Harry Potter Theory

There are quite a few mistakes and plot holes in the Harry Potter books and films. In fact, there are enough for me to make several compilations of them. However, perhaps one of the most confusing and inconsistent elements of the Wizarding World is undoubtedly the ‘Trace’- a fairly major plot component that is riddled with contradictions.  To the Harry Potter casual, these issues with the Trace probably went by relatively unnoticed, but for the die-hards, it was hard to ignore the glaringly obvious ways in which the trace was misrepresented. There are also many components of the trace that are never explained- like how it is actually applied to underage witches and wizards. Today, we’ll be diving deep into the Trace—exploring what it is, how it’s applied to children, and, through examples from the books and films, uncovering why this concept is essentially a total trainwreck. We’ll also be looking at the trace from a more SINISTER perspective via one of my theories. Let’s dive in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"A magic this powerful can do great harm in the wrong hands. It must be wielded by a select few." This fairly ominous quote of course refers to the phenomenon that is Ancient Magic—a primal, mysterious force that predates the more structured spellwork of the modern Wizarding World. Revered for its immense power yet feared for its unpredictability, ancient magic is woven into the tapestry of wizarding history, appearing in legends and the very foundations of wizarding society. Yet, in the modern day we hear very little of this ‘ancient’ and powerful force. Which raises an important question: how could something so integral to the Wizarding World’s past have dwindled into what is effectively complete obscurity. In today’s video, we’ll delve into the mysteries of Ancient Magic—exploring what it truly is, where it went, and examining some examples of Ancient Magic that appear throughout the series, some of which you may not have even realized were ancient magic at all. Let’s dive in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing some of the most important figures - both famous and infamous- from Wizarding History- names that are coupled with accomplishments and stories that make the Wizarding World what it is today. The Harry Potter books really only cover the time period that the books are SET IN, but there’s a lot more to Harry Potter lore than meets the eye and It’s always interesting taking a look back at the history books. There is a LOT of ground to cover and a LOT of names on this list, so this will just be PART 1 of a multi part series.  Starting in alphabetical order, today we’re taking a look at the A’s and B’s. Let’s dive in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. From the moment HBO’s new Harry Potter TV Series was announced in April of 2023, fans of the series have been buzzing with questions and excitement. Questions like..What will the series be about? Will it stay true to the original books? And most importantly, who will be in charge of the project? And since then, a lot of these questions have been answered.  But perhaps the biggest lingering question mark surrounding the series pertains to casting. Because you see, so much of the Harry Potter films success was a direct result of the incredible casting decisions that were made.  For many of the roles it’s almost impossible to imagine ANYONE else undertaking them. But..Showrunners for the upcoming series have the behemoth task of finding people anyway. Back in September an open casting call was announced for 3 of the most important characters in the series- Harry, Ron and Hermione. And for these roles, I can almost certainly tell you that it will be relatively unknown actors that end up taking on the characters. But besides these 3, there are a few other massively important roles that are central to the series..Like, oh I don’t know- ALBUS DUMBLEDORE. And as it turns out, the studio already has someone in mind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be discussing exactly how the genetics of witches and wizards work, with a focus on where the heck SQUIBS come from. If you’re a fan of Harry Potter and the works of fantasy fiction in general, you’ve likely asked yourself the question: Where does magic come from? In some universes it would seem that magic can be acquired or learned. But in others—like the wizarding world of Harry Potter—magic is explained as more of a natural talent or “gift” that a person is born with.  But how exactly does that magic get passed down from generation to generation? Why is it that some Muggles end up with magical abilities—while other children born into wizarding families are unable to perform even the simplest of spells? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be discussing why Newt Scamander was allowed to keep his wand after being expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. In what seems like just the last couple of years (but in reality has spanned nearly a DECADE), Warner Bros. has faced some challenges when releasing new Harry Potter IP- particularly the "Fantastic Beasts" film series. These high-budget films which dropped in 2016, 2018, and 2022 respectively struggled to find traction at the global box office and didn’t quite hit the mark for most fans. And for these reasons, it’s unlikely that the Fantastic Beasts films will ever continue, stopping 2 films shy of the 5 film projection originally provided.  However, Warner Bros. found a bright spot in 2023 with the release of Hogwarts Legacy, which seemed to really strike a chord with Harry Potter fans worldwide. The game topped sales charts as the best-selling game of 2023 across ALL platforms and ALL genres- beating out Call of Duty, Madden, Zelda, Diablo and more. And since the game’s release over 30 MILLION copies have been sold. Encouraged by this success, Warner Bros. Games released Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions in August, remastered the Lego Harry Potter game collection, and granted licenses for several new mobile games. But the biggest bit of news is that a Hogwarts Legacy SEQUEL has apparently become a ‘very big priority’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A grain of sand on a lost beach. A tiny pebble lying unnoticed on the ocean floor. A fallen acorn buried under years of autumn leaves. A faded seashell washed ashore on an uninhabited island. These are just a few examples of the kinds of objects that I would use if I was in the position to create my own Horcruxes…And I’m sure the same can be said for a lot of you. Why? Well.. They’re small, hard-to-locate, and perhaps most important of all: meaningless. But somehow, Voldemort missed the memo here, and instead chose objects that were eventually linked back to him. So..The obvious questions here are…WHY was Voldemort so particular in his selection process for potential Horcruxes? And why didn’t he choose things that would be virtually impossible to find? After all, had he done what seems so obvious, to pick meaningless inanimate objects, he may still be ruling over the Wizarding World. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The introduction of the International Statute of Secrecy in 1692 marked a pivotal moment in Wizarding history. It put a stop to the witch hunts and unjust persecution of witches and wizards. It ushered in an era of harmonious co-existence. And most importantly, it separated the two worlds: muggle and magical. But what IF there was a darker element to the statute that has never been properly explored?- an element that concerned the muggles beyond the primary separation of the two worlds? What if the statute, and the subsequent formation of the Ministry of Magic- marked the dawn of an era wherein wizardkind stealthily wielded control over the non-magical world, deftly manipulating it from the concealed depths of the shadows? Today we’re going to be exploring all of that, and more, as we discuss wizardkind’s *silent* control over the Muggle dominion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. This is part 1 of a video series where I’ll be diving in to the Harry Potter books and taking a look, chapter by chapter, at all of the mistakes that were made. Starting with book 1: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I’m going to be placing a particular focus on instances in which factual errors were made or canon was somehow contradicted. Trivial errors like typos / grammatical issues will not be focused on this video. I should also mention that I’m not making this video to CRITICIZE the books, but rather, take a look out of my own curiosity. Authors are only human and nearly every book series has mistakes like these made in them. Rowling has even addressed this topic herself: "As obsessive fans will tell you, I do slip up! Several classrooms move floors mysteriously between books and these are the least serious continuity errors! Most of the fansites will point you in the direction of my mistakes. But the essentials remain consistent from book to book because the story has been plotted for a long time and it is clear in my mind." In the interest of time, I’m also only going to briefly summarizing each mistake as there’s quite a lot of ground to cover.  Starting…With the COVER of the very first book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Now- we've all heard of the Unforgivable Curses—three of the most forbidden and dangerous spells in the wizarding world. Casting any of these, whether it's the Cruciatus Curse, the Imperius Curse, or the Killing Curse, is considered such a heinous crime that it’s punishable by a life sentence in Azkaban. But this got me thinking... What other acts in the Wizarding World can earn you a sentence to Azkaban? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. I’m coming to you today with a bunch of updates on the Harry Potter franchise as a whole- including news about the TV show, upcoming sequels, WizardingWorld.com, and more! This is a NEW style of video that I’ll be making from time to time to help everyone get up to speed with everything HARRY POTTER. I’ve got 5 bits of news to cover in this one, so let’s dive in to it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. In my last video I discussed 7 Harry Potter theories that are so inconsequential and likewise plausible that they are hard to deny. Theories with such little evidence against them that, for the most part, we can all agree they likely have a basis in reality. In my last video, it seemed like many of you agreed with my picks, so today we're diving into 7 more of these theories..Pushing the envelope a little further. Let me know down in the comment section what you think. Let’s dive in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Within the theorydom, there are some pretty absurd Harry Potter theories out there. And I’ll admit, I’m likely responsible for quite a few of them… However, even when I present more rational theories, they often face their fair share of scrutiny. There are usually a number of ways in which even a fairly IRONCLAD theory can be challenged. But every once in a while a theory comes along with so few holes that..For the most part, Potterheads actually AGREE. Theories so plausible (and with so little evidence pointing AGAINST them)..Or just, inconsequential and light-hearted that it’s easier to just roll with them than to argue. Today we’re going to be taking at look at 7 theories that fit exactly this criteria. Theories you hear and just think…”Why not?” Let’s dive in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the new Harry Potter TV Show on the (still fairly distant) horizon, more and more details about the show are slowly being unravelled. However, one recent bit of news that came to light a few days ago has left fans a little distraught... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the time of writing this, Ollivander’s Wand Shop has been supplying the wizarding community with the finest wands money can buy for nearly 24 centuries, having first opened its doors as far back as 382 BC. I know I know, this date DOES seem a little far-fetched, but rest assured that it has been confirmed as canon. And it was during that year that the original ‘Ollivander’, the ancestor of Garrick Ollivander, was thought to have come from a Mediterranean country in Roman times and set up a stall in what would eventually become Diagon Alley.  The Ollivander family quickly revolutionized wand making when they publicly forsook the traditional wand-making process, which previously had witches and wizards procure their own wand core. Ollivander believed that this process produced wands that were ‘inferior’ in quality and performance, which led to the family procuring all wand components for future customers. At this point, the Ollivander of the time began his quest to discover the finest wand cores and the wand woods that best complemented them. And from this point onward, the purchaser would no longer select a wand of THEIR choosing- and instead began the tradition of the WAND choosing the wizard. In theory, this is a nice idea which ensures that each witch or wizard is paired with a wand perfect just for them. It also portrays the Ollivander family as genuinely caring for their customers' best interests in the name of passionate wand-making. But I think there’s a lot more to this business model than meets the eye, and I think that I’ve got some compelling evidence to suggest that there are seriously dark undertones to the wand industry. Join me today as we dismantle the single longest-running business in Wizarding History. Let’s dive in Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I question the Harry Potter books A LOT. But there’s one thing in particular that I’ve always more or less accepted at face value with no regard for HOW it actually unfolds. And that THING is HOW the Ministry (and others) communicates with what are essentially amortal wraithlike spirits that (as far as I know) do NOT possess the ability to speak. I’m of course talking about DEMENTORS. Adding even more mystery to this question is the fact that underneath that hood of theirs the Dementors have a HOLE where their mouth is supposed to be (along with some black holes for eyes).  We know that the Ministry of Magic controls them (to some extent), but I suppose you could argue that this is an unspoken arrangement whereby Dementors are allowed to THRIVE at Azkaban Prison in exchange for relative ‘peace’ between the two factions. But as it happens, there are passages from the books which STRONGLY suggest Dementors relayed information to Fudge & The Ministry..In The form of WORDS strung together. Therefore, today I want to tackle the question of..CAN Dementors speak. And equally as important, HOW? Let’s dive in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the surface, Azkaban seems like a pretty good idea- mainly due to its effectiveness. It’s on a far-off remote island, it has a fortress designed to keep the most dangerous criminals at bay, there are perpetual storms surrounding the island, AND there’s an army of Dementors working as prison guards.  And that’s just the PHYSICAL side of things. Mentally, the prison is an absolute nightmare. The crashing waves and howling winds serve as a natural barrier, isolating the inmates from the world they once terrorized. The Dementors, with their shadowy forms, siphon hope and happiness from every soul they encounter. And those who enter Azkaban often leave something behind—pieces of their sanity, their will to fight, and sometimes even their humanity. And all of this is just about borderline acceptable if we consider that it’s meant to house murderers, dark wizards and those who have committed unspeakable acts against others. But the major issue here is that Azkaban is one of the ONLY Wizarding Prisons in Britain. And what this means is that perpetrators of more MINOR crimes, and in some cases those who have been wrongly convicted, are unjustly sent in to this hell-hole along with the rest of them.  It hardly seems appropriate that someone convicted for say, theft, would endure what is essentially the same punishment as someone who has murdered. This raises a whole plethora of questions about wizarding society as a whole, but the one we’re going to start with is: WHY one gigantic horrible prison? Why not a network of smaller, more humane facilities that focus on rehabilitation rather than sheer punishment?  Today we’re going to be diving in to all of that, and more, as we discuss the mess that is the wizarding justice system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 weeks ago I released ‘7 Major Events BEFORE The Harry Potter Story Started’- the first part of a 4 part series where I discuss events that took place PRIOR to the books and films. Harry Potter lore is a lot deeper than some people realize, so today we’re going to be winding the clocks back once again and exploring 7 more significant events in Harry Potter canon. The last video left us in the early part of the 13th century, and today we’ll be picking things up in the latter half. Let’s get in to it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone, Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. I come to you with news regarding the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. I’ll kick things off with the update and then I’ll dive in to some more details of the project for those who are interested. Following the Emmy Awards last week, HBO's CEO and chairman, Casey Bloys, provided some fresh new details regarding the upcoming and highly anticipated series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices