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In this episode, we compare Gilderoy Lockhart and Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. With the upcoming Harry Potter TV show, there will be many opportunities to dive deeper into both of these characters. Though Riddle doesn't teach at Hogwarts and Lockhart doesn't make horcruxes in his spare time, they are far more similar than what meets the eye.
Topics/Summary:
·      1:59 Gilderoy Lockhart and Tom Riddle seem different, but the truth is they are eerily similar. They are both mirrors for things waiting for us in the future of the story. Tom Riddle is a mirror for the later form of Voldemort, showing us what is to come. Lockhart is a mirror for the fear Voldemort inspires in us as he rises to power. It isn’t enough for the story to tell us to be afraid of Voldemort; we have to see it too.
·      17:18 Similarities and differences. On the surface, these two characters seem like total opposites. They come from different lives, even different times. However, the deeper we go into their character, the more similar they become. They both have power over people and that leaves a mark.
·      24:09 Both Lockhart and Riddle disappear in this season and will reappear in a different form in a future season. What does that mean? An interesting question to ask within this subject is: who changes the most? The truth is, it’s really hard to tell.
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In this episode, Harry finally sees the Burrow for the first time and meets the entire Weasley family. They go shopping for their Hogwarts supplies at Diagon Alley, and meet Gilderoy Lockhart for the first time. Finally, Harry and Ron miss the Hogwarts Express and have to take the Ford Anglia to school. Enjoy!
Topics/Summary:
·      3:10 Quick recap and life at the Burrow. I want to see what a wizard family does in a day. How do they live? This is Harry’s first time seeing a magical dwelling like the Burrow, and I want to make the most of it. The Weasley family is a lively bunch and that should come across.
·      9:59 Off to Diagon Alley! Harry’s mistake with the floo powder sends him to Knockturn Alley and he sees Draco and Lucius shopping for some dark artifacts.
·      16:48 Flourish and Blotts. Now that Harry has escaped, we get to see the famous Gilderoy Lockhart in his element. He is a rambunctious idiot. We officially meet Lucius, and he plants the diary with Ginny.
·      27:07 Trip to Hogwarts. They cram their car full of things and people and the rush to the platform. Harry and Ron can’t pass through to Platform 9 ¾! They are stuck so they have to make a decision. They decide to take the flying Ford Anglia to Hogwarts. The episode ends with Hogwarts fading into view and another year on the horizon.
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In this episode, we examine characters like Dobby, Petunia Dursley, and Severus Snape and discuss how their defining moments differ between the Harry Potter books, films, and what we should hope for in the new Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!
Topics/Summary:
·      Listen to episode 322 Tea Leaves S2 E2 here!
·      2:10 Dobby. He’s the foundation for this episode. Dobby has his big moment at the very end of his arc when he sacrifices himself for Harry and friends to escape Malfoy Manor. That shouldn’t be his moment to shine! Earlier on, perhaps he runs into Draco at Hogwarts and refuses some ridiculous order. The TV has room for moments like these.
·      13:49 Petunia Dursley. She is Harry’s last connection to his family, and it’s super easy to forget that when she’s being mean to Harry. But a few moments earlier in the story when we see Petunia’s softer side would go a long way. She really wanted to go to Hogwarts, and her refusal is why she’s so bitter. We should have an opportunity to see past that ice wall. 
·      20:19 Snape. His story is truly heartbreaking story, and his love for Lily just wasn’t meant to be. But I don’t want to see that side to him only after he has died. The climax of his arc should be his death and the memory he shares with Harry, but we should see little hints of that emotion behind the greasy hair.
·      24:18 Horace Slughorn. He needs more screen time! After the Half-Blood Prince, Slughorn falls into the background. In the Harry Potter TV show, there should be no characters looked over for the sake of time. He has such a heartwarming story, and he showed real courage in overcoming his shame. We should see more of that!
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In the this episode, we discuss Harry's conflict with Mr. Dursley and the Weasley's rescue from 4 Privet Drive in our version of the Harry Potter TV show. Enjoy!
Topics/Summary:
·      1:59 Quick recap and Harry at Privet Drive. He is back in Sad Harry mode with his previous life. We want to set this baseline of him hating his muggle existence so later on it means something to him.
·      9:37 The Masons are the driving force. Their story is why Vernon is so uptight, and why he is so adamant that Harry be as quiet as a mouse. This will be the conflict that leads to Harry’s imprisonment, so it’s very important that we set it up early.
·      18:08 Things start to heat up. The Masons arrive and while the Dursleys are greeting them in the driveway, Dobby apparates into Harry’s room with a loud crack, and maybe knocks something off a shelf. The Masons hear it from all the way outside and the tension is already set before they even walk in.
·      29:27 Harry can’t believe what he has done. The whole cake fiasco had lead Harry to believe that he is expelled and will never see Hogwarts ever again. After Dobby drops the cake on Mrs. Mason’s head, Vernon locks Harry up. After a few nights, Ron and the twins come to Harry’s window bars, rips them off, then struggles with the Dursleys to get Harry out. Finally, he’s free.
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In this episode, we discuss the latest news on the Harry Potter TV show and what it might mean for the story. Enjoy!
Topics/Summary:
·      1:18 So what happened? HBO announced that they are already casting for season two, and they also mentioned that they have cast Louis Shelton as future Ron for the first season. He won’t play a huge role in the story, but it opens the door.
·      9:14 Filmmakers are following the books closely. You could also argue that they are completely branching out, but we have to know more before we can say for sure. With characters like the Flamels, the TV is breaking new ground. But with a future Ron, we technically have seen him before.
·      15:16 Flash-futures are dangerous. Imagine we are in the Great Hall or something like that and we flash forward. We watch a scene that is to come, and then are pushed back to the present. In that moment, the present loses some value. It feels like we’re losing ground, even though we saw something from the future.
·      21:09 It is very possible to avoid that danger. If we keep the flashes brief and avoid full scenes, and integrate them into the story, the flashes will only enhance the present. Dumbledore thinking about the future in his office is a great opportunity to explore this.
·      25:46 Despite all the negatives, there is a huge upside. If we avoid the full scenes, the filmmakers can make these visions of the future truly impactful. The truth is we don’t know everything. Some actors and creative choices are still unknown to us, so there is still potential to be surprised.
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