Critical Magic Theory: Prof Responds – The Erasure of Nymphadora Tonks

Date: February 25, 2026
Host: Professor Julian Womble
Episode Theme: Analyzing Fandom Responses to Tonks' Character Arc

Episode Overview

In this Prof Responds episode of Critical Magic Theory, Professor Julian Womble engages deeply with listener feedback following the previous episode on Nymphadora Tonks. Exploring both the enthusiasm and criticisms of the analysis, Womble invites listeners to reassess Tonks’ arc—particularly the dramatic changes to her character between Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince, and her ultimate fate. Through responses from Discord, Patreon, and Spotify, the episode dissects Tonks' house identity, her narrative "erasure," the dynamics with Remus Lupin, and the impossible standards for mother-figures in the Wizarding World.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Is Tonks a Good Hufflepuff?

[08:32–17:18]

• Community Survey: 94% of 76 respondents agreed Tonks is a great Hufflepuff; insightful comments highlight her value-based alignment with Hufflepuff traits, not just surface-level qualities.
• Listener Quotes:
  • Liv: “The house you are in has to do with what you value the highest, not the qualities you possess and exhibit.”
  • Carmen: “She epitomizes the Hufflepuff spirit very well. Honest, hard working and loyal... her mother chose to leave behind all the trappings and privileges for love.”
  • Mark: “Tonks is quite literally the definition of a good Hufflepuff... forging their own futures through independence.”
• Julian’s Response: Tonks’ arc is rooted in loyalty and independence, which are portrayed as key Hufflepuff values. Her profession as an Auror reinforces her commitment to justice, not for show but for the genuine pursuit of it.
  • Quote: “Hufflepuffs love hard... living in a house where, you know, your mom had to give up everything and did so willingly... informs what it means to be in love...” (12:25)
  • Adds a playful aside: “Her being an Auror... also speaks to her Hufflepuff Ness... as kind of Hufflepuffian as you can get.” (14:31)
• Tone: Thoughtful, spirited, and slightly irreverent—Womble jokes about pronunciation debates and Slytherin house rivalry.

2. The “Robbery” of Tonks’ Character Arc

[19:16–31:02]

• Listener Frustration:
  • Rachel: “Our thoughts are so much more about what was done to Tonks or how she was treated than anything she actually does.”
  • Kylie: Laments the lost Hogwarts Express scene in the movies—Tonks’ role protecting Harry is erased.
  • Annie: “What I really love about Tonks [at the start] is the way she is incredibly competent without sacrificing her femininity... her relationship to herself and her femininity and to her competence was... centered around herself and who she was.”
• Julian’s Riff:
  • “We were robbed. I said it before and I’ll say it again, a theft has been done...” (24:31)
  • Compares Tonks' loss of self for Remus to Elle Woods' arc in Legally Blonde, drawing a distinction between transformative self-change and self-erasure for the sake of a man.
  • “There’s a way that you can be quirky and depressed... you don’t have to lose everything, all of it. For a dude, in this economy?” (25:13)
• Queer Coding & Missed Potential:
  • Womble points out the opportunity for Tonks to represent queerness or at least divergent femininity, which is ultimately snuffed out by a return to traditional heteronormativity:
  • “We were denied a fun, not straight moment... If we weren’t gonna get Wolfstar, fine, whatever... Why not just let her be out here living her best life without a man?” (27:44)
  • “There is a way that, like, what she ends up doing feels very queer coded to me even in its heteronormativity—denying a part of yourself for the sake of being appealing to someone else.” (28:29)
• Memorable Moment:
  • “If you can’t give us a queer character, at least give us one who can be queer coded in no uncertain terms. And we had it. And then she was snatched away from us.” (29:12)

3. The Remus Lupin Dynamic – Heteronormativity & Gendered Roles

[31:02–44:32]

• Listeners Discuss:
  • Fenty: “Falling for Lupin was one thing, though very heteronormative. Well, losing her personality was not necessary... wives and husbands here can never be equals, it seems.”
  • Kim C.: Calls out the “classic heteronormative I can fix him BS... this patriarchal idea that women are rehab centers for damaged men.” (34:36)
  • Jaz: Nuanced defense, “Remus genuinely loved Tonks... The stress and misery is pretty much all about the baby... not being worthy of love and she deserves better.”
• Julian’s Analysis:
  • Challenges the narrative: “Lupin doesn’t lose himself. Lupin stays the same. Lupin gets better. Ish. Right?... She’s the one who’s doing all the moving.” (36:10)
  • “All you have to do if you want a man is just change everything about yourself. Get rid of all the things that make you interesting.”
  • Examines societal roots of this pattern—women changing for men, not the other way.
  • Explores Remus' suitability as a father: “I don’t think he wanted to be a dad... he is not a hopeful person.” (40:31)
  • Highlights Tonks’ hope and Hufflepuffian belief in fixing/transforming others through loyalty.
  • “I think that Tonks’ Hufflepuffianness—wow, this word is getting a lot longer—exacerbates that already heteronormative, misogynistic, patriarchal belief...” (43:14)

4. Motherhood, Sacrifice, & Impossible Standards

[44:32–62:44]

• Listener Reflections:
  • Nadia: References America Ferrera’s “impossible to be a woman” speech from Barbie: “We expect Tonks to be superhuman, better than all of us to make impossible choices... it’s impossible to be a woman.”
  • Lorian: “She gets punished for Lupin’s actions as well as her own... she’s at least as much there to be with Lupin as to fight.”
• Julian’s Response:
  • Dissects layers of expectation: “I think some of us would say the right way was for her to stay at home with Teddi. I can see that... but the expectation that she’s the one that has to be there while he’s out there fighting—that feels imbalanced to me.” (46:43)
  • Appeals for compassion and complexity in judging her choice: “We have to trust that the decision she made wasn’t an easy one. It wasn’t because... she potentially loved Lupin more, which is what some people are saying.” (49:55)
  • Compares these judgments to those levied against Merope and Narcissa, noting, “The only mom we’re not hard on is Narcissa, and that’s because we expected her to be below the bar and she raised it.”
  • Explains how the “impossibility” of these choices is symptomatic of the broader social issue where women are tasked with being impossibly perfect.

5. Is Tonks a Hero? Rethinking Heroism

[56:25–62:44]

• Listener Pushback:
  • Charlie: “Tonks is a hero simply for being an Auror... The fact that she’s an Auror doesn’t diminish her heroism, it enhances it.” (57:40)
  • Jo (via Spotify): “Tonks not being a hero because of her job is crazy... It’s a job. Yes. A career she chose for herself. Every single day she makes a choice to go out there and risk her life... Tonks doesn’t have to be an Auror. She’s choosing the Battle of Hogwarts every day. I’m disappointed in this one.”
• Julian’s Reflection:
  • Candidly admits earlier bias—holding Tonks to an “impossible standard”—and revises his position: “Because in many ways, Tonks is getting held to an impossible standard here. How she has to be superhuman and make perfect choices and justify herself in other ways characters simply don’t. And then I turn around and apply the same logic to her heroism...
  • “You don’t have to do an exceptional thing to be a hero... If you do it all the time, is it exceptional? That is the trap, y’all. That’s the trap, right?” (60:23)
  • Praises listeners for challenging his thinking, reiterates the importance of applying definitions of heroism equally.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • “We praise every person that fought in the Battle of Hogwarts and make it a point that they didn’t have to. Tonks doesn’t have to be an Auror... She’s choosing the Battle of Hogwarts every day.” (Jo, 59:25)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “We were robbed. We were robbed, y’all.” (24:31, 29:12)
• “There’s a way that you can be quirky and depressed... you don't have to lose everything, all of it. For a dude, in this economy?” (25:13)
• “Hufflepuffs love hard.” (12:25)
• “We were denied a fun, not straight moment... If you can't give us a queer character, at least give us one who can be queer coded in no uncertain terms.” (27:44–29:12)
• “I don’t think [Lupin] has the tools to be a good dad. I don’t think he wanted to be.” (40:31)
• “She has to be superhuman and make perfect choices and justify herself in other ways characters simply don’t. And then I turn around and apply the same logic to her heroism, requiring her to earn it some other way beyond the choice she’d already made.” (59:13)

Episode Structure (with Important Segments)

• [01:19] Introduction & context: Revisiting the Tonks episode and the importance of critique in fandom.
• [08:32] Theme 1 – Is Tonks a Good Hufflepuff?
• [19:16] Theme 2 – The Erasure of Tonks: What We Lost
• [31:02] Theme 3 – The Remus Lupin of It All (Gender roles & Relationship critique)
• [44:32] Theme 4 – Motherhood: The Battle of Hogwarts and Impossible Standards
• [56:25] Theme 5 – Rethinking Heroism: Can “Doing Your Job” Be Heroic?
• [64:00] Closing Reflection and Invitation for Further Listener Feedback

Tone & Style

Julian Womble maintains an engaging, candid, and sometimes humorous tone. He is self-critical, conversational, and fundamentally inclusive, often punctuating analysis with cultural references, playful asides, and repeated calls for listener participation and “bopping.”

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• This episode offers a passionate and nuanced reconsideration of Nymphadora Tonks, drawing on deep listener engagement.
• Explores the ways fandom processes disappointment regarding her arc—especially in context of gender, queerness, and the series’ moral/maternal standards.
• Womble is transparent about his own evolving views, ultimately championing a critical and more equitable lens on heroism and character judgment in the Wizarding World.

“Be critical and stay magical, my friends.” (64:00)