Harry Potter Theory

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory! This podcast features Harry Potter Theories, Fantastic Beasts Theories, Explanations, Top Lists, News, Character Backstories, Fan Fictions & More!

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619 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes619

Newest first

May 26 · 23 min
5 HUGE Harry Potter Plot Holes in Prisoner of Azkaban
Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. So far in this series we’ve covered Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets (parts 1 and 2, go check those out if you haven’t already), and if there’s one thing that’s abundantly clear it’s that the deeper you dig into these books, the more strange little contradictions and logical issues you start uncovering. And in that respect, Prisoner of Azkaban might be the most interesting one yet. Because unlike the first two books, Azkaban introduces concepts that fundamentally change how the wizarding world works..For example, time travel suddenly exists? To be fair: Prisoner of Azkaban is still one of the best books in the series. In fact, for many fans, it’s THE best. And there’s a reason people love it so much. But at the same time, there are some real issues here. Topics Covered In This Video: Prisoner of Azkaban plot holes explained Why Time-Turners create problems for the entire Harry Potter series The Marauder’s Map & Peter Pettigrew inconsistency How Fred & George used the Marauder’s Map Lupin’s werewolf transformation contradiction explained Why Sirius Black never received a proper trial Veritaserum, Pensieves & magical truth verification Wizarding World lore inconsistencies & theories Harry Potter lore analysis & explanations Questions Answered: Why didn’t wizards use Time-Turners to stop future tragedies? Why didn’t Fred and George notice Peter Pettigrew on the Marauder’s Map? How did Fred and George activate the Marauder’s Map? Does Lupin transform because of moonlight or the full moon itself? Why didn’t the Ministry properly investigate Sirius Black? Why wasn’t Veritaserum used on Sirius Black? Are there plot holes in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 23 · 21 min
5 MASSIVE Plot Holes in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Hey everyone, welcome to Harry Potter Theory. In my most recent video I broke down some of the biggest plot holes in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. And before I had even finished writing the script for that video, I realized there were probably enough plot holes in each book for this to be a video series. Once you start looking closely enough, you begin noticing all sorts of strange contradictions and moments where some of the internal logic feels..Dubious at best. And Chamber of Secrets, which we’ll be focusing on today, is probably one of the best examples of this in the entire book series. Now, just like last time, I do want to quickly clarify what I mean by “plot hole.” I’m not talking about characters making bad decisions or simply withholding information from the audience. A real plot hole happens when the logic of the story itself starts conflicting with previously established rules or information. There are plenty of lists online with ‘plot holes’ that do not fit this criteria AT ALL, and I know I’ve been guilty of doing some of that in the past. Chamber of Secrets is a book that relies VERY heavily on mystery and hidden information, so we’re in for a treat here. Let’s dive into it. Topics Covered In This Video: Chamber of Secrets plot holes explained Why Dumbledore never questioned Moaning Myrtle Why Hagrid was allowed to stay at Hogwarts Ron Weasley’s broken wand & wandlore inconsistencies How Hogwarts portraits should have solved the mystery Basilisk venom and the Harry Horcrux debate Tom Riddle’s diary explained Hogwarts mysteries and hidden contradictions Harry Potter lore analysis & theories Questions Answered: Why didn’t the basilisk destroy the Horcrux inside Harry? Why was Hagrid blamed for the Chamber of Secrets? How are Horcruxes destroyed? Does the wand choose the wizard? Why didn’t Hogwarts portraits report Ginny? Are there plot holes in Harry Potter? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20 · 18 min
5 HUGE Harry Potter Plot Holes (Philosopher’s Stone Edition)
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. As much as I enjoy the Harry Potter books, to say that they are without their faults would be massively dishonest. In fairness there are 7 books equating to over 4000 pages, so mistakes are probably inevitable when you’re dealing with a story so LONG and so COMPLEX. But regardless of that, mistakes DO exist. Specifically, I’m talking about PLOT HOLES. Before we get stuck into it, I do think it’s important to quickly define what a plot hole actually is, because online, the term gets thrown around for basically everything. I know I’ve been guilty of it in the past. A plot hole isn’t just a character making a bad decision or a mystery that the audience doesn’t fully understand. Nor is it simply a part of the story that was never elaborated on. A real plot hole happens when a story contradicts its own internal logic. When the rules that were previously established suddenly stop applying. And to be fair, Harry Potter actually avoids this problem more often than people give it credit for. A lot of the “plot holes” fans bring up can usually be explained with context from the books. But…there are also a few moments where the logic genuinely gets shaky. And those are the ones we’re going to be focusing on today. Plot holes that still bother me in 2026- nearly 20 years later. I know I know, I need to get over it. This is also part 1 of a series where I’ll be breaking down plot holes in each BOOK, starting with part 1: The Philosopher’s Stone. Let’s dive into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 16 · 15 min
Hagrid Bought Fluffy From the Most EVIL DARK Wizard in Harry Potter (THEORY)
For casuals, the name Herpo the Foul isn’t going to mean a lot, and that’s because his origins come from the deepest parts of Harry Potter lore. But those who do know the name will also know that he was one of the darkest wizards in wizarding history, the man (if you could call him that) credited with creating the very first Horcrux—crossing a magical line so horrific most witches and wizards barely discuss it. But Herpo didn’t stop there, as he actually went on to conduct more and more twisted dark arts experiments, crossing lines regularly that no other wizard ever dared. To this day, his name is associated with some of the most disturbing and unnatural magic the wizarding world has ever seen. Now, what if I told you that he knew Hagrid? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 13 · 15 min
What Spell Did Molly Weasley Use to KILL Bellatrix? - Harry Potter Theory
Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be taking a closer look at one of the most satisfying and honestly most surprising moments in the entire Battle of Hogwarts: Molly Weasley defeating Bellatrix Lestrange. More specifically, we’ll be examining how the books and films portray the moment differently- because despite reaching the same outcome, they actually handle Bellatrix’s death in VERY different ways. We’ll also FINALLY be putting the question to bed of what spell she actually used to kill her, because I think I’ve got a definitive answer this time. During the Battle of Hogwarts there are obviously a lot of memorable moments. The castle is basically descending into total chaos. Spells are flying everywhere, giants are tearing through the grounds, Voldemort’s forces are overwhelming the defenders from every angle- and in the middle of all that madness, one duel suddenly becomes the emotional centre of the battle. Molly Weasley versus Bellatrix Lestrange. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 10 · 20 min
The OTHER Dark Wizards of the Wizarding World - Harry Potter Explained
The Harry Potter series makes Britain often (and by often, I mean..Always) feel like the center of all wizarding conflict. Voldemort. Death Eaters. First Wizarding War. Second Wizarding War. All that good stuff. But to me the idea that almost all of the global wizarding problems can be narrowed down to a 200,000 square kilometre stretch of islands has always felt a little hard to believe. And while sure, 200,000 square kilometres SOUNDS like a lot- let’s not forget that earth’s surface area is over 510 MILLION. That means the only dark wizards we ever talk about are tyrannizing 0.043% of the planet’s total surface area. And yes, I know measuring it this way is a little absurd, especially since a huge portion of Earth’s 510 million square kilometres is ocean and dark wizards aren’t building underwater empires in the middle of the Atlantic. But the point still stands. The Harry Potter books can sometimes make it feel as though nearly every major magical crisis in history either began in Britain, ended in Britain, or somehow circled back to Britain eventually. It’s far too Britain centric. So what do we think? Does Voldemort and the rise of the Death Eaters feel like the BIGGEST deal in the world just because it’s SO close to home? Because it’s the only thing the series focuses on? Or is it far more likely that the rest of their world has their OWN conflicts to deal with that have (this might shock you) NOTHING to do with Voldemort. Today we’re going to be exploring all of that and more as we unpack INTERNATIONAL conflicts of the Wizarding World- taking a closer look at whether there are OTHER dark threats -or dark wizards- besides Voldemort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 6 · 2 hr 25 min
Dark History of the Wizarding World (MEGA COMPILATION)
Hey everyone, Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Today I’ve got a special mega compilation for you guys that focuses on the darkest aspects of the wizarding world. Rather than looking at individual characters, the videos focus will be on the world itself- taking a closer look at things like forbidden magic, dark spells, institutions like Azkaban, origins of dementors and the systems that have shaped wizarding society behind the scenes. Because this is a compilation, you might notice some inconsistent audio levels, numbering, or even a bit of repeated information here and there — but the general theme of the video..DARK LORE.. is consistent throughout. With that said… let’s dive into the dark history of the wizarding world. There’s a lot more lore than you might have realized. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 3 · 17 min
Why the First Wizarding War Was SO MUCH WORSE Than the Second - Harry Potter Explained
By the time Harry Potter sets foot in Hogwarts in the first book/film, the First Wizarding War is already a thing of the past. And at the same time, the Second Wizarding War is beginning to take shape, the primary focus of the books and films. But what I’ve always found interesting is that despite its scale and destruction, The First Wizarding War is typically treated as little more than distant history. The Second Wizarding War wasn’t great either, there were a lot of lives lost and for a while it looked as though Voldemort might genuinely take control of the Wizarding World for good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 30 · 17 min
Why Are House Elves So POWERFUL? - Harry Potter Theory
Hey everyone, Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to once again be discussing House Elves—but this time..From a slightly different angle. I’ve already explored their history, and I’ve already taken a closer look at how they ended up in servitude. But one thing I’ve never dissected in much detail is… How powerful they are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 28 · 21 min
Was Dumbledore REALLY More Powerful Than Grindelwald? - Harry Potter Theory
Dumbledore BEAT Grindelwald in their epic duel in 1945..So that means he HAS TO BE more powerful..Right? Well, not exactly. Today we’re going to be taking a closer at a debate as old as time: Who is more powerful? Albus Dumbledore or Gellert Grindelwald? The answer might surprise you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 25 · 21 min
Did Harry Potter Really Have No Other Relatives? (The DARK Truth)
In the recent HBO Harry Potter trailer we got to see something we’ve never seen before- our first glimpse at Harry’s grandparents on his mother’s side. They appear standing alongside Vernon & Petunia Dursley in their wedding photo, with (presumably) Vernon’s parents on one side, and Petunia’s parents (aka, LILY’s parents) on the other. And with this new bit of info, it got me thinking- what DID happen to the rest of Harry’s family? Cousins, uncles, aunts, nephews, second-cousins..What happened to them all? Were they casualties of war? And why did Harry HAVE to live with the Dursleys? Did he really not have one other blood relative? Not even..ONE? Let’s dive into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 23 · 27 min
All 50 MAJOR Events You Missed After The Deathly Hallows (Part 2) - Harry Potter EXPLAINED
Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to discuss 50 MORE events after the Harry Potter story came to an end..If you haven’t seen part 1 already, go and watch that after! Link in the pinned comment and description. Like I mentioned in my first video, each section covers multiple points which amounts to around 50 bits of info altogether. And as with the first video, these details come from canon sources like the epilogue, interviews, and extended Pottermore writings from J.K. Rowling. And if you’re more curious about what happened to specific individual characters after the war, then be sure to check out my other video: What Happened to These 100 Characters After the War. Anyway, let’s dive into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 21 · 22 min
Hermione Granger's Life AFTER the Deathly Hallows: FULL Timeline (1998-2026)
After the Battle of Hogwarts, the wizarding world was finally able to celebrate the defeat of Lord Voldemort and the end of the Second Wizarding War- ushering in a new era of peace. For the first time in years, witches and wizards were no longer living under open tyranny, and the institutions that had been corrupted by Voldemort’s regime could finally begin to recover. Hogwarts needed to be rebuilt, the Ministry needed to be reformed, and countless lives needed to be pieced back together. But while Voldemort’s defeat effectively marked the end of the series, it also created a large gap in the story. After the books and films ended, we’re really only given scattered pieces of information about what happened next. A painfully short epilogue shows us one moment nineteen years later, but outside of that, we sort of had to piece together what happened on our own through interviews and extended publications. Which is why today I’m going to be doing just that- finally piecing that information together and taking a closer (and more importantly, comprehensive) look at what Hermione’s life looked like after the Deathly Hallows. I don’t want to spoil anything in the intro, so let’s just dive in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 17 · 28 min
50 MAJOR Events You Missed After The Deathly Hallows (Explained in Detail)
Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be taking a look at everything that happened after the main Harry Potter story came to an end. After the Deathly Hallows, once Voldemort was defeated and the Battle of Hogwarts was over. Although this video is organized into larger sections, many of those sections actually contain multiple developments, so while we’ll be moving through this in a structured way, we’re really covering around 50 major post-war events in total. This is also just part 1 of a 2 part series as it was a bit much to cover it all at once. Most of these come directly from canon epilogues, interviews and extended Pottermore publications from Rowling. And if you’re more curious about what happened to specific individual characters after the war, then be sure to check out my other video: What Happened to These 100 Characters After the War. That one focuses much more on individual fates, whereas today we’re looking at the bigger picture of the wizarding world as a whole. Anway, let’s dive into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 16 · 16 min
If Magic Exists…Why Are Wizards Still POOR? - Harry Potter Explained
If magic can mend bones overnight, clean houses instantly, and teleport people across the country…Then why are some wizards still poor, hungry, unemployed, and struggling? Why can’t this spectacular (and regenerative) phenomenon with SO FEW limitations solve such basic everyday problems? Let’s dive in to it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 15 · 10 min
Will the Harry Potter Reboot Use the 'Proper" Voldemort? (Unused Original Design)
Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter theory. Now, if you've been anywhere near the internet lately you already know that a brand new Harry Potter series is coming to HBO. It's set to premiere Christmas 2026, with each of the seven books getting its own season. If you somehow missed all of this, quite frankly I’m amazed. The hype is still building and the teaser trailer alone has amassed a whopping 10 million views so far. But there's one thing I want to explore above everything else, and that’s whether or not we’ll get the proper Voldemort. The teaser showed us quite a bit of the series, and with a Dec release date it’s obviously fully underway, but one character we still know nothing about is Voldemort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 14 · 12 min
The Most TERRIFYING Fate in Harry Potter (It’s Not Death)
The soul. You can split it, you can curse it, you can even anchor it to the living world through dark and forbidden magic. The soul, in the wizarding world, is more than just a metaphysical concept; it is a tangible, manipulable force that reflects the very essence of a person's being. But what happens it when someone moves on to the next plane of existence? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 12 · 17 min
Does Casting Black Snape ACTUALLY Change the Story? (Let’s Break It Down)
It’s been a couple of weeks now since the official release of the first teaser trailer for HBO’s Harry Potter reboot and that means we’ve finally gotten a glimpse at what the show has to offer. No more speculation, it’s all there in plain sight (at least, a lot of it). If I’m honest I have to say that while the show will never (at least for me) match up to the original films, I was pleasantly surprised by a lot of what we saw. I have been cautiously optimistic throughout this entire process, and I think that the trailer (on the whole) made me feel a bit better about things. But one thing the internet cannot seem to reconcile is the new Snape casting. After the trailer dropped I did a number of videos breaking it down and pointing out small details, and the one comment I kept getting above ALL OTHERS was that I failed to mention black Snape- with a few even accusing me of strategically avoiding it. I didn’t bring it up because it’s obvious. I’ve also already made a number of dedicated videos on this topic and in all honesty it’s starting to feel a bit like kicking a dead horse. I’ve maintained throughout the entirety of the HBO reboot hype that I don’t necessarily agree with the casting, but it’s also not enough to put me off the show entirely. That’s just how I feel. He’s a good actor, but in all truthfulness I don’t think he fits the book description one iota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 11 · 12 min
What Spells Do the “Good Guys” Use to Kill Death Eaters - Harry Potter Theory
Murder or KILLING splits the soul. This is reinforced time and time again. But despite this fact, we see it happen again and again throughout the Harry Potter series, and not just by the bad guys. It makes sense for Death Eaters to kill..It’s clear where their moral compass lies and I would presume that KILLING (and the subsequent impact on their soul) is the price they’re willing to pay to achieve their cause. But this topic also raises a much bigger question. Because if there are such serious consequences tied to taking a life… How do the good guys do it? Molly Weasley does it, Dumbledore does it, and even Neville Longbottom does it. Today we’ll be diving into all of that and more as we discuss the implications of MURDER in the Wizarding World- specifically, in the context of the ‘good’ guys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 9 · 14 min
Every Hidden Detail in HBO’s Harry Potter 'Finding Harry' (BREAKDOWN)
Before we get into it I just want to acknowledge that I was a bit late to the party on watching Finding Harry as I had Easter plans PRIOR to the documentary even being announced, but I finally got around to watching it earlier today and wanted to do a quick breakdown for you guys. For those unaware ‘Finding Harry’ is a behind-the-scenes doc released on April 5 that takes a closer look at the inner workings of the HBO Harry Potter series. There’s a LOT to unpack so I’m going to try and keep it fairly high level and just focus on the most important stuff. Also, who else thought that Dominic (playing Harry) would have a Scottish accent? I guess I should have known by the name, but it still caught me off guard. I’m assuming he will tone it down for the show, but interested to see what happens there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices