Hi TT :), I just went on your marauders threads masterpost and none of the links worked. Honestly it might be my computer (I have a super nasty virus atm) but then it might not be. To give you an idea, every time i scroll over the links the typing cursor comes up (y'know the one with the lines that highlights stuff) I've refreshed the page quite a few times and nothing seems to be working. I will carry on refreshing and see if it will work, but for now I just thought you ought to know :)
(( OOC: Yeah, Iām not sure whatās going on there. :P Iāll try and get that fixedā¦ but in the meantimeā¦ letās see if this works:Ā
I never watched Stranger Things or even heard about Charlie Heaton before these few last days, when he seemed to be elected the new fancast to play Remus in the upcoming tv show.
The first picture I saw of him, I thought: āHe doesnāt look like a good guy at all.ā
The second picture I saw, I thought: āHe looks so much younger than Paapa Essiedu, who plays Snape. Lupin is supposed to look older, not younger.ā
But then, after watching him in some interviews and pictures , I started to think that maybe itās not a bad idea after all.
I still prefer Iwan Rheon (he knows Remus better than anyone, he can really capture his essence, he has the perfect range as an actor to play such a complex and layered character and plus, heās Welsh) or even Luke Newberry (he totally matches the description and since they cut his scene as Teddy Lupin in the films, it would be poetic to bring him back as his father).
But Iām willing to give Charlie a credit. He does have some Remus vibe here:
Anyway, itās too soon to know who they are going to cast. And Iām still āprayingā that it will be Rheon.
Do you know Charlieās work? Do you think he could pull off all Remusā layers?
I think this is a fantastic suggestion! I've just googled his age and he's 32 so he's age appropriate. I watched him in Stranger Things and I usually don't like to comment on people's appearances but I always though he looked exhausted, like he was in need of a good night's sleep. Which if that isn't Remus I don't know what is lol.
He's a good actor too, he's been cast in a main role for the new upcoming Peaky Blinders series. Hopefully by the time they come to cast for PoA, that show will have finished and he'll be looking for a new role. I hope he auditions cause I think he would be great!
How many DEs were there at the height of Voldemort's power in the first war?
With some help of @tedwardremus and @siriuslychessi, I've been geeking out again.
In short, I think there were about 50-100 dark mark bearing Death Eaters at the height of the war. So let's get into it:
Those we know escaped punishment: c30 DEs
ā¦and what use would it be to deprive Voldemort of his wand, even if he could, when he was surrounded by Death Eaters, outnumbering at least thirty to one?
In the graveyard in GOF, there were about 30 DEs (if we take Harryās 30 to 1 statement literally). Of those, we know the following seven were present: Lucius Malfoy, Walden Macnair, Avery, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, and Peter Pettigrew.
Additionally, in āSpinnerās Endā (HBP) we learn from Snape that he was among the many Death Eaters who did not go to Azkaban for their crimes. The three(/four) examples given were: Lucius Malfoy, the Carrows, and Yaxley. Apart from Lucius, that adds three more Death Eaters that, since they werenāt in Azkaban, would likely have Apparated to Voldemort's side in the graveyard; the Carrow siblings, Alecto and Amycus, and Corban Yaxley.
Those we know got killed: c 3 DEs
āRosier and Wilkes ā they were both killed by Aurors the year before Voldemort fell.ā
ā[Evan] Rosier is dead,ā said Crouch. āHe was caught shortly after you were too. He preferred to fight rather than come quietly and was killed in the struggle.ā
Evan Rosier is a separate Rosier from "Rosier and Wilkes" because Evan Rosier was killed after the McKinnon's and the Prewetts were murdered.
Those we know got imprisoned and escaped Azkaban in OOTP: 10
ā¦she spread the newspaper on the table in front of them and pointed at ten black-and-white photographs that filled the whole of the front page, nine showing wizardsā faces and the tenth, a witchās.
Of those, seven are referenced/seen in āThe Pensieveā (GOF) being sent to Azkaban: Antonin Dolohov, Augustus Rookwood, Mulciber, and Travers; as well as the three Lestranges, Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan.
Defectors: 3
Igor Karkaroffāwas a Death Eater during the first war, but chose to make a deal with the ministry and ran for it when Voldemort returned.
Severus Snapeāwas a Death Eater during the first war, turned spy for Dumbledore
Regulus Blackāwas a Death Eater during the first war, died trying to destroy a horcrux
Death Eaters we donāt know the origin of
We also know the name of some Death Eaters that either might have gone to Azkaban, or might have been present at the re-birth of Voldemort or might have joined in the second war.
If the four were part of the first wizarding war, they would have either been in the graveyard or they would have been imprisoned, and therefore does nothing to the total count of Death Eaters we know operated during the first war. I've merely added them for completeness:
JugsonāJugson was definitely either at the rebirth or in Azkaban because heās mentioned in passing when Lucius yells out every Death Eaterās name when chasing Harry and the group in the DOM. At this point, Voldemort is operating in secret, and thereās no way he will have recruited new DEs yet.
GibbonāRemus recognises him during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, which some take to believe means he was likely on a wanted poster of the Azkaban escapees more than a year previous, and I am inclined to agree this is probable. In any case, I suspect he must have been part of the first wizarding war for Remus to recognise him so easily (unless Remus ran into him at school or something).
Throfinn RowleāāThatās Dolohov. I recognize him from the old wanted posters. I think the big oneās Thorfinn Rowle.ā (Ron, DH) The fact that Ron recognises Dolohov from the wanted poster, and not Rowle, suggests he wasnāt amongst the ten escapees, but Iāve heard the counter argument that thereās no other way for Ron to have recognised Rowle but the wanted posters.Ā
SelwynāāBehind him came another scream, āYour wand, Selwyn, give me your wand!āā (Battle of the seven potters, DH) We know Selwyn was an active DE in the second war even before the Ministry fell, but we have no idea if he was part of the first wizarding war.
Total bottom-up count:
We know there are at least 40 Death Eaters in the second war, who were active during the first war, plus 3 defected (Karkaroff, Snape, Regulus) plus 3 Death Eaters that got killed (Rosier, Rosier and Wilkes).
There is also the case of the potentially missing Mulciber. We know thereās at least one Mulciber active during the second war, but there were two in the first warāMuliciber Snapeās friend and Mulciber Sr who went to the Hogs Head with a group of Death Eaters back when Voldemort cursed the DADA position.
āThen if I were to stop in the Hogās Head this evening, I wouldnāt find Nott, Rosier, Mulciber and Dolohov waiting for your return?ā
Itās possible one of the Mulcibers got killed or arrested (if so Iād bet on it being before Karkaroffās trial, as Crouch never asks him to specify which Mulciber), and subsequently died in prison.Ā
In any case, weāre looking at about 46-47 Death Eaters.
Total top-down count:
However, we also have this number from Remus:
ā... you werenāt in the Order then, you donāt understand, last time we were outnumbered twenty to one by the Death Eaters and they were picking us off one by one...ā
Which begs the question: How many members were there in the Order of the Phoenix?
In the Order Photograph: 20
Alastor Moody; Dedalus Diggle; Marlene McKinnon, Frank and Alice Longbottom; Emmeline Vance; Remus Lupin; Benjy Fenwick; Edgar Bones; Sturgis Podmore; Caradoc Dearborn; Rubeus Hagrid; Elphias Doge; Gideon Prewett; Aberforth Dumbledore; Dorcas Meadows; Lily and James Potter, Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black
The old crowd: +2
āYou are to alert Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher ā the old crowd. Lie low at Lupins for a while; I will contact you there.ā
In addition to the Order photo, we know Figg and Fletcher were part of the Order
Others: +2
And let us not forget Albus Dumbledore. Plus, I think we all assume Fabian Prewett was part of the Order, but just not available for the picture.
Meaning there are about 24 Order members in the original order.
If we take Remusā statement literally there should be c480 Death Eaters. Given about 30 escape punishment, and 10 survives Azkaban long enough to escape it in OOTP, that would mean 440 Death Eaters got caught and either killed or died in Azkaban. The maths isnāt mathing. But it doesnāt have to.
Now, given Death Eaters are often described as Voldemortās inner circle:
āAnd when You-Know-Who disappeared,ā said Fred, craning around to look at Harry, āLucius Malfoy came back saying heād never meant any of it. Load of dung ā Dad reckons he was right in You-Know- Whoās inner circle.ā
āMalfoyās dad must have told him,ā said Harry, ignoring Ron. āHe was right in Voldemortās inner circle ā ā
Harry thought he knew why Greyback was not calling Voldemort. The werewolf might be allowed to wear Death Eater robes when they wanted to use him, but only Voldemortās inner circle were branded with the Dark Mark: Greyback had not been granted this highest honor.
I donāt think we can assume Remus is being entirely literal when he says they were outnumbered 20-1 with Death Eaters. Itās more likely he is referring to the broader group of Voldemortās supporters: Werewolves, giants, snatchers and those allowed to wear Death Eater robes (like Fenrir) without bearing the mark.Ā That does probably amount to about 500, given:
By the time the four friends [Remus, Peter, Sirius and James] left school, Lord Voldemortās ascendancy was almost complete. True resistance to him was concentrated in the underground organisation called the Order of the Phoenix, which all four young men joined.
If we can't take Remus' number literally, we're going to have to rely on logic. My guess is that weāre looking at about 50-100 Dark Mark bearing/inner circle Death Eaters.
At 100, then 70 got caught, 60 got killed or died in Azkaban, 10 escaped and 30 evaded punishment to begin with. But you can see why it was such a headache for the Ministry! There might have been upwards of 500 wizards, witches and magic beings who operated under Lord Voldemortās command, and about 50-100 who were part of an elite inner circle. Thatās not nothing to try to take down in the aftermath, especially with stuff like the imperius curse.
Vers. 1
I've tried to collect every relevant description of Lycanthropy or Werewolves in the books, to get a clear understanding of what this condition is, what it does, how it works and how it is seen.
There are also some of my own thoughts and theories in here - I'll try to make it clear what is my own thoughts and what is canon.
If I have missed anything please mention it. I'd like this to be a thorough exploration of the topic. I will edit the posts.
Part 1: Physical Symptoms of Lycanthropy
Part 2: Social Perception of Werewolves
Part 3: Regarding the 'Full Moon'...
(^In which I claim POA's transformation didn't happen on the Full Moon^)
Part 4: Long-Term Lycanthropy: The Case of Fenrir Greyback
Part 5: Wolfsbane vs Wolf - Theories of Treatments
Part 6: Pottermore and More
Part 7: Collected Summary
Note: Prisoner of Azkaban used is the Australian paperback from 2000.
I typed out every quote by hand, it sucked ass.
Order of the Pheonix, Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows were all from internet sources of American versions so I could copy and paste.
Other 'Meta'
How Powerful is Albus Dumbledore
Dumbledore Was Never Mean to Tom Riddle (Part 1)
How friendly were Sirius and Remus? (1971 - 1981) (part 1...?)
Meta I wanna do so I don't forget:
- Alastor Moody character study
- Centaur
- Vampires/Vampirism
- Pre-Statue of Secrecy Wizarding World
- What the fuck were you doing in book 1, Albus?
- Non-Human Spirituous Apparitions - Boggarts, Dementors, Poltergeists... and more...?
- Arthur Weasley character study (the best character in the books)
- Snape vs Lupin's teaching styles
I have read some of your long and comprehensive meta on symptoms of lycantrophy, but this is more of a headcanon question:
Remus suggests Bill might have some āwolfish traitsā after his attacks. Could werewolves in their human form have enhanced sense of smell or hearing, or immunity for some water borne diseases, or other āwolfish traitsā?
Would they be immune to Polyjuice just like Hagrid? Could they be immune to other potions and poisons? Or even spells or curses?
Thereās also the moon factor - some people attribute Remus peakiness to the dread he feels before every transformation, some to the āpull of the moonā. So much to explore.
What I sense is that people are trying to give an overlooked side to lycantrophy that might not be that bad or painful, and sometimes I rather like that.
Iāve read some interesting works (some good some bad) that indicated that lycanthropes carry a magic of their own, more intuitive and primal. Personally, I find that exciting to explore, as the myth of the werewolf is really ancient and could be linked to some really cool lore. I also like the idea that shouting latin words and shooting sparks from a wand is only one way of doing things, and that magic itself can be manifested in more mysterious ways that prejudiced, self-important wizards donāt bother to explore.
Half my opinion and half asking for yours, the lycanthrope expert! Beyond uncomfortable pathological symptoms, how do you think the biology of a non transformed werewolf might change?
Thanks for reading my ramblings B^) I'm gonna engage with everything you brought up because thats what I feel like doing, its really really fun to talk HCs and theories
WEREWOLF HCs AND THEORIES
Like... 2000 words or something idk
The Moons Effect
My theory is that symptoms are caused not by the Full Moon itself but a culmination of magic the moon puts into the atmosphere, getting stronger through the month until the Werewolf 'pops'.
You don't need to be touched by the Full Moonlight to transform, it happens regardless of where you hide... so it's in the air.
Yet Remus seems to be triggered by Moonlight when nobody expected him to be in PoA. (Part 3 is my theory on that in more detail.)
When they get symptoms before the Full Moon, even during the day, its like something is building up in them.
Their Lycanthropy (Dark Magic curse or Virus or bothā¦ perhaps a Virus with its own magic?) seems to feed on the Moon's energy.
I'm sure Remus feels dread before his Full Moon, but I think his peakiness is more than that. I doubt someone like Fenrir would feel that dread - but still has recognizable symptoms pre-Full Moon by Lyall (according to the 'Remus Lupin' Pottermore page)
'Pull of the Moon' is a good phrase. I like that. The moon is getting stronger and their Lycanthropy is responding in their cells, affecting them physically, preparingā¦
What are 'Wolfish Traits' in canon...?
It is SO FRUSTRATING we don't hear more of this, ONLY that Bill likes his steak bloody. The story is teasing me. Leading me on.
REMUS WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'WOLFISH TRAITS' DARLING PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME HANGING YOU FUCKING FLIRT
Remus is not ''obviously'' a werewolf.
He puts a lot of work into that. Whenever people have worked him out (James/Sirius, Snape, Hermione) it has been based on his disappearances, not on how he looks or acts otherwise.
+ There are vague symptoms pre-Full Moon (as Harry notices in a memory and that Lyall Pottermore thing),
+ Weakness and loss of weight post-Full Moon (though that could be directly tied to exhaustion from transforming)
+ And of course - the transformation itself. The psychotic break of becoming a violent bite-hungry wolf.
...Thats it. Thats is all we know about what traits are definitely caused by Lycanthropy.
I can only assume Bill goes through some minor version of this: Maybe he feels a bit off around the Full Moon. Maybe he gets a bit hairy, maybe the moon gives him insomnia and a bad moodā¦
...I like to think so.
As you said - sometimes its nice to think about over-looked sides of Lycanthropy that aren't 'as bad'.
After all, while still horrible, the Full Moon isn't the most major 'disabling' trait Remus suffers. Sometimes he even LIKES the transformation. No, the worst symptom... Is probably the fatigue. Even on Wolfsbane he needs multiple days off work, feeling too horrible to show up for Christmas lunch. The thing that stops him from working, that reveals what he is to a bigoted society, extending beyond a night of delirium and pain into days of sufferingā¦ are his 'less bad' symptoms.
(That's something often overlook with disabilities: it's often not the loudest symptom that are the biggest problem - but the management of them, the complications of it, side effects from treatments, poor mental health from dealing with it physically and socially... I love you Remus Lupin)
Potential Wolfish Traits
There is no evidence that, even transformed, Werewolves have heightened senses. Pottermore says their eyes and snouts are 'more human' than a True Wolf - though that doesn't likeā¦ mean much. They could still have wolf-like smell and night vision and stuff. Or they could not.
Apparently Muggle and Wizard blood tastes different - whether that is Lycanthropic instinct, heightened taste/smell or sensing magicā¦ who knows.
In any case, I don't think in Human form they do.
If Remus had heightened senses he could surely have smelled Scabbers. He could have smelled Padfoot. If heightened senses are a known trait then surely Remus could be sent out to pick up Sirius' scent and track him. (unless it isn't quite strong enough for that...)
In terms of fun HC - I do like it. B^)
+ I like the idea of Remus being able to hear people approach his office from further away, so he is always prepared.
+ I like the idea of him being not-so-good at potions because the smells are overwhelming.
+ I like the idea of him, and all Werewolves, being more active in the dark without Lumos because they can see better. Sneaky.
We get hints that there are 'Wolfish traits' one can tell a Werewolf by, even when in Human formā¦ and I like the idea of them being subtle habits. Or you just blow a dog whistle and they flinch.
There's more evidence against this than for it, though. I don't think it is canonā¦ but it is fun :)
In any case it would most likely get stronger around the Full Moon and weaken by New Moon, as all his symptoms do.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME CANON MERIT THOUGH:
Magical resilience; Physical dexterity/strength; Healing; Greying.
Fenrir seems to take more powerful magical hits. Maybe he's just a badass. (He is. Punk grandpa is an icon tbh.)
Fenrir can run FAST on four legs in his Human form. Normally people run kinda slow and awkwardly on four legs. Added strength and flexibility from Lycanthropy...? Perhaps he's just a REALLY intense furry and has trained meticulously. No shade - that's impressive
Remus was attacked around the neck and clawed at by Sirius Black, enough to scare him off from a bunch of human prey - but shows no injury the next day. Maybe Sirius didn't break skin.
Maybe accelerated healing is just a Transformation thing.
Maybe... Lycanthropy wants to help keep it's host alive.
What do Remus and Fenrir have in common...? Grey hair.
What colour is werewolf fur? Grey.
Could this just be that Fenrir is old/used to be stressed, and Remus is so stressed now that he is going grey? Yes.
But honestly if most werewolves go grey early from the stress of life... that's kinda a symptom by itself anyway.
4. Polyjuice
Polyjuice is a dangerous potion - as we saw with Hermione.
Cat fur messed her form up and prevented her from shifting back easily, because it was a different animal.
It seems the only way to cleanly shift your physical appearance is with 'matching' species DNA or whatever.
Hagrid would be the same: he is a different animal.
If Hermione became part-cat when she had cat fur and got stuckā¦
I think if someone had Hagrid's hair they would become part-half-giant and get stuck.
(same for Hagrid into a full-human, his Giant genes wouldn't know what to do.)
Remus is full-human. I don't think there would be any issue.
Whether or not someone disguised as him would have Lycanthropy symptomsā¦ I'm not sure, but I don't think so.
The potion takes into account physical damage and deformities.
It copied Harry's eyesight, Alastor's amputation and disfigurementsā¦ but copying an infection?
If you took hair from someone who had the Flu, would you feel the Flu when you turned into them?
I don't think so - because things like infection and viruses are living creatures in their own right. Like you wouldn't sprout head lice if you turned into a kid with head lice.
(Whether virus' are 'alive' is debated a bit, though I see no reason not to consider them alive just because they need to be parasitic to cells to function.)
If Lycanthropy is more like a curse than alive - does a curse transfer through Polyjuice? I doubt it. No curse on Alastor is injested by Barty through his hair. Magic is very intent-based, and the intent of Lycanthropy is spit-to-blood.
Also I just think its more interesting if, like personality and habits, you had to pretend to be sick to pass at the person you disguise as.
HOWEVER - if you took werewolf FURā¦
Polyjuice takes into account ones current physical state, right?
Remus' physical state changes dramatically, painfully, magically - into a wolf-like creature.
A change has happened that is different to what a non-infected human can experiences. Taking werewolf fur, I think, would result in a cat-Hermione that gets stuck in a non-human shape.
Same with Animagus fur/feathers/etc: they are humans, but they are in a shape and size that is not what a human that hasn't magically trained their body through the procedure can mimic.
The question I want answered is whether Minerva can have cat-fur Polyjuice and turn into a different looking cat. She's on the registry as a tabby, so she sneaks around disguised as a Calicoā¦
Wolf Magic
Magic isn't just latin words and wand sparks. Wands are a European thing - they aren't used much in Africa etc, where they use their hands more.
We even see that, as a Wizard becomes more skilled, they don't need to say anything. Wandless magic is advanced.
it seems wand movements, words and even wands themselves are just tools to aid in learning, to focus ones magic.
You can follow a recipe to bake a cake - but if you're good at baking, you can just throw that shit together, experiment on the fly.
Since Werewolves are a very old phenomenon with a magical root - whether that be some ancient curse, or Lycanthropy is some sort of magical creature virus - magic only available to Werewolves sounds pretty cool.
I don't like how it further differentiates werewolves from other humans, because the theme is that they ARE humans like everyone else and are being treated as 'other'. I wouldn't want to make them superheroes by accident, yknow?
But likeā¦ there's a million cool ways to take werewolf magic.
I like the idea of utilizing the magic within the virus/curse itself.
It's evidently incredibly powerful, physical, draws and stores energy from the moon, using a human as its puppet to spread itself...
What if there were ways to utilize parts of thatā¦?
A symbiotic relationship with ones parasite, for better or for worse?
6. Biological changes of a Werewolf - headcanons B^)
I'm a big fan of the idea that Remus is living unhealthily by stifling his Lycanthropy while Fenrir is living healthy by indulging it.
Remus is thin, pale, bags under his eyes - despite being young.
Fenrir is rangy, tall, heavy, strong - despite being older.
It is a negative experience to take Wolfsbane and stifle the transformation - it is a positive experience to run around with Animagus friends and embrace it.
Lycanthropy is a severe thing. Once a month, EVERY month, you go through a complete physical change. It is painful to endure, you get into fights or self-harm - and Remus at least comes out thinner.
There's no way that doesn't do anything. Especially as you get older.
So, my HC, is that Remus - being unhealthy - gets a lot of aches and pains. His body doesn't transform well.
+ He doesn't eat enough because he wants to be as weak as possible. It's safer.
+ His fatigue afterwards is worse. His small bones like his fingers sometimes don't set right, costing him more in potions... unless he just puts up with it.
+ His Wolfish-Form looks like shit. Patchy fur, thin, always panting...
+ He looks a little wonky from a childhood spent transforming every month - on less food than he should have had. Like he is on the short-average side, but has a stretched spine that makes him look a little taller. Nothing much visually - but can give him joint pain.
Fenrir DELIGHTS in his form. I don't think he has aches or pains much at all - his body transforms well. He encourages it so much, as he gets older, it's leaking into his Human form.
+ He is described as having 'whiskers' - and I take that literally.
Nobody else has their facial hair described in that way, and he is a hairy man with long unkempt hair - he aint shaving... and somehow I doubt he has a patchy enough beard to be called 'whiskers'. I kinda think he straight up has whiskers.
+ Hairy. He has enough hair to be called fur.
+ Wolfish form is epic. Strong, noble, heavy, vicious, huge...
+ I can accept he sharpens his nails - but his teeth? He sharpens his teeth? I think they're natural, because sharpening teeth makes them weaker. His body is getting used to biting outside the Full Moon.
+ His fatigue afterwards is better than most, but his pre-Full Moon symptoms are stronger, his body AMPED UP in anticipation.
+ His body is more flexible, more used to different movements, that biting, scratching, prowling, walking on four limbs... its easier.
+ His voice is ravaged. A unique coarse, rough, barking voice.
Fenrir is a chad who can chase down a rabbit on all fours and catch it in his teeth - while Remus grunts a few times trying to tie his laces.
Fenrir shows the signs of his Lycanthopy outwardly as he gets older, while Remus shows them internally as he fails to look after himself.
Regardless of how 'healthy' a werewolf is:
+ Snarling, growling, whining... all something you get used to. Deep chesty rumbles. A few years of being a werewolf and you're so practiced at it it's second nature. Fenrir embraces it - Remus takes careful control of his emotions so he NEVER slips up.
+ Hairier in general. Even Remus. They just have more body hair. Because I am biased towards typically masculine traits? Yes.
+ The bloody meat thing. A heightened desire for protein, better at tasting different things in meat and blood. Safer to eat, too.
Who I think is the perfect cast to play Remus in the tv show?
I am absolutely surrendered to Iwan Rheon's portrayal of Remus Lupin in the Audible full-cast Harry Potter audiobooks.
And let me tell you this; I didn't know the man at all. Iād never watched Misfits or Game of Thrones, so I had no opinion of Iwan Rheon whatsoever. In fact, I was quite sceptical at first. I genuinely didn't know what to expect. I saw his picture and all I could think was: āWell, I donāt know the guy, but thereās something wolfish about him, so letās see.ā
Then the first promotional clips of him recording Lupin were released and I actually loved what I heard. I've always had a particular weakness for beautiful voices, and his immediately caught my attention. There was something incredibly warm and gentle about it, but also intelligent and quietly reassuring. I remember thinking that he sounded very promising.
(Off topic: heās also a singer, song writer and musician, and his songs are really good, I keep listening to them.)
Soā¦ yeah, I as excited. But I was also terrified that the audiobooks would disappoint me. Spoiler alert: they didn't. Quite the opposite, actually: they became my favourite version of Remus Lupin!
Not a different Remus. Not a reimagined Remus. Book Remus simply brought to life.š
Don't get me wrong: I am an unconditional admirer of the genius that is David Thewlis. I love his Lupin, and I adore him.
To this day, I think he performed a small miracle: he managed to create such a wonderful and memorable Lupin with very little screen time, very little information about the character, and some rather questionable directions and scripting. When he started filming Prisoner of Azkaban, the fifth book hadn't even been published yet.
He didn't have access Lupin's character development and yet he gave us a version that remains iconic.
But Iwan Rheon had several advantages; he already knew and loved the character for years, he knew the whole character arc, he was able to perform the entire story from beginning to end, and, most importantly, he got to portray every single scene!
But I think what truly made the difference is that he found the character's voice. Not just the literal voice, I mean the soul of the character. The energy.
One of the audiobook directors said:
"Iwan Rheonās Lupin is luminous and glorious, ans so nuanced ."
Ans that's exactly it. He soundsā¦ real. Painfully real, sometimes. And he captured all those Lupin paradoxes: kind without being weak, gentle without being passive, funny without trying to be, wise without sounding superiorā¦
Thatās as I always imagined Remus while reading the books. Which brings me to my main point: Iwan Rheon has become my dream casting for the HBO series. And judging by the reactions I've seen online, I'm far from the only one.
Yes, I know Remus is supposed to be the same age as Snape, and yes, Paapa Essiedu is 5 years younger than Iwan Rheon.
But Iwan has an incredibly youthful energy and besides, Remus is repeatedly described in the books as looking older than he actually is.
And Iām not the only who thinks that thereās something wolfish about him; many people only are commenting that he actually looks like a werewolf.
And yes, I know many people donāt like the idea, because they can only see him as the sadistic Ramsey Bolton from Game of Thrones, but back when David Thewlis was announced for the films, many people didnāt like the idea, because they could only see him as the evil prince/king Einon from Dragonheart. And just look how iconic Thewlis was!
Before the audiobooks, my dream casting was Luke Newberry. Physically, he matches the book description almost perfectly. He's also the right age, and he actually filmed the epilogue scene as Teddy Lupin in Deathly Hallows - Part 2, although it was ultimately cut.
But I've changed my mind. At this point, I genuinely don't think there's an actor who understands Remus Lupin better than Iwan Rheon. So please, HBO, please, make it happen! š„¹
I completely agree that Iwan Rheon is the best interpretation we have of Remus. Although David Thewlis did his best with what he was given, he still didn't have all the facts about Remus which is where the new actor will have an advantage.
I personally would not be disappointed if they cast Iwan as Remus Lupin, but I don't think he's the perfect choice.
First of all, his age. He is unfortunately too old. By the time he would come to actually play Remus he would be approx 10 years older than what Remus is suppose to be in PoA. And I've seen alot of people argue that Remus is suppose to look older, so it won't matter, but what they don't understand is that someone who has aged naturally and someone who is prematurely aged, looks very different. Remus is still young, Harry even describes him as such, he's supposed to still look young but the tragedy is that he has suffered alot and has therefore prematurely aged. I worry that by casting an older actor you would lose the tragedy of Remus and what he has gone through. It's the same as casting Lily and James older, it took away the tragedy of their story that they were only 21 when they died.
Also I can image that voice acting and acting a role in person is very different but I'm not too worried about this with Iwan because he's a phenomenal actor.
Another thing I'm thinking about is his height. Apparently Iwan Rheon is 5ft 8 which is 4 inches taller than me. I don't know, I think I just imagined Remus a bit taller. Maybe 5ft 10/11. I know Sirius is taller so I always imaged him about 6ft 2. I suppose it's not the end of the world though.
I personally would like them to choose lesser know actors for the roles. As we know the films didn't do this, so Id love for them to take a GoT approach this time and cast actors who have the talent but are lesser known and deserve to shine.
Some one: Remus is the youngest DATDA teacher at Hogwarts
Me an autistic marauders enthusiast, knowing Barty JR is a year younger and technically tough DATDA pretending to be Mad eye moody: oh, yes. Remo is definitely the youngestā¦. Yep.
ā¢
Me seeing someone in a marauders map mask: oh whoās your favorite character? Mine is Reggie!
Random person: what??? Who?
Me dying a little on the inside: nothing never mind.
To be fair, even Lockhart and Quirrell were suppose to be younger than Remus so that person was way off by calling Remus the youngest DADA professor. And even Snape was only 2 months older than Remus.
And Iām not sure what the age is for Barty in the Marauders fandom cause I know they donāt follow canon but Barty is 2 years younger than Remus not 1 year.
As the war deepens, Remus Lupin returns to his favourite coping mechanism: making himself impossible to save. Tonks keeps returning to him anyway, caught in something that never quite settles yet never quite ends.
Chapter 23: Remus hears important information and goes to Tonks with a plan to leave the mission. But when he finds Charlie Weasley in her flat with a bottle of wine, all of his thoughts seem to disappear.
š Chapter One / Chapter Twenty-Three
Footsteps sounded on the other side, and then the door opened. Tonks stood in a loose jumper, sleeves shoved up to the elbows and a smear of sauce on her cheek. Surprise crossed her face, immediately replaced with concern.
"Remus?ā she said. āWhatās happened, are you alright?ā
He opened his mouth to reply, but caught movement behind her. Over her shoulder, Charlie Weasley stood from the sofa, and whatever words Remus had been about to say vanished.
Charlie came towards them, broad and freckled and entirely at ease in the middle of Tonksā flat, as though he simply belonged among the clutter.
He smiled, lifting a hand in a casual wave. āAlright, Remus?ā
"Hello,ā said Remus, flatter than intended.
