'Harry Potter' Series Must Fix One of the Most 'Mishandled' Characters in the Films: She Was a Star in the Books, but was Forgotten in the Films
Maybe at least now the heroine will stop being perceived as an “appendage” to the boy who lived.
As soon as HBO announced the series based on the books by J.K. Rowling, viewers, along with the legendary trio, immediately remembered Ginny Weasley. And not because she is the fans' favorite heroine, but because it was she that the Harry Potter film franchise let down the most. In the books, Ginny is not just Ron's sister and Harry's future wife, but one of the most lively, daring and strong heroines, who went from a frightened girl to a real fighter. In the films, she turned into a pale background for the boy heroes - and it's time to fix that in the new series.
In the books, Ginny was a "bomb." In the films, she was a misunderstanding
From the very beginning, book Ginny Weasley was not like 'Harry's girl.' In The Order of the Phoenix, she joins Dumbledore's Army, fights Umbridge, and in The Deathly Hallows, she becomes part of the resistance in occupied Hogwarts.
She is witty, stubborn, shines in Quidditch, practices cool spells, and behaves with dignity in her relationship with Harry - never losing herself in him, like the heroines of typical teenage novels.
But in the films, only a shadow of all this remains. Ginny barely speaks, barely participates in the events, her arc is nonexistent. Even the climactic moments, like the Battle of Hogwarts, pass her by, and the scenes where she should be bright and independent are reduced to awkward glances in Harry's direction and equally awkward kisses.
Not a single scene without men — and zero chemistry with Harry
The films made a key mistake: they turned Ginny into a supporting element for Harry's development. Almost all of her appearances are associated with one man or another — Harry, Ron, Dean Thomas. Even when Ginny plays Quidditch, she does not become more noticeable. The relationship with Harry is presented so unnaturally and sparingly that the final scene at the station with their children seems unexpected and even comical.
And this is not only a question of the script, but also the lack of chemistry between Bonnie Wright and Daniel Radcliffe. Their scenes are like carbon copies: a short dialogue, an embarrassed look, then someone bursts into the frame and it's all over. As if the filmmakers themselves did not believe in this romance.
What the series can (and should) do
HBO promises to make a series based on the books, which means Ginny will finally have a chance to be herself. Seven seasons are an opportunity to show her growing up, the trauma of the events in the Chamber of Secrets, the development of talent, confidence and a sense of humor. Give her scenes without men, show her independent friendship with Hermione, her leadership qualities, and finally reveal her as a character, and not "the main character's girlfriend."
The key point is the right casting. The new Ginny should not just be a red-haired girl looking at the floor, but a heroine with character. And there should be something real between her and Harry, so that their ending does not seem forced, like in the films.
If HBO is really going to "do Harry Potter right," then they have a simple but important task: to give Ginny her voice back. Because in the books, she had one - and she shouted it louder than anyone else.
