While the Harry Potter movies were well-loved adaptations of the books, certain characters’ deaths were handled poorly, or in some instances, not depicted at all. This was primarily due to the limited time available in a feature film and often major events from the books would have to be condensed into swift movie scenes that did not give enough space for the full impact of a character’s death to be felt by viewers. However, with an upcoming Harry Potter television series in the works, this new adaptation can fix all the poorly handled deaths from the movies.
Majorly important character deaths, like Harry parents Lily and James Potter, that spurred the entire story of Harry Potter can be given extra time and value in the upcoming TV series. Certain characters who had impactful and memorable deaths in the book series that were not shown in the movies at all can be provided with the time and attention they deserve in the upcoming television series. There were so many witches, wizards, and even animal deaths that can be fixed in the Harry Potter TV remake.
The death of Gryffindor student Colin Creevey during the Battle of Hogwarts was a truly tragic occurrence due to his brave and positive outlook, as well as his shockingly untimely demise at just aged 16. Colin nobly gave his life to fight against Voldemort and the Death Eaters, even defying Professor McGonagall’s assertion that he should not partake in the battle. However, Colin’s death was not shown at all in the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the character only appeared in one movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The HBO television remake of Harry Potter should fix his omission and ensure that Colin remains a regular character throughout the entire series. As such a determined wizard who truly embodied the values of a Gryffindor watching him grow and develop throughout all his Hogwarts schooling experience will be a terrific delight. Then, when he sadly gives up his life to defend the Wizarding world from evil in the final instalment, his death will be all the more resonant for television viewers.
The death of Fred Weasley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was one of the most heartbreaking moments in the book series and that’s why it was so disappointing that the film adaptation depicted it so flippantly. An insanely emotional resonant passing, Fred’s death was made more tragic due to the fact he left behind his grieving twin brother George after the two had been almost inseparable throughout each installment. It was difficult to imagine George without Fred by his side, and for this reason, when he died during the Battle of Hogwarts, it felt all the more tragic.
The Harry Potter movies ruined Fred’s death as, instead of accurately depicting J.K. Rowlings heartbreaking description, it simply happened off-screen, and the scene cut to his family in mourning. While this still remained one of the most tragic moments in the Harry Potter series, the true impact of Fred’s demise could be given more time and attention in the television remake. With more time to focus on the secondary characters, Fred’s death. and George’s reaction to it, could be given the same level of notoriety that it received in the book.
Along with Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe was part of a group of mean-spirited Slytherins who were rarely seen without their ringleader Draco Malfoy. More nuance than downright evil in the early books, Crabbe later aligned himself with Voldemort and became a Death Eater and Dark Wizard in later installments. Crabbe met his end during the Battle of Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows after being unable to escape the Room of Requirement and falling victim to a Fiendfrye.
Crabbe’s death was not shown in the movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as his character was replaced by Blaise Zibini as a result of behind-the-scenes controversies involving Crabbe’s actor Jamie Waylett. However, the television remake has the opportunity to pay more attention to characters like Crabbe and, much like the books, although for his untimely death to truly highlight the karmic justices of those who support Voldemort. While Crabbe’s death was not even shown in the movies, the TV show can rectify this and make it a significant part of the Battle of Hogwarts.
While carrying out the plan that led to the Battle of the Seven Potters, Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody was killed at the hands of Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Disappointingly, Moody’s death occurred offscreen in the film version which really did a disservice to such a brave and important character, who met his end the same way he lived, as a fighter. As a skilled Auror whose clever plan ended up saving Harry’s life, it felt unjust that viewers were not privy to his important final moments in the movie version.
The Harry Potter television remake has an opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and showcase the brave end of Moody’s life, just as it was depicted in the book. As one of the most powerful wizards of all time, Moody’s noble death scene would be a great chance to highlight his competency as a fighter in an aerial battle. Although the Battle of the Seven Potters did result in Moody’s death, the TV series can use that time to do Moody’s character justice in his final moments.
Lily and James Potter were just 21 years old when the fateful night where they met their during the attack at Godric’s Hollow on October 31, 1981. A pivotal moment that set the entire story of the Harry Potter franchise into motion, the death of Harry Potter’s parents was only seen onscreen in the film through flashbacks from the perspective of Harry. While this was a powerful way to showcase how Harry perceived the events, the upcoming Harry Potter TV show has the opportunity to make the depiction of their deaths much more effective.
The Harry Potter TV should take some time to fully showcase the attack at Godric’s Hollow and give more insight into the moment when Lord Voldemort fulfilled the events of Sybill Trelawney’s first prophecy. A very important moment that has only ever been briefly seen onscreen, the TV series should take more time to demonstrate the circumstances of that night. As the event that marked the end of the First Wizarding War and led to Harry’s reputation as the boy who lived, there’s lots of narrative heft to be explored in the TV series surrounding these deaths.
It’s no secret that the ways Lord Voldemort died in the book versus the movie of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows were extremely different from each other. Onscreen Voldemort was depicted crumbling into ash in a magical display of demise, which went against the whole ethos of the book that had him simply curling over and dying a mortal man. This simple death had an extra resonance because Voldemort was a wizard who spent his entire life trying to make himself immortal, but in the end, died just like any other person.
The Harry Potter TV has a chance to fix this huge Deathly Hallows problem and stay true to the book when it comes to Voldemort’s death scene. As the culmination of seven novels worth of storytelling, how Voldemort’s death is depicted in the TV show will be an incredibly important moment for the climax of the multi-series show. By taking away the magical crumbling into ashes and replacing it with a more realistic death the futility of Voldemort’s quest to live forever can be highlighted with the same poignant intensity that original book had.
Perhaps the worst Harry Potter death across all eight movies was the poorly-handed and desperately sad demise of Harry’s pet snowy owl Hedwig. Tragically, Hedwig met her onscreen end early in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 after being struck by an Avada Kedavra curse during the Order of the Phoenix’s flight from 4 Privet Drive. A majorly eventful point in the series, the film did not spend much time dwelling on the owl’s death as Harry was still in the midst of a battle against Death Eaters at the time.
The upcoming Harry Potter TV series can rectify this disappointingly swift death by giving it the time that it deserved, and by allowing for a moment of true grieving from Harry. Hedwig was with Harry since his first year at Hogwarts and Hedwig’s death represented a loss of innocence and the end of Harry’s childhood. As the series will be adapting the entire story of Harry Potter, it should have time to give Hedwig’s death more resonance and to powerfully depict his life with Harry over multiple seasons.