guts to do things others won’t. That sounds something like the Death Eaters. Percy might find their ways repulsive at first, but he may come to overlook his opinions for the fight of order against chaos. 

·      18:29 Professor Slughorn. We are introduced to him at first because Dumbledore needs a potion professor, and we learn that the Death Eaters have been trying to either recruit him or kill him. It makes sense that Slughorn might have been approached and presented with ideas of what the world should be. Like Percy, this pathway was already drawn for us.

·      23:30 Rubeus Hagrid. We couldn’t have an episode about jaw-dropping spies without including Hagrid. There is a zero percent chance of him willingly becoming a spy for Voldemort. He is far too committed to the cause of good and helping Dumbledore. The only chance of him being a spy would be if Dumbledore was working with Voldemort, and they misled Hagrid to do things that he thought were for good, but really only helped Voldemort.  

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In this episode, we discuss what would be on a hypothetical Fantastic Beasts TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:52 Dumbledore’s past. He is such a deep character, and the struggles of his childhood are a big part of who he is and why he is so committed to defeating Grindelwald. If we could understand just a little bit more about his past, we might be able to appreciate his character more.

·      7:49 Newt’s Childhood. We catch just a sneak peak of this in the Crimes of Grindelwald, and it is gold to see Newt as a child. He is very committed to protecting magical creatures, and doing good wherever he goes. We don’t need as much time as Dumbledore, so seeing him for just a few minutes could give a new edge to his rock solid morals.

·      11:39 Creedence’s backstory. He is a very emotionally damaged character, and we aren’t given the best backstory as to why this is. We can understand him for the most part at the end, but I would rather we have the chance to understand him from the beginning.

·      16:57 Tina and Queenie before Newt. These two are as close as can be, and that bond breaking is one of the core parts of the story. If we could have a clearer window into just how strong these sisters are drawn together, it would mean more when Queenie eventually chooses to join Grindelwald. 

·      21:32 Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s relationship. Without a doubt, their relationship is one of the driving factors that keep the story going. Some of the most compelling scenes are where we see their pain of separation. We need more scenes like the one where Dumbledore pulls the curtain off the Mirror of Erised and sees Grindelwald.

·      25:11 Jacob’s bakery. There are two moments in time that would give us a better perspective on Jacob. The first is right after the events of the first film, and the second is before the third film. One is him feeling great, getting with Queenie and living great. The second is when he is living without Queenie and he is a mess. The contrast between these two moments combined with how tense their relationship is when their paths cross will show us how difficult it was for Queenie to go and how painful is was for Jacob to stay. 

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In this episode, we discuss who would win between Harry and Umbridge. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:38 Why them? I made this choice because Harry and Umbridge have been at each other’s throats forever. It isn’t very hard to believe that they might have an altercation that would lead to a duel. They are two different people that support very different things, and a disagreement would lead to something less than civil.

·      6:53 Harry’s strengths and weaknesses. He is a good wizard to start. He can think on his feet and use spells well. He is also very motivated to fight Voldemort, and that motivation will help him. The ministry is standing in his way, and defeating them is more than half the battle. As for weaknesses, Harry is too focused on saving other people, and that distraction might impede his ability to duel.

·      14:17 Umbridge’s strengths and weaknesses. She has very strong beliefs. Umbridge knows what she wants and she is willing to go far to make it happen. She might be willing to do the things Harry isn’t. She also is terrified of chaos and will do anything to protect it. However, she is easily distracted, and it wouldn’t be hard for Harry to get in her head.

·      19:40 Umbridge blasts down the wall of the Room of Requirement. Who wins? If a duel broke out and Harry and Umbridge were to lock wands, Umbridge would win in that moment. She is in her element in defending Fudge and the Ministry, and she would absolutely flatten Harry. 

·      23:12 Harry takes the locket in the Deathly Hallows. Who wins? In this case, Harry would win. Umbridge is in the middle of an interrogation, but Harry has the element of surprise. Umbridge wouldn’t be able to understand what was going on before she lost.

·       26:28 The flat plane. Who wins? If there are no other outside factors, Harry would win. Umbridge won the first duel because she was in her element. If there was nothing on the outside influencing what was going on, Umbridge wouldn’t have the extra punch on her side to win.

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In this episode, we discuss the scariest characters in Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:34 Tom Riddle. He is such a terrifying character because we know what his future is. He causes mass panic and killing, and it all starts at an unassuming orphanage. With every glint of red in his eye and every sly trick he plays, we are only reminded that his past present and future (get it?) is Voldemort.

·      7:58 Bellatrix Lestrange. She is literally insane, and that is why she is so terrifying. She is a big part of Voldemort’s plans, and it is early on established that she is willing to go very far to serve Voldemort. Her torture of the Longbottoms only supports this.

·      12:11 Xenophilius Lovegood. What in the world? What is he doing here? Well, clearly he was willing to sell out Harry to the Death Eaters. We learn that Luna’s live was on the line and that is why he did it, but looking back, what else would he have been willing to do? Kill Harry himself?

·      17:37 Umbridge. She is the most easily hated villain in Harry Potter, but she is also quite terrifying. She isn’t particularly scary in Order of the Phoenix, but in the Deathly Hallows, we learn how far she is willing to go. She was giving out Azkaban sentences like candy on Halloween. What else is she doing that we don’t know about?

·      24:21 Dementors. We couldn’t have a Halloween episode without these guys. If their name is said, the very temperature of the room drops. Nothing will ever beat them in terms of scare factor. They are the very embodiment of fear; a rotting hand opening a door, the crackle of freezing water, the wave of the hooded cloak in invisible wind. Boy oh boy, they take the cake.  

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In this episode, we discuss some of my least favorite quotes. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:00 “There is no good and evil, only power, and those too weak to seek it.” How Voldemort is this one, huh? I can appreciate this quote as the very least. It is well written and reflects the values that Voldemort has. However, he is wrong. If this quote was instead something like: “In the world, there is more than good and evil. There is power, and those too weak to seek it” it might have rung true. Unfortunately Voldemort disregards the very ideas of good and evil as false.

·      11:32 “If it’s true, what you say, and he has the Elder Wand, you really don’t stand a chance.” This quote is far from false. That is not the reason why it is among my least favorite. In fact, I would go as far as to say that Ollivander is completely right. He just shouldn’t have told Harry that the fight is pointless before it even begins.

·      17:50 “He’s not back!” Fudge is ignorant. He doesn’t want to believe that Voldemort is back, and even if he knows that he is, he insists on continuing to say that Voldemort is far from returned. If Fudge had just accepted it and began action earlier, it may have been much easier to win.

·      21:55 “He’s not James, Sirius.” I didn’t think Mrs. Weasley would get on this list, but here we are. Sirius and Mrs. Weasley are arguing about Harry’s involvement in the Order of the Phoenix, when she drops this on Sirius. She shouldn’t feel the need to go this low.

·      27:03 “I don’t think you’re a waste of space.” Dudley finally makes this realization after 17 years of living with his cousin. This is such a heart-wrenching quote and probably the nicest thing Dudley has ever said in his life, but it comes at the worst time. It is a shame that the very moment they have to say goodbye is the moment they finally reach somewhat good terms. Moments after this quote, the Dursleys leave and they never see Harry again.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the best superhero moments in Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:35 Harry and Hermione Rescuing Sirius. They had just executed Dumbledore’s well thought out plan perfectly. However, they aren’t exactly heroes which is why this moment is number one, but it is still Harry and Hermione coming to the rescue.

·      6:18 Harry returns to the DA in Deathly Hallows. Harry is the founder of the DA and he represents the resistance against Voldemort, so why he returns, the moment means so much because it spells out the beginning of the end, one way or the other.

·      Listen to episode 225 about Dudley and the Dursleys here!

·      12:52 7 Potters. Harry says goodbye to the Dursleys, then heads off the great wide world. We see number 4 empty at last, then are brought back to the real world when the Order arrives and they begin to prepare to leave, beginning the final course of events.

·      17:34 The Hut on the Rock. Hagrid walks up the door, breaks it down, and tells Harry the truth about who he is and where he must take him. This is the very first time Harry has been exposed to this kind of thing, and by proxy, it is the readers first experience with magic.

·      20:48 Dobby at Malfoy Manor. Dobby is so unassuming, he is a hero if that makes sense. He isn’t very strong or magical, but he is loyal. He will stand up for you if you stand up for him. Here, he sacrifices his life for Harry to win against Voldemort.

·      23:45 Fred, George, and Ron rescuing Harry from Privet Drive in The Chamber of Secrets. Harry sees the headlights coming, and they rip the bars off. Harry throws his trunk and Hedwig into the car, jumps through the window, and they zoom off into the night.

·      26:00 Battle of the Order of the Phoenix at the Ministry of Magic. Not only are there two hero moments, but two. The DA is saved by the Order swooping in and dueling the Death Eaters away, then when Harry runs after Bellatrix who just killed Sirius, and is faced by Voldemort. Before he can make a move, Dumbledore emerges and saves the day.

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In this episode, we discuss how Draco should have killed Dumbledore. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:04 Don’t think about it. Dumbledore is a whole lot smarter than Draco, yet he still insists on trying to think out some elaborate plan to outsmart Dumbledore. That will never work because Dumbledore is too intelligent for that. Draco has to find a way to make a plan Dumbledore can’t foresee or block.

·      11:08 Accept Snape’s help. Snape is ready to help Draco with his task, but he refused. That may be because when Snape offered, all Draco heard was him saying he wasn’t good enough to do it himself and he needed help. Snape knows Dumbledore well and Draco should have accepted when he had the chance.

·      16:15 Don’t go for the kill. Draco should instead help in giving someone else the chance to kill them. That’s kind of what he tried to do in fixing the vanishing cabinet so the Death Eaters could enter, but he then thought it would still be him to do the kill. All he has to do is lure Dumbledore somewhere or get the assassin in the walls of Hogwarts, not do the deed himself. 

·      20:55 Use Aberforth. Aberforth is just waiting to be taken away and used as leverage against Dumbledore. He is more than happy to put himself in harm’s way, but when others are at risk, Dumbledore doesn’t mess around. 

·      25:29 Just don’t do it. If Draco doesn’t want to kill Dumbledore, he can just not do it. If it were really that easy for Voldemort to kill Draco at Hogwarts if he said no, he would have done that for Voldemort. All Draco has to do is get his family to Hogwarts and hunker down there. 

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In this episode, we discuss the most iconic groups in Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      Listen to episode 252 about McGonagall’s Best Moments here!

·      1:45 Dumbledore’s Army. This is a very well known group, but there are a few things that really make them stand out. The first is when a selection goes to the Ministry to free Sirius. It turns out to be a trap, but the DA stands up to the Death Eaters and actually manage to hold them off for long enough. The second is in the final book when they have kept the DA going even after Harry left, and then in the Battle of Hogwarts when many members could protect themselves again evil.

·      8:54 Newt, Jacob, and Albus. They aren’t in Harry Potter, but they are certainly iconic enough to fit into this episode. The thing that makes them stand out is how noble they are. Newt and Albus are fighting hard against Grindelwald at the risk of losing their own lives. Further, Jacob is doing the same with nothing on the line. The threat of losing freedom in the world is always there, but before Jacob understands that, he is still fighting alongside Newt because he knows it is the right thing to do.

·      14:55 The Gryffindor Quidditch Team. This might be less obvious, but the team is iconic because of the plot that happens around them. Quidditch is also the trademark sport of the wizarding world, and the Gryffindor team is the one that Harry plays on and learns his love of quidditch on. Things like swallowing the snitch and seeing the Grim all happened surrounding the team.

·      20:17 The Order of the Phoenix. They’re iconic because of their legacy. The Order that we know today is the second generation, the first coming into being when Voldemort was first on the rise. This gives it a sense of age and legacy, so when they swoop in for the rescue, it isn’t a bunch of aurors but the famous Order of the Phoenix.

·      25:24 The trio. We would get here eventually. How much is there to say really? I don’t even have to say their names for every person to know exactly about whom I speak. 

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In this episode, we honor the late Maggie Smith by discussing some of Professor McGonagall's best moments. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      Listen to QuizMaster: Hermione here!

·      1:30 “Fifty points…each!”. This first moment shows how fair McGonagall is. She does with a heavy heart, but she takes away 150 points away from her own house. In addition to that, she also takes points away from and gives detention to Malfoy who found them out of bed, McGonagall has the stomach to do what is right even if it hurts herself, and she refuses to shrink from further punishment. 

·      8:30 Giving Harry a Nimbus 2000. It might seem like favoritism, but really, it is giving a deserving student the chance he has earned. McGonagall witnessed Harry’s first victory against Malfoy on the broomstick and knows from that moment that Gryffindor has found a new seeker. 

·      13:35 “I’ve always wanted to use that spell.”. Piertotum Locomotor is quite the spell at that. This moment shows all the good things about McGonagall. She is brave and willing to defend the castle with all powers available to her. Before this, she is unafraid to speak Voldemort’s name, even in the face of her own demise at his hands. Finally, she finishes off this moment with a bit of humor to give us a little bit of everything we love about her.

·      17:29 McGonagall dueling Voldemort. With Flitwick and Kingsley at her side, she battled Voldemort directly. This is after Harry sprung back to life and the end of the war is in sight. Her bravery shines through in this moment. She is battling the most powerful dark wizard of her time!

·      21:24 Yule Ball Snark. She has some great lines when she uses Ron as an example for how to dance in front of the entire class, then later as she informs Harry that he will be the one to open the ball. In addition, she has some pretty great comments about Ron’s choice of dress robes.

·      25:11 Arguing with Umbridge. Their voices are raised, and the students rush out to see it. They are taking steps up with each jab at each other. Umbridge thinks that McGonagall is showing disloyalty, and McGonagall takes a step down to show how offensive she finds this. 

·      28:39 Dueling Snape to protect Harry. Before this, the allusion of working was still there, but after this, there is no question that the battle lines are drawn. McGonagall is firing on her own troops to defend the people she knows to be correct. She is a strict follower of the rules, but when breaking them is the right course of action, she doesn’t hesitate.

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In this episode, we test out knowledge about Hermione Granger. Enjoy!

Topics./Summary:
Episode 251:

·      1:30 Warm Up Round

·      3:48 Question 1: What is Hermione’s patronus?

·      8:36 Question 2: What did Hermione receive from Dumbledore’s will?

·      13:27 Question 3: What did Hermione place at Harry’s parents’ grave at Godric’s Hallow?

·      16:48 Question 4: Did Hermione ever walk out of a class?

·      19:07 Question 5: Did Hermione ever destroy any horcruxes?

·      23:13 Question 6: What was the first spell we saw Hermione cast?

·      26:26 Question 7: When is Hermione’s birthday?

·      28:15 Challenge Question

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In this episode, we discuss what actors could play different characters in the upcoming TV show. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      Listen to episode 245 about the pitfalls of the TV show!

·      3:46 Adam Driver plays Snape. Adam is younger than Alan, and that could be a closer representation of Snape because he isn’t actually that old in the books. Additionally, Adam can portray a character of great emotional depth very well, and that is of course who Snape is.

·      12:08 Ian McKellen plays Dumbledore. As Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings, Ian McKellen was an old, wise, and powerful wizard that had a big role in the fight for victory. He is the perfect choice for a character like this.

·      16:33 Viggo Mortensen plays Sirius Black. Viggo is an honorable actor who plays honorable and brave characters. Sirius Black is a wrongly convicted criminal who spends the first part of his arc on the run and the second in the midst of the battle against Voldemort. That kind of acting is best suited for Viggo.

·      19:58 Penelope Wilton plays Professor McGonagall. What we lose with Maggie Smith is the kinder edge from the books, so if Penelope were to go for a softer version of McGonagall, she might just be able to pull it off.

·      22:03 Andy Serkis plays Peter Pettigrew. Andy often plays small, snively, often somewhat unstable characters. All of these things would make a perfect Peter Pettigrew.

·      25:38 Benedict Cumberbatch plays Remus Lupin. Benedict has the air of carrying a very heavy weight on his shoulders, like a responsibility that he cannot shake. Lupin must keep the secret of his furry friend, and later bear the weight of his marriage and the turmoil of having a son. 

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In this episode, we discuss what would happen if Newt and Jacob never meet. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:58 Dumbledore would be introduced in the first film. We need a set number of core characters, and if Jacob isn’t there we need another. It’s a little strange that he is introduced so late in the story anyway, so it would make a lot of sense for him to take Jacob’s place in the beginning.

·      8:57 They wouldn’t break apart. The first loose thread is Queenie when she leaves to join Grindelwald in pursuit of love, but if Jacob isn’t there, she has no love to peruse. That would prompt Tina to stay, therefore keeping them all together.

·      18:11 The Order of the Phoenix would form. It might not be called that and the structure would be different, but this would be the first time we see Dumbledore forming a group of resistance against evil.

·      23:46 Grindelwald would win. It is the growth that they make together that in the end is the reason why they win. Jacob makes the people around him better and pushes them to greater heights. Without him, they don’t have the same motivation that keeps them going and glue that keeps them together.

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In this episode, we discuss what a modern back to Hogwarts would look like. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:19 Self-stirring cauldrons. Potions class is a staple of Hogwarts, so why should wizards and witches have to stir their own cauldrons? The value of the class is gaining an understanding of what potions do and which ones to use in different situations. It is that knowledge that gave Harry the best help, not actually how to make them. And if you find yourself in a situation in which you need to make a potion, the cauldron is probably going to be self-stirring anyway. 

·      8:21 A gossip device. The DA uses gold coins to get in touch with all their members, so why wouldn’t such a device exist for the public to talk without having to send an owl? Something like the mirrors that Harry and Sirius used to communicate could be a very useful product for the Hogwarts market. 

·      15:40 Super quills. Even back in Harry’s day, there were self-spelling quills. Now, there are quills that could probably do something similar but much better. I could take my quill and ask it to write an essay or draw an advanced diagram without having to touch it once.

·      21:59 Safety measures. From classes to quidditch, there is no end ot the number of dangers at Hogwarts. Putting a limit to how close the students can get to dangerous creatures and making sure that the professor is the only one to handle dangerous potions or plants are great ways of making this better. Additionally, putting some kind of safety net for quidditch or making sure bludgers don’t kill are also great ways of making it safer. 

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In this episode we break down the character of James Potter. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:52 James’s role in the story. First off, who is he? Unfortunately, this entire episode is here to answer that question. We can say that James was Harry’s dad. He was also part of the Order of the Phoenix. Overall his was a major character, but he didn’t have an absolutely huge effect on the story. He also had a positive effect, but he was more negative for the story that one might assume.

·      8:14 Strengths. He is sensible, at the end of the day. This might be hard to see because of his past, but it is there. When they sent Snape down to see the werewolf that was Lupin, James realized what a bad idea it was and stopped Snape from doing it. Additionally, James is quite brave, being a true Gryffindor at heart for how he stood up against Voldemort when he came to kill the three Potters.

·       15:04 Weaknesses. As sensible and brave as a person can be, there are also weaknesses. One of which are his over confidence. He was a quidditch star and had a group of popular friends. He was on top of the world and felt like he owned Hogwarts. This led to another bad trait of him being a bully. When Snape refused to bow down, James practically tortured Snape in front of the entire school.

·      20:24 What would the story be like without him? Let’s say James is actually John Smith, an accountant. Harry is much less of a strong character. It was the love he had for his father and the strength of the symbol of the stag that drove many storylines. Many things from Harry’s hair to playing quidditch come from James. Also, Harry would have a much better and less complicated relationship with Snape. Snape wouldn’t automatically hate Harry for his father and they might get along better from the beginning. However, it took them being enemies to grow even closer at the end, so they wouldn’t have that moment in the Shrieking Shack. 

·      25:23 So who is he really? Still, we can’t put a label on him, but we can get closer. He is a Gryffindor at heart, that much is clear. He is brave, noble, and sensible. He is also a bully, but not because he hates people or he wants to see them suffer, but because he wants to seem strong. He is a protector, and seeming like someone who doesn’t shy away from a fight is a great way to do that.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss a possible wizarding Olympic events. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:20 Quidditch. This is a staple sport in the wizarding world, and any magical competition of this scale would be remiss without it. There are team sports in the muggle Olympics, so wizards should follow suit. The Quidditch World Cup is a separate organization that could supply some of the best players to make up several talented sides.

·      9:48 Wizard chess. Chess is recognized as a sport, but not included in the Olympics. However, in the wizarding world, chess is far mor physical and dangerous which could drum up more interest and make it a worthwhile sport to include. 

·      15:38 Individual Quidditch trials. Beyond winning the game, there are individual skills that make up a good team. An event that would test only seekers or only beaters would give us a better idea of the talent of each individual player. The winning team likely has good chemistry in addition to good players. Viktor Krum was a better seeker than the Irish seeker, but they still lost.

·      19:33 Dueling. This is the perfect sport to test someone’s skill with a wand and how quickly they could think on their feet. A challenge would be to set the rules, because spells like the killing curse shouldn’t be allowed. If they set the rules and have an approved list of spells that gain a certain amount of points, it could become something great.

·      23:24 Archery. Muggles also compete in this realm, but it can be used for a wizard Olympics as well. A perfectly reasonable assumption for magical lore would be that muggles gained archery from centaurs, who could also stand as the judges for a magical archery competition.

·      26:35 Synchronized spells. There is synchronized swimming, and spells could be the magical equivalent. How amazing would it be for ten or twelve wizards and witches to get together and cast spells into the sky, creating some absolutely stunning spectacles? It would be pretty awesome.

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In this episode, we discuss the pitfalls of the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      1:52 Only following the story. One of the best parts of having a TV show is having more episodes and time to explore the story. That is more than enough to do more than follow Harry. He has an interesting journey, but going deeper and finding out more about some of the things that weren’t in the films would be the benefit of having more time on our hands. 

·      7:32 Actors. They are the core of the series, and the ones that make each scene pop. Choosing the right actors can be the deciding factor in the show. These are the people we are going to be living with for many years, so they should be as accurate as possible.

·      14:10 Sets. This might seem like a secondary detail, but behind every production is a fantastic set. If they don’t use some of the most important sets in the story like Hogwarts and Diagon Alley, the image we have in our heads of the story will be ruined.

·      20:34 Music. Some of the most iconic film themes in history have come from Harry Potter. If the TV show doesn’t use these themes, it will be something other than Harry Potter. I would be thrilled if they consulted the original composers to find the right balance.

·      25:36 There is right and wrong. The films didn’t have any restrictions. They had the books and the sentiment, and all they had to do was bring it to life. The films had a perfect shot lined up, which they smashed out of the park. Now the TV show can get some of the elements straight up incorrect.

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In this episode, we discuss the curse of July 31. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:49 1991. Harry realizes he is a wizard, but the very day he buys his very first wand and gets ready for his first year at Hogwarts, Quirrell breaks into Gringotts and tries to take the stone.

·      9:41 1992.  Dobby arrives at 4 Privet Drive and urges Harry to stay away from Hogwarts that year, claiming that great danger is coming to Hogwarts. Harry doesn’t believe him, but later finds out that Dobby was correct.

·      15:06 1993. Aunt Marge arrives, and leaves a few days later in the air. Harry decides to run for it and sees a death omen, the Grim, in the street. The Knight Bus picks him up, but he doesn’t forget.

·      19:11 1994. The best one yet, following the worst year. Harry gets sweets and letters from all of his friends and has a peaceful birthday. This throws the end of the book with Voldemort’s return and Cedric’s death into great contrast.

·      22:02 1995. Order of the Phoenix if similar to the Goblet of Fire, but Harry throws out the sweets. He is angry that he is being kept in the dark, and he regrets this later. Sirius’s death is later in that book, which is mirroring the decision with the sweet. It was rash, and he regretted it greatly.

·      26:05 1996. Harry spends this birthday at the Burrow, but Lupin brings news of a dementor attack, leaving Igor Karkaroff worse than dead in a shack up north. The Burrow is attacked in the film and burned down.

·      28:42 1997. The minister shows up and reads the will of Dumbledore to the trio. Bill and Fleur have their wedding, but it is ambushed by Death Eaters. Harry, Ron, and Hermione narrowly escape them and begin their lives on the run, hunting horcruxes. 

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In this episode, we discuss parallel characters from Harry Potter in Fantastic Beasts. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:57 Newt and Dumbledore. But isn’t Dumbledore also in Fantastic Beasts? Yes, but they actually aren’t as similar as Newt is to the Dumbledore in Harry Potter. They both have a simple outlook on life. Dumbledore has had over one hundred years to look back and understand the world. Newt doesn’t care what others think of him which frees him to be his own person, just like Dumbledore.

·      10:07 Snape and Queenie. Both of them are loose with their choice of side. Snape is fighting for both Dumbledore and Voldemort, and Queenie switches sides to Grindelwald. However, the thing that makes them so similar is love. Both of them are fighting for love, and switch sides for the same reason. 

·      15:58 Neville and Jacob. This is one of the strongest parallels. The reason they are so similar is because of their character arcs. Both start out as finding their footing, not really being a great help to their side. Eventually, they find their place in the world and rise above to a position of strength and power.

·      22:29 Leta and Draco. This is perhaps a bit more obscure, but there are certainly similarities. Both are outcasts and have a shaky place in their families. They don’t really have anyone who they can completely trust and confide in, and they are consistently feeling down. The cherry on top is the end of their arcs. Both stand up to their oppressors and fight against evil.

·      26:24 Theseus and Percy. Both are older brothers and have careers which they care for very much. They both feel like they have to set an example and be the responsible older brother. They also both fight with their families and aren’t always on great terms all the time, but in the end, they both set aside their differences and realize that fighting evil is more important than a spat.

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In this episode, we discuss imaging from page to screen. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:53 Hogwarts. This is one of the best imaging feats in the series. The style of the castle set the mood for the rest of the story, and it was the first real breath of magic we witnessed in the films. The silhouette is one of the most famous in literature. But apart from the outside, the interior of the castle is also a fantastic translation from page to screen. 

·      9:37 Voldemort. He is the big bad villain of the story. Voldemort’s image is much stricter and more outlined in the books, which gave the filmmakers a more difficult task. However, they still carried it out well. One change they made was keeping his eyes human instead of the book’s red. 

·      15:57 Quidditch. This is the sport of the wizarding world and deserved a good representation, which is absolutely got. The thing that sets it apart is the amount of moving parts. The little things like the shape of the quaffle and the design of the stands make up such an interesting and magical picture that injects the charm of Harry Potter into the sport. 

·      20:48 Ministry of Magic. Apart from the grates in front of the fireplaces and the fountain in the atrium, there are few descriptors. One choice that made the Ministry pop is the dark green stone. There have been few happy occasions when Harry was happy to enter, and that color is reflected in this. 

·      24:21 Death Eaters. They have one of the most interesting costumed in the series. It is everything we read it to be, but it changed dramatically between films. From the graveyard to the Ministry, the Death Eaters had a complete wardrobe change. It was the perfect mix of magic and evil, metal and silk.

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In this episode, we rename each book according to different characters. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      2:18 Severus Snape

·      16:12 Ron Weasley

·      22:03 The Dursleys

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In this episode, we discuss some of the best story lines in Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:50 Horcruxes. Without these, we wouldn’t have some of the most important parts of the story, especially in the later books. Harry’s hunt for horcruxes and his task of destroying Voldemort go hand in hand and are the two things that he is bent of achieving. This was a story line that was set up farther towards the beginning of the story and gives us a call back to things like the diary when the whole thing is revealed.

·      14:28 Harry realizing that he is a wizard. This is a much shorter story line than horcruxes, but it is no less impactful. One of the reasons that I think it is so effective is it becomes better the more we read it. It had a huge importance for the story. Looking back after reading all the books and going back to that moment, we understand what it means all the more. From that moment, he embarks on a journey that will be filled with countless unforgettable moments. 

·      18:24 Patronuses. This isn’t a story line exactly, but it allows us to see the storylines much clearer. A patronus is the purest form of a person: who they are and who they want to be. When we have moments like the casting of the doe in the Forest of Dean, the true nature of characters is revealed.

·      Listen to episode 80 about character arcs here.

·      24:24 Snape. Snape’s arc is one of if not the best character arcs in the series. He is also a story line within himself. We have to work to understand him, and he dies still being somewhat of a mystery. He touched so many lives and made such a difference.

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In this episode, we discuss some of Harry's biggest regrets. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:27 Cedric’s death. We didn’t get to know Cedric for a while in the story, and it took a few chapters with him in the fourth book to get a good idea of who he was. Cedric was a genuinely good person, and as readers we had a front seat to how close he and Harry grew. The deal was sealed when they helped each other out on the tasks. So when Cedric was killed, it dragged on Harry’s soul because he couldn’t stop it.

·      9:53 Disliking Snape. From the beginning, Snape and Harry were enemies. Snape clearly hated Harry, and the two knew it. At the end of the story, we finally realize that that may have not been the case. Harry regrets his relationship with Snape so much because they only realized that they could have a good relationship a moment before Snape died, and Harry can never go back and make up.

·      Listen to episode 225 about how the Dursleys aren’t that bad here

·      16:30 Making an enemy of Dudley. They were pitted against each other for their entire time together. Vernon and Petunia hated Harry, and that shed off onto Dudley. It took seven years for them to understand each other and for Dudley to break out of the prejudice brought on my his parents. When Harry parted from the Dursleys, Dudley realized that they could have been so much better friends than they had been. 

·      21:49 Dumbledore dying for nothing. This is a huge regret of Harry’s! The locket was a fake and the cave was completely unnecessary. They only realized that when it was too late and Dumbledore was already dead. He died in the best way possible with Snape killing him and getting into Voldemort’s good books, but he still could have had a few more weeks to teach Harry valuable lessons that could have given him the skills to win with fewer losses. What would Harry give for just one more hour with Dumbledore?

·      26:33 All the people that died for him. There is no way to get around it. His friends, family, students, and people he never knew all withstood torture and gave their lives for his cause. It takes a certain kind of person to live through an ordeal like the Battle of Hogwarts, and everyone that didn’t weighs on Harry like nothing else. 

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In this episode, we discuss what would happen if the Order didn't arrive to the Ministry in time in the Order of the Phoenix. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:08 Harry and his friends will be killed. The Death Eaters have a lot of leverage on Harry to hand over the prophecy and in doing so hand them the victory. If the Order hadn’t arrived a moment after that, it is very possible that they would have promptly killed Harry and his friends and moved on.

·      Listen to episode 237 about themes in Harry Potter here

·      8:39 Voldemort would take control of the Ministry. Fudge arrives after Dumbledore fights Voldemort and he sees Voldemort standing in a pile of sand before he disappears. Voldemort would have had all the time in the world to kill Fudge and the others that showed up and take control of the Ministry ahead of schedule without the opposition from the Order.

·      13:54 Death Eaters would be on the loose. In the Deathly Hallows, there were no limits on the abilities of Death Eaters and their freedom. They could walk down the street and kill whoever they wanted because Voldemort controlled the Ministry. With this jumpstart to his plan, this would certainly become the case much earlier.  

·      18:49 Harry would go out to find horcruxes far earlier. Voldemort’s timeline is moved up from this major victory, so Dumbledore would have no choice but to send Harry out into the world to find the horcruxes earlier than we know he does in the story. Dumbledore would have no choice after Voldemort forced his hand. Harry wouldn’t be as successful because Dumbledore took the time to show him how to find and destroy them, and without those lessons, Harry wouldn’t find nearly as many as quickly.

·      24:19 The public would lose faith in the Ministry. If Voldemort returns, enters the Ministry, kills a bunch of students, and walks out, I don’t know how much faith everyone could have in them after that. Especially if Voldemort managed to kill Fudge and install a minister of their own, there would be no world in which the public would still be hopeful that the Ministry could do something. 

·       27:06 Would Dumbledore arrive and survive as planned? He would arrive and survive as the story is written, but because Voldemort’s timeline is moved up, he would send out his minions to kill Dumbledore at Hogwarts earlier. He gains his foothold in the wizarding world and would use that to move forward as far and quickly as possible.

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In this episode, we discuss some of the core themes of Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      Listen to episode 236, QuizMaster: Sirius Black here!

·      3:25 Death. Death is a huge theme in the story and it is very influential in every boo. However, the meaning of this theme is sometimes farther from the surface of the text that we think. In the Chamber of Secrets, Harry fights the memory of Tom Riddle who is dead but becoming alive. In the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry fights hundreds of dementors who are the very embodiment of death itself.

·      Listen to episode 231 about undeserved deaths in the Battle of Hogwarts here!

·      15:44 Sacrifice. This isn’t death as one might imagine, but there are parallels. For example, Harry sacrifices his life at the Dursleys to go to Hogwarts. He isn’t leaving a warm, loving home, but he has had more turmoil that necessary and he gave up another status quo. At the end of the story, Harry sacrifices his own life to destroy the final horcrux and eventually win the war. 

·        23:59 Courage. This is much more positive than the previous two, and also perhaps one of the most prominent. This had been a theme throughout every book and is often the deciding factor between life and death. Harry fights off dementors at once, goes down the Chamber of Secrets, and during the third task of the Tri-Wizard stood his ground and fought Voldemort.

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In this episode we test our knowledge on Sirius Black. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:

·      1:33 Warm Up Round

·      4:17 Question 1

·      9:12 Question 2

·      12:16 Question 3

·      16:18 Question 4

·      20:41 Question 5

·      24:06 Question 6

·      26:38 Question 7

·      30:44 Challenge Question

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the good and bad parts of the trapdoor and replace the worst obstacles. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:20 Fluffy. He doesn’t really do anything. Playing music to put him to sleep is a weakness that is far too easily exploited to be considered an effective obstacle.

·      7:32 Devil Snare. This is a very good choice. In order to escape, the wizard must know what it is and how to defeat it. In addition, death is the punishment for failure. This is a puzzle that must be completed by someone who know knows what they are doing.

·       12:35 Potions. Snape’s room has fire at the front and back and the wizard must choose the right potion to get through. This is terrible! Logic is a good skill to have, but they could just put out the fire or blast the wall down. Instead, they should be poisoned when they walk in and must make an antidote.

·      17:35 Flying Keys. This room is a thumbs down for sure. It tests how well you can play quidditch, not use charms. A better room would be to lock them in the room with protective charms around it. They would have to figure out how they can escape. 

·      22:08 The Chess Game. Thumbs up! As long as we are sure that the wizard cannot leave during the game, this is a good task. Chess is one of the bests tests of brain power and thinking ahead.

·      24:14 A boggart. The troll for Defense Against the Dark Arts is a terrible task, so replacing it with a boggart is perfect. The door is open, so you have to have courage to walk past it to make it further.

26:10 Mirror of Erised. This is a very clever task, but there is an asterisk. There is nothing stopping someone taking the stone after someone who didn’t want it already got it. Harry got it from the mirror and then Quirrell could have just taken in. If it only gave the stone to one person would be best. This is of course all to say this: the smartest change of all would be to put the stone somewhere else.

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In this episode, we discuss some of the unsung heroes of Hogwarts. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:25 The Fat Lady. We never hear from her despite having such an important tole. She is the guard of the secret common room of the Gryffindors When Sirius Black attacks the school, she doesn’t let him in and sacrifices her portrait to make sure he can’t make it in. The other guards of the tower didn’t do the same thing.

·      9:37 McGonagall. Don’t get mad here because by no means is McGonagall unsung. She teaches classes and defends Hogwarts and we know it, but what she does on the back end is what is unsung. She is Dumbledore’s fixer. If he wants something done on the DL, she can handle it. We don’t hear about some of the biggest problems at the school for a reason…

·      15:27 Percy Weasley. It is difficult for the readers to look past the fact that he is stuck up and ambitious, but the misconception here is we think that means he doesn’t care. In actuality, Percy does all these things and bosses people around because he cares about what happens to his peers and values things like the rules and respect.

·      21:24 Professor Grubbly Plank. She stepped in when Hagrid was unable to teach and later when he was on a mission for Dumbledore. Further, she asked no questions and filled the role without a second thought. She is fair and to the point. It is no small task to come teach at a moment’s notice. 

·       25:10 Madame Pomfrey. She takes care of the entire castle! If Dumbledore needs a medical solution to a problem, Pomfrey is well up to the task. She can regrow bones and cure illness and do anything else the students need. She also has been at the castle for a long time and helps during the Battle of Hogwarts.

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In this episode, we rewrite the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
Listen to The Tri-Wizard Tournament is the smartest and dumbest competition of all time here

·      2:16 Cedric should get hurt in the first task. This would be a good way of foreshadowing his death, but further, it would show the dangerous nature of the competition. None of the champions receive terrible injuries that shock the schools into realizing that this is no joke, so a moment where the audience goes silent after a blow would go a long way.

·      6:55 Fleur should come out stronger. She is the bottom of the pack character and she doesn’t do well in any of the tasks. If she were to do well in the first task, it would set her up as a stronger competitor. More importantly, it would create more of a buzz around the times when she is stopped like when she was attacked in the lake and then again in the maze.

·      15:38 Harry and Cedric should switch places. Harry stays behind to make sure every prize is brought up and Cedric arrives second but doesn’t hesitate to go up and gets first. These two should be switched. Harry should get a leg up and shown to be in the tournament for the win. It would also make Cedric’s loss so much worse if she was shown to be a truly good person and willing to stay behind and sacrifice first place.

·      19:23 Giving Krum and Fleur less sideline parts. Their big moments aren’t very central to the story and it might make for a more interesting task if they were involved. Maybe Harry and Krum work together to find the settlement because they both want to find Hermione. Maybe Fleur arrives late and they all have an underwater conversation about what kept her and they all go up after that.

·      24:34 Cedric should have put up a fight. He was killed far too easily. Pettigrew walked out, got the order from Voldemort, and Cedric was killed. If someone walked out from a building in a graveyard and yelled “Kill the spare” I wouldn’t stick around to find out what he meant. Cedric’s end in wrought too easily for the caliber of character which he brought. He deserved and much more fitting end.

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In this episode, we discuss Harry's worst eyebrow raising decisions. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:01 Harry forgetting the invisibility cloak after handing off Norbert. Moving the plot forward is important, but this was a ridiculous mistake. It was the only thing he couldn’t forget being the sole barrier between him and a lot of trouble which he eventually finds himself in. 

·      8:14 Harry attacking Umbridge to get the locket. Yes, he had to take is by force eventually but this was perhaps the worst way to do it. He does it in front of everyone and then has to fight his way out of the entire ministry from the very deepest point. He couldn’t have somehow gotten her alone and then taken in much more quietly?

·      14:20 Not preparing for the second task. It is the one thing he has to do! There are no other responsibilities on his shoulders than to prepare for the Tri-Wizard Tournament and his just doesn’t. He deserves to have some rest after the first task, but after weeks of doing nothing we have to start asking. 

·      18:30 Going to the ministry to save Sirius. He went for a good reason except for the fact that it was a complete lie. He even goes as far as to acknowledge that it is possible that he is walking into a trap, but should he tell anyone or get backup? No.

·      21:54 Not taking occlumency seriously. Voldemort uses Harry’s vulnerable mind to put memories and thoughts and vision that can manipulate him. Occlumency is the perfect way to try and repel it, but with Snape teaching it Harry was doomed to fail. The first time Snape pushed too far and Harry fought back, they were done.

·      25:02 Returning to Godric’s Hallow. It is a perfectly reasonable thing for him to assume that the sword is there, but the reason why it is on this list is because he didn’t recognize the signs. There were so many things before Nagini showed up that could have been a red alarm blaring tip off to Harry that something was wrong, but he ignored it. It was only when Bathilda started turning into a snake that he thought to do something. 

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In this episode, we discuss who didn't deserve to die in the Battle of Hogwarts. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:08 Fred. Harry walks into the Great Hall and sees all the Weasleys gathered around a cot. The twins were always the life of the party and had a joke to say at every turn. Killing one of them was very grim indeed. Fred had such a bright future at the joke shop and he would never get the chance to see it.

·      11:15 Lupin. His spot is undisputed. Lupin understands people, situation, and he is all around a good guy. The reason why he is on this list is he has lost so much already. His friends were killed and he has had to live as a werewolf, all to be capped off by being killed for his efforts. 

·      17:10 Crabbe. He was among the casualties and I felt unexpectedly sorry for him. This wasn’t his battle to fight and he didn’t deserve to die for a cause that he wasn’t personally invested in. Someone told him where to stand and to kill people so that’s what he did.

·      22:13. Collin Creevey. Collin was too young to die. We think of him as a little kid with stars in his eyes as he spends his days gazing at his idol, Harry. Collin snuck back to the castle to fight alongside his hero and he was killed for it. He had too much more life to live.

·       24:00 Snape. This spot was made out to Snape from the very beginning. He is on this list because he was the one who sacrificed the most for the battle. Harry and he only made that moment of connection at the very end of his life and they never had the chance to be together as two people who had gone through the same things.

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In this episode, we discuss some of the most underrated professors at Hogwarts. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      Audible Announcement

·      2:38 Slughorn. With all the events of the Half Blood Prince we look over his appointment as the potion’s professor after a while, but that is a mistake. He introduces us to many facets of magic that become important later and his guidance in potions becomes quite valuable.

·      8:36 Flitwick. We talk about our favorite charms professor often, but not about how much he gave Harry. Some of the most basic and most important spells that the trio and the rest of the students use come from charms class. He also conducts the school’s frog chorus.

·      12:36 Snape. We discuss Snape a bunch, but not how hard he works and how much he is vilified. We see him as the big bad professor that exists to put Harry down and be a big bully. It is a real shame that it takes until after his death to realize that he was working hard for many years to keep Harry safe.

·      17:30 Binns. What a guy. First of all, he teaches a boring class according to the students and he is very dedicated to the history of magic. He is so dedicated in fact that one day he died and he just kept on teaching. He left his body behind and continued on.

·      19:57 Sinistra. The astronomy professor is one who we never talk about. She works in the background and in completely invisible. But she has to wake up very late a lot of teach the students a fascinating part of magic.

·      22:39 Madame Pince. The library is extremely important! And we never talk about the librarian. If you need to find a book or find some piece of knowledge, she is the one to talk to. She also probably keeps Dumbledore up to date on the status of the library.

·      26:06 Madame Pomfrey. She heals all and can bring a quick fix to any problem with a student’s health. She grew Harry’s arm back! Without Madame Pomfrey, we would be reading about a much more deadly castle.

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In this episode, we discuss what things and places make Hogwarts what we know it to be. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary: 
·      1:44 The Owlrey. This is one of the most British wizarding systems thing there is at Hogwarts. They use owls to send messages and the Owlery is where the owls live. It is the boundary between the Muggle and wizarding world, and is made all the more magical because it can also be found in the Muggle world. 

·      8:11 The great hall and the sorting hat. These two things are very symbolic of Hogwarts. When Bellatrix runs through the castle in the sixth book she destroys the great hall. The sorting hat was the beginning of everyone’s journey at Hogwarts, but it was also the end when Neville pulled the sword out of the hat. The final duel between Harry and Voldemort took place in the great hall.

·      14:25 The moving staircases and the moving portraits. Without these, would moving around in Hogwarts be the same? No. The moving staircases don’t seem that important, but they act as the symbolic bridge between the beginning and end of the story. The portraits are the nod to the readers and students that even when a character dies, they may live on in a portrait like Dumbledore.

·      21:40 Quidditch. This is one of the most important parts of the castle. They are side by side for the entire story, and the quidditch pitch is where Harry found his passion. Hogwarts wouldn’t be even close to the same without this magical sport. Much of the story occurs around quidditch like when Quirrell tries to curse Harry off his broom or when Cedric catches the snitch in the storm and tries to give it back. It is important to every member of the magical world, especially in Hogwarts.

·      26:40 Deadly events. Without all the opened chambers, horrible creatures on the lose, spies, imposters, double crosses, and Death Eaters, would Hogwarts be the same?

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In this episode, we discuss why Hermione deserves more credit in honor of Emma Watson's birthday. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:54. Absolutely she does. This episode is not to decide if she does or not, but to find some of the best examples of where she works in the shadows and didn’t receive the credit she deserves. For example in the Prisoner of Azkaban, it is Hermione’s skill with the time turner is why they manage to save multiple lives. She knows to hide and knows how to time their exits and entrances so no one knows that they are there and they can do the things they need to do.

·      9:20 She figures out the Chamber of Secrets. She had the paper in her hand crumpled up from the beginning! Harry and Ron just didn’t see it for a very long time and it was only when they found Hermione’s discovery that they began to make progress on the case. Without her, they wouldn’t have made it in time and Ginny might be dead. 

·      13:09 The trap door was all Hermione. She saw it, first of all, when they were running away from Filch after the midnight duel. Then it was her who saved the other two from the devil snare. She also figures out the logic puzzle and propels Harry to the rest of the challenges. Most importantly, she recognizes that it is bravery and friendship that make a good wizard.

·      18:14 She doesn’t get in the middle of Harry and Ron. In the Goblet of Fire, Harry and Ron have an argument because Harry’s name found itself in the Goblet and Ron felt betrayed. Hermione had the smarts to stay out of it. 

·      20:24 Dumbledore’s Army. In the Order of the Phoenix, the idea for the DA came from Hermione. She convinced Harry and set up the ledger, the gold coins, and decided the leader. She was the one who incited it and kept it going. 

·       24:23 The woods in the Deathly Hallows. She cooks and cleans, casts the protective spells, brings the other’s things when the leave the wedding, and she has just about everything in the extended bag of hers. Would they have gotten even half as far without her? Even Harry and Ron agree: not even close. 

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In this episode, we pit Flitwick and McGonagall head to head to see who would win. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:33 Why them? We don’t know Flitwick very well, so this could be an interesting pair. We do know a good amount about McGonagall, so putting them against each other could be a good contrast for Flitwick. 

·      6:36 Flitwick’s strengths and weaknesses. He is a sharp dude. He knows how to articulate what spells he wants to cast and has them all on the top of his mind at all times. In a duel, he could use that to keep his opponent on their toes and make sure he always has the upper hand. He was also a dueling champion in his youth which certainly doesn’t hurt. However, he doesn’t have a commanding presence or a huge amount of confidence which is a weakness. 

·      14:09 McGonagall’s strengths and weaknesses. She is very direct and means every spell she casts. It takes a certain drive in a person so cast powerful spells and McGonagall is in large supply. She is also very competent. She knows what she is doing and knows the theory and practicality of dueling. In addition, she is fierce and wants to protect the people she cares about. That could turn into a weakness however. 

·      18:04 Battle of Hogwarts. They meet on the battlefield and draw their wands. The wind’s blowing and a tumbleweed goes by and they look into each other’s eyes. With this one, Flitwick is coming out on top. This is a stressful situation that McGonagall wouldn’t stay on top of. Flitwick’s speed comes in handy and his ability to duel as a second nature.

·      22:06 Something on the line. If the loser of the duel’s family will die, who would win here? Absolutely McGonagall. One of her greatest strengths is her protectiveness and her drive to save the ones she loves. 

·      24:39 Flat plane. There is nothing inside, there is nothing outside. Who wins? It’s difficult, but Flitwick would win. McGonagall is a master of wizardry, but Flitwick is a dueling master and no one could rival his speed.

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In this episode, we discuss what would change if Dumbledore wasn't as intelligent. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:43 Harry would have died when he found the Sorcerer’s Stone. Dumbledore swooped in at the very last moment after realizing that he had received a fake message from the Ministry. Her passed Hermione and Ron and warded off Quirrell and Voldemort just in the nick of time. But if he wasn’t as smart, he wouldn’t have had that chance so Harry would have died.

·      7:10 Sirius would have been executed. The intense operation that saved him was carried out by Hermione and Harry but put in motion by Dumbledore. If he didn’t have the same intelligence, it wouldn’t have worked. It took a huge amount of planning and preparation that only an intelligent Dumbledore could have done, so there is no chance for Sirius to survive.

·      13:50 In the Order of the Phoenix, Harry almost goes to Azkaban. He is attacked by two dementors alongside Dudley in an underpass. However, he is underage and goes to trial. The trial goes smoothly and Dumbledore manages to get him out of any punishment. If Dumbledore wasn’t as able to defend him, Harry would have been charged, tried, and convicted. Listen to Breakdown: Fudge here.

·      19:13 He wouldn’t find and destroy horcruxes. However, it took a lot of planning and skill to find them. Dumbledore is the person who knows Voldemort the best and that’s why he can start looking for them and finding them, getting closer to defeating him. The absence of intelligence would mean Dumbledore wouldn’t look for the horcruxes and Voldemort would surely win.

·      23:00 Dumbledore would have lived past the Half-Blood Prince. The reason why Dumbledore was dying was he had touched the ring which was a horcrux and he became cursed. Snape gave him a year to live, so Dumbledore decided to use it to his advantage. However we just discussed that Dumbledore wouldn’t go looking for the horcruxes if he was less smart, so he wouldn’t be cursed. And further, he wouldn’t be able to recognize that his death at Snape’s hand would be infinitely more valuable than his staying alive. 

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In this episode, we discuss why the Dursleys aren't that bad. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:46 They showed Harry right and wrong. Harry saw what a dysfunctional family looked like. He could appreciate the good relationships is later began to make. They also taught him the social norms of the muggle world that came in handy later. Muggle studies is a class at Hogwarts for a reason. Most importantly, he didn’t develop a big head. He went to Hogwarts as a humble person and that helped him the most because he could blend in and stay in the background as well as he could.

·      11:58 Harry and Petunia are family. This is commonly overlooked. We know this very well of course, but it’s something that we don’t think about. Petunia knew Lily very well and Harry values having someone like that close. Harry is the closest thing to Lily that Petunia has left and as cold as they might be to each other, they are still family. Petunia might feel guilty about leaving Lily because they didn’t get along and she hated James, so Harry is a way to make up for it.

·      17:04 They parted as equals. For a long time, the Dursleys have been the enemy and Harry has dreaded returning every summer. By the seventh book and they’re saying goodbye, we realize that they had grown much closer. It is much harder to say goodbye to someone who you respect as an opponent than value as a friend. This is similar to the Tale of Three Brothers where the third brother took off his invisibility cloak at the end of his life and parted this life with Death as equals.

·      23:39 They protected him just like Lily and James would have done. They didn’t want to expose themselves and that was the motivation at the start, but as the story went on and they warmed up to each other, it also became about protecting Harry. Harry and the Dursleys grew closer than we or they realized.

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In this episode, we break down the character of Gilderoy Lockhart. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:37 Who is he? Well, Lockhart was the DADA teacher in the Chamber of Secrets. He was part of the Dark Forces Defense League, an Order of Merlin Third Class, winner of the Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile Award five times in a row and his favorite color is lilac. What a guy.

·      3:53 What was his role in the story? For Lockhart, he is an imposter so his role is fairly complicated. He never does real magic and wears many hats to fit in. To sum it up, he is a tool to propel the story forward and provide a moral contrast. He vanishes the bones in Harry’s arm and sends him to the hospital wing where Harry hears very important information. At the end what Lockhart is scrambling to run away, Harry and Ron bring him to the Chamber and they all go in. We also see him making questionable choices and lying through his teeth which gives us a better perspective on some of the other characters. 

·      11:20 Strengths and weaknesses. Let’s start with strengths. His big one is he can lie and act. He is constantly putting on a character and his actin g as someone else, and after so many years he becomes very good at. He can also cast a mean memory charm which comes in handy. His weaknesses far outweigh his strengths, however. Firstly Lockhart can’t do magic for the life of him. As skilled as he may seem, there is no skill behind it. His ability to lie is the only reason why no one calls him out. He also can’t see the bigger picture of even if he can’t fix a situation, others would see him as a greater wizard if he didn’t push it if there was risk and sought those who could help. Could he fix Harry’s arm? No. Did he try and fail? Yes. Case and point right there. 

·      22:04 If we could change him, would we? Absolutely. He has so many things that we could improve. We would stop him from lying so much for starters. He wouldn’t be saying how unlucky it was that he wasn’t there because he knew just the counter curse or that he knew exactly where the Chamber was. No, he wouldn’t say anything of that. He would also recognize his weaknesses and step back for others to do the things he knew he couldn’t. 

·      26:21 Did he receive a fitting end? No. As bad as he was and as many horrible things that he did, he didn’t deserve to loose all the things he stood for. He was put together and flashy and always knew what to say and do, but then became a shell. We thank him for his wonderful lines and the story he gave us and bid him farewell.

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In this episode, we discuss which characters could be evil. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:20 Dumbledore. This would be interesting. Dumbledore has a lot of power and information that would prove extremely useful to him. But he might not work with Voldemort because it has been made clear that he isn’t aligned with him. Dumbledore is working to take down Voldemort in the story, so the cool thing is that wouldn’t change one bit. Taking out Voldemort would mean less competition, so he would be just as motivated to do it. 

·      9:23 Hagrid. This would be a good one because it would heart wrenching. Hagrid is kind and considerate and the last person we would expect to be a double agent. That would make him the perfect spy. Who would suspect him? A more reasonable story would be blackmail because Hagrid would have to be a completely different person than we know to be working for Voldemort. Hagrid could work in the shadows and give the Death Eaters an in to the ground every once and a while, or pass along information.

·      14:16 Arthur Weasley. No one would know this one. Voldemort would understand the value of planting a close friend near Harry, and Arthur is the perfect one to do this. He would get close to Molly and once Voldemort needed it, they would send Ron to Hogwarts and stack the deck so they meet and become friends. Suddenly Ron is passing information to Voldemort through Arthur and no one suspects a thing. 

·      18:08 Slughorn. Slughorn makes a good spy because Dumbledore came to him and asked him to be on the staff, giving Voldemort a source of information in the castle. Slughorn is a part of the discussions of defense and trying to find Voldemort, so he could give false information and Voldemort could stay ahead of the Order and the Ministry. Slughorn could also take a look at Dumbledore’s private letters and get a lay of the land. 

·      22:34 Snape. How cool would it be if Snape was a triple agent? We could explore what Voldemort offered Snape to start working for him. But if Snape were discovered by Dumbledore, he would have to scramble. In order to keep under the radar he would have to be very convincing which could then lead to Voldemort becoming suspicious.

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In this episode we discuss the very best quotes in Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      1:43 “Why is it always me?” What a good one. This not only acts as comic relief, but also this quote points at a great question: why is is always Neville? It could be that he is a magnet for problems because it shows his character arcs. We see his struggles early on in the story, but then at the end he is fighting hundreds of Death Eaters. This quote acts as contrast between the person he was and the person he is.

·      7:37 “Worrying means you suffer twice.” This quote strikes such a chord because it is the truth. One of Newt’s best traits is his honesty, and this quote puts that on display. Newt says this to Jacob when they are prepared to capture the erumpent, and Jacob is freaking so Newt is trying to calm him down. He doesn’t sugar coat it and he doesn’t lie. All he says is the truth. 

·      13:18 “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” Sirius is right. Voldemort is a horrible leader and he will kill any one of his followers if they speak too loudly. Dumbledore gives everyone and voice and cares for every person below him. That is the difference between these characters and highlights the victory in the Battle of Hogwarts. 

·      19:05 “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” Dumbledore says this to Neville when he awards Neville just the right amount of points to win the house cup. Some of the worst conflicts in the story were between friends, like when Harry and Ron fought in the Deathly Hallows. Fighting with one’s friends is much more difficult, but also more valuable when needed.

·      23:02 “There are no strange creatures. Just blinkered people.” This fits Newt’s character. It shows his love of beasts and his distaste of humans, and also shows how he thinks most of the problems in the world come from humans.

·      25:35 “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.” All Dumbledore is saying is as bad as life seems, just relax and turn on a light. Often times, problems loom far smaller in the light than the dark.

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In this episode, we discuss Tina and Queenie's unbreakable bond and Queenie's descent  into darkness and Grindelwald. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      2:07 Tina and Queenie’s backstory and bond. They were born in the early 1900s and lost their parents to dragon pox when they were very young. The sisters only had each other to lean on going through life and had to find their own way in New York while trying to navigate the treachery of MACUSA. They have formed a very strong bond and they have grown very close and have gotten to know each other very well. The difficulties they have overcome have only brought them closer together.

·      7:46 What did Queenie join Grindelwald? The big overarching reason is Jacob. In this time, it was forbidden for magical people to be romantically involved with Muggles. Queenie had never had someone like Jacob before, so when they met, they were both enchanted. Queenie knew they couldn’t be together and it tore her apart. She joined Grindelwald because in a moment in inspiration, she thought that he wanted what she wanted and she flipped sides.

·      14:35 Queenie’s torment came from when she tried to return, not from when she left. This is a difficult topic to discuss because there is no one moment when her thoughts flipped to Grindelwald. The moment when she left was painful, but in that moment she believed herself to be correct which helped her along. It really became horrific when she realized that she was wrong in supporting Grindelwald and she had made a huge mistake and burned her bridges for nothing. She was along again.

·      20:06 What did the separation do for her relationships? Her separation with Jacob was probably the worst. They had already gotten to know each other when Queenie left, but they hadn’t had the bond the Tina did with her. They still ended up loving each other, but there was a moment when it was broken. For Tina, it likely wasn’t broken even once. Tina understands Queenie to such a degree that even though they were separated, Tina knew that Queenie was regretting her decision. Tina knows what its like to be alone and she couldn’t bear to do that to Queenie. 

·      24:51 Queenie and Tina’s relationship is unbreakable. They were too close and had been through too much together to break apart just when they needed each other the most. 

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In this episode, we discuss different magical creatures and rank them. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      Listen to QuizMaster: Gringotts here!

·      3:44 #8 Dragons

·      7:35 #7 Kneazle

·      10:24 #6 Niffler

·      15:24 #5 Bowtruckle

·      18:28 #4 Phoenix

·      22:24 #3 Houselves

·      24:35 #2 Centaurs

·      26:05 #1 Hippogriffs

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In this episode, we test our knowledge on Gringotts Bank. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      1:53 Warm-Up Round

·      3:50 Question 1

·      7:41 Question 2

·      14:12 Question 3

·      17:52 Question 4

·      23:04 Question 5

·      26:00 Question 6

·      30:18 Question 7 and Challenge Question

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In this listener suggested episode, we discuss the funniest characters and moments in Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      2:26 #7 Kingsley Shacklebolt. The reason why Kingsley is so far up on the list is his famous line: “You may not like it, but Dumbledore’s got style.” It is just perfect. The perfect ending to such an intense scene where Dumbledore is threatened with Azkaban. He is part of the Ministry, but he is also part of the Order.

·      8:03 #6 Ron Weasley. It should come as no surprise that Ron is on this list. I’m sorry to say he gets progressively less funny as the films go on. That’s not because Rupert’s acting took a dive, but because his lines work for a young kid the best, like in the Forbidden Forest when he asks Harry permission to start panicking or when he is freaking out while being strangled by the devil snare down the trap door. 

·      14:20 #5 Filch. Everything about Filch in the films are perfect. Even when he is trying to be menacing and scare the students, Filch has some pretty funny physical comedy. One of my favorites is when Filch runs into the Great Hall in the Deathly Hallows screaming, “Students out of bed! Students in the corridors!” It was the peak of his career, but to no avail because they were supposed to be there.

·      19:55 #4 Dumbledore. This is a deserving spot right here. But what makes Dumbledore so funny? In my opinion, it is his age. He is well past 110 in the story, but he still has such a young soul. He is a glass half full kind of person, and that shows with the cheerful way he takes his defeats. “Alas, ear wax.” He is calm when talking about quite consequential events that makes his every line so funny.

·      24:17 #3 Neville. Neville is such an innocent character who has some very cool lines. When he collapses the bridge in the Deathly Hallows, we think at first that Neville died. But he pulls himself over the edge and says, “That went well.” Similarly in the Goblet of Fire, Harry eats the gillyweed and jumps in the water and Neville starts to panic. “Oh my god! I’ve killed Harry Potter!”

·      29:40 #2 Hagrid. What a funny character. First of all, he is so kind and caring for all of his friends, but that doesn’t stop him from making the occasional funny mistake. When the trio and him are talking about the trap door, Hagrid accidentally tells them how they can get past Fluffy and delivers the famous “I should not have said that.” He also has had some other good ones that make his character pop. 

·      33:12 #1 Professor McGonagall. Without a single doubt, McGonagall is the funniest character in the entire series. Maggie Smith is the perfect actress, she received many of the good lines, and she was funny in the books. This combination makes up the perfect mixture of comedy that creates the funniest character in the entire series. “Boom!”

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In this episode, we discuss more would you rather questions. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      Listen to Would You Rather Part 1 here!

·      1:40 Would you rather kill Professor McGonagall or Molly Weasley? Let’s weight the pros and cons. McGonagall has a very strict moral compass and values that drive her to do the right thing. She knows the ground of Hogwarts and can defend it if she has to. Molly is such a kind person, acting as a mother figure for Harry. She will defend her loved ones till her very last breath. As wonderful as Molly is, it makes more sense to kill her because without McGonagall, the Battle of Hogwarts would be very different. 

·      9:19 Would you rather Snape or Draco be a friend to Harry from the beginning? Both tortured Harry for his entire time at Hogwarts, and though they both became friends of Harry’s at the end, getting there at the beginning could be a big change. Draco might make more of a difference. Snape perhaps came to like Harry more than Draco at the end, so if Draco was Harry’s friend the story would be changed for the better. 

·      16:33 Would you rather Muggle studies or care of magical creatures be required for students to take? Both subjects are a joke among the students when taking at least one would be hugely beneficial. Muggle studies would give wizards a perspective on Muggles that might reduce prejudices. Care of magical creatures would give a new look at magical nature. However, Muggle studies might help resolve more problems so that is the subject that should be required.  

·      20:23 Would you rather werewolves or house elves get another chance in society? Werewolves are hated and feared, and house elves are seen as nothing, just a way to do the laundry. The reason why house elves is the right choice is werewolves can still lead a normal life. A werewolf can still have friends that support them, but a house elf is all on their own.

·      23:36 Would you rather Umbridge stays or Hagrid goes? We get a taste of both. Umbridge presides over the school in the Order of the Phoenix, and it wasn’t very pleasant. Hagrid wasn’t there in the same book and that also wasn’t very nice. However, Umbridge staying would be the worst. She led with fear and pain, torturing the students to get her way and forcing them to follow the rules. 

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In this episode, we discuss who would in a duel: Harry or Hermione. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      1:51 Why them? Besides the fact that this episode was a suggestion, Harry and Hermione know each other. They have been friends for years and they know each other’s personalities and habits. In a duel, that connection could be interesting. They know more about each other than the average duel.

·      6:26 Harry’s strengths and weaknesses. His biggest strength is his general ability to duel and read his opponent. He has had a lot of practice and he knows what spells to use when. He is fluent in the language of casting spells. He is also quite smart in a situation like a duel. His major weakness is his emotions. If he is fighting someone like Hermione, he might not to hurt her which would give her an opening to attack.

·      14:48 Hermione’s Strengths and weaknesses. Her biggest strength is her ability to use many kinds of magic. She uses all kinds of spells, not just a certain vein like Harry might. She also knows Harry enough to guess his patterns and spells that he would stick to. Her weakness is she is a jack of all trades. She is skilled in every arena, but not specifically in dueling. That might count against her.

·      20:57 Dumbledore’s Army duel. Harry wants to demonstrate a duel to the other students in the DA, so he asks Hermione to be his dueling partner. Who would win? Either Harry would win or Hermione would find an opening and get the upper hand. However, Harry winning is more likely.

·      24:19 Meeting on the battlefield. If Harry and Hermione are enemies and they meet on the battlefield, who would win then? This one would be Hermione. Harry would see Hermione and focus in on winning and nothing else which would give Hermione the perfect opportunity to find an opening in Harry’s furious attacks and gain the advantage. 

·      27:41 Flat plain. With no outside circumstances, who would win? Without a doubt, it is Harry. The situation is what decided the other victories, but without a situation, there is nothing that stops Harry from using his superior skill to win. Nice job. 

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss some very though provoking questions. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:00 What does the happiest person in the world see in the Mirror of Erised? Dumbledore claims they would see themselves exactly has as they are, but I don’t agree. Happiest doesn’t mean completely happy first of all, but also, there is a very little chance that there is a person in the world who really doesn’t want anything more. The only time it would be a mirror is when the person looking in it truly wanted to see a mirror image of themselves.

·      9:01 What are the limits of an animagus? The rules themselves have really never been defined, so could someone turn into air? We’ve seen switching spells work with air, so it could be possible. Also, humans are technically animals too, so could a person become an animagus of another person?

·      12:56 Possible ancient alien intervention = magic? There are many theories today about huge structures like the pyramids of Giza, but what if it is really magic in the wizarding world? That would make perfect sense. It is really the kind of canon that seems like it would be upheld by the author. It does make sense after all.

·      17:26 Why are some spells unforgivable and others completely allowed that can kill just the same? I could cast a spell that can explode a building and kill a hundred people and that certainly wouldn’t be allowed, but the casting of the spell wouldn’t be the offense. But with an unforgivable curse, it is the act of casting it that is horrible. Maybe that’s because of what it does to the caster, not the target. It is really personal and you really have to mean the spell when you cast it.

·      22:00 Why weren’t potions used in the Battle of Hogwarts? They were throwing crystal balls at the Death Eaters so the least they could do is throw a few potions as well. Why didn’t they? It could have been the short notice because Harry gave them a heads up just a few hours before the battle started, but shouldn’t they have been preparing weeks or months before Harry arrived?

·      26:40 Is there a magical creature that is considered close enough to human that they can occupy the Room of Requirement? There have certainly been magical creatures in the room at the same time, but what if it was a centaur? Is their intelligence enough to occupy it? But then what about a dragon? They are very intelligent, but would they do it?

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Nox

In this episode, we answer some difficult Harry Potter would you rather questions. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      1:58 Would you rather save Sirius or Dumbledore? Yep, starting off strong. Sirius is the closest thing Harry has to a father and his death was a wrenching situation for Harry. Dumbledore was one of Harry’s closest friends and the person who lead the defense against Voldemort. All in all, I think though Harry would be hurt if Sirius died, the rest of the world would be damaged in Dumbledore died, so Dumbledore is the best choice.

·      10:47 Would you rather save Fred or Dobby? This is a tough one. Dobby was a free elf who didn’t deserve to be killed. He had his whole free life ahead of him. Fred with a close friend of Harry that died in the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry hated seeing everyone dying for him, which pushed him to go to the forest. It is for that reason that we should choose Dobby. Harry seeing Fred and knowing he died for him was why Harry went to the forest. If that happens, Harry wins. We know this. If we asked Fred, “Would you trade your life for a victory?”, he would say yes every time. Plus, Dobby didn’t deserve what he got and choosing him would guarantee victory.

·      17:42 Would you rather McGonagall or Hagrid be a secret spy for Voldemort? Both people are in support of Dumbledore through and through which is why it would be such a huge shock if one if them were to be a spy. The deciding factor is this: Dumbledore always says he would trust Hagrid with his life. Also, McGonagall is sharper and would be a better spy, which is why she is the better choice. 

·      22:16 Would you rather Snape really be on Voldemort’s side or Pettigrew really be on Dumbledore’s side? Which would be the most interesting for the story? One of Snape’s driving characteristics is his willingness to risk his life every day and act as a double agent. We never would think of Pettigrew as a double agent, but maybe that is exactly why he would be the best at being one. So which would be more interesting for the story? Probably Snape. It would be such a good reveal if at the end we realized that Snape was working for Voldemort.

·      27:07 Would you rather have a TV show or an 8th film? This is a real-life question. With a TV show, we could go much farther into depth than the films ever could. We could meet new characters, see things that were overlooked, and really get to know another side of the characters.  An 8th film would be a continuation of the story to see where the characters go and the aftermath of the battle. Without question, a TV film would be so much more valuable. 

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Nox

In this episode, we rank every Christmas in Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:15 Deathly Hallows. This is the Christmas on which Harry and Hermione met “Bathilda Bagshot” who was really Nagini. Voldemort showed up and tried to kill them, all this being after Harry saw the graves of his parents. His wand broke, many attempts were made on their lives, and they didn’t find the sword or anything else for that matter. Not their best.  

·      7:18 Chamber of Secrets. This might be a bit better than book seven, but it’s not great. This is the holiday season where Hermione turns into a cat and Ron and Harry turn into Crabbe and Goyle to question Malfoy, which was a complete disaster. They had a hilarious exchange around stomach pain and ran out.

·      13:24 Goblet of Fire. The Yule Ball might seem cool at first glance, but it really didn’t end very well. Hermione managed to have a good time, but Ron was man that Krum chose Hermione over him and he had to destroy their nights. On top of that, Harry and Ron weren’t very kind to their own dates (“Do you want to dance?” Harry and Ron: “Naw”). 

·      18:51 Half Blood Prince. This is middle of the road because there are some good and some bad events. The main bad reason is Harry’s spying on Malfoy. He ducks out of Slughorn’s party early just to spy on him! However, he does have a good time and also goes to the Burrow. Not a loss, not a victory.

·      21:13 Order of the Phoenix. In both the book and film, this Christmas is spent very well. In the book, they spend a lovely dinner with Sirius at Grimauld Place, then they head to St. Mungo’s to see Arthur. In the film, Arthur is with them and they have a merry time. No complaints there.

·      23:41 Prisoner of Azkaban. This is a good Christmas because of the Firebolt. Quidditch is one of Harry’s favorite things in the world, and this broom is the key to even more enjoyment out of it. Malfoy tries to catch him out and points out the fact that he has a broom, but he can’t do anything about it because it is completely allowed just like he tried to in the first book.

·      26:14 Sorcerer’s Stone. There is nothing wrong with this one. It is the very first time we see a magical Christmas. There are no evil people to fight or huge problems that need solving. It’s just enjoying a fantastic Christmas with Harry’s best friend. He receives the invisibility cloak which turned into one of the most valuable things he has. There are so many good things happening here and it is hard to fault. 

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Nox

In this episode, we flip the script to explore how the story would be different if Peter Pettigrew was on Dumbledore's side. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·       1:59 Dumbledore would have another line to Dumbledore. Snape is an effective and worthy spy, but have two perspectives on information is very valuable. They could find out if Voldemort was planning something he didn’t want Snape to know. Peter is also much more low profile and he can turn into a rat. It would be easier for him to sneak into situations and listen in on more conversations. One line of intelligence is pretty good, but two is priceless. 

·      7:23 Voldemort’s return would be different. This is a crossroads. It is Peter that helps Voldemort return the most, but if he’s on Dumbledore’s side, why would he? On the surface, it doesn’t make sense. But it might be a good move. Knowing Voldemort it makes sense that he would find a way to come back even without Peter’s help. So they can bring him back and install Peter as his right hand man and control his return in the process. Is it a good deal?

·      12:38 Sirius might not go the Azkaban. Or, he might go for a specific reason. If Pettigrew was on his side and he knew it, why would be break out in the first place? But then again, he was put away because he killed many muggles and, apparently Peter. If he knew they were on the same side, why would he? But what if Dumbledore didn’t say anything to Sirius? They would still have the same fight and Sirius would be arrested. Then Dumbledore could prove it was Peter and Sirius would be released. Peter could then run to Voldemort as a criminal on the run, join with him and become a spy. 

·      18:24 Malfoy Manor might be a little different. Peter owes Harry his life in the story, but things might shake out differently if they’re on the same side. Harry might not even end up there in the first place. But again even if he did, they could use it to their advantage. Peter could be the one to call Voldemort to prove his innocence and then create an escape, blaming someone else. 

23:16 Peter might be a better person. If he’s on Dumbledore’s side, there’s a good chance that he has different morals and he cares about lives and being good. No matter if he’s on Dumbledore’s side so he becomes a better person or he’s a better person so he’s on Dumbledore’s side, it is a swell situation either way.

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss some enemies that could have been friends. Enjoy!

·      2:11 Harry and Dudley. Watch the deleted scene here. The main benefit of this friendship would be an ally for Harry on Privet Drive. Every summer, he dreads the return and getting bullied by Dudley, but if he had a friend in Dudley instead, he might not find his summer home so horrible.

·      9:12 Harry and Bellatrix. If Harry and Bellatrix were friends, the story would be very different. When she kills Sirius, would Harry begin to hate her guts like he did when she was his enemy from the start? Their storyline would be much more interesting if Voldemort forced Bellatrix to kill Sirius. We have to assume that Sirius and Bellatrix were on good terms before that which only adds another layer of complexity. This could never happen! But if it could…

·      14:56 Snape and Hermione. This occurred to me because I never understood why Snape never saw Lily in Hermione as well as Harry. This is something that should have come out because though Harry is more closely related to Lily, Hermione is much closer to her at face value. It would be an unlikely friendship for sure, but it is one that could help bridge the gap of hate between Harry and Snape.

19:04 Dumbledore and Voldemort. One of the most interesting parts of the Fantastic Beasts films is the relationship between Grindelwald and Dumbledore. If Grindelwald was replaced by Voldemort, how would the story change? Dumbledore would probably find the war more difficult because instead of fighting an evil wizard he’s fighting the little boy from the orphanage who is angry at the world. 

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of the tri-wizard tournament. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:10 Cheating is promoted. The point of the competition is to think on your feet and adapt to any situation, but if the champions know everything about the challenges before they even stat, there is no point to any of it and the only challenge becomes who can learn the most about the task beforehand. 

·      5:11 Cheating is promoted. Genius! Cheating takes the competition out of the tasks and creates and more year-round event. If cheating is part of the tradition, it only tests more skills of more low profile work that the champions may have.

·      10:02 It puts the students in danger. The risk of death or injury is remarkably high and even if everyone escapes unscathed (which they didn’t) they might not come out the same as Dumbledore said. It is difficult the justify this competition if the lively hood of the students is put into the question to such an extreme degree. 

·      12:35 It brings the students together. Look at Hogwarts! With Cedric as a champion, every house was united against Harry which has never happened. Something powerful enough to get three of the four houses working together is worth mentioning. And the students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were cheering for their school’s candidate.

·      15:49 It pulls the teachers apart. They were all in uproar when Harry was chosen and they didn’t want to give Dumbledore an unfair advantage. The teachers are also all competing to get the most information to their champion. For them, the whole point is to win. That’s it.

·      19:16 A huge source of magical cooperation. Ministries work together and, though they might compete, the teachers meet and judge together. The students get the chance to meet others like them from different parts of the world and learning about a different way of life. Bill met his wife! They all have a common goal and interest that can promote magical harmony. 

·      23:43 So is it worth the trouble? Absolutely not. The pros outweigh the cons and the only way to get rid of all the cons is to get rid of the tournament. There are other sources of magical cooperation that the ministries can work together on and if a competition is really what the students want, there is certainly one that can be thought up that doesn’t seriously put the students at risk.

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Nox

In this episode, we rank the top 10 spells in Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:23 Honorable Mention and #10 Engorgio

·      5:10 #9 Incendio

·      7:10 #8 Immobulus 

·      9:50 #7 Protego

·      12:47 #6 Disillusionment charm

·      16:22 #5 Bubble Head Charm

·      18:54 #4 Wingardium Leviosa 

·      20:59 #3 Expecto Patronum

·      24:02 #2 Stupify

·      26:00 #1 Expeliarmus

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Nox

In this episode, we break down the character of Dobby. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      2:12 Dobby’s role in the story. Simply put, he started out as a solution for problems and a way to move the story along, but he became someone who stood up against the forces of evil and the weights that had previously held him back for so long. It is a real shame that he didn’t have the chance to come full circle and lead to house elves to victory against Voldemort. 

·       10:22 Strengths. One of Dobby’s greatest strengths is his loyalty. Harry is the person that freed him from the Malfoys and he is forever thankful and loyal to Harry for doing that for him. Because of that, Dobby is willing to do anything for Harry. This works well in combination with another strength: being a house elf. He is a field agent of sorts that can go behind enemy lines and infiltrate   places that would be otherwise unavailable to Harry. 

·      15:30 Weakness. Dobby has many just like any other character, but he main weakness is being in a position that wasn’t meant to make it to the end of the story. This isn’t his fault, but he is in the perfect place to be killed. He escaped his previous life which he hated and had made it so far, and began helping the people he truly cared for. That is just the right moment to take him out, right at the point where is hurts the most. 

·      19:40 How would the story be different without him? The characters that benefited from his services would have to figure out how to do it themselves. This could lead to some pretty interesting story lines. For example, Aberforth. If he couldn’t send Dobby, he would have to find a way to get into the Malfoy Manor himself. And Moody couldn’t use Dobby to get the gillyweed to Harry. Instead, he could have to find a way to get it to Harry himself. 

·      24:03 What was Dobby’s defining moment? When he was first set free. Lucius handed him the sock-filled diary that Harry had given a few moments before, and Dobby was free and he didn’t hold back. He said some things that he would never before and sent Lucius flying down the hallway. This set the scene for his defiance and his drive to fight for the right people. 

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Nox

In this listener submitted episode, we discuss what objects Harry and Voldemort would choose in an object draft. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:12: The Elder Wand. Harry wouldn’t want it to use it, he just wouldn’t want Voldemort to have it. If Voldemort had been the true master, Harry wouldn’t have had a chance like Ollivander said. However, Voldemort put a lot of his energy into finding and killing the true master, so if he didn’t have the Elder Wand and didn’t worry about finding the master, he might be able to find Harry easier.

·      10:58 Bellatrix’s knife. This is the very same knife that Bellatrix used to kill Dobby, and that is exactly what Harry would want to stop from happening. He was enjoying life as a free elf, defending the innocent and helping his friends. He didn’t deserve to die and Harry knew that. On top of that, the rules of magic didn’t apply as much to him, so he could be a spy for Harry and get into places that Harry couldn’t.

·      15:39 The Sword of Gryffindor. Harry would choose the sword after the trade with Griphook. He wanted to have both the cup and the sword, but if it was a choice, the cup was the right one. But what could be better than having both. The sword is a surefire way of destroying horcruxes. Though it may be more difficult to get the horcruxes themselves than find a way to destroy them, having the sword and destroying them right when they find them would be the real prize.

·      20:27 The Marauder’s Map. This is a no-brainer. The map is literally a map to Harry’s location. He doesn’t have to send a bunch of Death Eater’s out to find him; all he has to do is give them a location and that’s that. Outside of Harry, he also knows the location of just about everyone else. He could use it to find the hunters of his horcruxes to see how close they get.

·      24:16 The Diadem of Ravenclaw. The destruction of his horcruxes are the main reason why he loses, so protecting them is a way to ensure victory. Though he might still lose the final duel and could be forced close to death like the first time he went after Harry, he would live to fight another day and plot his return.

·      26:44 The Sorting Hat. After he chose the two previous items, Voldemort would be pretty much set. If he has the map and the diadem, there is no chance that Harry could win. Choosing the sorting hat and destroying it in some symbolic way would be the icing on the cake for Voldemort, truly showing his triumph over Dumbledore and the rest of the Order.  

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss the new Harry Potter documentary about stunts. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      Listen to episode 205, QuizMaster: DA Edition here!

·      3:14 Is it going to be happy or sad? A shown in the trailer, the day that he sustained his injury was one of it not the worst day on the Harry Potter set. This was a horrible tragedy and that isn’t going to be an overlooked fact. However, there is also a positive spin. He has such a network of family and friends, and now, though he can’t do the work that he loves, he bounced back and now enjoys life to the fullest. 

·      7:40 Would the films be possible without stunts? Probably not. The stunts are the things that bring the films to life; jumping off cliffs and doing crazy things are what shows us how fantastical the world is. Combined with the magic, stunts are the core of the films. They certainly wouldn’t be the same without stunts. 

·      13:45 Who is the Tom Cruise? My mind jumps to Rupert Grint. He would ask to do a stunt all by himself, and the studio would then have to train him for days to do just this one thing. He would see it as a challenge and fun activity to take up.

·      19:03 What is my favorite stunt? Without a doubt, it is when Harry is hanging off the rooftop in the Triwizard Tournament as the dragon claws nearer and nearer. It is so intense and we’re really living the scene, and without the stunt of dangling from the roof and then grabbing the broom just has he falls, and putting the broom under himself and zooming away.  

·      22:36 What is the purpose of this documentary? In short, it is to shed light on the behind-the-scenes aspects of the story, as well as to give credit to a department that was integral to the creation of the films. David Holmes has a very unique path, and this documentary is going to show how much his life was affected by Harry Potter, but also how he managed to pull out of it and make the most of his life.

·      26:07 Are there going to be more things like this? Absolutely! 

The fan base of Harry Potter is still very much alive, and there any many people out there who would be delighted to watch more Harry Potter content. There are still so many people who we haven’t seen and so many stories that still haven't been told.

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Nox

In this episode, we test our knowledge on Dumbledore's Army. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      1:53 Warm Up Round

·      4:21 Question 1

·      7:54 Question 2

·      12:36 Question 3

·      16:48 Question 4

·      22:12 Question 5

·      25:17 Question 6

·      27:47 Question 7

·      30:17 Challenge Question

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Nox

In this episode we discuss some of the best Fred and George moments. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      1:58 “He’s not Fred, I am!” This scene takes place in the first book in King’s Cross station. This is a good display of banter between them, and this was one of the first examples we have of their characters. They aren’t afraid of pulling someone’s leg while making a joke. This establishes their place as the jokers of the family and puts them very close. It shows the closeness of the two.

·      8:12 Gred and Forge. This scene takes place in the first Christmas as Hogwarts, showing that the twins like to tease Ron. They also know how make a good joke in passing, and the fleetingness comes across in the text. As we read, the words on the page become an image in our heads, and this scene is a fantastic example of their perfect comedic timing.

·      13:16 Giving Filch a box of chocolate. Umbridge was getting close to the Dumbledore’s Army, so Fred and George had to find a way to get Filch off the scent. They gave him a box of chocolates that turned out to be less than friendly.

·      16:58 Fireworks. This is my favorite Fred and George moment. It is the ultimate spit in the face to Umbridge and timed perfectly. Umbridge gets what she deserves and the school gets a good show. They depart Hogwarts in style and make a mark. Even Flitwick was happy. That was the one moment where the teachers were thrilled to say that Fred and George were some of the worst trouble makers the school had ever seen.

·      23:02 The Age Line. Dumbledore said no one should try and cross the age line that he drew around the Goblet of Fire. Fred and George took that as the perfect opportunity to do just that. The gold represented a leg up for their family and a chance to get back on top. They had a dream to open up a joke shop and begin making money for themselves. 

·      27:39 “But if we’re not careful we’ll have another Head Boy in the family. I don’t think I could stand the shame.” This is exactly what we would expect one of them to say. The Head Boy stands for the Administration, everything that Fred and George try and take down. 

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In this listener submitted episode, we discuss if Harry and Hermione could have ever been romantically involved.  Enjoy!
 
Summary/Topics:
·      1:31 Harry is too committed to Cho in the books. They went on actual dates and spent more time together. In the book it was more involved and long lived. They stayed together long enough to know that it wasn’t a casual thing. With Cho in Harry’s life for so long, it made it more difficult for Harry to be with Hermione. 

·      9:14 Ginny and Harry had a serious relationship. By the time Harry had broken up with Cho, the time was ripe to get with Harry. And when they eventually did, it was too late for Harry’s view of Hermione to change. And the inception of Harry and Ginny also loosely marked the beginning of Ron and Hermione as well which closed all door that lead to romantics between Harry and Hermione.

·      14:59 There is more detail in the book. Harry didn’t have enough brain space to deal with multiple relationships on top of all the challenges he faced with Dumbledore and Voldemort. There was just too much going on in his life in the books for a relationship with Hermione to work. 

·      19:07 In the film, Harry didn’t have a nearly as involved relationship with Cho. They trade glances, they kiss, and then Cho tattles on the DA and that’s that. Short lived. After they broke up, the hole that was left in Harry’s heart could have been more easily filled by a relationship with Hermione. 

·      22:08 There is less detail in the film. This gets a bit difficult to discuss because the story and all the problems are the same. There are just fewer layers for Harry and Hermione to deal with, and that might lead to an easier time getting closer together. Ron is someone who might prevent this. Ron in the film is more petty and he might not take to Harry and Hermione’s relationship as kindly as in the book. Maybe it’s written in the stars that there is no chance that they will ever be together. 

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss different Greek myths that appear in Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:25 The Basilisk and Medusa. Medusa has snakes for hair and the basilisk is a snake. They both petrify with their eyes. But what would happen if they looked into each other eyes? There’s no way to know for sure, but Medusa was die instantly and the basilisk would begin to petrify but would live because Medusa would die for it could turn to stone entirely. 

·      8:33 Hermione. Hermione was the daughter of Helen of Troy, and there are some parallels in their love lives. Hermione of Troy was set to marry Orestes, her cousin, but during the Trojan War, she was instead promised to Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles. They got married, but he was soon killed and Hermione could marry Orestes in piece. This resembles Hermione Granger’s experience was Cormac McLaggen and Ron? No one dies, but it takes a war for Hermione of Troy to finally be with Orestes, and so it does for Ron and Hermione. Read more here.

·      15:01 Professor McGonagall and Minerva. Minerva was the ancient Roman goddess of wisdom and defensive war. She also looks over metal work, pottery, and using materials for good. McGonagall did just this when she cast Piertotem Locomotor and brought the statues to life.

·      18:26 Quirrell and Janus. Janus was the Roman god of beginnings and endings, gateways and entrances. He is sometimes called Janus Quirinus which also happens to be Quirrell’s first name. Janus has two heads as well, with one head telling the truth and the other not. Sound familiar?

·      22:42 Fluffy and Cerberus. Cerberus was a giant three headed dog that guarded the Underworld. Fluffy is a giant three headed dog that guarded the Sorcerer’s Stone. This is a simple one. 

·      24:56 Trelawney and Cassandra. Cassandra was a Trojan princess who was cursed by Apollo to be able to see the future but never be believed. That already sounds like someone we know. We also know that Trelawney has a great-great-grandmother named Cassandra. Maybe sight runs in the family.  

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Nox

In this episode, we discuss if Harry and Hermione would have reached as great heights is Ron wasn't with them. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:53 What role does Ron play? There isn’t a single word that can sum up Ron’s role in the story. A lot of what he does is away from the spotlight, and that is also the reason why he gets into the occasional spat with Harry. He is constantly out of the spotlight in his own family, and being with the chosen one can’t help. To put words to it, Ron is a shoulder for Harry and Hermione to lean on and he acts as an ally for the day to day. Ron can also act as Ron’s therapist because of their long talks and how close they are.

·      8:54 Ron’s strengths. If there are strengths that Ron has that the other two do not, then there might be a case to make. One of his strengths is his loyalty. When Goyle is destroying the Room of Requirement, Ron is the first to run after him to protect his friends. Another one of his strengths that is irreplicable is his knowledge of the wizarding world. Neither Harry nor Hermione grew up in the magical world and they don’t have the off the cuff knowledge that would give the other two the upper hand. Ron is also a helping hand to Harry as mentioned. He is a backboard for Harry’s ideas and a wall to lean on.

·      15:19 Weaknesses. Ron’s big weakness is he lets the little things get in his head and trip him up. While he was camping in the woods with Harry and Hermione, Ron didn’t eat very good food and that really ruined his life. When Harry is entered into the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Ron was too angry at Harry for not telling him how he did it to stop and think how Harry would be the last person to enter.

·      19:09 Would Harry or Hermione miss Ron the most? It depends which book. In the books before the trio goes off on their own, Harry is the one who would miss Ron the most because they are very close friends. When Ron and Hermione grow closer in the seventh book, Hermione might feel even worse about Ron’s disappearance because that is when they became romantically involved.

·      24:41 Would they go on? Let’s split it in two parts. First, would they be able to make it through Hogwarts? Probably not. Ron is a big help to Harry in Hogwarts and he and Ron are also very close. Now, would Harry and Hermione be able to find all the horcruxes and defeat Voldemort? Most likely. Ron is important, but many of the things that he does are only a negative on the group. There are certainly moments where he isn’t the biggest help, and Harry and Hermione might make it through.

 ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com
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Nox

This week marks 200 episodes and three years of this podcast. I would not have been able to do any of this without your continued support, and for that I thank you all. Here's to another 200!

 ThePotterDiscussion@gmail.com
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Nox

In this episode, we discuss some additions to the story that would help out a bunch. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      2:22 More accessible portkeys. Portkeys are effective, but they take too long to set up and aren’t a quick us. They take time to set up and advanced planning. If you’re running down an alley with snatchers on your tail, the last thing you’re thinking of is a portkey. How convenient would it be to have a smaller device that can be used at moment’s notice?

·      7:13 Making quidditch pitches safer. Falling of your broom and falling to your death is a fairly likely outcome of quidditch, which we saw Harry do in the third book. If Dumbledore wasn’t there, Harry might have gotten really hurt. Making charms that soften the field is a great innovation, or even just stationing wizard on the ground to make sure there are no kids freefalling through the air.

·      14:42 More advanced security at Gringotts. In the first book, the goblin saw Harry’s key and brough them to his vault. That seems so easy. A better system to would be to put more security in place. People would be scanning all those who enter the bank. They would have to prove their identity with veritaserum, then they would be taken to their vault.