The Harry Potter movies left Dobby out of the majority of Harry's story, but the HBO reboot could make it right. The fact that the house-elf hardly appeared in the Warner Bros films leading up to his death was a significant disappointment since he was an endearing and fairly present character in the books. Of course, with budget and time limitations, it would have been difficult to put Dobby on the big screen as much as he deserved. However, with the longer format of a TV series, the Harry Potter reboot should be able to restore Dobby's scenes and even make him a better character overall.
When Dobby was introduced in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, he was a bit of a nuisance. He nearly got Harry expelled or injured on several occasions, all to keep the Boy Who Lived from getting wrapped up in Lucius Malfoy's diary plot. Still, by the end, it was clear that the little house-elf had only the best intentions, and the freedom that resulted from his efforts in Chamber of Secrets was easy to celebrate. In the Harry Potter books, this was only the beginning of his story, but that wasn't the case in the movies.
The Harry Potter Movies Cut Most Of Dobby The House-Elf’s Scenes
Though the Chamber of Secrets movie got Dobby's story right, the following films cheated the poor house-elf of his role in Harry's life. In the books, he appeared at least briefly in every installment after that, aside from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This was because after being 'dismissed' by the Malfoys, he came to work for Dumbledore at Hogwarts (for a wage, of course). This assignment was perfect for the house-elf, since it allowed him to see his friend Harry Potter and offer help when needed.
In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Dobby was the one who stole Gillyweed from Professor Snape's stores and gave it to Harry to use in the second Triwizard Tournament task (not Neville as it was in the movie). In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dobby offered Harry the Room of Requirement as a meeting place for Dumbledore's Army (again, not Neville as it was in the movie). Then, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry asked Dobby and Kreacher to tail Draco Malfoy and report any suspicious behavior back to him (something that was cut entirely from the films).
Dobby Being MIA In The Harry Potter Movies Diminished His Death Scene
The next time Dobby was seen after his Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince book appearance was when he saved Harry and the others from Malfoy Manor in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This was, of course, the house-elf's last scene in the series since he was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange's knife. The emotional impact of this sacrifice was enhanced by the fact that Dobby had been such a frequent presence in Harry's life. They had known each other well—loved each other—and the fact that Harry held the elf as he died and buried him himself was fitting since they were really and truly friends.
This wasn't as much the case in the Harry Potter movies. Though Dobby's death was sad, Deathly Hallows was his first appearance on screen since the end of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This version of his character had developed far less of a bond with Harry since they seemingly had only talked a few times. Of course, his sacrifice was still necessary and tragic, and Harry's comion and gratitude for the elf was still a turning point in his story—but it wasn't the same.
The Harry Potter Remake Can Restore (& Enhance) Dobby’s Full Story
Though the fact that Dobby had been cut from most of the Harry Potter movies was frustrating, it likely couldn't have been helped. The CGI work necessary to bring the house-elf to life is expensive, time-consuming, and not worth it for only a few scenes that could easily have been filled with another character (typically Neville Longbottom). However, the HBO Harry Potter remake will be a different story.
Since the Harry Potter reboot will dedicate a full season to each of J.K. Rowling's books, there will be much more time to explore the nuances of Dobby's character. Additionally, the budget and time allotted for such a project will be much more extensive, making it far easier to justify the work. Finally, with the development of technology and example from other fantasy series like Game of Thrones it will be far easier to bring Dobby to life than it was back in the day. Warner Bros now knows what a beloved character Dobby is, so they know it will be worth it to Harry Potter fans to give the house-elf all the time he deserves.