568: Indefensible Characters in Harry Potter, and How to Understand Them

06/28/22 • 78 min

1 Listener

MuggleCast: The Harry Potter Re-Read Podcast

On this week's MuggleCast, the hosts take on the most indefensible characters, and figure out what about them gets under our skin. How can we defend the actions of someone like Gilderoy Lockhart or Rita Skeeter? Do we really believe that James Potter matured out of being a bully? And finally, is Umbridge a case of nature or nurture? Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura for a deep look at characters who bug us in Harry Potter.

For Pride month, MuggleCast is participating in The Hogwarts Hunt, a fundraiser and scavenger hunt to benefit LGBT charities. We're team Hufflepuff! Visit our social media for more info.
Who are the most indefensible characters in Harry Potter? Why do we say that they can't they be redeemed?
The hosts unexpectedly discuss a few Ravenclaws and Micah and Laura get nervous.
Micah says the Death Eaters would actually approve of the Dursleys' treatment of Harry if they knew.
Among the irredeemable characters, which ones do we LOVE to hate and why?
Characters like Snape or Umbridge have scenes that are greatly written as to illustrate their motives clearly, and we are shook.
Could anything or anyone humanize Bellatrix Lestrange?
What allow us to defend some characters, but not others? Their upbringing? Their intelligence and skill? Where do we draw the line?
Is Argus Filch a character we understand? Would a Squib living at a magic school always have his attitude?
Is James Potter a defensible character, since we see so little of him and when we do he is still that teenage bully of Snape?
Do we believe that James would have made a good father and raised Harry without prejudice, had he lived?
Debate: Umbridge, Nature vs Nurture?
Quizzitch: Which of Umbridge's Educational Decrees (what number) barred teachers from giving the students any information that was not related to the subjects they were hired to teach?
Andrew was on Swish & Flick podcast discussing the history of Dumbledore's sexuality! Check it out here or wherever you listen to podcasts!
This week's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast) and Warby Parker (Try 5 pairs of glasses at home for free at WarbyParker.com/mugglecast)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Pride month, MuggleCast is participating in The Hogwarts Hunt, a fundraiser and scavenger hunt to benefit LGBT charities. We're team Hufflepuff! Visit our social media for more info.
Who are the most indefensible characters in Harry Potter? Why do we say that they can't they be redeemed?
The hosts unexpectedly discuss a few Ravenclaws and Micah and Laura get nervous.
Micah says the Death Eaters would actually approve of the Dursleys' treatment of Harry if they knew.
Among the irredeemable characters, which ones do we LOVE to hate and why?
Characters like Snape or Umbridge have scenes that are greatly written as to illustrate their motives clearly, and we are shook.
Could anything or anyone humanize Bellatrix Lestrange?
What allow us to defend some characters, but not others? Their upbringing? Their intelligence and skill? Where do we draw the line?
Is Argus Filch a character we understand? Would a Squib living at a magic school always have his attitude?
Is James Potter a defensible character, since we see so little of him and when we do he is still that teenage bully of Snape?
Do we believe that James would have made a good father and raised Harry without prejudice, had he lived?
Debate: Umbridge, Nature vs Nurture?
Quizzitch: Which of Umbridge's Educational Decrees (what number) barred teachers from giving the students any information that was not related to the subjects they were hired to teach?
Andrew was on Swish & Flick podcast discussing the history of Dumbledore's sexuality! Check it out here or wherever you listen to podcasts!
This week's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast) and Warby Parker (Try 5 pairs of glasses at home for free at WarbyParker.com/mugglecast)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

567: 'Philosopher's Stone' Illustrator Thomas Taylor Reveals the Secrets Behind the Cover

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we're joined by a very special guest, Mr. Thomas Taylor, who originally illustrated Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1996! He talks about what it was like to land the job and all that ensued! Join us as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the book that began a phenomenon!

Welcome Thomas Taylor, illustrator of the very first Harry Potter book in the UK!
Thomas shares what it was like to get the job at just 23-years-old!
How did he decide to illustrate the iconic Hogwarts Express scene?
Did he ever speak with J.K. Rowling?
What was it like to be one of the first people to ever read Harry Potter?
Was he ever asked to work on the remainder of the series?
Who is the mysterious gentleman on the original back cover, and what's in his pocket?
Did you know there is a connection between Dumbledore and The Hobbit?
Thomas shares his thoughts on the first Harry Potter movie, his favorite characters and his Hogwarts House!
What was it like for him to transition from illustrator to author?
Be sure to check out Taylor's other works, including The Legends of Eerie-on-Sea and follow him on Twitter and Instagram!
Quizzitch: Dumbledore’s nose appeared as though it had been broken how many times, according to the first chapter of Philosopher’s Stone?
This week's episode is brought to you by MeUndies (get 15% off your first order, 25% off your first Membership item, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee at MeUndies.com/MuggleCast) and Shudder (stream your first 30 days of Shudder for FREE by going to Shudder.com and entering code MuggleCast)!
Bonus MuggleCast, available later this week: In celebration of Pride Month, we had fun whipping up some gay Harry Potter pick-ups lines (parental advisory warning: these pick-up lines are of an adult nature and not suitable for children). Become a supporter of the show today at Patreon.com/MuggleCast!

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Next Episode

569: What Happened to the Room of Requirement? And More Questions 'Deathly Hallows' Didn't Answer

On this week's episode of MuggleCast, we begin our celebration of the 15th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by looking at the burning questions the seventh book didn't answer. In the weeks ahead, stay tuned for more Deathly Hallows book discussions in honor of the anniversary!

We're excited to announce our 2022 Patreon Gifts - The MuggleCast Collectors Club and the MuggleCast Wand! Pledge to our Patreon by August 7, 2022 and fill out the form(s) to receive your gifts! We are so proud of this year's items and hope you check them out!
Main Discussion: Burning Questions Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Didn’t Answer
Did Deathly Hallows provide the conclusion we all wanted?
Which character(s) got the most disappointing Deathly Hallows resolution?
Lavender Brown: dead or alive?
What retributions (if any) were there for Death Eaters and Voldemort sympathizers after the second war?
Did Kreacher live through the Battle of Hogwarts, and did he ever find out that the locket was destroyed?
Gringotts, The Room of Requirement & Grimmauld Place: what happened to some of our favorite wizarding world locations?
Listeners share their questions on everything from The Veil to Snape's Boggart to Fawkes and more!
How did Harry figure out so much during his time at Shell Cottage?
Did the snake Harry set free in Sorcerer's Stone ever make it to Brazil?
Nagini & Bathilda Bagshot... HOW?!?
What was the relationship like between Harry and Ginny? Luckily, Eric's filling in the gaps in his fan-fiction!
Was the taboo on Voldemort's name a copout?
Was Azkaban absolutely PACKED after the Battle of Hogwarts?
On next week's episode, we'll revisit our reactions to Deathly Hallows after reading the book for the first time, and read old e-mails from the days just after the book was released!
Quizzitch: In Deathly Hallows, during the camping scenes, after complaining about their meal to Harry and Hermione and saying his mom can conjure food from thin air, what does Ron Summon for dinner?
This week's episode is brought to you by MasterClass (get 15% off an annual membership at MasterClass.com/MuggleCast) and BetterHelp (get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/MuggleCast)!