The Potter Discussion: The Harry Potter TV Show Podcast

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Thanks. The world's been pretty crazy this year, and I'm glad I could sit down every weekend and ramble about Harry Potter. I have a blast every episode and I look forward to every week, knowing there's an episode or an Instagram post or a newsletter waiting for me. I couldn't have done any of this without you, so I just want to say thanks. See you soon.
-Oscar

Favorite Episodes of 2022:
Episode 138: My Visit to Harry Potter Filming Locations in England! (Lacock, Oxford, The Harry Potter Studio Tour)
Episode 123: The Music of Harry Potter!
Episode 120: Analyzing the New Secrets of Dumbledore Trailer!

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In this episode, we talk all things Christmas. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·     3:06 Did Christmas change over time in the story? There’s a lot of contrast between the first and last Christmas we saw. What factors contributed to this change? Voldemort was one of the main ones. Having a safe environment to celebrate was how Harry had his Christmas, which turned out to change. The characters also changed throughout the books which influenced the Christmases. They are different people with different interests which will have some effect on Christmas.

·     8:41 How is a Harry Potter Christmas different from a muggle Christmas? Of course, there is magic in a Harry Potter Christmas. Magical presents and food and events. Muggles do all this much slower. They don’t have access to magic to make their Christmas better. Which parts of which are the best? Wizards have the better gift giving, that’s for sure. Nothing beats a magical gift. However, muggles have the best games. I don’t want to have a huge glob of stink sap in my face with gobbstones or have my cards explode in Exploding Snap. The muggles also have a better Christmas feast. Hear me out! The best dish in my opinion is a Christmas mac and cheese. Did we ever see a Christmas mac and cheese in Harry Potter? No! For that reason, I’ll give the win to the muggles. 

·     17:25 What would the perfect Christmas day look like at Hogwarts? I open all my presents including (but not limited to): 7 Firebolts, five thousand galleons, new quidditch robes for the entire team with anti-wind, anti-cold, and anti-water power, an entire library, and the Elder Wand. Breakfast is delicious. I go outside with a huge mug of hot chocolate and watch the giant squid and skaters on the lake. I have lunch in the Three Brook Sticks, and head back to Hogwarts. The feast is awesome, with piles upon piles of Christmas mac and cheese. For dessert, there are pies and ice cream as far as the eye can see. I play one last game of wizard chess and go to bed. 

·     24:05 Are the Harry Potter Christmas vibes good, or will it take an L? Of course, Harry Potter Christmas is awesome. It has adds a wonderful layer to the story and the characters and is a fun way to read about the wizarding world.

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In this episode, we design the perfect Harry Potter filming location tour. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·     This idea comes from a listener. Thank you! You can suggest your ideas in here.

·     You can listen to episode 138 here.

·     2:38 Durham Castle. This was the site of the famous slug vomiting scene as well as McGonagall’s classroom. My priority would be to act out the slug scene and try to transfigure some objects. This was a smart choice to film at because this castle is very much like Hogwarts and aids in the imagery for the story. 

·     8:14 Oxford. The library, the hospital wing, the ferret scene, and the first years walking up the staircase was all filmed at Oxford. The filmmakers walked around Oxford to get inspiration for the films! That’s how like Hogwarts is. The architecture is so old, it was built around the same as time Hogwarts.

·     16:55 Leadenhall Market. Leadenhall Market was the inspiration for J. K. Rowling’s Diagon Ally. I would be happy to spend an afternoon with a pastry and warm drink at Leadenhall Market, enjoying the aroma of Harry Potter.

·     19:13 King’s Cross. King’s Cross plays a huge role in the story as the jump off point from London to Hogwarts. We see the station in close to every film and is an important place for wizards and muggles. I would love to push a trolly through the wall and take a ride on the Hogwarts Express.

·     22:52 Gloucester Cathedral. Many corridor scenes were filmed in the Gloucester Cathedral. This cathedral is almost 1000 years old. Some electricity was put into the cathedral, so the filmmakers had to cover up the more modern elements with stone columns and brasiers.

·     26:16 Shell Cottage. Shell Cottage was used in the Deathly Hallows films. It would be lovely to spend a day at the beach with food, drink, and Harry Potter books in hand, watching the sea and enjoying the sights.

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In this episode, we talk about the main theme of Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Topics/ Summary:
·     Click here the enter the giveaway and win Harry Potter and the Order Illustrated and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – The Complete Screen Play!

·     2:40 Why does the main theme of the story matter? The theme of the story is the core element that it needed to understand the plot and characters and give us a better view of the story. We have a better grasp on the different events, the climax, and why different characters do what they do. 

·     6:31 J. K. Rowling said the main theme of the story is death. Does that make sense? Essentially, yes. Death is described as not the end, but the beginning of another great adventure. Harry sees his parents and Sirius and Dumbledore long after they died. This theme applies to may different aspects of the story, but death is not the only message in the story.

·     12:07 What are other main messages in the story? Love and friendship are the obvious ones, but what are some others? The inner struggle also takes a front seat. Harry struggles with Voldemort possibly possessing him in the Order of the Phoenix and beyond shows this. One of the main story lines in the fifth book was Harry trying to escape Voldemort. The value of working together was also highlighted. Harry was rarely working alone. He always stood united with his friends. Voldemort is the opposite, working with his supporters in much more of a cold relationship. The final theme that I saw was the “you’ll be fine” mentality. Harry learns very little information in the beginnings of the story, and only knows the full story at the very end of the story. Did the world collapse? It was close, but no. 

·      20:54 Which characters have the authority to make a theme out of a message? There are three scenarios: single person, multi-person, and prolonged single person. The first example (single person) is the least common. This is when a message is already present, and a character points it out. Multi-person is the most common. This is when many people join a movement or commit an act of make a statement that has lots of repercussions. Single person prolonged is the final example. This is when a single person will create the theme themselves over many years, doing the same things and helping the same people, creating a dynamic that allows for a theme to grow.

·     26:01 Do characters or events create themes? Both! One or more characters should be performing an act over a long period of time or do something so monumental it has lasting effects.

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In this episode, we discuss where Dumbledore can go from here. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·     2:14 Where are we starting from? As of now, Grindelwald is on the run, and most of our main characters are together again. Credence is on the way out with Aberforth by his side. At this point, the dynamic of the fight against Grindelwald shifting. Now they’re chasing Grindelwald and have a very good reason to catch him. Dumbledore must form a set of solid relationships to carry the cause of good through the war.

·     8:17 Speaking of relationships, which characters will Dumbledore form these key relationships with? Newt is a no brainer, being a major character. Tina is less of a possibility because she hasn’t been playing a large role so far. Queenie is in a similar boat to Tina. Lally is more of a wild card. We don’t know her character as well as we know others, so including her in the film will be a risk, but a risk that I think it worth taking. 

·     13:56 Will the story move fast or slow? If there are four films, there are several routes the film could go. We’ll either move very quickly through the story to get to 1945 where the story ends, or we’ll just skip every element of the story until said end. I would be happy with either of these. However, it would be very disappointing to just a brief recap lasting only a couple minutes to get us to the later years of the story. A less likely route would be the fourth film to be picked up right where Secrets of Dumbledore ended, as the time in which the war is beginning, and ending is one of the calmest points before the stormiest storm in history and would be a very interesting point to see from the wizarding perspective. 

·     22:39 What will Dumbledore focus on in the fourth film and will Newt play a role in quest? Let’s begin with the first question. Firstly, Dumbledore is going to look for Grindelwald of course. The next thing he is going to do is gather a form of the Order of the Phoenix. If that’s what Dumbledore did in the later books, why change his strategy? He is going to find people who will support him and defend the good. 

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In this episode, we break down Xenophilius and Luna Lovegood. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·     A huge thanks to Milly for this wonderful episode idea! Email [email protected] if you want your idea featured on the show.

·     To begin, we should lay a solid foundation for own characters. We’re looking both Xenophilius and Luna today because understanding one will help us know more about the other.

·     We meet Luna in the Order of the Phoenix. It’s hard to know if Luna is joking or completely serious, which made for a strange but true introduction to her character. 

·     Harry meets Xenophilius at Bill and Fleur’s wedding at first. Harry was more used to the Lovegoods at that point, but it was still an unsettling encounter.

·     Where do they fit into the story? Is it a big role? If they appear a bunch but don’t make a large difference, we shouldn’t consider them main characters. However, they do. Luna is the character that doesn’t really have a place. She’s pushed around and bullied, and Luna must find a place to settle, and does so in the DA. Xenophilius is in a similar boat. He doesn’t fit into any groups, so he must make his own. That element doesn’t go great, as the Death Eaters take Luna because of what Xenophilius was printing in the newspaper.

·     So, do Xenophilius and Luna have a big role in the story? Well, they aren’t the main characters but also aren’t in the background. They aren’t horrible or great. Let’s start with Xenophilius. For importance, we’ll give him a 57/100. He doesn’t appear in many books, so he doesn’t have a higher score. For goodness, we’ll give him a 72/100. Xenophilius is a good person, but he did call the Death Eaters to take Harry away. Luna’s importance rating is an 81/100. She appears in more books and scenes than Xenophilius. For goodness, a 95/100 seems fair. Luna is a very good person who is honest and pure. It’s not 100 because her honestly might not be a great thing all the time.

·     For the final part of the episode, let’s zero in on these characters and answer a question central about their character. 

·     How did Luna’s childhood influence who she was? It all comes down to the fact that Luna was raised by her father, Xenophilius. They share many traits. They dress the same, say the same things, and have similar habits. Although her personality might have been formed before she went to Hogwarts, her exposure to the outside world is what influenced her to be the way she is.

·     Was Xenophilius right to call the Death Eaters on Harry? No. That’s the simple answer. However, his credit isn’t destroyed because it was Luna’s safety that was in the balance. Xenophilius had to make a gut decision and chose Luna over Harry. Not a bad way to go, but the train of thought wasn’t thought out very well. If Harry died and all good was killed, would Luna and Xenophilius have been spared? No. Xenophilius should have been honest and told Harry to look out for Luna if he could.

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In this episode, we discuss some of the things that could have shaken up Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·     1:43 We need more varieties of magic! Specifically, wandless magic. Now it makes total sense, but there should be more to casting spells. Every spell involves waving the wand and saying something. Perhaps magic that could be done without a wand or being able to influence matter without the use strictly of a wand. Removing the wand from a person pretty much ends the battle.

·     11:06 What if muggles were find out about magic? This topic had been glossed over too much in the story, so what would the story look like if muggles knew about magic? Wizards would probably start by trying to find a way to obliviate every person in the world. When they realized it was impossible, wizards would begin to give muggles magical solutions to their problems. 

·     16:54 What would a wizard/muggle war look like? This would be a very interesting thing to see. Muggles couldn’t use technology as magic destroys it. And could a wizard blow up a tank or block a bullet? It’s hard to think about because we have no information to go on in the story as it is. 

·     22:18 Does the possibility exist for a magical monarchy? Several monarchies exist around the globe today, but could a magical king or queen be any similar? We know there is a magical prime minister, but not a monarch. What would happen in the wizarding world, and would it be helpful or harmful?

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In this episode, we test our knowledge on the quotes of Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·     This episode idea comes from a listener! Thank you for submitting an idea. If you want to submit an episode idea, check out the bottom of the show notes for contact details.

·     2:33 Warm up round. There are three questions in the warmup round to get ready for the main round.

·     5:31 Main round 

·     6:01 Question one: “You do it then if you’re so clever.” This quote does occur around the same time as one of the warmup questions if that helps at all. This quote is also a good insight into several characters; this insight also helps us see further into the relationship of the two characters involved.

·     10:48 Question two: “There will be no need to talk.” Similar to the last quote, it is a good insight into character. This character puts a lot of thought into image and rules, making sure that everything is done perfectly.  

·     15:19 Question three: “Come on Tom, let’s finish it the way we started. Together.” This quote seems obvious, but there are several characters that might have said this. It does only apply to a couple situations, but many characters. This quote has the qualities of a good meme, but it also has a sense of finality and it a perfect addition to the story. 

·      19:28 Question four: “Don’t be a prat. Do him!” Although this is not the nicest of quotes, it is a wonderful insight into plot. It makes sense when you hear the answer, but there are many characters and situations that could apply. 

·     22:44 Question five: “Fame is a fickle friend, Harry.” This is rather a funny quote given by a ridiculous character in the wrong situation.

·     25:35 Question six: “What’s basketball?” This is a lesser-known quote in the story. It isn’t commonly quoted quote and is rather obscure. However, it shows good contrast between the magical and muggle world which is helpful for the reader. We know only what the story can tell us and showing how blurred the lines are between the magical and muggle world is a fascinating thing.

·     29:22 Question seven: “Avada kadavra!!!” What an awesome quote! Not much of a secret who says this, but this scene is a good end to this episode.

·     31:52 Challenge Question: “Yes, but the world isn’t split into good people and death eaters.” Tune in next week to find out the answer!

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In this episode, we create the perfect Halloween night in the Wizarding World. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·     2:58 What better way to start off our Halloween night than to design a costume. This costume is perfect Halloween. It is, of course, a dementor. First, I need a lot of robes. Our dementor is going to be at least 15 feet tall, so I’ll magically meld several cloaks together and use polls with hands for the arms. For my own head to be the head of the dementor, I need to be at the dementor’s level, so I’ll use a broomstick to fly on. This will also allow for the classic dementor glide. We also need to create the environment of the dementor with some kind of cold spell to make a bubble of freezing cold to really tie this costume together.

·     13:06 Who are we going to invite to the party? Our first set of people will be invited to the much larger school party. The second is much smaller and is much wilder with more games and fun. To begin with the first list, we can assume around 800 people are going to be at the larger party. The trio are going to be there along with Draco. McGonagall will show off her Animagus skills and Flitwick would cast some Halloween themed charms. Umbridge would just try and shut the whole thing down. For the smaller party, just a group of the trio, Fred and George, Luna, Neville, Ginny, Seamus and Dean, Padma and Parvati Patil, Bill and Charlie would be the perfect small group.

·     20:44 Going back to the larger party, what disaster would take place? It was the troll in the first book, so we can rule that one out. A good disaster would be a beast in the forest. The guests leave the party and walk out into the garden and see a huge beast at the edge of the trees with glinting eyes and claws. It slinks away, but it was a close call.

·      26:11 How would we trick or treat? Although my broomstick could take me many places, the rest of the group don’t have the luxury, so we’ll need a different mode of transport. The zouwu would make the perfect creature to aid our effort to collect hoards of candy! Ideally, we would be able to collect thousands of pieces of candy. With some numbers crunched, we could make up to around 300 galleons if we play our cards right after selling it.

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In this episode, we discuss the Oxford Effect. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·     00:00 Intro

·     2:13 Thank you listener for pointing out the easter egg that McGonagall used to play quidditch!

·      3:14 What is the Oxford Effect? It is the melding of the Harry Potter books and the world. This is a rather difficult thing to understand and explain because it is two mediums that don’t mix. Check out this video to get an idea of what I visualize (spoilers for Rings of Power). Watch the ball!

·     8:38 Why is this called the Oxford Effect? Not only is Oxford an old Harry Potter looking place, but it is also a filming location and is a living example of Harry Potter. The filmmakers used Oxford to create Harry Potter.

·     Lacock is another place where Harry Potter is present with the very old style of building and roads.

·     13:14 What does the Oxford do for the story? It makes Harry Potter so much more alive. We can read about the Hogwarts express, watch Ron’s hand against the window in the film, then go to the Hogwarts Express in the UK. 

·     16:12 Why should it be pointed out? It is the entire reason for the continuation of Harry Potter. Without it, the fandom would be stagnant and dead. The Oxford Effect is what gives meaning to the Harry Potter world in the real world.

·     20:11 This only grows over time. This is because the books and films don’t change while the fandom does. The original story isn’t racing to catch up. It rather acts as an anchor to hold and facilitate the growth for the Harry Potter universe. 

·     22:24 Why do I love the Oxford Effect so much? It has allowed for the Harry Potter universe we know today. Without it, there wouldn’t be any fan sites or spinoffs. There would be the books, and that’s it.   

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