Potterheads Outraged Over Injustice Towards Emma Watson's Role

Emma Watson in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Although more than a decade has passed since the Harry Potter series concluded in 2011, the Warner Bros. adaptation remains a monumental success, grossing billions at the box office. The series has ascended to legendary status in popular culture and continues to inspire fan theories and debates. 

However, despite its acclaim, the Harry Potter films have not escaped criticism for significant changes to the characters. Fans believe that Warner Bros. altered the main characters in ways that do not align with JK Rowling’s original intentions.

One of the most controversial characters in this regard is Hermione Granger, portrayed by Emma Watson. Hermione, originally created by Rowling as a Muggle-born witch and one of Harry’s closest friends, was transformed in the films into a nearly perfect character, often described as a "Mary Sue" archetype. In the books.

Hermione is Harry’s equal and often leads the group through difficult situations, but in the films, her role was diminished, causing fans to feel that Watson’s portrayal did not fully develop the character as intended.

JK Rowling based Hermione on the ideal from William Wordsworth’s poem "A Perfect Woman" – a strong, intelligent woman. However, these essential qualities of Hermione were often overlooked in the films.

Key moments, such as Hermione dealing with Rita Skeeter or protecting Dumbledore’s Army with her spellwork, were not fully represented, leaving fans feeling that the films failed to capture the essence of Emma Watson’s character.

On Reddit, user u/EphemeralMemory expressed frustration at how the films reduced Hermione to a stereotypical "perfect female character," lacking the complexity found in the books. The films portrayed Hermione as brave and intelligent but missed her more neurotic side, which in the books sometimes frustrated her classmates.

Hermione movie and original Hermione

User u/PenguinZombie321 also pointed out that while the early films closely followed Hermione’s character from the books, starting with Prisoner of Azkaban, Emma Watson’s portrayal began to lose the depth found in the novels. From that point on, her character rarely made mistakes and was portrayed as a morally upright figure who always followed the rules.

In the books, Hermione was undoubtedly smart, brave, and resourceful, but she was also harsh, jealous, and socially awkward at times. In contrast, the films stripped Watson’s character of this development, turning her into a flawless figure with little room for growth.

JK Rowling crafted Hermione as a three-dimensional character who experienced human emotions like jealousy and the desire for revenge. Unfortunately, the films turned her into a saint-like figure, lacking the insecurities and flaws she was meant to overcome. Fans relate more to the book version of Hermione because Rowling allowed her to grow as a character.

Watching Hermione struggle and overcome her challenges made readers root for her success, while in the films, Watson’s character is depicted more as an ideal than as someone striving to succeed against the odds.

In conclusion, fans argue that JK Rowling portrayed Hermione Granger as a real, complex person, while in the films, Emma Watson’s character became more of a typical archetype.