What fans want from the TV version of Harry Potter

The upcoming Harry Potter TV series has a lot to live up to in terms of fan expectations, but it also has the opportunity to do things the films couldn't.

While the Harry Potter films are considered modern classics, there's no denying that they have their flaws. Like many book-to-screen adaptations, they cut out small details from the source material and omitted some of the less important plot points. This is inevitable, given the need to cram the story into the limited time available in a feature film.

Max's TV version of Harry Potter could have more time to devote to the story, fleshing out details that weren't present in the films. It could feature deeper characters and relationships, and include fan-favorite plotlines from the original adaptation. If done right, the TV adaptation could even improve upon the books.

What fans expect from the TV version of Harry Potter

• A more comprehensive image of Ron Weasley
• Eye color suitable for Harry and Lily Potter
• A black actress as Hermione Granger
• A more detailed description of the character Voldemort
• Better Quidditch Matches
• Standardize witch costumes
• Taking the Charlie & Percy series to new heights
• At least one Marauder Flashback

A more comprehensive image of Ron Weasley

Ron Weasley is the main character in the Harry Potter trilogy, and many fans feel that the films do not do him justice. The films often reserve Ron's best moments and lines for other characters, leaving his less-than-stellar scenes in the books. The Harry Potter TV series has the opportunity to adapt Ron as he appears in the books, and perhaps make the character a little more relatable to modern audiences. Ron isn't the most beloved of the golden trio, but he brings more to the table than he does in the films and deserves to be better portrayed in Max's Harry Potter series.

Eye color suitable for Harry and Lily Potter

Harry Potter looks exactly like his father, but he is reminded repeatedly throughout the series that he has his mother's eyes. One of the laziest mistakes in the Harry Potter series is keeping this common line but casting actors with completely different eye colors. It's become a running joke among the Harry Potter fandom, but the TV series should try to fix it. It's easy to make sure Harry and Lily both have their signature green eyes with contact lenses.

A black actress as Hermione Granger

The main Harry Potter cast isn't as diverse as it should be, and the Harry Potter TV adaptation should take a page from the Cursed Child books. Fans have pointed out that Hermione Granger could pass for black, and the show should cast an actress of color to play the role. While the Cursed Child play has faced some backlash, it's a great way to add diversity after the predominantly white cast of the films.

A more detailed description of the character Voldemort

Voldemort is a one-dimensional villain, and even the flashbacks to his Tom Riddle days don’t paint a complete picture of the character. If the Harry Potter TV adaptation is going to appeal to longtime fans, it’s going to need to do a better job of fleshing out its main villain. Voldemort doesn’t need a redemption arc, but he does need more compelling motivations for his crimes. Voldemort’s screen time in the films is very limited, so the TV adaptation needs to devote more screen time to the main villain.

Better Quidditch Matches

Quidditch is a big part of the Wizarding World and the Harry Potter books, but it hasn't been shown much on screen, especially in the later films. Even the Quidditch World Cup is less spectacular in Goblet of Fire than it is in the books. With a bigger budget and more screen time, the Harry Potter TV series could feature more Quidditch matches, making them the main events. No one watches just for the sport, but fans would appreciate a good Quidditch match.

Standardize witch costumes

Wizards have very different wardrobes to the Muggles in the Harry Potter books, but the film's approach to costumes is confusing. While some directors dress Hogwarts students in wizard robes, others opt for everyday clothes, blending their looks with Muggles. If the Harry Potter TV series wants to get this right, it will need to plan the wizards' costumes more carefully, staying closer to the source material than previous adaptations, perhaps even modernizing the uniforms.

Taking the Charlie & Percy series to new heights

The younger Weasley siblings have a lot of screen time in the Harry Potter films, as they all attend Hogwarts with Harry. However, the older brothers — Percy, Charlie, and Bill — have been largely overlooked in the film adaptations. Each has their own personality arcs in the books, and the TV version of Harry Potter should bring those storylines to the small screen. Charlie's work with magical creatures would make for an interesting subplot, and Percy's feud with his family deserves a place in the upcoming series.

At least one Marauder Flashback

Most Harry Potter fans want a Marauder series, but the TV reboot should offer a few flashback episodes focusing on these beloved characters. Harry's father and his friends certainly have enough story to fill an entire hour-long season. Whatever the Harry Potter TV series does, it should devote more than a brief flashback to Peter Pettigrew's betrayal and the tragic fate of James and Lily.