The upcoming Harry Potter TV show has sparked controversy and conversation, but there are a few ways that the reboot can improve upon the first screen adaptation of the books. There’s little question that the Harry Potter books and movies contradict themselves and incorporate plot points that become confusing later on. One of the most exciting potential episodes that the remake could include is a flashback showing the history of the Marauders and the budding relationships between James and Lily when they were young. Some of the Marauder’s choices must be addressed by the show.
This is why the Harry Potter TV remake can’t repeat the movies’ mistakes when it comes to these character decisions that don’t make any sense. Lily and James are smart and careful people who do everything they can to ensure that Voldemort doesn’t find them and Harry. However, they’re ultimately betrayed by Peter Pettigrew. This betrayal comes to define Harry’s life and is the catalyst for the events of the story, as Peter giving Voldemort the location of the Potter’s safe house allows Voldemort to kill Harry’s parents and make him the Chosen One.
The Harry Potter Remake’s Marauder Episode Needs To Better Explain The Potters’ Pettigrew Decision
There’s some explanation given, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense
In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry spends the majority of the book and movie thinking that Sirius was the one who betrayed his parents and killed Pettigrew. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. It was Pettigrew who was secretly working for Voldemort before the events of the story and was able to give him the location of the safe house because the Potters made him their Secret Keeper. This was shocking to many people since Sirius was James’ best friend, and it was ᴀssumed that he would be the one to ensure their safety.
Though the Harry Potter books say that the Potters picked Pettigrew because Sirius would’ve been too obvious, and they thought that Lupin might be the traitor, it still doesn’t make sense that Peter would be their next choice. If they didn’t want someone Voldemort would think of, they could’ve looked to another member of the Order or even someone further from their inner circle, like Dumbledore. Even though Sirius would’ve been obvious, he never would’ve given up their location. This ties into how the Harry Potter TV show can use Sirius more and take advantage of his connection with Harry.
Showing The Potters’ Thought Process Could Help Make Sense Of Their Secret Keeper
This part of their backstory must be fully addressed
While there are plenty of Harry Potter fanfics that are basically Marauders prequels, it will be crucial for the new show to use flashbacks. Not only will it be fun to see them as kids and watch their relationship develop, but it will also shed light on the situation they were in that made them think choosing Peter was their best option. Even though he was a known coward, touching upon their belief that Voldemort would never think of him as a suitable Secret Keeper could be part of the decision-making process that the show touches upon.
When the audience meets him in The Prisoner of Azkaban, it’s clear that he’s duplicitous, but there must have been a time when he was a good friend to the Potters.
Even a single scene showing Lily and James discussing Peter and talking to Sirius about not confiding in him would add the necessary context the audience needs. Additionally, it would be interesting to see how Peter convinced everyone around him that he wasn’t working for Voldemort and was loyal to the Order’s cause. When the audience meets him in The Prisoner of Azkaban, it’s clear that he’s duplicitous, but there must have been a time when he was a good friend to the Potters.
Harry Potter’s Remake Needs To Ignore One Deathly Hallows Revelation About Secret Keepers
It would be better to leave this out of the show entirely
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it’s revealed that a person can be their own Secret Keeper when Bill is made the Secret Keeper for Shell Cottage. This is a pretty glaring issue with the concept of the Fidelius Charm, which consistently is over-complicated and misunderstood throughout the story. If one of the Potters could be the Secret Keeper for their home, it makes no sense that they would choose someone else, especially Peter. Tacking on this part of the charm so late in the series calls much of the story’s early logic into question.
Even though this plot twist is part of the books and movies, the Harry Potter TV show should leave out this aspect of the narrative. Making Ron the Secret Keeper of Shell Cottage in the series would allow him to tell Dobby the location during the fight at Malfoy Manor and wouldn’t undermine the inciting incident of the story. Many charms and spells in the series have these quirks and requirements to give them power, and it would explain why Lily and James felt pressure to pick someone unlikely like Peter to know where they are.
