Overall the show is kind of cringey to watch. The questions are at times extremely random, but its still fun to test your own knowledge on the questions presented.
93 Reviews
Not great
rassehuovinen14 December 2021
This is horrible.
CallMeJerm17 January 2022
The idea of a Harry Potter trivia game show is an awesome idea. However, this is an AWFUL execution of said awesome idea.
They present the show as if the contestants are picked randomly from the audience, but it's clear that's not the case as the contestants already have name plaques on the podiums. Each question has 4 answer choices, presented very much like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. But every question's third or fourth answer is something completely stupid and meant to be funny, i.e. "What is Remus Lupin's Marauder's nickname?"; "Lupin-ator."
But my biggest turn off with this show is the way the contestants confer before answering each question. I understand as a team they're supposed to give only one answer, but they way they do it is very annoying. It's as if the producers told them to to show their work and explain how the came up with their answer, as if they doing a long division math problem. For example, one of the questions was who transfigured into a shark during the Triwizard Tournament. Instead of simply answering it, they go into an in-depth analysis in order to eliminate their choices. "Well sharks are strong manly forces and who's known for being manly? It must be Viktor Krum."
I'm not sure who's idea this was, but it's clear this was only made to capitalize on the excitement of the upcoming reunion special.
They present the show as if the contestants are picked randomly from the audience, but it's clear that's not the case as the contestants already have name plaques on the podiums. Each question has 4 answer choices, presented very much like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. But every question's third or fourth answer is something completely stupid and meant to be funny, i.e. "What is Remus Lupin's Marauder's nickname?"; "Lupin-ator."
But my biggest turn off with this show is the way the contestants confer before answering each question. I understand as a team they're supposed to give only one answer, but they way they do it is very annoying. It's as if the producers told them to to show their work and explain how the came up with their answer, as if they doing a long division math problem. For example, one of the questions was who transfigured into a shark during the Triwizard Tournament. Instead of simply answering it, they go into an in-depth analysis in order to eliminate their choices. "Well sharks are strong manly forces and who's known for being manly? It must be Viktor Krum."
I'm not sure who's idea this was, but it's clear this was only made to capitalize on the excitement of the upcoming reunion special.
Setting the record straight. I was there for the tapings!
noushyandjenny4 January 2022
So, to start off, I read a lot of reviews that said the contestants were clearly fake/planted adults amongst kids in the audience. This is not true. I only counted about 4 teenagers in my section (slytherin) and everyone else were adults including myself. When Helen announced the three contestants, one of them was sitting next to me and she went ballistic. If she was acting, she deserves an Oscar. Secondly, the guy who got chosen from slytherin (Ryan) thought Helen said "Brian" which was his brothers name who was sitting next to him. His reaction was delayed and they had to re-shoot him and then decided to re-shoot the reactions. "Please pretend that we didn't just call your names and act just as surprised." So, if you got the impression that these contestants were fake, that is why.
After the 3 contestants were chosen, there was a long break before the filming of the contest had begun. I am certain that this is when they were told how to conduct themselves throughout the show when answering questions and talking about their story. They weren't reading scripts. Helen was the only one reading scripts. The way they were told how to interact was just cringey. Nothing more.
Another thing I have to point out because it seems unfair to her, Helen did great. The way they edited the show was so weird and choppy. It gives her no personality on screen, when it was clearly present during filming. She never interrupted anyone. The editor did that. I promise you. I was there. She listened well, went back and forth several times. She was respectful AND she was self admittedly not a huge Harry Potter fan. She just saw the movies and thinks it's a wonderful world and salutes it as a fan of art in general. Make sense? Don't throw her under the bus because she was clearly edited around and was actually the best part of the experience for me.
I couldn't agree more with the other reviewers here when they speak about the very unnecessary explaining during answering. Just answer the question dude! I don't care to know why you came to the conclusion that the piano was in the room when dumbledore fixed the room. YOU HAVE EYES. That should have been your reason, if any. Just say "piano" you know what I mean? There was a crap ton of that going on, which was definitely told to the contestants for purposes of "dragging on" for time. So annoying.
The questions were easy, and some were stupidly hard. Like which object was in dumbledores office and which Diadem was the real one. They are literally split second bits of footage from the films that the biggest fan of Hp could easily overlook or forget.
The outcomes weren't staged as far as I can see. It wouldn't make sense from my perspective. It was just poorly executed. Very little actually made it to final edit which makes me feel bad that a lot of you think Helen was just cutting people off left and right. She was super funny and she had a cool attitude. So if you get anything out of this review, I hope you can feel better knowing that Helen wasn't as bad as portrayed.
And as for the videos of the cameos, yes, they were 100% pre recorded and no interactions happened between contestants and them. They recorded both possibilities, for example. Draco saying "the answer is D, congratulations " AND "the answer is D, better luck next time" does that make sense? Just wanted to clear that up. The contestants actually did guess, and the video reflected whether they got it right or wrong.
Just wanted to share. I saw myself many times on screen, and that was the best part of the experience for me lol.
After the 3 contestants were chosen, there was a long break before the filming of the contest had begun. I am certain that this is when they were told how to conduct themselves throughout the show when answering questions and talking about their story. They weren't reading scripts. Helen was the only one reading scripts. The way they were told how to interact was just cringey. Nothing more.
Another thing I have to point out because it seems unfair to her, Helen did great. The way they edited the show was so weird and choppy. It gives her no personality on screen, when it was clearly present during filming. She never interrupted anyone. The editor did that. I promise you. I was there. She listened well, went back and forth several times. She was respectful AND she was self admittedly not a huge Harry Potter fan. She just saw the movies and thinks it's a wonderful world and salutes it as a fan of art in general. Make sense? Don't throw her under the bus because she was clearly edited around and was actually the best part of the experience for me.
I couldn't agree more with the other reviewers here when they speak about the very unnecessary explaining during answering. Just answer the question dude! I don't care to know why you came to the conclusion that the piano was in the room when dumbledore fixed the room. YOU HAVE EYES. That should have been your reason, if any. Just say "piano" you know what I mean? There was a crap ton of that going on, which was definitely told to the contestants for purposes of "dragging on" for time. So annoying.
The questions were easy, and some were stupidly hard. Like which object was in dumbledores office and which Diadem was the real one. They are literally split second bits of footage from the films that the biggest fan of Hp could easily overlook or forget.
The outcomes weren't staged as far as I can see. It wouldn't make sense from my perspective. It was just poorly executed. Very little actually made it to final edit which makes me feel bad that a lot of you think Helen was just cutting people off left and right. She was super funny and she had a cool attitude. So if you get anything out of this review, I hope you can feel better knowing that Helen wasn't as bad as portrayed.
And as for the videos of the cameos, yes, they were 100% pre recorded and no interactions happened between contestants and them. They recorded both possibilities, for example. Draco saying "the answer is D, congratulations " AND "the answer is D, better luck next time" does that make sense? Just wanted to clear that up. The contestants actually did guess, and the video reflected whether they got it right or wrong.
Just wanted to share. I saw myself many times on screen, and that was the best part of the experience for me lol.
So scripted it makes you cringe
giveyoubacklife5 December 2021
You can just see how the 'contestants' have been given a script to learn, and everything they say was wrote down, okayed by the studio, reharsed, and then let into production.
The host asks the contestants to say a few words about themselves, and seems to cut them short - this isnt solely because she is not interested, it is because she knows exactly what each of them is going to say, and when their sentences will be finished.
Not to mention the first contestants were supposed to be chosen randomly, yet they stand up before their names are announced, are in their own clothes, and are not wearing masks, unlike everyone else sitting next to them.
Utter disappointment. WB is so afraid of a backlash from the twitter hate community they had this whole thing so hard scripted it makes you want to shut the hole thing off.
The host asks the contestants to say a few words about themselves, and seems to cut them short - this isnt solely because she is not interested, it is because she knows exactly what each of them is going to say, and when their sentences will be finished.
Not to mention the first contestants were supposed to be chosen randomly, yet they stand up before their names are announced, are in their own clothes, and are not wearing masks, unlike everyone else sitting next to them.
Utter disappointment. WB is so afraid of a backlash from the twitter hate community they had this whole thing so hard scripted it makes you want to shut the hole thing off.
From a longtime fan, it really is awful.
DeadMansTrousers4 December 2021
First of all I had no idea this existed until I saw an ad for it after the first episode had already aired which should've been a hint on it's own. I love everything to do with the Wizarding World Of Harry Potter and I have read the books and watched the films countless times so the idea of a gameshow was very exciting to me. But I couldn't have been more wrong in thinking that!
Everything about this show is cringeworthy, there is nothing unique about how it plays out it's just a hodgepodge of famous gameshows mashed together. This would be fine is it was done well but its executed so poorly and it seems like Hellen Mirren doesnt even want to be there. She plays the role of the game's host and she cuts the contestants answers short more times than I could count including when they were "introducing themselves and why they love Harry Potter". The "contestants" on this show are terrible actors and they are clearly ready from a script and it's not well hidden at all. There are a few segments with "celebrity fans" of the series as well and you can tell they were pre-recorded but they try to edit them into the show as if the celebrities are talking to the contestants live and you can tell this isn't the case. As for the questions...some of them are so ridiculous like asking which couch Hermione's parents owned and having the contestants pick it out from 3 couches.
All in all if you are a true fan of the series I feel like you will be extremely disappointed in this show and you shouldn't watch it. I don't know what they were going for but it really is awful and the production feels so rushed.
Everything about this show is cringeworthy, there is nothing unique about how it plays out it's just a hodgepodge of famous gameshows mashed together. This would be fine is it was done well but its executed so poorly and it seems like Hellen Mirren doesnt even want to be there. She plays the role of the game's host and she cuts the contestants answers short more times than I could count including when they were "introducing themselves and why they love Harry Potter". The "contestants" on this show are terrible actors and they are clearly ready from a script and it's not well hidden at all. There are a few segments with "celebrity fans" of the series as well and you can tell they were pre-recorded but they try to edit them into the show as if the celebrities are talking to the contestants live and you can tell this isn't the case. As for the questions...some of them are so ridiculous like asking which couch Hermione's parents owned and having the contestants pick it out from 3 couches.
All in all if you are a true fan of the series I feel like you will be extremely disappointed in this show and you shouldn't watch it. I don't know what they were going for but it really is awful and the production feels so rushed.
Don't know if it is scripted but certainly feels like terrible american scripted reality shows. Disappointing but as a HP fan worth 45 mins
mickman91-122 December 2021
I don't know if this was fake and scripted as some have suggested, but it was terribly cheesy. It was like what a comedy sketch show (maybe Key and Peele) would do as a mick take of a American scripted reality TV shows, with all the over the top clapping and cheering after every sentence and apparently normal people 'contestants' who love being in front of the camera and acting out their well rehearsed lines, and an advert break every 10 minutes.
However, as a Harry Potter fan there were some interesting questions in there and it was enjoyable just to be connected to the universe again for 45 minutes. A properly done Harry Potter quiz show would be hugely popular, wonderful for fans to watch, and would probably go on running for years and decades. So in short, this was disappointing and achieved very little of what it could have, however, as a Harry Potter fan you are always going to enjoy being connected to the universe no matter how bad it is.
However, as a Harry Potter fan there were some interesting questions in there and it was enjoyable just to be connected to the universe again for 45 minutes. A properly done Harry Potter quiz show would be hugely popular, wonderful for fans to watch, and would probably go on running for years and decades. So in short, this was disappointing and achieved very little of what it could have, however, as a Harry Potter fan you are always going to enjoy being connected to the universe no matter how bad it is.
If you love Harry Potter, do not watch this.
dougy-tz29 December 2021
To say this was excruciatingly bad, would be an understatement. This is quite possibly the most ridiculous show I've ever seen. It was as if they made a show for 5 year olds and used adults as contestants. Awful, awful show. Stay away Potter fans.
Ok, but I expectated more
dobrinka-panayotova30 November 2021
The show was fine, the studio had a nice atmosphere, they had some props from the movies which was cool. The contestants looked like they knew their Harry Potter trivia well enough.
However, I expected the questions to be much harder than what we saw. In the begining I thought it was very easy but I was hoping this was because they were in a warm up round. I was disappointed to see this carry on almost until the end.
If you're a Harry Potter fan you will enjoy it, but if you're a trivia buff you may be annoyed the questions are way too easy and you might lose interest quickly.
Still, it was only one episode - I hope they will do better next time.
However, I expected the questions to be much harder than what we saw. In the begining I thought it was very easy but I was hoping this was because they were in a warm up round. I was disappointed to see this carry on almost until the end.
If you're a Harry Potter fan you will enjoy it, but if you're a trivia buff you may be annoyed the questions are way too easy and you might lose interest quickly.
Still, it was only one episode - I hope they will do better next time.
This is NOT Ok
nimitz5412 December 2021
Im sorry, but this show fails on so many levels. The contestants are horrible picks, the game itself... nothing interesting, the content just as uninteresting. Are we going to start having gameshows about marvel movies next? If this is what entertainment has come to... the world is doomed.
Don't know why the bad reviews
parkerama2 December 2021
If you are a "REAL" Harry Potter fan then give it a chance and...
johannesfastmark12 January 2022
... decide for yourself if you like it or not!
I can understand that fans are giving it drastically different scores. That is completely fine. What is not fine is just because YOU did not like the show. You proceed to make a review saying "If you are a "REAL" Harry Potter fan, don't watch the show".
This is gatekeeping of what a "real" fan is and what a "real" fan likes. These reviews are probably written by huge Harry Potter fans but that doesn't mean all other Harry Potter fans will share the same opinion.
I agree with the review of the user "CityKittie". I liked the show and it made me enjoy The Magical World of Harry Potter rather more (if that was even possible).
I also found the explanation of noushyandjenny very useful, who I believe actually took part in the crowd for the filming of this show! Clarifying a lot of things.
The show certainly had some faults, as many other fans have kindly pointed out. Despite those faults, it was in my opinion a fun ride! I loved the sets and the atmosphere too! Some people do not agree and they think the faults brings down the show to a 4, 3, 2, 1 or even a 0. It is completely fine to think that.
This is why I also think it is just as much wrong to give it a 10 with basically the same reason. "If you are a "REAL" fan then you will definitely enjoy this show".
I give it the most powerfully magical number: 7!
/ A "real" Harry Potter fan! (Whatever that means)
I can understand that fans are giving it drastically different scores. That is completely fine. What is not fine is just because YOU did not like the show. You proceed to make a review saying "If you are a "REAL" Harry Potter fan, don't watch the show".
This is gatekeeping of what a "real" fan is and what a "real" fan likes. These reviews are probably written by huge Harry Potter fans but that doesn't mean all other Harry Potter fans will share the same opinion.
I agree with the review of the user "CityKittie". I liked the show and it made me enjoy The Magical World of Harry Potter rather more (if that was even possible).
I also found the explanation of noushyandjenny very useful, who I believe actually took part in the crowd for the filming of this show! Clarifying a lot of things.
The show certainly had some faults, as many other fans have kindly pointed out. Despite those faults, it was in my opinion a fun ride! I loved the sets and the atmosphere too! Some people do not agree and they think the faults brings down the show to a 4, 3, 2, 1 or even a 0. It is completely fine to think that.
This is why I also think it is just as much wrong to give it a 10 with basically the same reason. "If you are a "REAL" fan then you will definitely enjoy this show".
I give it the most powerfully magical number: 7!
/ A "real" Harry Potter fan! (Whatever that means)
Cringe worthy
pcrime-1708930 December 2021
Oh dear, this is the worst quiz I have ever seen. The way the contestants were clearly told to explain their thinking rather than just, answer the question is daft and the set up is like a weird mash up of 6 different gameshows. I am not a big fan of the films but I love the books so I was disappointed that it was film focused for the most part (that's just preference though). The guest stars are random aside from those from the film, Helen Mirren who is fantastic usually is oddly wooden here and she cuts off the contestants when they are speaking (I imagine because someone in an ear piece is telling her to or its bad editing). Anywho I couldn't get through the first episode. Not worth watching in my humble opinion 😕
A Total insult to any fan's intelligence
roxmewild14 December 2021
I am sure J K Rowling would have been mortified at this shambolic production that was obviously made for financial gain only!
Helen Mirren a great actress but a dreadful presenter not sure if that is due to the script she was given or her lack of enthusiasm for the subject but it is so wooden and bland!
The whole production is awful down to the All American contestants minus the cheer leaders.
I am a massive Harry Potter fan but this production is as entertaining as watching your washing go round in a laundromat!
Helen Mirren a great actress but a dreadful presenter not sure if that is due to the script she was given or her lack of enthusiasm for the subject but it is so wooden and bland!
The whole production is awful down to the All American contestants minus the cheer leaders.
I am a massive Harry Potter fan but this production is as entertaining as watching your washing go round in a laundromat!
Don't watch this if you are a Harry Potter fan or a fan of quiz shows.
abhi-iknowit3 December 2021
Utterly Horrible, poorly scripted and just a dull imitation of potter fandom. Right from the contestants, who, of course, are not CHOSEN by any means (no matter what is shown), to the bizzarely bland questions and fake representations. This is a gross insult to potter fans around the world. There's nothing redeeming about this show, neither from a quiz standpoint and definitely not from potter fandom.
American
heathereachus29 December 2021
Clearly was made only for Americans. Said in the show that they had 'the best Harry Potter fans in the world'... America is NOT the world!!! Only 2 contestants from a show about a BRITISH book were from the UK (barely). AND they had Dame Helen Mirren call the Philosophers stone the Sorcerers stone because Americans don't know what a Philosopher is 🙄 also, Helen is a great actress but why was she hosting? She has nothing to do with it! And the contestants struggled with the easiest questions? How?! Just irritating! And just get to the questions! We don't care about the bloody people chosen to play!
A fun distraction for the movie fans
stephengibbons-23 January 2022
For the first few minutes I was feeling some major cringe, but once the game started I was hooked. A lot of the questions are very challenging (who can possibly remember what date someone entered a memory in the pensieve??)
The contestants were pretty sharp and I thought the winning team was a surprise. Very tight finish at the end.
Yes there's a scripted element to the show. For starters, those contestants weren't picked randomly from the owl post (do you think they had craftsmen backstage making those ornate nameplates on the fly?) My only major complaint is how two categories in the Magical Games round were never picked once in all four episodes. I would have liked to see those played in the game.
Is it corny? A little, But it's fun to challenge your Potter skills along with the teams, and you'll definitely have a favorite team if you play along.
Yes there's a scripted element to the show. For starters, those contestants weren't picked randomly from the owl post (do you think they had craftsmen backstage making those ornate nameplates on the fly?) My only major complaint is how two categories in the Magical Games round were never picked once in all four episodes. I would have liked to see those played in the game.
Is it corny? A little, But it's fun to challenge your Potter skills along with the teams, and you'll definitely have a favorite team if you play along.
I'm not sure I ever gave a 1 before
nathan-p-hart3 January 2022
This is terrible. There is an audience full of children yet they "randomly" choose a bunch of adults to play. One being an old man. I feel like this should have been more kids focused. If they wanted to test adults the questions should have been harder.
Just fun
giantsfanj6 December 2021
Don't pay attention to the haters.
This is just a fun quiz show where the contestants are picked randomly from the audience.
More things Harry Potter is what we all need.
Multiple choice questions which it's fun to play along at home.
This is just a fun quiz show where the contestants are picked randomly from the audience.
More things Harry Potter is what we all need.
Multiple choice questions which it's fun to play along at home.
I know you are all going to hate me
riajarnqa19 December 2021
Nothing is as bad as FANTASTIC BEATS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD...i felt ashame to be a Harry Potter fan because of that movie. The only good scene is the opening scene...the rest of the movie is AWFUL...is an offense to every fan...
What a disgrace..
kingzed974 December 2021
The whole show is FAKE. The contestants are clearly told to give the wrong answers. I could only watch 20 minutes of it. Terryble scripted moneygrab. A disgrace for Harry Potter. Please don't watch it so things like this won't happen again.
Good idea given zero thought
georgewhittingham12 January 2022
3 reasons why this is absolutely terrible.
1. The questions are incredibly easy.
2. Why is this American? Harry Potter is a British film.
3. Why not have an actual star of Harry Potter as host? I like Helen Mirren, but she isn't even in the films!
Great idea, poor execution. If you're a true Harry Potter fan, avoid at all costs.
1. The questions are incredibly easy.
2. Why is this American? Harry Potter is a British film.
3. Why not have an actual star of Harry Potter as host? I like Helen Mirren, but she isn't even in the films!
Great idea, poor execution. If you're a true Harry Potter fan, avoid at all costs.
Get on your Nimbus 2000 and fly far away.
jayclaurence15 January 2022
"It's so bad I wanna give you a zero
DantiMovies3 January 2022
But that's not possible, so I give you a one."
If you feel like watching a show so staged, weird and cringe maybe this is your choice.
It's good if you just take the questions and answer them at home but ignore the show itself.
It is pretty staged and the contestants look like they are required to discuss every decision that goes through their brain. Really funny.
If you feel like watching a show so staged, weird and cringe maybe this is your choice.
It's good if you just take the questions and answer them at home but ignore the show itself.
It is pretty staged and the contestants look like they are required to discuss every decision that goes through their brain. Really funny.
It's bad, it's really really bad - hardcore fan perspective
albertprzymus2 December 2021
Right so. I've only watched about 4 minutes of it.
I'm 31 years old hardcore die hard fan of HP franchise.
This is insulting, horrible, scripted, contestants are dull and the fact that they have to 'discuss' answers before answering them straightaway is simply offensive to real fans around the globe.
Simply put I was expecting quiz but something hardcore, pushing to the limits, little tiny nuanced stuff from the books and not simple questions from films.
Disappointing money grab...
I'm 31 years old hardcore die hard fan of HP franchise.
This is insulting, horrible, scripted, contestants are dull and the fact that they have to 'discuss' answers before answering them straightaway is simply offensive to real fans around the globe.
Simply put I was expecting quiz but something hardcore, pushing to the limits, little tiny nuanced stuff from the books and not simple questions from films.
Disappointing money grab...
Charming, Magical and Warm
cvetomira-mikovska14 December 2021
I am also from the generation, which grew-up with Harry and his world. Despite the multiple 1-star reviews, there isn't anything wrong with this game show, honoring the anniversary. It's made with a lot of attention to detail, the atmosphere is charming and friendly, the questions are diverse and fun to answer. Dame Helen is a great host, smart, dignified and respectful, she definitely understands the subject and always makes sure to pronounce correctly the difficult wizarding names, spells, objects, etc. The contestants are really precious and smart, they compete with sense of humor and there is no conflict. The production is of great quality, the set is magical, you can tell they carefully thought about all the pieces. I am not going to spoil anything, but there are many surprises and magical touches to it. I understand someone may not like this or that element, but c'mon everything below 6-stars is unrealistic, based on the amount of expertise put into this show. If you say this is made for money, well yes, welcome to planet Earth, do you not work for money? If you say you don't like the fact they made a game show, as you personally do not like this format, you have no business reviewing it or go ahead and put your insulting 1-star to every existing game show. No entertainment is perfect, but let's be respectful to the people who tried to make something, it is obviously made for fans by fans.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
