With news of the upcomingHarry PotterTV series on Max, followers of the iconic franchise are buzzing once again. Here is an opportunity for fans to see all the things on screen that the movies missed out on. The series could really dive into all the details that made the books so magical.
Quirky characters like Peeves or Ludo Bagman would finally get live-action versions. And audiences would probably get to see more than oneQuidditch matchper Hogwarts year. What’s more, the series could finally do justice to some of the relationship dynamics that were far more nuanced than the movies made them out to be. One of these, perhaps the most important, was the romantic arc between Harry and Ginny.
RELATED:Harry Potter: Reboot Series Looks To Make One Big Change From The Original Movies
The Movies Got Ginny Weasley Wrong
While the movie did give fans a romance between Harry and Ginny, most fans agree that the execution was bad and didn’t have any of the charm their relationship boasted in the books. The root cause for this seems to be the characterization of Ginny herself.
In the books, Ginny is very taken from Harry right from the start. She blushes around him and finds herself unable to speak in front of him. WhenLockhart orchestrated his ridiculousValentine’s Day celebration in the Chamber of Secrets, Ginny used one of his ‘cupids’ to send Harry a love poem. As the years go on though, Ginny spends more time with Harry and learns to loosen up. She grows less nervous and more herself — spunky, outspoken, and not afraid of picking a fight.
While the movies do get Ginny’s initial nervousness right, they focus on her crush and do not portray other parts of her personality. And there’s so much to it! Ginny is a fan favorite because of her confidence. She doesn’t let her brothers get one up over her and argues with Ron when he becomes overprotective. She stands up for underdogs like Neville and stops other students from making fun of Luna Lovegood.
Her passion for Quidditch is another oversight in the films. She is shown to be part of the team, but the movies miss out on how much she cares about it — her passion for the sport rivaling that of Harry and Ron. They never show that she taught herself how to play the game by sneaking out her brothers’ broomsticks and practicing since she was only six years old!
There’s also the fact thatGinny is an incredibly powerful witch. Throughout the books, her magical abilities are proven to be some of the best. She’s talented at casting hexes, jinxes, and charms and was able to conjure a corporeal patronus at the age of 14, something which even Hermione struggled to do. In theDeathly Hallows,Ginny is one of the three students battling thepowerful death eater Bellatrix Lestrange. And to top it all, despite her many talents, the young witch never comes across as arrogant. She’s always kind and compassionate to those around her.
In the movies, all these different dimensions of Ginny fade away. In the limited screen time that she gets, Ginny maintains her low-key demeanor. The audience never sees her wit or fiery temper. They never see her make fun of Harry and Ron or insist that she come along to save Sirius. Ultimately, the moviesfailed to give Ginny Weasley an accurate representationeven though Bonnie Wright did do the best she could with the script she had. As a result, her romance with Harry suffers as well.
How Can The Show Fix The Harry-Ginny Romance?
The new Harry Potter series has all the potential to do this romance justice. With more time and attention to detail, the story can not only offer a better portrayal of Ginny but also the relationship as a whole. Fans might finally get to see Harry and Ginny’s relationship as it is in the books.
Up untilthePrisoner of Azkaban,their relationship is fairly static. But in theGoblet of Fire,Ginny takes Hermione’s advice of dating other people and slowly opens up around Harry. Her true personality comes out around him and by theOrder of the Phoenix,she and Harry have built a friendship. In a key moment in that book, she even helps Harry figure out whether he’s being possessed by Voldemort or not. Which are some pretty high emotional stakes.
The romance truly kicks off inTheHalf-Blood Prince. After spending a summer enjoying Ginny’s presence, Harry feels a pang of disappointment when he remembers that she doesn’t hang out with them at school. But it’s not until he sees her kissing Dean that jealousy rears its head. Even when Harry’s finally figured out he likes her, he argues with himself about it — she’s Ron’s sister after all. And then comes the final Quidditch match of the year. Harry is unable to attend due to detention. He enters the Gryffindor common room to roaring cheers, sees Ginny running towards him, and spontaneously kisses her. Thenew Harry Potter seriescould actually give such scenes the screen time they deserve.
The movies don’t show any of the couple’s moments as friends nor their shared humor or enthusiasm for Quidditch. Nor do audiences get to see Harry’s growing feelings or their exchanged glances. We only get Ginny’s one-sided crush, and then she’s forgotten until Harry is suddenly attracted to her inHalf-Blood Prince.As a result, there is no chemistry between them. Instead of their witty conversations, Ginny ties Harry’s shoelaces and wipes blood off his chin. Instead of the euphoric first kiss, the characters share a boring, emotionless kiss in the Room of Requirement. Many fans agree that their entire relationship is forced and bland. Now, the series can finally add some flavor to it.
MORE:Harry Potter: Things Fans Might See In The HBO Max TV Series
