FIRST OFFICIAL HARRY POTTER TV SHOW TRAILER!! | Analyzing the first official tailer release for the Harry Potter TV show

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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Transcript

Intro

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to the potter discussion. Welcome back to the potter discussion discussing the Harry Potter books, films, TV show, and the Wizard Roll fandom. I'm your host, Oscar, and this is episode 326. Ladies and gentlemen, it's official. Just a few days ago. The very first official trailer, the very first release of film from the Harry Potter TV show set came out. The uh it is called Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone official teaser uh put out by HBO Max. So there is a buzz. There is a certainly a buzz going through the Harry Potter Phantom at the moment. I was an inch away from releasing like an emergency episode in the middle of the week because I I thought, oh my gosh, we have to talk about this. But I thought, no, I'm gonna mull it over, I'm gonna let it sit, and then we can have a much more uh a little less of a fire hose episode. Now, little less is definitely not none, so it's gonna be quite the quite the episode for sure. But I am very, very excited. I mean, watching this, I was on the edge of my seat. I don't even know how many times I've watched it at this point. I certainly hope you are the same, and I cannot wait to talk about some of these things. There are some very interesting developments that I am looking forward to talking about. So I let's just let's just do this.

4 Privet Drive looks similar to the films

SPEAKER_00 1:37

So I kind of just scribble down every thought I had about this this trailer, and we're kind of just gonna go through it. I it's in no particular order, it's kind of in the order of the of you know how the trailer actually goes. So we're just gonna kind of blow through it, you know. We're just gonna go through it top to bottom, really kind of try to devour every inch of this trailer. So the first thing, the very first thing I want to talk about is Privet Drive. That's where we open the trailer. That's we we see Vernon sitting in in the like a kitchen, I guess. He's he's reading the paper. It's a very derene. But one of the things that struck me is how similar it looks to the for Private Drive in the films. And the truth is, I think there's really no other way of going about it. Because the uh Privet Drive in the films is is characteristic. I think it is it is unique in the fact that it is not unique in the slightest. That's a very common house. You know, it's not like we are like that it's it's decked out and all these you you know unique features that make it you know Harry's, you know, terrible home or whatever. No, it's pretty much a regular house. So to depart from that, I think would just be making it different for the sake of being different, which would not be the right choice. So if anything, I am glad to see that uh four-point drive is not very uh you know different from the from the films. And one thing that also struck me is how cold it seems. It's very, very blue, it's very dark, it's kind of it's just a little, it's it's it's very dank, and I think that is definitely a uh important characteristic. I think one interesting change that they made was uh Harry's bed is on the floor, which I thought was was was really interesting. I think, you know, he doesn't he's not exactly living in a palace in in that cupboard and in the films, but it definitely felt a little, you know, much more like a cupboard. Because, you know, he had like a bed and shelves and a light and all that in in the films, which of course, you know, is pretty pretty awful. But he definitely didn't, you know, he he had uh things, he had something, you know, to keep him up. But I think in this TV show there's really nothing. I mean, we saw one of the you know of a featured shot was Harry just crying in his in his car, but I think it is definitely Pivot Drive is not going to become a place of you know memory for um from for a few seasons. I think we have a few seasons before we begin to really see just how important Pivot Drive is. For better or for worse. And that's an interesting point because it's you know, finally we're starting over. I think we've been talking about this TV show, you know, for so long, and I think we've we're kind of still in the you know, it is over kind of mindset, and then looking forward to the time where it is not. I think honestly, the you know, the launch of this trailer marks the beginning of the story. It's very exciting. It feels like we're back at the beginning, you know, never waiting for the first release. So I think this is kind of where we begin to see that shift because now that Perfect Drive, you know, is not this place that we know it will become. I think we can really shift our mindset to, you know, this is happening now, you know, this is unfolding before our eyes. So we're kind of in this beginning zone, this this first iteration. And I think that is a very, very exciting time to be in. One other thing about Perfect Drive that stood out to me was Petunia. Petunia had a huge feature. She was talking all the time. Uh, and it was really interesting because we had, you know, she was telling Harry about, you know, she, you're, you're, you're nothing special. There's nothing special about you. She's being very uh adamant about that. We saw just how much, gosh, she was really, really, you know, sticking it in his face. She was, yeah, she had like scissors and was cutting all of his hair off, and clearly not very gently, and then she was getting right in his face and telling him just how how awful he is. I mean, I understand now, gosh. And I mean, of course, we saw how, you know, it was not a great life for Harry. But this is one of the this is an interesting contrast, actually, because now thinking back to Harry's life in Private Drive before, of course it was awful. But this is something else. And I think this is kind of getting at maybe like like the uh Mike Mylod uh influence. We've discussed how this darker tone is kind of gonna hopefully uh you know take over some parts of the story because of course Mike Mylod is quite the director he's directed um, you know, series that have this really dark tone, like like succession, um, things things like that. And that's I honestly think we're starting to kind of see dribbles of that darker tone peeking through. Because the films were, you know, showed this life for Harry that were not was was was not very comfortable. There's no illusion that Harry had a wonderful life at Fort Perfect Drive. But there's something different about what we see in this trail. There's there's there's just something different. It's the darker coloring, it's it's the shadows, it's maybe, maybe honestly, it could be that we don't quite see the Jerseys as like as real humans yet, you know. I feel like that's that's an interesting point here. And we I think this is uh that's also the contribution of this idea of you know, we're starting over. Is that we don't have because all looking at deadly in the films, all I can think of is where with where they're going, you know, where they're going, the fact that they are gonna have to part ways, the fact that they are gonna have to make some terrible, terrible decisions together. You know, that is that's the life that I that I foresee. So it's almost impossible for me to now watch, and I'm sure this is you know the same for you, it's it's almost impossible for me now to watch like you know the first film and see Dudley whining about his presence and just smile a little bit thinking, wow, like how far is he gonna go? That's really what I'm thinking. But now looking at this, these characters haven't gone that far yet, and I think it's important that now that we have faces and names and and different actors and really different people, it's important that we see this story as a different story because it will be different. You know, maybe the outcome will be the same, maybe some some key points will be the same, but we've already seen in this trailer that there are some big, big differences. So even I think you know, I'm thinking of like dirt, like Verna Dursley. We only we didn't he didn't he wasn't speaking at all. He wasn't speaking at all in this in this trailer. We just saw him from afar, and it's almost this odd, like that's him, you know, that's the person who caused Harry so much so much pain. And seeing Pachunia up close and seeing her talk, it it it humanizes her almost, and that almost makes it less scary. So I am personally looking forward to how the relationship with the Dirsees is is is gonna go on because it it's bad. It's really bad. Harry is far from at ease, and of course that is how it's supposed to be. But another point I wanted to make about this whole Privet Drive sequence is that Petunia is definitely in the forefront. She had huge features, she had many lines. The first, you know, maybe even 30 seconds of the trailer, she was in the foreground. And that is a real that is an interesting choice to make, especially because in the films, and you could even say in the books too, Vernon is kind of the one who takes the charge on like the punishment, you know. He's the one who threatens Harry, he's the one who does all this. And it's an interesting parallel. I doubt it was on purpose, but uh the scene in the film where the Dorsey's are going to the zoo and Vernon takes Harry out of the car before they leave, and he points the key at him and says, any funny business, any at all, you know. And you know, you will you won't eat until Christmas, or you know, whatever he says. It's something along those lines. When Petunia is kind of saying the same thing to Harry, she's holding up the scissors and pointing them in his face and saying, There's nothing special about you. She's pointing them in his face, and that is, I think, a very interesting parallel. So it occurred to me that maybe Petunia is kind of getting this baton, maybe she's the one who is uh now gonna kind of become the principal, you know, deliverer of punishment. I don't know what you would really call it. Uh and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised because it's you know it's an interesting shift, but I would be very interested to see how that would shift the dynamic because Petunia is kind of the one who holds back. Uh like when in the you know, Order the Phoenix, when Dudley comes home after being attacked by the Dementors and Vernon wants to kick Harry out, it's Petunia who gets the letter and says, Verna, no, we have to keep him here. So I'm wondering, is that dynamic gonna switch? Truth behold, I can't imagine it would because we need to have those scenes of you know Petunia getting the one, you know, getting getting the letters, and Petunia being the one kind of being the voice of reason because she's the true connection to the visiting world in that house. You know, Verna Verna doesn't really know what's going on here, but Petunia does. So that is an interesting dynamic here that I'm wondering if it's gonna switch or not. But we definitely see that Petunia doesn't start out as this kind of you know b begrudging protector of Harry, and she's definitely not in this first few uh scenes that we see of her. So it's a tough thing. It's a very tough thing to see. And we also got a little bit of Dudley. Uh interestingly enough, we saw Harry at school, which is pretty cool. His his school looks like a classic, you know, British school. They all have their uniforms on and they're running through the halls, and then Harry gets kind of ambushed in the bathroom. And Dudley definitely looks like Dudley for sure. Um I was expecting him to be a little uh you know wider, because he's described as quite a quite a large fellow in in the books, but I guess, you know, I it's kind of a progression in the books, and maybe it'll be something of a progression in the TV show too. But anyhow, there is some really interesting stuff in that perfect drive uh sequence. And I think there's some there are hopefully with virtue with future releases we can be, we can uh gain something of an understanding here and really begin to dig deeper into what the Derseys and Harry's relationship really means. Um and then of course Harry, the f the final scene of this whole uh sequence is Harry picks up the you know the post, and I actually I really like that shot when Harry picks up the post because especially the clothes he's wearing really paints this picture. And it's you know, for two reasons. One is they are definitely old, they're definitely not his clothes, you know. The Pertunia and Vernon didn't take him out and pick them out, you know, for school or whatever, and he was so excited to wear them, you know. No, that's definitely not it. He had to roll out the sleeves, you know, they're they're very crumpled, they're they're not, you know, they're not clothes for him. And I think that's an important uh distinction to make. But the other one that I I could not put my finger on it for the longest time, but they also make Harry look old. It's it's just that, you know. The fact that it's a sweater and you know, like a like a like a button-up shirt, that just it just makes Harry look so old. And the truth is I think that's kind of showing this this maturity that that that Harry has. And it's something that we you know bear witness to a lot, of course, but it's also something that is is kind of a developing part of part of the story. So that's a very interesting part to keep in mind. And he looks down at the letter, and of course, it gives him all of his details and green ink. I'm so glad to see the green ink, and we are off to the races. So that is the very first thing that I want to talk about in this episode. But let's move on.

Harry looks great in action!

SPEAKER_00 12:40

Another note I want to make is Harry looks great in action. Uh, this is the first time that we've seen him, you know, for for real, for real, acting as Harry. We've seen photos, of course, but now we're really seeing him acting as Harry. And it is a interesting, you know, such a fascinating thing to watch, you know, seeing Harry come alive again. And I mean, of course, he does a fantastic job. Uh all of his scenes, you you can really feel the energy. And I think one of the things that stands out to me as kind of a difference between this and the films is it's it's there's a lot more kind of like childish energy. And I mean that in a good way. The films, you know, there's a lot of it's it's it's kind of very back and forth in the films, and we will definitely talk about this, especially with Ron later on. But they're definitely, you know, they're they're just kids, and that comes across, uh, definitely it comes across. And I I like the how how dynamic it is. You know, he's you know, this this troubled, you know, kid who has who lives in this this awful house, and then he can go to Hogwarts and he can become someone else. So I'm hoping that with, you know, Harry's this this this new Harry that we have uh we can see that that shift, that we can we can really bear witness to that change, you know, that Hogwarts is truly this place that will kind of set him free in a sense. So there are some interesting developments to to be uh monitored there, and I'm very curious how these characters are gonna develop because there's definitely a uh there's definitely an interesting you know methodology to kind of dis discovering how these characters are going to change as as the series goes on. So interesting stuff. Harry looks good. Uh let's move

Rubeus Hagrid makes an appearance, but it’s not what I imagined

SPEAKER_00 14:22

on. This is also our first in-action view of Hagrid. We see Harry and Hagrid sitting on the train, and and uh Harry is you know saying he's always wanted to know about his parents, and Hagrid says, well, they were you know clever and brave, and they're all these things. And there was one thing that that slapped me in the face when I first heard him, and that is his voice. It's not the Hagrid voice, definitely not. Many a Harry Potter narrat uh uh uh audiobook narrators and many many an actor have portrayed Hagrid as this, you know, gruff kind of you know huge dude, and I think that's kind of how he reads, it's how he comes across. But that's not at all what he sounds like. He sounds like a regular person, and I think there's an in-there's there's I don't think I like that choice. I don't think I like that choice, and I'm saying that because you know, they're changing Hagrid, and I don't know why. That's I guess the answer. They have made changes before, and I'm not trying to fight that change, but I want them to be making these decisions for a reason. Hagrid comes across as an actor playing Hagrid. You know, that's the best way I can describe it. Because he is so intrinsically connected to his voice, and I think it's more than his voice, it's it's his nature. You know, his nature is he's busy, you know, he's big and bumbling and he doesn't know his own strength, and that's just why he's so charming, because he's just such a genuine person. And I think that you know that voice is just a representation of that. But if we don't have the voice, we don't really, you know, have the rest of it. Even if we do, it doesn't really mean the same thing. So, and it truly it does come across as just an actor playing Hagrid, and that is one thing that I am not so much a fan of. It's just it's just it's kind of weird, you know? It's just like it's oddly threatening, you know. He's just like he's just it's just strange, you know, and that's one thing that I'm not totally a fan of. I think as we you know, as Hagrid develops, I'm sure we'll get to know him, and I'm sure I will say, I can't believe I said that. He's such a wonderful person. But as of now, that's kind of my instinct. And we there was we had a quick shot of him also at the end of the trailer, you know, making a snow angel. And good for him, looks fun, but it just doesn't come across the same because I know, you know, he would go up to Harry and say, That was a snow angel I just made. You know, not in his in his regular, regular man voice. So it's an interesting situation. And that might be because Hagrid also is a little younger, you know, he seems a little younger in this. Uh, of course, Robbie Coltrane was um portraying, you know, kind of like a uh a very fatherly almost figure. I think Haggard doesn't really come across as that. He almost comes across as like a cousin of sorts. And that's a choice, you know. That's that that's a choice for sure. But I think there's definitely a uh I wanna see the end. You know, I wanna I want to know why they chose to do that because the truth is I don't see it. I don't I don't see it right now. Um it definitely makes him seem a little a little less warm, and that is something that we definitely need uh need for sure. So it it could be a blessing and a curse, and I'm definitely excited if we get more, you know, content released. I'm sure we will. We can definitely analyze Hagrid a little um further. But if we have moments like uh The Hut on the Rock, you know, if he doesn't have that like very matter-of-fact kind of like very friendly voice, and then you know, he just kind of sounds like a regular person. I think the more the less like Hagrid he sounds, the more threatening he sounds almost. So it might be hard for us to kind of shift our mindset away from this bumbling, you know, giant, uh, you know, we see him coming through the door on on the you know the hut on the rock, and he's this big, huge, fucking, huge guy. We're we're really scared. He's pounding on the door and then he breaks it down and walks in, and then, you know, in the film it's so perfect, you know, the music is building, building, building, and then we just see it's him. You know, and the voice is part of that. And if we don't have that voice, then it's hard to see, you know, really where he's going. So his character he's gonna have to develop, I think for sure. And I'm definitely curious to see where that is going to go. Uh, but there's more to discuss, so let's move on.

The Hogwarts Express is fantastic!

SPEAKER_00 18:35

Now, let's talk all things trains. So there's a lot of Hogwarts Express related activities in the trailer, and I think there are some important details to discuss. The first one is, and this one kind of struck me, is that the Hogwarts Express looks kind of the same, and I will say I am a fan of that. It is hard, like like Fort Perfect Drive, it is so uniquely not unique, you know, it's just a train. But it's what happens on the train, it's the people on the train, it's like the it's it's it's the candy, you know, it's it's the station. That's what makes it so special. So I'm glad that the train itself isn't some crazy magical carpet type, you know, whatever. It's like it's just an actual train. So I can appreciate that for sure. One thing that I love about this, you know, all things related to the train is King's Cross. I think King's Cross looks a lot better than in the film. And that's because it's a lot bigger and brighter. I think it's kind of now, you know, thinking back to the platform that Harry ran through in the films, it's it was very, you know, small and kind of dark, you know. Uh, but in comparison, the the the TV show has a much brighter, bigger space. And I think that kind of gives a better contrast as he goes through, as Harry passes through the barrier. It's like this, you know, real moment of of transport. You know, he's going from this big, bright muggle world to, you know, the the the wizarding world. And I think that's a contrast that we will also discuss with Hogwarts. So King's Cross looks really cool. And we saw it for like a split second, but Hogsmead station is also a heavy feature, and there are some really, really cool things there. Uh, it's we see it at night, but it is still very cool. There's like some lights hanging on the wall in the back, and it's definitely a uh it is it's a very magical place. So I'm definitely a fan of Hogsmead station. It uh definitely works with this with this whole thing. Uh, but we do get some, you know, a good amount of scenes on the train. We see that they are, you know, they they they talk on the train, and that's that's kind of where they meet. Of course, that's where we understand it. One interesting part of this is one once Harry is on the train, we see uh as you know, a quick shot of him looking out the window and seeing, I think it's, you know, we assume it's it's Molly hugging Ron. Goodbye. It's Mrs. Lucy saying saying goodbye to Ron. And that's the point where Harry doesn't know them, but it's kind of this this this this foreshadowing. And their hair is so red. Oh my gosh, it's so it's like bright, bright, bright red. I don't even know how you know they got that red. Good, good for them, good for them. It's truly fake. It looks so bad, but yeah, anyway, that's neither here, here, here, nor there, of course. So the train looks good. The train looks very good, and I'm looking forward to, especially as you know, kind of the tone of the story shifts. I'm thinking, I mean, I mean, you know, we're gonna have to wait a long time for this, but I think it's definitely gonna, you know, be important here, you know, once we start getting Harry spying on Draco and the you know, Death Eaters coming onto the train to ask where Harry is. I'm curious to see how that tone is gonna shift because the train seems to be very lighthearted at this point. There's really nothing heavy in this trailer besides the Dursleys. The Durslies is the only heavy thing. And for the very first trailer, I totally get it because, like, low key, they're not trying to like depress us. Like, this is this is still a kid's story, it's still supposed to be a very hopeful, you know, there's a there's a hopeful air about it, and it would be A shame for us to kind of go into the thinking, gosh, this is the most depressing thing I've ever watched my entire life. No, that should not be the case at all. I want to have moments of true, you know, of genuine emotion, but I don't think there should be those moments of, you know, just dark, dark, doomed despair, especially in the first trailer. So that definitely comes across on the train because it's very light, it's very fun, and we get to, you know, there's a quick, you know, shot of Harry and Ron like, you know, playing, like having like a play fight in their in their carriage, you know. It's just a very fun, you know, time. I think that is how it should be, especially in the first book. This is all all about them learning about this world, you know, seeing this world for the first time. So I think it's definitely good that they're not kind of you know shoved into this this terrifying, you know, dark, gloomy uh train. So thumbs up for that. But now I'm just excited for the Dementors. That's really what I'm thinking now. Um, and that is that is, I mean, I was uh thinking about the I know especially as as I was watching this, like looking at the window and looking at you know the the um the door. I was just imagining, you know, the frost and the darkness and gosh, how scary- I mean the the Dementors were like actually scary. That first scene, that first scene where you know the the the train carriage is closed, the door is closed, and it's silent and it's dark and it's cold, and we just see like the shadow of the Dementor start to creep across. That moment is like, oh, that's a little that's a little intense. So looking at this train, um, all I can think of is wow, we've got some really, really good times ahead. But it is introduced in a good way, and we definitely get to have a a pleasant first experience with this with this train. But there's of course much more to discuss, so let's move on.

Hogwarts is …… interesting

SPEAKER_00 23:42

Now let's talk about Hogwarts, because of course we got a lot of Hogwarts in the trailer, and it was interesting, and I am very curious, especially to hear what you think of Hogwarts, because what I think is is interesting. So before you even hear my thoughts, I want you to write in right now and tell me what you think of Hogwarts. Uh, you can text the show with the first link in the show notes right there, or you can send an email to thepotter discussion at gmwell.com. I am very curious to hear what you think because I personally I'm not I'm not drawn in. You know, I'm not immediately like, oh my gosh, it's Hogwarts, oh my gosh, it's fantastic. Because the truth is, I think there are kind of two parts of Hogwarts. You know, every every little you know, every part, every scene where we saw Hogwarts kind of fell into two categories for me. One is either it looks like the TV show. Or wow, that with yes, it does actually, very, very similarly. Uh one is it looks like the film. That's what I meant to say. It looks like the film. And two is this is a ski lodge. So I kind of went back and forth, you know, and every single scene where Hogwarts is concerned, it either, to me, looks exactly like the film, or it looks like a ski lodge. And there are there are a lot of, you know, I'm a little disappointed, I'll be honest, that this is the first look that we have at Hogwarts. Because in my mind, the best parts of Hogwarts are like are are the King's Cross parts. The parts that are big and bright and open. Like the Great Hall. I want to see the Great Hall, you know, big, bright, open Great Hall. That would be awesome. But like, that just like didn't happen. And I'm kind of disappointed, honestly, that that didn't happen. So we're kind of missing something there. When you know they walk in, I mean this is it was like, oh my gosh, this is literally a ski lodge. When they they walked in and Professor McGog was waiting, it literally looked like that. And the problem is, I know exactly why they did it, and truth be told, it's kind of a good reason. And the what I would guess is Hogwarts is described as very, you know, intricate, very complicated. There's a lot of pastors and corridors and the staircases moving, you know, it's it's a very magical place. And I think that translates, if they want to to put that on the screen, to this kind of darker, more, you know, intricate style of our of architecture. So it makes sense. It makes sense, you know. I'm okay with them trying to make this more like the books. I am okay with that. But it just comes across as not Hogwarts. I was really looking forward to, I think, you know, the scene, I I think we might have discussed this exactly before on the show, but the the shot that I had so clearly in my head that I was just just hoping that we'd be able to see is like it's it's definitely a cool morning. It's definitely a it's it's you know, there's definitely some some frost on the on on the on the fields, but it's maybe spring, you know. It's spring or fall, it's it's not summer, but it's there's you know, there's there's a chill in the air, but the sun's in the sky. And it's you know, exactly exactly what I imagine is Harry is wearing his cloak and it's bailing behind him, and he's you know, his back is to us, and it's it's it's very dark, we can't make out his features, and he's walking out of the gates, and we just see this big bright blue sky, and Harry walks onto the grounds. That's that's the shot that I had in my head forever. Just that's because that's you know, the very spirit of Hogwarts. Honestly, that's the spirit of Hogwarts that I I imagine. And looking at this, looking at the Hogwarts that we have, honestly, I can't imagine it. I can't imagine that we would get that Hogwarts in this, you know, this sequence. So I I'm I'm a little bit disappointed. But there are, you know, moments that are pretty cool. Like we see, I think it's like Harry and Ron running down the Great Hall or something like that. Like that that's cool, I guess. I I don't I don't know really. Uh but there are some facets of of Hogwarts that I think are are very interesting. One of them is Quidditch. For some reason, we got a pretty heavy feature of Quidditch, and that actually I I do like the way Quidditch looked. And that it uh it's kind of an interesting, you know, uh thing there because it that might be the only one that doesn't look exactly like the films, but it doesn't quite give me Ski Lodge vibes. So I think Quidditch is the one thing uh about Hogwarts here that really doesn't throw me off, I guess you could say, you know. It definitely looks good. I like the robes. I definitely like the robes, I like the snow, it definitely comes across well. So I personally actually am a fan of the Quidditch, and I'm and I'm looking forward to the games. I really hope we will have some some some good games to see. Because of course, that's you know, that's it's very exciting in the books, but we don't we don't get many games uh in the uh many games that don't you know have plot tied to it in the um films. So hopefully we just get some some some calm some calm Quidditch games, you know, that'd be pretty cool. So that is absolutely something that I am I'm looking looking forward to. Uh and also in these Hogwarts sequences we had Draco. Draco appeared, and this is kind of the first time seeing him in action too, and one the one thing that that stood out to me about Hidraco, I'm trying to pull out like one thing, you know, that's stood out to me about a lot of these things. The one thing for Draco that that uh I saw was that he looks kinda nice, you know. He doesn't really look that mean. And I'm interested in that idea that Draco is not this just bully, because in the very first Harry Potter film, you know, Draco, he had, you know, his hair slicked back and he had his cronies at his side, and he was a, oh hey, hey, Harry. Like, it was very cool, he's very cool. You could we could just tell that he was gonna be an absolute idiot. And that that it came true. Absolutely, it did. But it doesn't quite seem like that, honestly, in this in this trailer. It's just a second that we saw him, but there's some real depth to him, and I'm wondering if that's on purpose, you know, if we're setting up a very uh deep Draco storyline, I would not be surprised if that were the case. So I'm I'm a fan. I'm definitely a fan of that whole idea of Draco kind of being this, uh, you know, being a a deep character, a very profound character from the get-go. I would be uh happy to hear that. So Hogwarts is a very was a very interesting series of decisions, and as more content comes out, I am looking forward to seeing how this is going to all play out. So there's there's some interesting things on the horizon for Hogwarts. Alright, let's move on.

The characters look awesome

SPEAKER_00 30:30

There are two more big things that I want to discuss in this episode. The first one is, and this so they're both about characters, new characters that we see. The first one is Snape and Dumbledore. And oh my gosh, I am so excited to see how this goes on because I am such a fan of both of these. They both have such uh they are they are so deep, so deep. I think just from the little little tiny shots that we see of them, I feel like we already know them so well, and that is that is the mark of a good character. And it's such a shame to look at the comments under this trailer I on on the YouTube video, and people don't like him. People don't like Snape, and maybe that's just the algorithm bringing up all the controversial comments, and of course we knew it would it would be like this. Snape is you know a an important character, and Pop SUD is a is a very is a bold creative choice, and I'm so so thrilled with with that choice. It is, in my mind, paying off already. I mean, it is already so so cool to see. I think as an actor, he has such depth. I'm s I'm I one of the things that I'm really glad of is that he has such experience with theater. Uh reading his reading some some of his Hamlet S uh reading watching some of his Hamlet soliloquies is is fantastic. I mean, you know, Hamlet is is a lot of people wouldn't exactly call it thrilling stuff. But I will say it is it is remarkable to watch him act on the stage. And of the few, I mean, I think I mentioned I watched him in um uh The Lazarus Project on Netflix. Fantastic. Love the show. He came across so, so well. So I am just thrilled to see him come across the also in the uh TV show. We only had, you know, a few seconds of him. He was walking down a hall, you know, casting a spell, and it even like everything from his expression, I will say the costume looks looks really good. I'm a I'm I'm a big fan of the costume. Uh the hair definitely they they definitely nailed the hair. Uh, so that is uh definitely gonna be a very, very cool character trait of his. But he just seems, I'm just I I cannot wait to see him. And he is one of the characters who I think we can we can from the beginning just just he they just knock out of the park. I mean, he is set up for greatness already, just as a character, you know, as a as a movement, Snape is already just such a fantastic character. Um, so they are really they are set up for for success with him. Um and I am so so so thrilled to see him come across so well on the screen. I am I cannot wait. And Dumbledore, oh my gosh, Dumbledore was so good. And it was something about him, I I couldn't put my finger on it for a long time, but something about him was just so so kind, you know, it was just so warm. And I think it I think it's his eyes, you know, when he turns around, um, he is his his the way his look is perfect. It is so good. He was holding a tuning fork and like wearing a fedora. I mean, I could not think of a better uh first first moment to meet Dumbledore. I am so thrilled. He looks like, he truly he looks like, you know, Harris and Gambin almost combined. So I am so thrilled to see uh John Lithgow really bring him to life. And I think there is a there's such a kindness already in, you know, in his face that we see that I think he's gonna almost be a combination of, you know, the Gambin and Harris Dumbledore. I think Harris, I think I looking at him, I see the Harris more, you know, this kinder, you know, you know, more more gentle, but I can see, you know, in the eyes this depth, you know, this depth that he has the Gambin in him. You know, he has that fire brand that he is ready to bring out. So Dumbledore and Snape are such an interesting duo, and I am so I mean, this trailer has made me so, so, so, so, so excited to really dig in and see just where they can lead us, especially with a star-studded cast like we have, and with the time to go back and really look at what came before, you know, their backstories, I think it's gonna be a an easy grand slam every time. I mean, they're gonna knock it out of the park, absolutely, with with you know the combination of more time examining characters past and these actors looking like these characters. I mean, it is going to be fantastic. So seeing uh Snape and Dumbledore in their element, I think is so so cool. And we also got Janet McTear as as Professor McGonagall, and she is so so cool. I mean she she she looks good. I will say it wasn't, it didn't, it didn't hit me like it hit me with Snape and Dumbledore, but I can absolutely I can absolutely see the vision. I think with her specifically, what came across to me was the fact that she looks like she came from the books. I think that is just so good. I don't think anything could possibly top Maggie Smith. I mean, she just she she she killed it. She absolutely killed it in the films. I would be truly shocked if uh someone could top her performance, even an actress like Janet McTear, but I think it's still, you know, she's still gonna come across very well. The last thing, the last thing that I want to talk about is the trio. And I've been saving this for last because there are there is one character in particular with the trio that I think is going to be in a a a wild card, kind of a curveball we didn't really see coming, but might make this story, you know, a 10. A 10, truly. So let's start from the top. We got Harry. We already discussed him. He looks good, he looks like Harry. I mean, it's it's true, he definitely does, and I'm looking forward to you know seeing him in action. I think we definitely got some some some good Harry shots. I'm a fan. Hermione doesn't, you know, this is one thing I was thinking, you know, I was thinking, I was like, oh my gosh, Hermione doesn't really look like Hermione. That's that's that's kind of strange, but no, Hermione just doesn't look like Emma Watson. That's the difference. They definitely are going with a different, you know, version of the character, and Hermione does not look like Emma Watson, and that's okay. So that is an interesting development. I'm looking forward to seeing her. We didn't really get much Hermione uh in in the trailer, but I'm interested to see how she's gonna come across. There's definitely they definitely they nailed the bushy hair, they nailed the buck teeth. I am curious to see how that is gonna play out. Um, because of course Hermione is is an integral uh character, so let's let's let's see how it how the how it goes. But Ron is who I really want to finish out this episode with because he had such an interesting, you know, the choices made for Ron, I think, are fascinating. So, so fascinating. And the what what struck me about Ron is that he's kind of a goofball, you know, he's definitely not this, you know, serious, very like he's he's he's not like Draco, and that is how he's supposed to be. But now you're asking, well, obviously that's kind of how it's supposed to be. But now I'm thinking ahead because in the films, Ron is not, you know, he's not Einstein, you know, he's not this this this great genius thinker, but he's not exactly this, you know, smiley, goofy, you know, kind of guy. He definitely has some maturity to him, and I think that's definitely a a facet about his character that makes him very intriguing. He has a true intelligence, you know, he is very smart, and though he doesn't come across that way uh in the books, you know, he's he's written as the kind of like like like the the the idiot character, and that's you know, that's okay, that's just the architect, but the truth is he's not. He's not at all, and that is really how it comes across in the films. But not I'm not saying Ron s looks stupid, I'm not saying that at all, but Ron kind of looks stupid in in the TV show. And I'm not saying like he looks bad, I'm just saying he doesn't look like that, that, you know, kind of intelligent, you know, character that that we saw in in the films. Now, I'm not saying that's bad. I'm not saying that's bad, but I'm saying it's different. And if anything, I think that could be a benefit. Because then because my my short-term thinking was like, okay, well, when they arrive at Hogwarts and Draco makes fun of Ron, all he's gonna be able to do is stand there and look like a grin and say, like, oh yeah, that's that's me. You know, that's that's what I don't want. I don't want Ron to not be able to take that, you know, and really, you know, show the fact that he has depth. So I want Ron to show he has depth from the beginning. And I just I just don't think we get that depth in the trailer. But what what made me so excited thinking about this is thinking ahead. Because Ron is one of those characters that is that changes, he changes so much, he's such a dynamic character, and he has such potential to become this truly, you know, like Snape, just such a profound addition to the story. You know, he is already, already he has, you know, important parts to play. So I want to see that profound nature, that that very much that mature, that kind of cold calculated part of him almost come out early on. And looking at his performance here in in the trailer, I am looking forward to the time where we look back at these trailers, at these first episodes that'll that'll come out, and we think, wow, look how far he's come. So Ron is a character I am now, I I I wasn't expecting, but he's he's kind of a kind of kind of a wild card thrown in here, but he might be a character to watch because it looks like he has a really interesting journey ahead of him. I am so looking forward to seeing uh where he will end up. So quite a fantastic thing. Now, this is uh this is a long episode. This is a very long episode. I'm not surprised. Thank you for sticking with me. Uh uh if if you find this interesting, I'm I'm very glad to hear you. But there are just some quick, you know, odds and ends to wrap up this episode. There are a few things that stood out to me. Uh, one is it is called Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. So uh I am not listening in the UK, which is definitely, you know, that's where it is called Philosopher's Stone. I'm not from the UK, and that is uh the official title. So pretty, pretty cool to see. I'm glad, you know, I'm glad that they're going with the original title, but that might suggest that they're gonna be faithful to the books, which I am very glad to hear. Of course, we kind of we definitely knew this. Uh another thing that stood out to me is they're very clear that it's on HBO. HBO Max logos in the corner the whole time. It was on screen at the beginning, and then at the very end, it said on HBO Max plan starting at $10.99 a month. So they are pushing HBO hard. So does that suggest something about some potential deals with Netflix that fell through, and then Paramount stepped in, but that's not gonna happen anymore? I don't know. I don't know what's going on, and I mean, even if a deal was about to go through, they probably would still say it's going out on HBO. So we can't assume anything, but they did say it's going on on HBO, so there you go. Uh another thing that the there are two more things. One of them is the logo, the Harry Potter logo. Of course, it is it's you know, the words Harry Potter. It's different. It's different, and it's not so, so different, but it is definitely different. It has a different feel to it. You know, uh the original Harry Potter logo is much more jagged, you know, it's much more it's much more intriguing. I think this is, you know, softer edges, it's it's more like a tree. You know, the uh Harry Potter Low, the original is, you know, very much like lightning. This is this is more like a tree. So I'm interested to see why, you know, I don't think that's very impactful, truth be told. Uh, so we will definitely have many things to discuss other than how how the logo has changed. But the last thing, and maybe one of the most important things of the whole trailer, is the fact that it said Christmas 2026. So we have an official release date, Christmas 2026. That is what we have to look forward to. I never understood why people why you know studios released it on Christmas. Like, just let me not have to worry about that on Christmas. I'm spending time with my friends and family. But anyhow, it is coming out on Christmas 2026. So glad that they did not say something like early 2027, because that could be like March. And I don't want that. I want a specific date, so we have it. It is December 25th this year. I am so thrilled that that is coming out. I am so, so excited to see that the the developments of these characters. We have had such an interesting look at these characters already, and this trailer is just reaffirming uh the idea that this this is going to be interesting. You know, for better or for worse, there are gonna be changes, there are gonna be creative decisions, but we are going to have a TV show for the ages, and that is for sure. So I am thrilled with this trailer. I'm looking forward to the future releases. If you want to chime in, I want to hear from you down with us, let's definitely make this more of a conversation. Reach out to me, thePotterdiscussion at gmail.com. That is thePotterdiscussion at gmail.com or text uh the show that's the first link in the show notes. You can send me a text message on your phone. I see them all, I read every single one. So thank you everyone who does that. And of course, if your friend said, Hey, have you seen the new hair potter trailer? And you say, Yes, I have, check out this really cool podcast that analyzed it totally. Uh, that would really help me. I would definitely share this episode, share the show. Uh, I mean, if this if this trailer has shown us anything, it is that we have some analysis coming up. To say the least, we have some analysis coming up. So I am so, so, so thrilled to have that that opportunity uh to really begin to dive into these characters. So definitely share this episode with someone who you think would enjoy it, who you think could use that analysis as well. That would really help me out. But that is everything I have for you today. Is this the longest episode we've ever done? It could be, it could be. This is quite the long episode. I want to thank you all for sticking around. Uh, I know you've built this podcast into your schedule to be about half an hour. Uh, so thank you for building more time into your schedule. Uh, I definitely wanted to take some time with this episode to really dig in, and I think it came across very well. So, again, thank you all for listening so much. Have a wonderful week. We are back next week, and as always, remember that happiness can be found even in the darkest of times. If one only remembers to turn on the light. I will see you all later.