HARRY POTTER: REVISITING THE FRANCHISE NEARLY A DECADE LATER

Piece Written by - D4rth

My relationship with Harry Potter

“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”

Now look, Harry Potter has never been one of my favourite things ever, I’m a fan of many things, I used to read a lot of these YA books and used to watch tons of mainstream blockbusters. Naturally I read the Harry Potter books as a kid and was fond of them but I kinda just forgot about them by the time I read Lord of the Rings. The movies too, were a part of my life before but I can’t say I was a harry potter super-fan. Now tho, years later, revisiting them, I did find a comforting and powerful sense of nostalgia. And in weird places. Watching the 20th anniversary reunion on Amazon Prime Video, I was enjoying it but not really feeling all that nostalgic or emotional for my childhood as a lot of people did. Can’t explain why. But then I dusted off my old DVDs that I had and well, that inspired me to go back and read all the Harry Potter books again. Now I won’t pretend that I don’t have the same issues I had with Harry potter before, regarding the conveniences, the formula, and various small yet frustrating issues that were keeping me from saying it was one of ‘the best series I’d seen or read’. I do. But what I found while re reading them was that I don’t really care all that much. Sure, it’s no Lord of the Rings. It is by no means close to Star Wars. When offered the choice, I would much rather rewatch those. But still, I got so lost in these damn books and found myself defending them, and surprising myself as to how much I enjoyed these darn characters and stories. And for the most part, I did kinda love them. And I wouldn’t mind revisiting them again, sometime in the future. 

An overview

“Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light” 

The Harry Potter series is something we don’t see too much of. A solid 7 book series that actually completed (ha take that George R.R Martin!) that had an 8 movie adaptation that was mostly well received by both critics and fans, and is an iconic series that like, everybody has heard of. It was Star Wars, but for the 90s and 00s kids. Marvel but for people over the age of 11. And I doubt we’re gonna get another gigantic spearhead of fantasy storytelling anytime soon. In this day, where studios have placed the safest bets and have been funding nonsense, the harry potter series marked the end of an era for blockbusters, and stands above the stupidity of films like Red Notice or whatever DC is doing, or the bullshittery of the MCU and the fast and furious saga. And also, in an age where kids’ ‘literature’ isn’t particularly at its best, the one series pretty much every kid did read, was well, harry potter. People can debate the deservingness of Harry Potter's success and whether there were other books/movies that deserve the praise that a fairly mediocre bunch of films have gotten, but none can deny it. I think the Harry Potter series is kinda cool. And I like the fact that so many people like it and have connected to it. There is a magical escapism to be found in it, it’s so fresh and so wonderfully told that you wouldn’t have a hard time getting carried away by the story. Once you've picked up a Harry Potter book, especially if it’s something like the Deathly Hallows, it’s virtually impossible to put down. The sense of awe and wonder is worth every second. And I also love how the series gets darker in tone, and more mature, grittier even. There’s phases in the series where all hope seems lost, and everything is about as bleak as a story aimed for teenagers could be. The movies even get darker visually as the series progresses. One of the main reasons me and tons of teenagers/kids like harry potter is because it is pretty much, the quintessential coming-of-age story. You follow these kids for 7 years, practically grow up with them and form such a strong bond to the characters. The level of attachment some people have with these characters is beautiful. And it is totally a story about growing up, and the series ‘literally’ grows up. From making new friends to having to leave your home and school, it hits all the emotional beats of the greatest coming-of-age stories. One of the main themes of the series is how adults are not to be trusted and the kids in the end, end up saving the day, it’s sort of a cliche and not very open-minded or deep but it gives the series the heart it requires and makes it endearing. And even more than that, the harry potter series is so, damn, fun. The adventure, the thrills, the mystery, the discovery, the plot twists, it’s got everything and is so damn exciting. There are darkly creative ideas about witchcraft but also romantic-comedy elements, and the series never stops being an exciting ride. The world is super creative and lived in, it’s full of details and layers and very easy to get obsessed with. If you think too hard about it though, you’ll find plenty of plot holes and inconsistencies but honestly these are just tiny stumbles in a magnificent saga filled with rich storytelling. With this ‘thing I’m writing’ I’m not gonna too much into what doesn’t work, because well, there are things that keep the harry potter series overall from being a masterpiece but it’s still great.

Books vs Movies

“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic.”

I’ll be honest for a second. I was never the biggest fan of the Harry Potter movies. I found them to be at their worst, unbearable, long, slogs of barely entertaining ‘fantasy’ rubbish, and at their best, tight and exciting movies with teenagers doing magic, only a tier above mediocre. But now, rewatching them, I’ve found a different sort of appreciation for a few of them, even though I think they never really unlocked the full potential of what a harry potter film could be. And I don’t want to be a pretentious ‘book purist’ but the books just did plenty of things better, like Ginny’s character, Voldemort’s back story, Harry and Ginny’s relationship, the actual Hogwarts stuff etc. The books have plenty of little things, comedic lines and small anecdotes that the films sorely missed, and I just think they’re better told, more exciting and have a lot more dramatic weight and are more immersive. Which is quite a testament to the books because I personally love cinema as an artform much more than written literature. The films have energetic action sequences, breathtaking cinematography, (I love how the films get moodier and the colours more unsaturated as things look bleak for Harry and co.) The films also have some really, freaking, good performances. Alan Rickman kills it as Snape and so does Michael Gambon, Richard Harris, Robbie Coltrane, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Maggie Smith and more. These actors played a big part in crafting the iconic stature of their characters and that goes a long way. And the movies have plenty of moments that aren’t in the books that I appreciate. I love the dance scene in Deathly Hallows part one with Harry and Hermione. So yeah, I don’t hate that the movies exist, in fact when they’re at their best, my favourite being Deathly Hallows part one (deathly hallows part two would’ve been my favourite had it not been slightly disappointing and anticlimactic, I much prefer the final duel in the book) but when they’re at their best, they’re pretty damn good cinema. I also really enjoy how they let different auteurs such as Alfonso Cuaron direct the films and infuse them with their own style, but still the films are consistent. Also, Prisoner of Azkaban is genuinely a really, really well made film, probably the best one in the series. And yet, when I revisit the series again, I’ll probably just read the books again. 

Characters

Figured it’s kind of impossible to write about Harry Potter without talking about the characters a little bit since they are like the most of the reason these books and films will stand the test of time. Hermione Granger is my character AFTER my revisit. Before, she wasn’t anywhere near the top. I find that very interesting. Hermione is the one person I would always back. I appreciate her so much, her loyalty, her unwillingness to give up and just how much she gave to the fight. Sure, Harry was usually the bravest person in the room but he and Ron would literally be nowhere without Hermione. Nowhere. She even made her parents forget she existed to protect them, and to protect Harry. Harry Potter is a fantastic character. Yep. I know some people don’t quite like him in the latest books for various reason but I kinda don’t care, I don’t care that everything seems to happen to him, and also he’s kind of a gary stu but he’s just so darn brave and the fact that he’s the audience surrogate kinda already means I’m gonna love him. Dumbledore is while at times, frustrating, he is the charmingly mysterious presence in the room who comforts the characters in the story as well as the readers. He’s the ‘Yoda’ of Harry Potter. Snape is probably the best written character in Harry Potter, his entire arc is heartbreaking and the final twist is just…. It leaves you speechless. Sirius used to be my favourite character and I still love him, he’s a badass, I just wish we got more of him. I also love Hagrid. Harry Potter would not be what it is without Hagrid. 

Here are some individual thoughts on each book :-

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone - 4/10

Whoops, we’re already starting with a hot take. And it’s surprising isn’t it, to see a bad score after I’ve been praising the series for the last few paragraphs? But yeah, I think the first two Harry Potters are the weakest (books and films) probably because they weren’t made for me. I don’t have a big problem with how childish it is but it’s a book that is clearly setting up a world and characters and has the ‘first episode of a show’ vibe. It’s a book that didn’t know what the universe could be and for that I find it necessary to read at first, but then have no desire to revisit it. 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - 4/10

The Chamber of Secrets is low on my ranking for similar reasons as the first one, it kind of feels like someone had a couple of cool ideas on ‘what if this happened!?’ and turned it into a fairytale bed side story that does have its charm but I’d definitely enjoy it a lot more if I was younger, and I did in fact enjoy it a lot more when I was younger. Now, it kind of just feels unnecessary and doesn’t add anything to the overall story. The character work is in place though, so that it can be paid off big time later. Unfortunately the characters at this point aren’t very interesting.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - 7/10

Not much to say about this one, except this is the one where the series took off! It is a soaring film, adventurous and bold. It has complex ideas and sinister themes, and introduces the character who used to be my favourite, Sirius Black. The plot twist in this one is fantastic, possibly the best one in the series. The movie totally understood what this instalment needed to be, and it was a super entertaining coming of age story that was the perfect blend of light-hearted whimsyness and dark, foreboding storytelling. The book is the blueprint of course yet somehow, it’s a bit forgettable even if it is endlessly creative.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - 8/10

This is a tough one to talk about. And to reiterate, I am talking about the books mainly here. Goblet of Fire is probably the funniest Harry Potter book. The comedy is simply, gold. But this is also the one where Harry Potter grew up. The moment when Cedric Diggory, an innocent boy who we all liked, was murdered and cast aside in seconds because the dark lord deemed him useless, at that moment, Harry Potter grew up. Goblet of Fire opened up the world of Harry Potter and strengthened its lore, the cast of characters grew and so did the scope. It is a grand adventure and a delightfully charming time, with the teenagers acting the most like teenagers. Going to dances, being awkward, messing up, being jealous, etc. This is probably the book that made me realise that Hermione is my favourite character. It’s also probably the one that’s most re-readable. 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - 8/10

Since it had been so long since I last read the books, I did not remember just how infuriating this book was, in a good way. Umbridge is a very, very effective villain, and the underlying tension and riled up nature of this book is great. It’s the longest one and yet never feels slow or overbearing for a moment, it’s the one where we know the least about what’s happening and the mystery and weariness of the future really gets to you. I loved seeing the kids truly come into their own in this one, and the final sequence is one of the most thrilling sequences in the entire series. Order of the Phoenix is like watching a train wreck but at twice the speed it just sweeps you off your feet. It also gives us our first taste of real sadness, Sirius’ death. It’s frustrating that Harry did not get to spend more time with him and he just died, just like that. And the book still has it’s well earned teenage earnestness

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - 9/10

Oof, Half-Blood Prince It’s worth talking about the movie for this one, a movie that I have very mixed thoughts on, although I adore the book. The movie was part romantic-comedy, part darkly twisted wizard thriller. Safe to say, it was trying to do too many things at once. But the book absolutely nails this tonal inconsistency to give you a frighteningly mature but comfortably nostalgic experience. I won’t lie, the romance and relationships and teenage stuff have always been part of the reason why Harry Potter feels so tangible, albeit far fetched. Half Blood Prince in my mind, nails storytelling, and nails the harry potter formula. It is the most gripping and mysterious instalment and is full of amazing moments. It more so than any other book thus far, pushes the Harry/Voldemort story further and makes some jaw dropping revelations. It’s also a brilliant, eerie set up for what’s about to come, it’s the calm before the storm. The final chapter of this book is emotional, depressing, intense and bone chilling. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - 10/10

I do not even know how to begin to talk about this one. But this, my god, this is how you do a finale. It has the most cathartic and for lack of words, epic finale ever. We’ve come so far with these characters that we feel like we practically know them in real life, and seeing the final stretch, with the highest stakes and phenomenal character work that brilliantly puts a cap on everything, is special. The first half is an absolutely magnificent adventure, with Harry, Ron and Hermione away from Hogwarts for the first time, on their own personal mission while the rest of the wizarding world is at war. The book is insanely intense and chaotic. You have no idea who could die next. And on top of all of this, there is a very intimately important story of secrecy going on, involving Dumbledore’s secrets, Snape’s and even Lord Voldemort’s. And the second half is the culmination of 7 books worth of excellent storytelling, it kind of crushes you with its dramatic weight. Fine, that might be an exaggeration but I just really love an overwhelming ending. It’s riveting. It’s emotional. So yeah. In conclusion, maybe I am a Harry Potter fan after all.

Thank You for Reading...

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