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“Yer a Wizard” / “Not me. Not Hermione. You!” Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Available on HBO Max | Apple Podcasts, Spotify and major podcast platforms

Since both episodes dropped simultaneously on May 19 and are dedicated to the same film — Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone — it only made sense to cover them together. Here are my thoughts after watching the podcast on HBO Max.

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A charming host, but a lightweight start

Let’s start with the positives: host Rhianna Dhillon is genuinely great. She holds the conversation well, keeps things moving, and her questions are often more thoughtful than you might expect. Episode 2 in particular has some genuinely fun prompts, like imagining which obstacle you’d have designed to protect the Philosopher’s Stone, or which real-world game you’d want to see adapted into a wizards version. Her enthusiasm feels authentic without ever tipping into fan-girl territory, and that balance works.

The problem is mostly on the guest side. In Episode 1, the co-host is someone I wasn’t familiar with, which isn’t necessarily an issue, but it becomes one when they’re not a particularly deep fan of the saga either. There’s a moment where they can’t remember that the Yule Ball appears in Goblet of Fire, which is the kind of slip that makes you wince a little. For a first episode launching what’s meant to be THE official rewatch podcast of the Harry Potter films, you’d hope for a guest who brings either expertise or a compelling personal connection to the material. But don’t worry, Khleo Thomas is still quite familiar with the Harry Potter universe and has apparently even streamed Hogwarts Legacy.

The same guest returns in Episode 2, which is another missed opportunity, a rotating lineup of co-hosts had real potential here.

When the real magic happens

Both episodes follow a similar structure, and the moments that genuinely work are the behind-the-scenes segments. In Episode 1, prop master Pierre Bohanna joins in the second half, and it’s easily the highlight of that episode. Hearing how the team brought the wands or the Golden Snitch to life on screen, the physical craft behind objects that became iconic, is exactly the kind of content this podcast should be built around. More of this, please.

Episode 2 goes even further with its guest: orchestrator Conrad Pope, who worked closely with John Williams on the score. His segment is not just fascinating but genuinely moving. Learning that Williams composed Hedwig’s Theme without having seen a single frame of the film and still managed to capture the exact spirit of it is one of those behind-the-scenes facts that reminds you why these films became what they are. It’s probably my favourite moment across both episodes. The discussion of how writing for film differs from other forms of composition adds real depth, and Pope’s evident love for the work comes through in every word.

I do wish both episodes had made more room for the production design side of things. Stuart Craig‘s contribution in creating the visual identity of the wizarding world (Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, all of it) deserved at least as much attention as the score.

Missing the “wow” factor

My main frustration with these two episodes is that they largely stay on the surface. For the uninitiated, this podcast works perfectly well as a companion to the films. But for fans who have lived with these movies for years — and who were hoping for genuine new insight — there’s a recurring sense that things stop just short of going deep enough.

Part of what made specials like Wizards of Baking or Hogwarts Tournament of Houses memorable was the presence of cast members from the films. Here, there are none, not even a short recorded message. Given that this is the official podcast, and given the obvious promotional context (the new HBO series arrives this Christmas), it’s a surprising omission. Even a brief audio clip from someone who was there on set in 2000 would have elevated the launch considerably.

The “Owl Post” segment, where a fan message is read out, is a lovely idea in principle but one letter per episode isn’t enough. It feels like a token gesture rather than a real space for the community. I’d love to see that expanded.

On a brighter note: it’s good to hear confirmed once again that Peeves will appear in the upcoming TV series. Small thing, but fans will appreciate it.

Looking ahead

The next episode drops May 26 and covers Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, with producer and gaming personality Naomi Kyle joining as co-host. I’m curious to see whether the show finds its footing as it moves through the series.

For now, Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast is a pleasant enough listen, just not yet the essential one it could be. I’ll keep tuning in, because there’s always something enjoyable about returning to these films. But the bar for “official” content is high, and right now, this podcast is still a few steps short of clearing it.