There is a Harry Potter television series (hopefully) coming to Max [formerly HBO Max] in the next few years. While the book series that launched J.K. Rowling into international stardom is now somewhat controversial due to her views on transgender individuals, her previous work shouldn’t be hated because of her current opinions, but that’s neither here nor there.
We thought we’d have some fun with a potential series on the way. We wanted to go over ten things the Harry Potter television series needs to address that they didn’t with the films. After all, with a TV show, you have more opportunities to world-build.
1. S.P.E.W.
In the books, Hermione founded the organisation S.P.E.W. (The Society of the Promotion of Elfish Welfare) after she saw how horrible House Elves are being treated, especially by people in the wizarding world like the Malfoys who treated Dobby like trash. She also says that the way the Crouch family treated their house elf, Winky, was slavery.
Having S.P.E.W. in the Harry Potter television series would be a great way to highlight characters that didn’t have a massive role in the films, like Dobby, who only appears in Chamber of Secrets and Deathly Hallows, part one. It would also be great to see Winky play a role, as she was omitted from the film series altogether.
2. Explaining Voldemort’s Backstory And His Feelings On Blood Purity
We don’t see a ton of Voldemort’s backstory in the films, and we don’t get a ton of his feelings toward Blood Purity either. The only references we get to this are his younger self telling Harry during the Chamber of Secrets that he refused to keep his “filthy muggle father’s name” and the statement he makes in Deathly Hallows, part two, about how people want wizards to “mate” with muggles and it caused laughter from Bellatrix and some of the other Death Eaters. It would also be nice if they explored why he chose to go after Harry but not Neville.
3. The Creevey Brothers
We got the introduction to Colin Creevey in the Chamber of Secrets film. That was the only movie he was in. We also didn’t get the introduction to his younger brother, Dennis. Colin is an interesting character because we know him as one of the Muggleborn characters whom the Basilisk petrified. Also, both Creevey brothers in the books were in Dumbledore’s army.
In later films, Colin and Dennis are replaced by an original character named Nigel.
Dennis survived the Second Wizarding War, but Colin did not, as he died during the Battle of Hogwarts. Colin was not supposed to be fighting as he was underage. However, Ginny Weasley, who was in his year, was involved in the fight and survived.
The Harry Potter television series would be a great place to showcase the brothers in more detail.
4. One Actor To Play Each Character Unless Necessary
A fundamental issue the films had was that many minor characters were recast. Two examples include Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. However, if an actor dies during production between seasons, like Richard Harris, then yes, recast.
Lavender’s role in the early story is essentially background. In later books, she starts dating Ron Weasley in Half-Blood Prince; she becomes an essential part of the story. In the films, the character’s ethnicity fluctuated between cinema as background actresses were playing her with no lines or dialogue.
Also, Lord Voldemort was played by several actors even after Ralph Fiennes was cast in Goblet of Fire onwards. Meanwhile, there were only two actresses who played McGonagall across the prominent films and the Fantastic Beasts prequels.
5. Hedwig’s Name Explanation And Additional Screen Time
Let’s face it. The true star of the Harry Potter films was Hedwig, Harry’s beloved Snowy owl killed during the Battle of Seven Potters. Her death was devastating for so many.
However, what we should get from the Harry Potter Television series is how the beloved owl got her name. She should have additional screen time as we rarely see her in the films. With the television show, there is more room to show things that weren’t covered in the movies due to time restraints.
6. Explaining More About The Malfoy Family
Draco Malfoy has always been a fascinating character, as he is a tortured soul by the end of the story. He goes from being an individual his parents spoil to a young man realising that everything he knows is toxic and needs a fresh start.
We also didn’t see a ton of Narcissa in the films. She was introduced much earlier in the books. It would also be nice if we got a small look at who she is outside of being a wife and a mother. What was her relationship with her two sisters like? Was she close to Bellatrix and Andromeda? This should be answered as it gives her more depth than what we got in the films, which doesn’t explain much.
7. Exploring More Of Fred And George’s Antics
Much stuff about Fred and George where left out of the films due to time restraints. Wouldn’t it be something if a whole episode explained what they were like as kids and the type of pranks they pulled? It would be awesome to see a flashback from when they turned Ron’s teddy bear into a giant spider, triggering his fear of spiders.
8. Explaining The Different Names For Muggles
We know that Muggles are the “non-magic” folk of the wizarding world. However, since the books came out, there have been other names for muggles. However, it depends on where in the world a wizard resides. For example, a Muggle in America is known as a No-Maj.
It would be interesting if the Harry Potter television series explored this in more detail.
9. Creatures And House Alumni
The creatures, like the Basilisk and the famous House Alumni from Hogwarts, are a significant aspect of the Harry Potter franchise. It would be awesome if there were a brief reference to Newt Scamander being from Hufflepuff. It would also be awesome if they touched on the traits of being a Gryffindor much more than the films did.
10. Explaining What Filch Is
Finally, in our last point, we would love it if they explained that Filch is a Squib, a being with at least one magical parent, but cannot do magic themselves. This was a book subplot but not touched on in the films.
