I am just going to have to watch Harry Potter aren't I?

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My closest friend is having her 50th this year. I am a few years older than her, so I am not sure if this contributes to my lack of knowledge on the subject.

She is quite Harry Potter mad. She watches the films over again every now and then also has themed objects, like Le Creuset dishes and the likes.

She is having a Harry Potter party, I am not too shocked about this. The thing is, I have never watched Harry Potter, it just isn't something that ever appealed to me.

She chats to me about her party plans and is bouncing things off of me, and tbh I do not have a clue about half the stuff. I suggested something food wise and so she said, well actually that doesn't fit in with the theme 😂

She is a great friend and I would love to help her. But that means I am going to have to watch the films now I think. I have to dress up too, so I could pop along to the costume hire place and ask them to suggest something, but then I think I would be being a bit of a fraud not knowing who I am.

So I need advice. Do I need to watch them all? If I just watch the first one will that sum it all up? Or should I rather just watch the last one, and try fill in gaps, so I am a bit caught up.

Please don't suggest the books either. I think that seems way more torturous.

Of course you don't have to watch the films but if you really want to be a good friend just maybe watch one, you don't need to understand the whole thing just a sense of it - prisoner of azkaban would be a good one to watch. Btw my friend threw me a suprise HP party without having any interest in it at all she just went online and looked up stuff. It was amazing and I loved it and her for doing it!

If I were you I’d watch some or all of the first film to get the feel of it and then read the Wikipedia plot summaries of the books. Even that will take a while! Don’t try and watch 8 films unless you really want to.

I mean you don't have to do any of it but why do you think it would be torturous? Something so beloved around the world is unlikely to be unbearable for you even if not strictly your thing. You might be surprised!

@Tinkeytonkoldfruit Prisoner of Azkaban noted down. We are great friends, but this is just one topic that we do not connect on. We went to a market that had a HP stall once, she was ooing and ahhing over these random items showing me, and I stood there nodding and felt like I was saying, 'that is lovely, dear' 😂

Eight! 👀

I do love her, but that is a bit excessive. Alright, so I will definitely not be watching them all.

Don't go straight in at the last film, you won't have a clue what's going on. The first three (Philosopher's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban) is more than enough to get you familiar with the wizarding world and basic concepts, before it gets too complex later on.

I was referring to the books. I am not a reader, so I would need a few years notice to get through what I have now found out, is probably eight books.

Watch the first one otherwise it won't make sense. Then Google is your friend. Loads of HP party suggestions.

Just watch the first three films. They're an easy watch.

Just Google it. The whole HP thing is painful! Just because a lot of people like it doesn't mean everyone enjoys it. I sat through the first film and that was more than enough.

Listen to Stephen Fry reading at least the first audio book. On your commute, or in bed or wherever.
Might hook you much more than the films.

That party sounds awesome 😃

Don’t go straight to the last one, it’s far too complex otherwise.

Give them a chance! Just note that the idea was that you were growing up with Harry as the books/films went on so the first couple are more for kids and then they get darker and more complex.

Don't watch Prisoner of Azkaban unless you're watched the first two - it won't make any sense whatsoever.

Crash course...

Goodies... Harry, hermione, weasleys, gryffindors

Baddies... slytherin, death eater, voldemort

General book plot.... Voldemort tries to kill Harry each year, and fails.

Costume... Black robes and a wand!

What colour of hair do you have? I'll suggest some costumes for you.

if you don't want to watch a whole film why not google or go on Pinterest, especially for pics from the films also you will get good ideas of what other people have done for similar parties. that way you will impress your friend with some great ideas!

Just watch the first or listen to it on audiobook. It will be enough to give you the gist of it.

First film will be enough to give you the background story. If you enjoy it then go on to 2 and 3.

Or, don't go to the party and say you were there in an invisibility cloak!

Or you go dressed as a muggle (as in, normal clothes).

A muggle is normal non-magic person who has no knowledge of the wizarding world.

I have no idea why I didn't think of this!

Definitely not in bed though. Granted I will be fast asleep about 5 minutes in as good old Stephen and his lavender fields is a regular put me to sleep story. I think hearing his voice now, signals my brain that its sleep time.

@PuttingDownRoots this is excellent info. I feel like that is all I need to know really.

I have read all the books and seen all the films at least a dozen times thanks to DDs obsession when she was younger. The audio books are brilliantly read by Stephen Fry too. For a children’s series they are surprisingly good and I must admit I secretly love them, the books are much better than the films but the films are a great start.

Tell your friend you can’t help with ideas for the party and go as a muggle so you can dress in your own clothes. I think you’ll just find the whole thing quite childish if you try and force yourself to get into it now

I love that Lavender Fields story!
Enjoy the audiobook - we’ve managed many, many long car journeys with DC due to these.
I never thought my DH would like Harry Potter. I was a new teacher when the first book was released so kind of grew up with them. We listened to the audiobook when DD was desperate to read it but couldn’t read and have listened to them on a repeated cycle ever since.

I have Celtic tones. Strawberry blonde, pale, freckles. Short hair. I cannot pull off hats usually. I seem to think that a lot of hats are involved in the costumes.