Why I did not enjoy Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

[Tim]

** spoiler alert **
(Fans, especially Hufflepuffs with blind loyalty, this is a logical argument against the book/play. If you want to argue, don’t. If you want to be overly emotional, don’t. If you want to point out the correct logic or mistakes I have made, please do. I want to view this book/play in a better light. Below are my disagreements, acknowledgements, and theories. Do not be mean or blind. Be kind and logical.)

In my opinion, this play was poorly written. The dialogue was off and all over the place, poorly worded, out of logic. Characters from the books did not resemble themselves. There were major plot holes, the story moved to fast. Characters like Ron, and Hermione were stereotyped, and more than likely, based off the movies. The entire read was like a hashing of previous events in the Potter books, and that characters from the original books were inspired more from the movies.
This is a play. When reading it, I tried to imagine it as a play and it was difficult to do. The wording and story were very different and disconnected from the original series. Below are my disagreements and my agreements for the play. As bad as it was, there were some incredibly great parts to the story, but there was a lot wrong with connecting it to Harry Potter, in my opinion.
J.K. Rowling has been seeing, this is the end of Harry Potter. Why? If the books encouraged people to read (I would not have enjoyed reading if it were not for Harry Potter, seriously), have driven the world economy, and provided funds to charitable organizations, would she stop writing? I do not know why she has stopped the series, when it creates open mindedness (as has been studied and proven by scholars) in current culture and a good social critique on today’s society. Here is my likes and dislikes for the new play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

*********Spoiler Alert*************************************************

What I did not like about the story in regards to it being published. It was definitely not written by J.K. Rowling. I understand that this was to be expected, but why list her as an author on the published play if she did not write it? (J.K Rowling is legitimately listed as an author for this “book.”) Of course she contributed ideas and created the fictional world and parameters, and approved the story, yet she is not the author. Rowling’s name was just a money maker, and fan attraction. It was her stamp of approval for this to be Harry Potter canon. Jack Thorne and John Tiffany wrote the play and you can definitely read the difference between the dialogue from the books and the new play. Fans will quickly defend Rowling for this story, but it was not Rowling’s, this is a Thorne and Tiffany story. Fandom is a little too strong here in which there seems to be a doublethink (“it was okay, it’s Harry Potter at least, but is not Harry Potter, it is canon though, it was not that bad, it was okay”) situation when it comes to this new addition to the story. This situation is further seen by the lack of agreement of whether the play is canon or fanfiction. Most try to say it is both, but it definitely is not canon beyond the few elements that are definitely Rowling contributed (which can easily be determined while reading).

Alright, problems with the actual story. Hermione Granger is offending. For one of the brightest characters of the original books, Thorne and Tiffany really made her seem terribly dumb as an adult. Why? In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Hermione, with the help of Ron and Harry, break into the Ministry of Magic. Now, as Minister for Magic, is Hermione really daft enough to let security be dogmatic since her teenage years? That two 14 year olds, 22 years later, can break into the government building, with the same potion, and break into her office with a first year spell, “Alohomora.” Now, alternate universe, if Hermione was never with Ron, or Krum, would she really be a miserable shrew? No. This is my opinion, I am biased with this so it is speculation on my part. Why does Hermione need to be in a relationship to be okay? Next universe, was it okay for Hermione to rebel against a fascist regime, yeah, but being a sexy rebel? Why was it necessary for Hermione to be characterized as a sexy rebel? This did not make any sense, it felt totally out of place. Is being rebellious sexy? (Or just popular, “’I rebel,’ said Katniss.” Divergent.)

Another dislike, Harry Potter’s duel with Draco Malfoy. Harry Potter, Head of Magical Law Enforcement, who earlier in the story, is cut up from dueling and arresting another wizard, has trouble dueling Malfoy, Malfoy claiming that Harry is getting older. Would not Harry’s power skill have increased with his experience with Magical Law Enforcement? Harry is around 40 years old. Albus Dumbledore was powerful at over a 100 years of age. Yeah, perhaps Malfoy has become powerful, but not knowing his career, and learning that Harry is in the major leagues for defensive and offensive spells makes me question the entire cliché dialogued fight scene.

Another issue, Scorpius Malfoy’s and Albus Potter’s wands are broken by Delphi (funny metaphor, see theories). Cool. How does Albus’ wand “magically” return in the end for him to use to help defeat Delphi? (“I love magic.”)

Time-Turners? Okay, Rowling admitted that this idea was a poor one to include in her stories (it has been reported that she has even deleted her comment about this from her website). Now, we are brought back to this. In The Prisoner of Azkaban, time travel seems to be a difficult affair, now it is an easy avenue, easy as pressing a button, and swoosh, no other detail needed, you are transported to the moment you needed to get to. Would it really be that easy? And would it be that easy, and make sense that Draco Malfoy had purchased another Time-Turner and bring it out into the open (“in time”) to save Albus and Scorpius? (Oh man, I hear a knock, I think somebody left Deus in the machina again.) This was a really poor moment. Yeah, there could be an argument here in that Malfoy really did not want to be thought of with dealing with time travel, especially with the “rumors” about his son, but this is a good structure, but a bad plot device.

Literature alert. Why is the stage direction cues listed with complex vocabulary that do not aid the story? Adding a word that most of the audience would not know is ridiculous in pop culture when not trying to make a point, especially as it is a play script where stage direction is meant to be prompt and short. Fans argue that the story is a play that it should not be taken seriously as a book. I agree, yet there are issues with the paly itself when they use bookish ideas within play styled writing. Fellow fans, (with the loyalty of Hufflepuff House) quit switching sides between book and play defenses, I know and considered this as a play.

What I did enjoy.
As much as I disagreed with the story, there were elements that I liked. Albus Potter being sorted into Slytherin opened the door to great possibilities. Being friends with Scorpius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy’s son, is another great addition to the story, it really shows that time had changed and old childish feuds are gone. Amazing ideas for the new Harry Potter. Another great idea, Snape learning that he was a hero. This was a great idea, the execution of it was not precisely well done, but having Snape get to learn that he was appreciated was a bit of a satisfying ending (Like Van Gogh finding out he is popular after death). Overall, the friendship between Slytherins, Albus and Scorpius, is awesome and it really well transitioned the story from books to play.

Alright, theories.
I do have further theories, but I do not fully consider them true, only thoughts of possible aims of the story.

Who exactly was cursed? This is complete speculation, but my guess is Albus Potter. What is the curse? Homosexuality. There is an odd mixture between Albus and Scorpius that brought this to my attention. The stage directions mention awkward hugs. Albus and Scorpius only spend time with each other, have a difficult time finding other friends, and wanting to play sports. Malfoy is worried because there are “rumors” about his son. Reading in between the lines, it would seem that the characters are gay. This is further compounded by the idea of the father and son issues. Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter are able to bond in regards to the father and son issues they have been having. Their sons do not have enough friends, do not play sports, and are not matching their fathers’ identities or wishes. This conflict suggests fathers who are trying to live through their sons, or fathers that are disappointed with their sons’ sexual maturity. There is no real explanation for the idea of a “curse,” whether it is Harry Potter’s post trauma or Delphi’s introduction as a new evil. Who is cursed? Perhaps the curse is when Harry admits his disappointment with his son, or the curse is compounded with the previous in that Harry is disappointed, because his son does not match his viewpoint, that his son is a homosexual. It could be argued that Albus and Scorpius are romantically attracted to other girls/women. Scorpius and Rose, Albus and Delphi, but is it not taken seriously. Scorpius gets jealous (okay, okay, perhaps as a friend) of Albus’ attraction to Delphi, and Scorpius never really goes after Rose in serious application. By the end of the story, Albus and Harry have that kind of talk, where the idea is not really worked out, and feel as though that Albus still is not okay with Harry and that he has not fully understood himself after everything he hads been through (maybe not even his attraction to Delphi). Scorpius easily reminds one of Oscar Wilde, funny, social (mostly with Albus), and perhaps bisexual, homosexual.
Now, politics. I am not going to argue about homosexuality, religiously or politically. Intelligence, book/play reading people are usually intelligent. Let us be intelligent here. Do not argue about your thoughts on the subject. I am writing this to figure out the possible ideas of the story. No one needs irreverent or irrelevant comments. J. K. Rowling’s work has been a social critique on the closed minded ideas of current and past cultures, especially when most think of fascism with Voldemort’s regime, and anti-muggle sentiments. It seems that this play is another social critique, the difficulty for fathers to accept their sons for who they are, especially in times when homosexuality is discussed more and more, and the discontent of fathers has been an old subject. I feel that this idea was a great idea for the play, if it was intended as a theme. It was probably the best part of the story.

[Sklads]

- Firstly, sorry if my English is not perfect. -

I mostly agree with what you have written, even if I feel that as not a fan of plays maybe it wasn´t that bad the lack of details in the story, to me it felt like a bad fanfiction. I´m not saying just a fanfiction because some of them are actually better than this, which is a shame considering that this is suppossed to be canon. I can´t reconcile with this idea, though.

While reading it I had the constant feeling that I was missing scenes or parts of dialogues. I don´t even care that the story goes fast, if it has to go that way and considering that is a play it makes sense, but sometimes it is simply amazing how they never make any plans about what they are doing. I mean it, none of the characters, they just rush to whatever danger lies ahead of them, even Snape, and that´s ridiculous.

I think of this story as if the Harry Potter films were made into books without giving many details about the surroundings, characters´feelings or motivations and explanations about theories or devices. So maybe, just maybe, if the process had been reversed this crazy story would have become something great.

To me, this saga will always be something great and I´d be lying if I said that I wouldn´t read a 9th Harry Potter story if there ever was, but as you referred in your text I know it is mainly nostalgia talking here. The most disappointing thing is knowing that JK Rowling has written it with some other people or accepted other people´s writings so full of plot holes and remembering that this is the same person who you thought never left something random. I mean, I was mildly surprised recently while reading Memoirs of Hadrien that one of the Caesar´s inner circle men had all the physical and personal characteristics of Lucius Malfoy, and shared his name. I know, that sounds a bit stupid but seriously he was described all the same. If you add that to the etymological obvious references you see how much a small thing was though, and that reflects on the rest of the story.

Also, we are missing a certain style I believe, even if it may not seem very recognaisable, Rowling always striked me as someone who writes in a "motherly" way about Harry, not only due to the fact that we read his thoughts and therefore, his point of view seems the raisonable one, but for the form Harry is always presented, a humble and sweet boy surrounded by all kinds of harm. In this story I don´t sense that around Albus, the main character we could say, he´s a whiny teenager that needs more attention from his parents and he doesn´t have a legitimate reason to start this madness. The writing is mainly impersonal.

As for the characters, let´s see. Harry was portrayed a bit dumb and I didn´t feel that the argument had scalated enough for him to shout those things to his kid and the way he talked to McGonagall was simply out of character, but other things made me recognise him and I´m glad for the dreams about the Dursleys, it seems that the abuse he suffered with them had had no repercussions and in the story we see that´s not how it is. Also, in my opinion the little duel he had with Draco was a really good adition, it is clairly a mock duel, they are not aiming to really beat their opponent and Draco being the angrier one in there made sense that he put more effort. That scene is funny and we see how much Draco has changed. That Harry had trouble arresting someone should not be surprising from my point of view, he is good in defense but he can make a mistake sometimes too, we don´t know about the rest of his career. I have always thought that Dumbledore was magically very powerful, like Voldemort, while Harry was just above average, good in defense and determined to fulfil the prophecy.

Hermione, well, in the dialogues she sounded like her and I imagine that placing the object in her office, that could be easily opened, can be due to thinking that obvious places to hide something may be the best places, although using the bookshelf as a trap that three teens can surpass has been used too many times.

Ron was a comic relief and Ginny had no personality but I guess there is just so much you can do in such a short play. The same I can say about Delphi, I though her to be a copy of Tonks and her duplicity was a possibility that while too sudden, was suspected.

As I said before, I liked the way Draco changed, it made sense that development, the only thing I didn´t like about him was regarding to the story and what an utter stupidity was to only confess that his father had a perfect time-turner at the very last moment. A really idiotic way of solving their problems, honestly, it felt like ending a novel by making the main character wake up from a dream.

I found McGonagall exactly like her and Snape felt real, there were no masks between him, Ron and Hermione. I loved the moment he accepts his death and says something like: "well, at least I´m not the one married to Ron".

The use of time turners was madness, it made no sense why they rushed to the past without a good plan or knowledge of time turners and somehow ended correctly, and no explanation is given as for why they return so quickly, if they need to be touching the time turner to go back...whatever. Although, I have to admit that I liked the travelling time theory used, the fixed time theory in the third book can easily be included in there, I mean, the changes made in The Prisoner of Azkaban were so small that their present hadn´t changed noticeably (they only went back a few hours). If they had gone back years, like in the play, I can accept that their present world could have been different, which is what happenned to Albus and Scorpius.

I didn´t wonder for a second who was the cursed child, in terms of the storyline, it is obviously Albus. He´s the one needed to fulfil the prophecy, and therefore, cursed. What you said about homosexuality, well, it could fit perfectly if we extract it from the Harry Potter world, as a call to society to take a look on "cursed childs" around the world and the unwelcome reactions they still get from their families due to their closed minded ideology. But really, in the Harry Potter world J.K Rowling said there was no discrimination towards homosexuals so that being the wall that separates Harry and Draco from their childs seems illogical.
I must say that their friendship made me think of them becoming a couple and maybe they are gay, but I understand what it is to have intense friendships that are just that, even if they make other people doubt your sexuality.

Overall, I enjoyed getting glimpses of their lives, of futures that never happenned and knowing a bit more of old and new characters (yes, maybe because I´m a big old fan). The only thing bothering me at the end of their adventure is that finally having an instrument that could fix past mistakes they don´t think it wise to use it, even if they can do it again and again if they fail.

[Zina]

Maybe I read the wrong books but Harry was never sweet and humble towards anyone in the original 7 books. He was petulant and selfish and threw tantrums all the time. I wonder why people even liked this character.

[Tim]

Sklads wrote: "- Firstly, sorry if my English is not perfect. -

Well said, sir. You wrote very well. You have a logical introspect of the story. I am going to keep thinking about what you have written. Thank you.

[Zina]

Anna wrote: "i'm nto going to buy and i'm not sure if i'm even going to read this play because of several out of character things. especially with cedric diggory, and voldemort. it just doesn't make any sense a..."

And these are not the only characters acting strangely! All characters are OOC. Hermione leaving her office completely unprotected, hiding a very rare and important thing in plain sight and locked with a first year spell and silly riddles. She becomes a shrew and a loser just because she didn't get married to Ron.

Ron is a complete idiot and buffoon who only interrupts serious conversations to throw incredibly stupid and unnecessary comments. He treats his alternative wife and child as objects.

Harry is now a really, really bad father. He rejects his son while we all know how he felt when he was an orphan.

Draco is now suddenly a kindhearted, hurt individual and all his actions are justified.

Dumbledore's actions are also justified with stupid reasons. He is pitiful in CC.

Snape completely changes character and becomes lovable, optimistic, too happy and kind. Of course his actions are also completely justified.

The Trolley Witch is something I'd rather not discuss. Hilariously ridiculous.

McGonagal just stands there and says nothing when Harry insults her and makes a comment about her not having children.

EVERYBODY is acting out of character!

[KikiAC]

I totally agree with Zina, that everyone is acting OOC!
Especially Hermione annoys me! We have spent 7 books, seeing her grow up to be a strong, kind woman. Even in the last book, when Ron breaks her heart by leaving them, she is still the same kind and loyal Hermione. So why would they break her character like that? Why would they show, that without a man, apparently you become mean?

Snape believing in a 14 year old, saying he's travelled in time is ridiculous! The Snape we know from the books, would've kicked Scorpius ass, or at least tried to see into his mind. He would not just believe it, if someone said "I know you loved Lily!" Actually, I think that would've made him lose his temper, being enraged with the thought of perhaps Dumbledore telling anyone about his secret!
And no, I don't think Snape would've been touched with the fact that Harry named Albus after him. I actually think it would've annoyed him, seeing a Potter with his name!

Draco's transformation, I believe to a certain point. What I do not believe is Harry and Draco seeing each other as friends. I believe they would tolerate each other, maybe even have a little respect for each other, but friends? Never. Personally I think that both Harry and Draco is the kind of people, who will forever hold a grudge against each other. Too many things has happened to between them, for them to ever be friends, IMO.

And yes! The whole Cedric thing? RIDICULOUS! Sorry but, Cedric was such a kind, honorable, stand up guy, in the series. This is a man, who would sacrifice winning the tournament, because he thought Harry deserved it more. This is a guy, who wanted a Quidditch rematch, because he didn't think it was fair, that they won since Harry fell off his broom. This is a guy, which no one really had any bad thing to say about.
So would he have become a death eater, going murdering Neville Longbottom, because he was humiliated, once? No!
I don't think it is completely unbelieable that he could have become a death eater somehow, but it would definitely have taken something way worse, and something bigger to make him that way.

[Tim]

Zina wrote: "Anna wrote: "i'm nto going to buy and i'm not sure if i'm even going to read this play because of several out of character things. especially with cedric diggory, and voldemort. it just doesn't mak..."

Hahahahaha I forgot about the Trolley Witch. Oh man, it was bad.

[KikiAC]

Yeah, what was up with the trolley witch? "Ooooh no, I can not let you off, look at my exploding pies and spiky hands and stuff.... whait.. no.. what... you can't just.... you can't just jump..." *Albus and Scorpius jumps up anyway*

Apparently the Weasley twins who escaped Umbridge, couldn't escape the trolley with, but our new duo could just... jump off.....

[Tim]

KikiAC wrote: "Yeah, what was up with the trolley witch? "Ooooh no, I can not let you off, look at my exploding pies and spiky hands and stuff.... whait.. no.. what... you can't just.... you can't just jump..." *..."

It was a weird, cheap dlc idea for the new story.

[Clarke]

Smh the trolley witch was so ridiculous. Like I know Hogwarts has a skewed idea of security, but a witch who throws grenades at children to keep them on the train? Really?

[Ashley]

I am so happy to see this thread! :) I have been criticized for not liking this story because "I should be lucky to have gotten an 8th Harry Potter novel at all".... I was so upset by this that I uploaded a video on my youtube channel (https://youtu.be/4N2a79Ho5Tk)
titled EVERYTHING WRONG WITH HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD which hits on several points that you guys have already pointed out.

Some things I'd like to add to the conversation:
1. Obviously this is a play and plays are meant to be seen. I feel that this story would have been better received within the HP fan community if they play was released as a BBC special or maybe a DVD release of the play with the novel as an add on.

2. The play format was my main issue; it caused a disconnect between the plot and the character development which lead to lack of engagement with the reader. Everything was too fast paced (really wished Albus's problems at Hogwarts would have been expanded on) which we all know led to many discrepancies within the story.

3. Although I agree that Albus' sorting into Slytherin opens up many possibilities, it was predictable. Once again we see a favoritism towards Gryffindor and Slytherin houses. I would have loved to see him sorted into Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. I know some would argue that it would not make sense for him to be sorted into those house, but I do not buy into the whole "houses are hereditary" deal Rowling has got going on.

4. Some parts seemed EXTREMELY manufactured. Think about this for a second: Albus, Rose, and Scorpius are all in the same grade. They were all born in the same year. So you are telling me that three separate couples who grew up together and know each other happen to conceive a child at roughly the same time? Yeah......

Honestly I could go on and on and on, but most of what I would say would just be agreeing with what has already been said.

[Paula]

This is an enjoyable thread to follow. I'll add my two cents worth.

At first I thought the sudden introduction of the second, better time turner was a major plot hole. We know what a bootlicker Lucius Malfoy was where Voldemort was concerned. I thought surely he would have produced the time turner to fix things to the dark side's advantage, and restore his position as Voldy's right hand man? But no, I guess everyone has their limits, and even Lucius was pushed to a point where he wanted to see the end of Voldemort as much as anyone else. It's because Voldemort started playing really dirty games with Lucius' family, to punish him for stuffing up in the Department of Mysteries. Voldemort set what he intended to be a suicide mission for Draco, just to punish Lucius, and Lucius knew that very well. Who wouldn't want to see the end of the tyrant who was going to sacrifice your only son to teach you a lesson? I believe Theodore Nott might have produced the time turner for Lucius at this stage, when aiding Voldemort was now the last thing he wanted to do.

As for whether or not it's believable that Harry and Draco would ever become friends, I think yes, it's a great development. And we mustn't forget it wasn't instant. For over twenty years, they'd been skirting around each other, just on nodding terms. But their sons' friendship helped them realize their common ground. It's easy to sense that they were both probably suffering undiagnosed PTSD, from the horrific things they'd each witnessed and taken part in during those few years. At this stage, they might be good for each other as friends.

Also, Draco had grown up a lot. Loving and losing his wife and being a single dad to Scorpius had mellowed him. You'd hope his brief, unwilling experience as a Death Eater at 16 would have helped him re-evaluate his priorities, and I was pleased to see it did. I was also really pleased to see him standing there with the others, helping to bring down Voldemort's daughter (who was also his cousin, by the way).

As for the comments that characters keep acting out of character, I'm not so sure about that either. We shouldn't forget that this takes place about twenty years further on, and their characters have changed and developed. You can't necessarily expect 40 year olds to behave exactly like their teenage selves, and I think there was enough of their old selves left for us to connect with.

I'm happy to see the young boys' relationship as a bromance rather than reading anything gay into it. We don't have enough bromances in literature as it is. Let it be simply a positive, strong friendship, and I'll be happy enough. I think when Draco referred to the 'rumors' surrounding his son, he surely meant the whole ridiculous 'Voldemort's kid' thing, and nothing more than that.

I do agree that Hermione needs to step up the security in her office, and maybe seeing a couple of teenage boys solve her riddles to reveal the time turner with ease will be the warning she needs. Most of the time, she believed she was operating as Minister for Magic in a time of peace, so I guess she got a bit slack.

[Megan]

It pains me to think that this is canon!

[Drush76]

Harry's duel with Draco did not bother me. I don't see why Harry has to be this phenonemal wizard with a wand . . . all of the time. I do get tired of fans expecting Harry to be this ideal wizard. And Draco was not that incompetent with a wand.

As for the person who had a problem with Snape, I do not agree with you. You seem to regard him as a one-note character. He was really annoyed and disbelieving of Scorpius, until the latter revealed his knowledge of the teacher's love for Lily Potter. I found the entire scene rather believable.

What I found hard to swallow was the play's portrayal of Ron Weasley. The latter was portrayed as a good-natured slacker, who was less competent than Harry and Hermione as a wizard. This is not true. Ron was just as competent as Harry, except the latter was slightly better in DADA. Ron was better than Hermione in that field. And he was also a chess prodigy.

It seemed as if the writer of the play - with Rowling's blessing - transformed Ron into this less-than-competent wizard, who is less proficient at using his wand than his fellow wizards. He always has food stains on his clothes. He carelessly sends love potions to Albus. And he has the beginning of a gut.

Some of Albus and Scorpius' slang seemed American, instead of British. And producing Voldemort and Bellatrix's love child seemed a bit too much.

Yes, this play was not perfect. But you know what? Neither were Rowlings' novels. I have a lot of complaints about those.

[Ellen]

Tim wrote: "** spoiler alert **
(Fans, especially Hufflepuffs with blind loyalty, this is a logical argument against the book/play. If you want to argue, don’t. If you want to be overly emotional, don’t. If y..."

i TOTALLY agree