 | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by: John Tiffany, Jack Thorne, J.K. Rowling Synopsis: Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places. |
Its been a very long time since a book has made me as confused and conflicted as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Harry Potter is everything to me. Similar to a lot of other people, it raised and moulded me into the person that I am today. That is why, with an extremely heavy heart, it causes me physical pain to say that JK Rowling made a mistake with this one. And I don't mean she messed up with her writing (BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS SHE DID NOT WRITE THIS) but that she messed up by letting anyone but herself contribute.
I think my biggest problem was with the characters. While I waited for it to be released, I had pretty low exceptions for the plot and format (a play) but I NEVER doubted the characters. However, from the very first scene, it was obvious that these were not the people that I had grown to love. Instead of getting to read about my all time favourite characters, all I got was what seemed to be some random people in wizard Halloween costumes. None of the depth or authenticity from the original books were there. It was like they had succumbed to all the stereotypes that surround their characters. Harry was the drama queen that only cared about his own success (and who, might I add, was a lack-lustre dad), Hermione was the annoying opinionated girl who has lots of books, and Ron was the dummy who only seemed to exist for the sole purpose of contributing painfully timed one liners. Out of any problems I had, this was what angered me the most. These characters are some of the most well known in literary history and this story did nothing but take away their most valued traits.
(SPOILER) I am sorry but that whole scene where Harry had his little tantrum at Dumbledores painting about how much he hates him and how Dumbledore ruined his life etc etc... the OLD harry would not have done that. No matter how hard I try, I can not rationalize that behaviour. :(
When I finally was able to push through the character problems, I also got completely tripped up by the plot. Really Rowling? Voldemort supposedly having a kid with Bellatrix in the MIDDLE of all his conflict with Harry so many years ago? IM. NOT. BUYING. IT. Not to mention, how many times has that plot twist been used? Evil villain dies but then has a child who is supposed to be even more evil then them who then comes back to rule the world in their parents name, blah blah blah. Nothing about it seemed original or well thought out to me.
Yes, I did love being able to find out what happened to the squad post-Hogwarts. Yes, I loved Albus and Scorpius. YES, I did giggle a few times. And yes, there were a few redeeming moments (travelling back in time and getting to see Snape and Professor Umbridge ;) ) but NO I do not think that this story was necessary. As a die hard Potterhead I feel like everything frustrated me way more then it gave me any semblance of closure. Maybe the actual play in London is gods gift to mankind but printing the script for everyone was a mistake. Someday I hope Rowling will rewrite this story in her own 2000 page book but until then, I'm just gonna try to forget about a lot of the stuff I read in this.
Happy reading nerds!
Harry Potter is everything to me. Similar to a lot of other people, it raised and moulded me into the person that I am today. That is why, with an extremely heavy heart, it causes me physical pain to say that JK Rowling made a mistake with this one. And I don't mean she messed up with her writing (BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS SHE DID NOT WRITE THIS) but that she messed up by letting anyone but herself contribute.
I think my biggest problem was with the characters. While I waited for it to be released, I had pretty low exceptions for the plot and format (a play) but I NEVER doubted the characters. However, from the very first scene, it was obvious that these were not the people that I had grown to love. Instead of getting to read about my all time favourite characters, all I got was what seemed to be some random people in wizard Halloween costumes. None of the depth or authenticity from the original books were there. It was like they had succumbed to all the stereotypes that surround their characters. Harry was the drama queen that only cared about his own success (and who, might I add, was a lack-lustre dad), Hermione was the annoying opinionated girl who has lots of books, and Ron was the dummy who only seemed to exist for the sole purpose of contributing painfully timed one liners. Out of any problems I had, this was what angered me the most. These characters are some of the most well known in literary history and this story did nothing but take away their most valued traits.
(SPOILER) I am sorry but that whole scene where Harry had his little tantrum at Dumbledores painting about how much he hates him and how Dumbledore ruined his life etc etc... the OLD harry would not have done that. No matter how hard I try, I can not rationalize that behaviour. :(
When I finally was able to push through the character problems, I also got completely tripped up by the plot. Really Rowling? Voldemort supposedly having a kid with Bellatrix in the MIDDLE of all his conflict with Harry so many years ago? IM. NOT. BUYING. IT. Not to mention, how many times has that plot twist been used? Evil villain dies but then has a child who is supposed to be even more evil then them who then comes back to rule the world in their parents name, blah blah blah. Nothing about it seemed original or well thought out to me.
Yes, I did love being able to find out what happened to the squad post-Hogwarts. Yes, I loved Albus and Scorpius. YES, I did giggle a few times. And yes, there were a few redeeming moments (travelling back in time and getting to see Snape and Professor Umbridge ;) ) but NO I do not think that this story was necessary. As a die hard Potterhead I feel like everything frustrated me way more then it gave me any semblance of closure. Maybe the actual play in London is gods gift to mankind but printing the script for everyone was a mistake. Someday I hope Rowling will rewrite this story in her own 2000 page book but until then, I'm just gonna try to forget about a lot of the stuff I read in this.
Happy reading nerds!
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