Summary

  • HBO's Harry Potter TV show must improve on the overlooked death of Hedwig in Deathy Hallows: Part 1.
  • The TV series must give Hedwig's death more weight, as it represents the loss of Harry's childhood and innocece.
  • The Harry Potter remake can add a scene that shows Harry properly responding to the loss of his owl.

HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV remake must fix the worst death across all eight movies, and it's one that even J.K. Rowling's books could have handled better. There are sad deaths in each of the Harry Potter movies, and they all come directly from the source material. Some turn out better than others, but that's par for the course with adaptations. The Harry Potter movies have an impressive streak in terms of reviews and box office numbers, but they don't always do the books justice. Fortunately, the Harry Potter TV series will get a second chance to improve on Rowling's series when it debuts.

The show can do this by fixing certain Harry Potter plot holes, including characters missing from the original adaptations, and expanding on storylines that were rushed or overlooked in the films. It can also fix a death from the Harry Potter movies that should have been far more powerful. Even in Rowling's books, this death gets glossed over in favor of everything else going on. The TV remake can finally fix this, giving the character's tragic ending the attention it deserves.

Harry Potter, Draco, and Dumbledore
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Hedwig's Death Is Very Badly Done In Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 1

The Movie Doesn't Spend Enough Time On Harry's Loss

Hedwig dies in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I

There are a number of deaths in Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, but none are handled so poorly as Hedwig's. Harry's pet owl perishes early in the film, getting struck by an Avada Kedavra curse during the Order of the Phoenix's flight from 4 Privet Drive. Hedwig is flying near Hagrid and Harry as the Order is pursued by Death Eaters, and she even attempts to attack the one who's gaining on them. Unfortunately, the Death Eater hits her with a deadly curse just moments later, marking one of the first tragedies of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

Hedwig is with Harry from the very beginning of his journey, and her death represents the loss of his innocence and childhood heading into the final Harry Potter movies.

Harry is clearly upset after losing Hedwig, but he doesn't dwell on the owl's demise for long. They're still in the midst of a battle, and other wounded Order members and casualties take center stage when Harry and Hagrid reach the Burrow. This leads to Hedwig's death getting glossed over in the film, and it really shouldn't. Hedwig is with Harry from the very beginning of his journey, and her death represents the loss of his innocence and childhood heading into the final Harry Potter movies. For this reason, it really should be one of the biggest losses he suffers, and the films should have showed his grief more.

Even The Harry Potter Books Don't Do Justice To Hedwig's Death

The Owl's Death Is Glossed Over In The Source Material, Too

It's not surprising that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 doesn't handle Hedwig's death well, as Rowling's book doesn't give it the attention it demands either. In the source material, Hedwig goes out somewhat less heroically. Rather than getting hit with an unforgivable curse after attacking a Death Eater, Hedwig is simply killed by accident. Her cage is attached to the back of Hagrid's motorbike, and an Avada Kedavra meant for Harry or Hagrid finds her instead. It's still tragic, but it receives even less weight — and Harry's response isn't much different from the films.

Harry should probably be more upset after losing a pet that served as his only companion during his summers with the Dursleys.

Like the movies, the Harry Potter books don't spend much time on Harry's grief over Hedwig. There are a few moments that show him missing his bird, but they don't fully acknowledge the extent of the loss. Harry should probably be more upset after losing a pet that served as his only companion during his summers with the Dursleys. Hopefully, HBO's TV remake can find a way to depict this and give Hedwig a better send-off.

How The Harry Potter Remake Can Do Hedwig's Death Better

The HBO Show Needs A New Scene Of Harry Acknowledging His Grief

A close-up of Hedwig and Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter

The upcoming Harry Potter remake can improve on Hedwig's death in both the films and books, highlighting Harry's loss and giving his owl the farewell she deserves. The show needs to have Harry reflect on the loss of Hedwig further, perhaps having him lash out or break down over it. He does this following Sirius Black's demise in Order of the Phoenix, and he spends a lot of time dwelling on Dumbledore's death. Ideally, the Harry Potter show will make Hedwig's death nearly as important, as it represents a major turning point in Harry's story.

The HBO series can accomplish this by adding a new scene that shows Harry properly responding to Hedwig's death. Whether it's through a full conversation about losing his owl — not just deflecting Mrs. Weasley's question about where she is — or a moment alone to grieve, Harry needs to acknowledge one of Deathly Hallows' most tragic losses. With a TV runtime, the Harry Potter remake has no excuse not to have him do so.