Book scenes we hope are in the new HBO series

As we have lamented for years, so much from the Harry Potter book series was left out of the films – scenes, characters (PEEVES!), subplots, romances, etc. Other aspects of the books were altered in ways that did not align with the characters — and I don’t mean only “DID YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THE GOBLET OF FIRE?!” but of course that especially. Changing out the scene between Dumbledore and the Dursleys for the scene in the London Underground at the beginning of Half-Blood Prince was amongst the worst changes. The fire at The Burrow in the same film was ill-judged, as was the cringingly subservient scene of Ginny tying Harry’s shoes, Ginny and Harry’s first kiss, and, worst of all, Harry simply obeying an order to stay hidden as Dumbledore is killed on the lightning struck tower rather than being immobilised. It was totally out of character for Harry to just stand there fretting and not try to save Dumbledore — as Dumbledore knew in the book, hence the immobilisation. Most of the really poorly thought-through film changes that did not work were in Half-Blood Prince, making it nearly unwatchable, but they are present in every film. Does Hermione seem the type to wear perfume on the run? Yes, Ron had given her perfume for Christmas in Order of the Phoenix, which she described diplomatically as “unusual”. It’s possible she could have kept it and worn it several years later, but do you think it likely under the circumstances?

Some of the omissions and changes are understandable. Film is a different medium for telling the story and there are financial, technological, and time constraints that do not affect a book. The plot is stripped down to the critical elements to propel it forward and minimally support character development. The special effects budget is allocated judiciously: Dragons are important to the plot in the Triwizard Tournament and the escape from Gringotts but we do not need to see bowtruckles, blast-ended skrewts, or even Peeves to move the story forward.

HBO has told us that we will get Peeves this time around. They have stated that the multi-episode format of (at least) one season per book makes it possible to include more from the books than the films were able to, not to mention the difference that advances in special effects technology in the last quarter century make. HBO has also committed to bringing to the small screen book scenes that we heard about but did not experience, such as Hermione getting her Hogwarts letter, Dumbledore conferring with the his old friends Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel about the philosopher’s stone, and droning ghost Professor Binns boring Ron to sleep in History of Magic class.

What other book scenes are ripe for inclusion? HBO will not be able to include literally everything from the books, so we have made a list of the one scene missing from the films that we most want included from each book:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Snape’s potion challenge was a glaring omission from the films but I can see how the logic puzzle was both time-consuming and not as visual, so as much as I want it included, if I can only choose one scene, I will add the scene of the Dursleys taking Harry to King’s Cross and dropping him off.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Nearly Headless Nick’s Deathday party and Lockhart’s Valentine’s Day festivities are nearly a tie, but I really want to see Ginny’s poem read to a mortified Harry in the corridor.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Argh! This is difficult, just picking one scene from each book. I love the scene in the Shrieking Shack when Sirius explains what really happened when Harry’s parents were murdered. That dialogue was heavily condensed in the films and, if forced to pick one thing only from the book, I want this scene expanded.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The scene when the Weasleys blast through the Dursleys’ blocked up fireplace and Fred and George feed the Ton Tongue Toffee to Dudley is high on the list, as is the Quidditch World Cup, but for advancing the story we need Ludo Bagman and Winky and Barty Crouch, Sr.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The scene in St. Mungo’s over the holidays where the trio visits Arthur Weasley (including the confrontation with Molly about stitches) and they see Gilderoy Lockhart, as well as Alice and Frank Longbottom, Neville’s parents.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The scene when Dumbledore confronts the Dursleys about their abuse of both Harry and Dudley, with the glasses of Madam Rosmerta’s oak-matured mead nudging them on their heads, including the bit where Dumbledore tells Harry about his inheritance from Sirius and asks him to summon Kreacher.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Again, so hard to choose. I was originally going to say Voldemort’s death scene, but that was not missing from the films, it was changed. So, I’m not counting it as they do not need to add it in so much as do it properly. What they need to add in is the scene at the end when Harry talks to Dumbledore’s portrait and repairs his wand using the Elder Wand.

What are your must-have scenes for the HBO series?