Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts
Any “Harry Potter” fans here besides me? Yeah, I thought so. Welcome back to where the magic began! Maybe I’m different. Well, we all know I’m a little different, but that’s another story. Maybe I’m different in that I love these types of specials. A lot of people just want more of the show or another sequel in a franchise instead of a special like this. For example, the “Friends” reunion special that came out last year…I absolutely loved it, but a lot of fans were mad that it wasn’t just another episode. Here’s my thought though: all good things must come to an end. It’s just that simple. As much as I love “Friends,” the show couldn’t last forever, and the cast talked about how they’re at a point in their lives (as the characters) that it just didn’t make sense to do another episode in the series. I loved seeing them come back as “real people” and reminisce about the show and their respective roles and what the show meant to them and the world as a whole. I feel the same about “Harry Potter.”
So, in this special, cast members from all “Harry Potter” films reunite on set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first film, including interviews and cast conversations. And when I say cast members reunited, I mean pretty much all of them! Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Jason Isaacs (Lucious Malfoy), and so many others came back to Hogwarts and relived their favorite memories from the 10ish years of filming this iconic series. You see Harry and Bellatrix in Gringotts. You see Harry, Hermione, and Ron in the Gryffindor common room. You see Draco and Bellatrix in the Slytherin common room. You see the Great Hall and shots from the Quidditch Stadium.
One thing that I loved about this special was really getting a glimpse of what these films mean to the actors and crew members that worked on them. Obviously, the franchise is adored by millions of fans, but really seeing it from an “insider’s” perspective was cool as a fan. There’s a real sense of nostalgia to this special. I hate to say it, but I think I enjoyed this special even more than the “Friends” reunion. I just think this one was perfectly done. Bravo to the Director, Casey Patterson. This special is her first directing credit, which makes it all the more impressive to me, but she’s produced many, many things including Bill Murray’s “A Very Murray Christmas” special and 2021’s “VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World.”
If you’re a “Harry Potter” fan, I highly recommend you sit down and watch this special. Relive all of your favorite moments with the original cast and reminisce with your favorite characters. There are also some really beautiful tributes of beloved cast members who have since passed including Richard Griffiths who played Harry’s cruel uncle Vernon, Richard Harris (Dumbledore), Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy), and many others. Tom Felton (Draco) became emotional at one point when talking about McCrory, who played his onscreen mother.
The three main stars spend quite a bit of time talking about how they were just kids and how the directors, starting with the great Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Adventures in Babysitting, Mrs. Doubtfire), went to such lengths to let them have fun and be kids while also getting the job done.
Personally, I’m thankful that HBO and WB were able to make this happen and get it out to all us fans. Really, really well done! “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” is rated TV-PG. Watch it with the whole family.
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