Despite being The Chosen One, as he delightfully tellsHermione (Emma Watson)inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when we think about the achievements that Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) made in the films, he shows little of the ability on display in the books. Yes, Hermione is the best wizard of the trio, but Harry’s greatest glory during his time at Hogwarts had nothing to do with the prophecy or his battle with Voldemort, portrayed byRalph Fiennes. This came during theHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanbook, whereHarry won his only Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor, and he showed the core qualities that make him a fine wizard.
Quidditch is one of the main things that immediately engaged me and many others with theHarry Potterworld. Not only are we seeing how expansive the world is by exploring the sports wizards play, but when I first read the books, and every time it appeared in the series, it was thrilling and allowed us to see Harry’s struggles through a new lens. However, in the films, Quidditch is dramatically scaled back, and because of this, wemiss one of Harry’s biggest achievements that is deeply personalto him as a character.
Quidditch Is an Afterthought in the ‘Prisoner of Azkaban’ Film
The first issue with not showing this victory is that, in the film, we get one short scene in a match against Hufflepuff. During both the book and the film, Harry is attacked by dementors while battling for the snitch against fellow seeker Cedric Diggery, who would later become a vital character inGoblet of Fire. However, while the dementors' attack leads to Hufflepuff winning the match in the book, both seekers are incapacitated during the film.
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This distinction causes the quidditch to lack importance, as this was meant to be the first match Harry loses, making it a huge setback for the character’s confidence, along with his broom being destroyed by the Whomping Willow during the incident. In both iterations, this moment triggers Harry’s desire to learn from Lupin (David Thewlis) how to defend himself against dementors. However, thelack of emotional weight surrounding the Quidditch match in the film reduces Harry’s decision to a necessity for the plotrather than the character undertaking an emotional journey to find hope again.
Harry Potter Winning the Quidditch Cup is Special Because He Only Won it Once
Considering that Quidditch sequences were huge parts ofThe Philosopher’s StoneandChamber of Secrets,Prisoner of Azkabanis a significant moment for Harry because this is the only time he wins the Quidditch Cup. In the other books, Harry was either blocked from playing or unavailable due to the main adventure. There is also the fact that what is unique about Harry winning the Quidditch Cup is that he succeeds without help from friends or teachers or any special protective spells like the oneLily (Geraldine Somerville)placed on him. It would have made us even more connected to this character if we got to see it,showing his determination to achieve victory, even if he had been previously attacked, similar to how Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) calls him a “brave, brave boy” inDeathly Hallows - Part 2.
Harry’s Quidditch Cup Victory is Personal For His Rivalries and Familial Connections in ‘Harry Potter’
As previously mentioned, Harry’s Quidditch performances are very close to the character, and the Quidditch Cup victory displays this best. In the book, the final is between Gryffindor and Slytherin, and Harry’s rivalry againstDraco (Tom Felton), a fellow Seeker, is developed via direct conflict and shows Harry getting one over on a minor antagonist, especially after Draco gets Buckbeak sentenced to death. Furthermore, considering how Harry’s relationship with his father is key toPrisoner of Azkaban, with Harry having to accept that he must be the one to cast the patronus to save a past version of himself and Sirius (Gary Oldman),winning the Quidditch Cup would have foreshadowed that Harry is as capable as his dad.
Of course, there are reasons one can understand as to why this was cut. The 2-hour, 27-minute runtime would mean an additional subplot would take a film meant for all ages closer to three hours. However,the upcoming TV adaptation needs to include this fascinating subplotthat explores Harry as a normal young man desperate to win for his team.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard.
