Summary
TheHarry PotterHBO series promises to be a great way to revisit the franchise while also attracting a new generation of fans to the wizarding world. While the movie collection was a cultural phenomenon in its own right, it still had to cut down a lot of things from the source material to fit everything within a reasonable runtime.
For the most part, the movies did a great job with this truncation. However, hardcore fans who can’t get enough of the details in the books will love it if the HBO series does justice to the franchise’s unsung plot points.
1The Presence Of Peeves
It’s A Shame That Multiple Story Arcs Featuring This Beloved Poltergeist Were Completely Scrapped
Peeves is one of the funniest characters in the books. He serves as a thorn in the protagonist’s side during the first book (which is replicated in the games) and develops a fondness for the Weasley twins that leads to him becoming a more overbearing troublemaker in the wake of their departure from the school.
With the expansion afforded by the series, it would be a crime not to show Peeves in his element. His hijinks could make for some hilarious moments early on in the series' run before the story becomes darker and more oppressive.
2The Entire S.P.E.W. Debacle
Hermione’s Insistence To Give House Elves Rights Is Hilarious
After seeing the horrid conditions that the house elves were kept in, Hermione decided to start S.P.E.W. and make people understand the horrid conditions these house elves had to deal with. The name itself should make it clear thatthis turned into a running gagthroughoutGoblet of Fire.
The funniest part about this was that Hermione failed to understand that the house elves actually liked to live in servitude, barring a few exceptions. Dobby is one of the few people supportive of Hermione in this cause, with his behavior causing the other house elves to shirk in disgust.
3Dudley Trying To Make Amends With Harry
Redeems A Character Who Slowly Grew To Respect Harry After He Was Saved From The Dementors
Dudley Dursley is one of the most annoying characters in the movies. However, fans of the books are aware of the respect he develops for his cousin after he is saved from the Dementors by Harry.
He eventually stops picking on Harry and develops a conscience, culminating in a moment where he and Harry bid farewell on a positive note. Since the movies didn’t have any time to show this redemption arc, fans can only hope that the series expands on this character development for the spoiled Dursley child.
4The Visit To St. Mungos
A Visit To See Mr. Weasley Becomes Interesting With The Appearance Of The Longbottoms And Lockhart
Following the brutal assault by Nagini on Mr. Weasley, the gang decides to visit St. Mungo’s to see how he’s doing. It’s a very relevant moment from the books missing in the movies, simply because of two moments that occur in this hospital.
Firstly, the gang finally sees Neville Longbottom’s parents and realizes just how horrid Bellatrix’s torture was, turning them into a shadow of their former selves. It’s a saddening moment that hammers in the threat of the Death Eaters, but a moment of levity is enjoyed during this visit when readers see a cameo from Lockhart, who hasn’t recovered from the Obliviate spell that backfired on him.
5Draco Redeeming Himself By Throwing The Wand To Harry
A Simple Yet Powerful Scene That Shows The Mutual Respect Between The Two Rivals
Draco Malfoy is a spoiled bratwho wastes no time in getting on Harry’s bad side after bragging about his family. He’s at odds with his rival every step of the way, and it doesn’t help that his family’s connection to the Dark Lord forces him down a path of evil.
However, it’s clear that Draco has a conscience in the final book, since he’s the one who gives Harry his wand after he reveals to everyone that he’s alive. It’s a critical piece of character development missing from the movies, even though the scene was shot but ultimately cut out of the final print.
6Harry Breaking Down In Dumbledore’s Office After Sirius’s Death
A Powerful Emotional Moment That Isn’t Present In The Movie
After finally finding a family member to confide in, Harry can’t help but feel distressed after a man he looked up to dies at the end ofOrder of the Phoenix. It’s a harrowing moment that he barely gets to process in the movie before it draws to a close.
However, the books had a sobering moment where Harry suffers a breakdown in Dumbledore’s office and trashes the place. Seeing him in such an emotional state showed just how much he loved Sirius, andthe HBO series has a golden opportunityto adapt this moment and develop Harry’s character as he processes his grief.
7The Obstacles In Goblet Of Fire’s Maze
Harry Must Solve Interesting Puzzles And Deal With Other Threats
The final test in the Triwizard tournament is a maze with many unique challenges that the competitors must overcome to reach the Triwizard Cup. The movie powers through this challenge for the most part, with some spooky visuals and chase sequences being the only screen time this maze gets.
Meanwhile, the books spent a long time on Harry’s journey in the maze, where he had to deal with several obstacles during this trial. The most notable one of the lot is a Sphinx that challenges Harry with a riddle, which he manages to solve in the nick of time to make progress.
8Sir Nicholas' Death Day Party
A Hilarious Party To Celebrate Nearly Headless Nick’s Five-Hundredth Deathday
Sometimes, moments of levity are required in a story about a wizarding world. This was provided by Nearly Headless Nick in droves in the first book, only for him to becomeone of the Basilisk’s victimsinChamber of Secrets.
This moment can hit harder if fans get to see the Deathday Party that Sir Nicholas throws, almost forcing Harry and the others to attend. Numerous other ghosts in the castle get to make an appearance, which is a great way to enhance Hogwarts' worldbuilding and make this school feel more magical than ever.
