The Harry Potter series is 20-years-old this year. With a new generation being introduced to the Harry Potter universe through the Wizarding World and the Fantastic Beasts franchise, new Potterheads are joining the family every year. What makes this series so beloved? What makes it able to span across two decades and still be followed so fanatically? Here are five reasons why Harry Potter is timeless.
The universe
J.K. Rowling created one of the most elaborate universes ever written. The amount of detail put into the universe of Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and the whole wizarding community is incredible. She wrote details down to the very textbooks that the students were reading. How cool is it that you can read Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them just like they do in Hogwarts? The wizarding culture is so apparent in the books that readers are transported in. That first time Harry sees Hogwarts, the reader can see it too. Not only does it pull you in, but it is interactive. What other book series has movies, a theme park, and an online interactive website?
The trio
Harry, Ron, and Hermione are #squadgoals without a doubt. The Golden Trio grew up together, they overcame many obstacles, and leaned on each other throughout it all. They made up for each other’s weaknesses and in turn made each other stronger. Throughout the books, we see them work through their problems, achieve their dreams, and go on to do amazing things. The characters are incredibly three-dimensional, perfectly flawed, and very human.
The relatability
Who hasn’t felt the pressure to be perfect like Hermione? Who hasn’t felt like second best just like Ron? Who hasn’t felt the desire to be accepted like Harry? These human desires that the characters possess make them not only real, but relatable. There are so many times when I was reading the books that something Hermione said resonated with me and my need to be good at everything. These desires transcend time, they are things that people feel at every stage of life, in every generation.
The supporting characters
Not only are the Golden Trio amazing, but the supporting characters are well-fleshed out. The side characters have incredible backstories. Hagrid and his past at Hogwarts, Dumbledore and Grindlewald, and Neville and the prophecy are all backstories carefully thought out. Not only do they all have backstories, but they have important side plots too. Neville, for example, becoming more courageous and sure of himself leads him to killing Nagini. J.K. Rowling put a lot of thought into not only her main characters but all the characters of the series, giving fans even more stories to explore and dig into.
It’s never ending
When the series ended with the Deathly Hallows, I thought it was the end of Harry Potter. How wrong I was! From Harry Potter came Fantastic Beasts which will have multiple movies over the next couple years. Since J.K. Rowling did such a great job of developing the universe there are endless possibilities for more books and movies. A marauders movie, a movie about Tom Riddle, a movie about the Golden Trio’s kids, there are so many options! The series has lasted over twenty years, and who knows how much longer it will last. Personally, I hope for at least another twenty years.
