The One Line In The Harry Potter Movies That Completely Changed Ron
There's one huge line in the Harry Potter film franchise that completely changes Ron Weasley's character.
Throughout the movies, which were adapted from J.K. Rowling's hugely successful series of young-adult novels, Rupert Grint plays Ron Weasley, comic relief and loyal best friend to Daniel Radcliffe's Harry. Along with their super-intelligent friend Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), Ron and Harry take on a huge number of challenges, from piles of schoolwork to defeating Dark wizards, and though the two occasionally experience conflict, Ron and Harry typically have a comfortable, easy friendship.
However, in both the books and the films, the same can't be said for Ron and Hermione's typically contentious relationship. The two bicker constantly, often irritating Harry, although their friction actually just masks their romantic feelings for each other, as they eventually get together in both the book and film of the franchise's final installment, Deathly Hallows. However, there's one line in the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, that changes both Ron's character and his relationship to Hermione — here's the strange line change that makes Ron's character pretty confusing.
This line in Prisoner of Azkaban turns Ron Weasley into a total jerk
In pretty much every Potter book and movie, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are forced to endure torturous classes under the tutelage of the vindictive Potions master, Severus Snape (the late Alan Rickman). During the both the book and film version of Prisoner of Azkaban, Snape unexpectedly fills in for the school's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin (David Thewlis), and challenges the class to answer tricky questions about werewolves.
Though Hermione knows the answer, Snape completely ignores her before outright insulting her, calling her an "insufferable know it all" and humiliating her completely. In the book, Ron, who frequently calls Hermione a "know it all" on his own time, comes to Hermione's defense, saying to Snape, "You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?" Immediately, Ron gets detention for his trouble.
However, the movie version of Ron handles the situation very differently. While Hermione hangs her head in shame, Ron simply says, "He's got a point, you know," throwing Hermione under the bus and adding to her humiliation in the process. When you contrast this incredibly mean comment with Ron's righteous stand from the books, it completely changes his character... and makes him much worse.
The reason as to why screenwriter Steve Kloves changed this line remains a mystery, but it's definitely a jarring shift from the Ron readers knew and loved in the books. If you want to watch this strange Ron moment and compare it to the books, all of the Harry Potter movies are available to rent or buy on major streaming platforms now.