Where Can Dumbledore Go From Here?

In this episode, we break down the character of Gilderoy Lockhart. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      1:37 Who is he? Well, Lockhart was the DADA teacher in the Chamber of Secrets. He was part of the Dark Forces Defense League, an Order of Merlin Third Class, winner of the Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile Award five times in a row and his favorite color is lilac. What a guy.

·      3:53 What was his role in the story? For Lockhart, he is an imposter so his role is fairly complicated. He never does real magic and wears many hats to fit in. To sum it up, he is a tool to propel the story forward and provide a moral contrast. He vanishes the bones in Harry’s arm and sends him to the hospital wing where Harry hears very important information. At the end what Lockhart is scrambling to run away, Harry and Ron bring him to the Chamber and they all go in. We also see him making questionable choices and lying through his teeth which gives us a better perspective on some of the other characters. 

·      11:20 Strengths and weaknesses. Let’s start with strengths. His big one is he can lie and act. He is constantly putting on a character and his actin g as someone else, and after so many years he becomes very good at. He can also cast a mean memory charm which comes in handy. His weaknesses far outweigh his strengths, however. Firstly Lockhart can’t do magic for the life of him. As skilled as he may seem, there is no skill behind it. His ability to lie is the only reason why no one calls him out. He also can’t see the bigger picture of even if he can’t fix a situation, others would see him as a greater wizard if he didn’t push it if there was risk and sought those who could help. Could he fix Harry’s arm? No. Did he try and fail? Yes. Case and point right there. 

·      22:04 If we could change him, would we? Absolutely. He has so many things that we could improve. We would stop him from lying so much for starters. He wouldn’t be saying how unlucky it was that he wasn’t there because he knew just the counter curse or that he knew exactly where the Chamber was. No, he wouldn’t say anything of that. He would also recognize his weaknesses and step back for others to do the things he knew he couldn’t. 

·      26:21 Did he receive a fitting end? No. As bad as he was and as many horrible things that he did, he didn’t deserve to loose all the things he stood for. He was put together and flashy and always knew what to say and do, but then became a shell. We thank him for his wonderful lines and the story he gave us and bid him farewell.

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In this episode, we discuss which characters could be evil. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:20 Dumbledore. This would be interesting. Dumbledore has a lot of power and information that would prove extremely useful to him. But he might not work with Voldemort because it has been made clear that he isn’t aligned with him. Dumbledore is working to take down Voldemort in the story, so the cool thing is that wouldn’t change one bit. Taking out Voldemort would mean less competition, so he would be just as motivated to do it. 

·      9:23 Hagrid. This would be a good one because it would heart wrenching. Hagrid is kind and considerate and the last person we would expect to be a double agent. That would make him the perfect spy. Who would suspect him? A more reasonable story would be blackmail because Hagrid would have to be a completely different person than we know to be working for Voldemort. Hagrid could work in the shadows and give the Death Eaters an in to the ground every once and a while, or pass along information.

·      14:16 Arthur Weasley. No one would know this one. Voldemort would understand the value of planting a close friend near Harry, and Arthur is the perfect one to do this. He would get close to Molly and once Voldemort needed it, they would send Ron to Hogwarts and stack the deck so they meet and become friends. Suddenly Ron is passing information to Voldemort through Arthur and no one suspects a thing. 

·      18:08 Slughorn. Slughorn makes a good spy because Dumbledore came to him and asked him to be on the staff, giving Voldemort a source of information in the castle. Slughorn is a part of the discussions of defense and trying to find Voldemort, so he could give false information and Voldemort could stay ahead of the Order and the Ministry. Slughorn could also take a look at Dumbledore’s private letters and get a lay of the land. 

·      22:34 Snape. How cool would it be if Snape was a triple agent? We could explore what Voldemort offered Snape to start working for him. But if Snape were discovered by Dumbledore, he would have to scramble. In order to keep under the radar he would have to be very convincing which could then lead to Voldemort becoming suspicious.

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In this episode we discuss the very best quotes in Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      1:43 “Why is it always me?” What a good one. This not only acts as comic relief, but also this quote points at a great question: why is is always Neville? It could be that he is a magnet for problems because it shows his character arcs. We see his struggles early on in the story, but then at the end he is fighting hundreds of Death Eaters. This quote acts as contrast between the person he was and the person he is.

·      7:37 “Worrying means you suffer twice.” This quote strikes such a chord because it is the truth. One of Newt’s best traits is his honesty, and this quote puts that on display. Newt says this to Jacob when they are prepared to capture the erumpent, and Jacob is freaking so Newt is trying to calm him down. He doesn’t sugar coat it and he doesn’t lie. All he says is the truth. 

·      13:18 “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” Sirius is right. Voldemort is a horrible leader and he will kill any one of his followers if they speak too loudly. Dumbledore gives everyone and voice and cares for every person below him. That is the difference between these characters and highlights the victory in the Battle of Hogwarts. 

·      19:05 “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” Dumbledore says this to Neville when he awards Neville just the right amount of points to win the house cup. Some of the worst conflicts in the story were between friends, like when Harry and Ron fought in the Deathly Hallows. Fighting with one’s friends is much more difficult, but also more valuable when needed.

·      23:02 “There are no strange creatures. Just blinkered people.” This fits Newt’s character. It shows his love of beasts and his distaste of humans, and also shows how he thinks most of the problems in the world come from humans.

·      25:35 “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.” All Dumbledore is saying is as bad as life seems, just relax and turn on a light. Often times, problems loom far smaller in the light than the dark.

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In this episode, we discuss Tina and Queenie's unbreakable bond and Queenie's descent  into darkness and Grindelwald. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      2:07 Tina and Queenie’s backstory and bond. They were born in the early 1900s and lost their parents to dragon pox when they were very young. The sisters only had each other to lean on going through life and had to find their own way in New York while trying to navigate the treachery of MACUSA. They have formed a very strong bond and they have grown very close and have gotten to know each other very well. The difficulties they have overcome have only brought them closer together.

·      7:46 What did Queenie join Grindelwald? The big overarching reason is Jacob. In this time, it was forbidden for magical people to be romantically involved with Muggles. Queenie had never had someone like Jacob before, so when they met, they were both enchanted. Queenie knew they couldn’t be together and it tore her apart. She joined Grindelwald because in a moment in inspiration, she thought that he wanted what she wanted and she flipped sides.

·      14:35 Queenie’s torment came from when she tried to return, not from when she left. This is a difficult topic to discuss because there is no one moment when her thoughts flipped to Grindelwald. The moment when she left was painful, but in that moment she believed herself to be correct which helped her along. It really became horrific when she realized that she was wrong in supporting Grindelwald and she had made a huge mistake and burned her bridges for nothing. She was along again.

·      20:06 What did the separation do for her relationships? Her separation with Jacob was probably the worst. They had already gotten to know each other when Queenie left, but they hadn’t had the bond the Tina did with her. They still ended up loving each other, but there was a moment when it was broken. For Tina, it likely wasn’t broken even once. Tina understands Queenie to such a degree that even though they were separated, Tina knew that Queenie was regretting her decision. Tina knows what its like to be alone and she couldn’t bear to do that to Queenie. 

·      24:51 Queenie and Tina’s relationship is unbreakable. They were too close and had been through too much together to break apart just when they needed each other the most. 

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In this episode, we discuss different magical creatures and rank them. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      Listen to QuizMaster: Gringotts here!

·      3:44 #8 Dragons

·      7:35 #7 Kneazle

·      10:24 #6 Niffler

·      15:24 #5 Bowtruckle

·      18:28 #4 Phoenix

·      22:24 #3 Houselves

·      24:35 #2 Centaurs

·      26:05 #1 Hippogriffs

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In this episode, we test our knowledge on Gringotts Bank. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      1:53 Warm-Up Round

·      3:50 Question 1

·      7:41 Question 2

·      14:12 Question 3

·      17:52 Question 4

·      23:04 Question 5

·      26:00 Question 6

·      30:18 Question 7 and Challenge Question

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In this listener suggested episode, we discuss the funniest characters and moments in Harry Potter. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      2:26 #7 Kingsley Shacklebolt. The reason why Kingsley is so far up on the list is his famous line: “You may not like it, but Dumbledore’s got style.” It is just perfect. The perfect ending to such an intense scene where Dumbledore is threatened with Azkaban. He is part of the Ministry, but he is also part of the Order.

·      8:03 #6 Ron Weasley. It should come as no surprise that Ron is on this list. I’m sorry to say he gets progressively less funny as the films go on. That’s not because Rupert’s acting took a dive, but because his lines work for a young kid the best, like in the Forbidden Forest when he asks Harry permission to start panicking or when he is freaking out while being strangled by the devil snare down the trap door. 

·      14:20 #5 Filch. Everything about Filch in the films are perfect. Even when he is trying to be menacing and scare the students, Filch has some pretty funny physical comedy. One of my favorites is when Filch runs into the Great Hall in the Deathly Hallows screaming, “Students out of bed! Students in the corridors!” It was the peak of his career, but to no avail because they were supposed to be there.

·      19:55 #4 Dumbledore. This is a deserving spot right here. But what makes Dumbledore so funny? In my opinion, it is his age. He is well past 110 in the story, but he still has such a young soul. He is a glass half full kind of person, and that shows with the cheerful way he takes his defeats. “Alas, ear wax.” He is calm when talking about quite consequential events that makes his every line so funny.

·      24:17 #3 Neville. Neville is such an innocent character who has some very cool lines. When he collapses the bridge in the Deathly Hallows, we think at first that Neville died. But he pulls himself over the edge and says, “That went well.” Similarly in the Goblet of Fire, Harry eats the gillyweed and jumps in the water and Neville starts to panic. “Oh my god! I’ve killed Harry Potter!”

·      29:40 #2 Hagrid. What a funny character. First of all, he is so kind and caring for all of his friends, but that doesn’t stop him from making the occasional funny mistake. When the trio and him are talking about the trap door, Hagrid accidentally tells them how they can get past Fluffy and delivers the famous “I should not have said that.” He also has had some other good ones that make his character pop. 

·      33:12 #1 Professor McGonagall. Without a single doubt, McGonagall is the funniest character in the entire series. Maggie Smith is the perfect actress, she received many of the good lines, and she was funny in the books. This combination makes up the perfect mixture of comedy that creates the funniest character in the entire series. “Boom!”

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In this episode, we discuss more would you rather questions. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      Listen to Would You Rather Part 1 here!

·      1:40 Would you rather kill Professor McGonagall or Molly Weasley? Let’s weight the pros and cons. McGonagall has a very strict moral compass and values that drive her to do the right thing. She knows the ground of Hogwarts and can defend it if she has to. Molly is such a kind person, acting as a mother figure for Harry. She will defend her loved ones till her very last breath. As wonderful as Molly is, it makes more sense to kill her because without McGonagall, the Battle of Hogwarts would be very different. 

·      9:19 Would you rather Snape or Draco be a friend to Harry from the beginning? Both tortured Harry for his entire time at Hogwarts, and though they both became friends of Harry’s at the end, getting there at the beginning could be a big change. Draco might make more of a difference. Snape perhaps came to like Harry more than Draco at the end, so if Draco was Harry’s friend the story would be changed for the better. 

·      16:33 Would you rather Muggle studies or care of magical creatures be required for students to take? Both subjects are a joke among the students when taking at least one would be hugely beneficial. Muggle studies would give wizards a perspective on Muggles that might reduce prejudices. Care of magical creatures would give a new look at magical nature. However, Muggle studies might help resolve more problems so that is the subject that should be required.  

·      20:23 Would you rather werewolves or house elves get another chance in society? Werewolves are hated and feared, and house elves are seen as nothing, just a way to do the laundry. The reason why house elves is the right choice is werewolves can still lead a normal life. A werewolf can still have friends that support them, but a house elf is all on their own.

·      23:36 Would you rather Umbridge stays or Hagrid goes? We get a taste of both. Umbridge presides over the school in the Order of the Phoenix, and it wasn’t very pleasant. Hagrid wasn’t there in the same book and that also wasn’t very nice. However, Umbridge staying would be the worst. She led with fear and pain, torturing the students to get her way and forcing them to follow the rules. 

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In this episode, we discuss who would in a duel: Harry or Hermione. Enjoy!

Summary/Topics:
·      1:51 Why them? Besides the fact that this episode was a suggestion, Harry and Hermione know each other. They have been friends for years and they know each other’s personalities and habits. In a duel, that connection could be interesting. They know more about each other than the average duel.

·      6:26 Harry’s strengths and weaknesses. His biggest strength is his general ability to duel and read his opponent. He has had a lot of practice and he knows what spells to use when. He is fluent in the language of casting spells. He is also quite smart in a situation like a duel. His major weakness is his emotions. If he is fighting someone like Hermione, he might not to hurt her which would give her an opening to attack.

·      14:48 Hermione’s Strengths and weaknesses. Her biggest strength is her ability to use many kinds of magic. She uses all kinds of spells, not just a certain vein like Harry might. She also knows Harry enough to guess his patterns and spells that he would stick to. Her weakness is she is a jack of all trades. She is skilled in every arena, but not specifically in dueling. That might count against her.

·      20:57 Dumbledore’s Army duel. Harry wants to demonstrate a duel to the other students in the DA, so he asks Hermione to be his dueling partner. Who would win? Either Harry would win or Hermione would find an opening and get the upper hand. However, Harry winning is more likely.

·      24:19 Meeting on the battlefield. If Harry and Hermione are enemies and they meet on the battlefield, who would win then? This one would be Hermione. Harry would see Hermione and focus in on winning and nothing else which would give Hermione the perfect opportunity to find an opening in Harry’s furious attacks and gain the advantage. 

·      27:41 Flat plain. With no outside circumstances, who would win? Without a doubt, it is Harry. The situation is what decided the other victories, but without a situation, there is nothing that stops Harry from using his superior skill to win. Nice job. 

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In this episode, we discuss some very though provoking questions. Enjoy!

Topics/Summary:
·      2:00 What does the happiest person in the world see in the Mirror of Erised? Dumbledore claims they would see themselves exactly has as they are, but I don’t agree. Happiest doesn’t mean completely happy first of all, but also, there is a very little chance that there is a person in the world who really doesn’t want anything more. The only time it would be a mirror is when the person looking in it truly wanted to see a mirror image of themselves.

·      9:01 What are the limits of an animagus? The rules themselves have really never been defined, so could someone turn into air? We’ve seen switching spells work with air, so it could be possible. Also, humans are technically animals too, so could a person become an animagus of another person?

·      12:56 Possible ancient alien intervention = magic? There are many theories today about huge structures like the pyramids of Giza, but what if it is really magic in the wizarding world? That would make perfect sense. It is really the kind of canon that seems like it would be upheld by the author. It does make sense after all.

·      17:26 Why are some spells unforgivable and others completely allowed that can kill just the same? I could cast a spell that can explode a building and kill a hundred people and that certainly wouldn’t be allowed, but the casting of the spell wouldn’t be the offense. But with an unforgivable curse, it is the act of casting it that is horrible. Maybe that’s because of what it does to the caster, not the target. It is really personal and you really have to mean the spell when you cast it.

·      22:00 Why weren’t potions used in the Battle of Hogwarts? They were throwing crystal balls at the Death Eaters so the least they could do is throw a few potions as well. Why didn’t they? It could have been the short notice because Harry gave them a heads up just a few hours before the battle started, but shouldn’t they have been preparing weeks or months before Harry arrived?

·      26:40 Is there a magical creature that is considered close enough to human that they can occupy the Room of Requirement? There have certainly been magical creatures in the room at the same time, but what if it was a centaur? Is their intelligence enough to occupy it? But then what about a dragon? They are very intelligent, but would they do it?

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