Why Isn't Veritaserum Used MORE? - Harry Potter Theory

Harry Potter Theory

Tv & Film

4.7 • 701 Ratings

🗓️ 14 October 2023

⏱️ 15 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Veritaserum- an incredibly powerful (and I feel, underutilized) potion that forces individuals to reveal the truth.

"It is Veritaserum � a Truth Potion so powerful that three drops would have you spilling your innermost secrets for this entire class to hear. Now, the use of this potion is controlled by very strict Ministry guidelines. But unless you watch your step, you might just find that my hand slips � right over your evening pumpkin juice. And then, Potter... then we'll find out whether you've been in my office or not."

Besides maybe Felix Felicis, Polyjuice Potion and Amortentia- I feel as though Veritaserum AKA 'Truth' Serum is one of the most powerful potions in the entire Wizarding World. And given this fact, I can't help but notice that it's ludicrously underutilized (at least in the series).

In fact, the list of times that it's actually used in the story is exceedingly short. These moments include..

Giving it to Barty Crouch Jr after discovering that he was disguised as DADA Professor Mad Eye Moody

AND

Rita Skeeter using it on Bathilda Bagshot while interviewing her for Albus Dumbledore's biography

There were of course other times that it was mentioned, like when Dolores Umbridge used a 'fake potion' made by Snape on Harry Potter that he only pretended to drink.

But on the whole, it's not even talked about that much, and I feel like it could bring about a whole lot of clarity. ESPECIALLY in the context of convicting criminals. In the Death Eater trials, for example, Igor Karkaroff was pardoned by the Wizengamot after giving up the names of some of his co-conspirators. Why not just feed him Truth Serum?

In today's video we'll be discussing WHY Veritaserum isn't more actively used by the Ministry of Magic. We'll also be discussing use-cases from the story in which Veritaserum could have proven to be extremely useful, potentially saving lives in the process.

Let's dive in.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Audible brings your wildest adventures to life, delivering heart-pounding thrills at the touch
0:05.8	of a button.
0:07.0	Take Richard Osmond's The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turned amateur sleuths
0:11.8	solve crimes in the most unexpected ways, brilliantly performed by Leslie Manville.
0:17.1	Ready to unleash your adventure aside, from pulse racing suspense to epic quests, from supernatural
0:22.6	chills to far-off romances, every story comes alive through world-class narration.
0:28.5	Explore exclusive audible originals, chart-topping new releases, and unforgettable bestsellers
0:34.4	that transport you from the very first word, because the next great
0:38.2	adventure is just a listener way. Start your free 30-day trial at audible.com slash
0:43.9	Wondery UK. That's audible.com slash Wondery UK.
0:48.9	The following podcast contains audio extracted from videos on the Harry Potter Theory YouTube
0:55.2	channel.
0:56.6	Hey everyone, welcome to another instalment of Harry Potter Theory.
1:09.8	Today we're going to be discussing Veritasyrum, an incredibly powerful
1:13.5	and I feel underutilized potion that forces individuals to reveal the truth. It is Veritasyrum,
1:20.4	a truth potion so powerful that three drops would have you spilling your innermost secrets
1:25.7	for this entire class to hear.
1:28.4	Now the use of this potion is controlled by very strict ministry guidelines, but unless
1:33.3	you watch your step, you might just find that my hand slips right over your evening pumpkin
1:38.0	juice, and then Potter, then we'll find out whether you've been in my office or not.
1:43.1	Besides maybe Felix Felices, Polyju's potion and Amortensia, I feel as though Veritasirum,
1:48.6	aka Truth Serum, is one of the most powerful potions in the entire wizarding world.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Harry Potter Theory, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Harry Potter Theory and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.