Harry Potter and the Curse Child

[Matt]

I enjoyed parts of it, but I feel like a lot of the charm and magic of the story is dependent on it being live theater. If this was an actual prose entry into the series or a film adapted from it, I think I'd be a lot more puzzled over the whole thing, but it being in a different medium entirely makes it feel less 100% canon to me and more like a love letter Rowling wrote to the series and a story she wanted to tell about parents and their children, rather than a legit attempt to kick up some new HP stories again.

I suppose if they really wanted to, WB could make a movie out of this (with certain necessary adjustments), but I feel like WB will want a franchise rather than a one-off, and this was much more the latter than the former.

I enjoyed it. I can see why it is jarring to some fans. The pace is very different from the books (due to the change in medium) and the focus jumps around, rather than sticking with one character. As a result of the narrative changes, the world never feels as fully formed. We are never really reintroduced to Hogwarts or the wizarding world and never get to meet key players such as new professors, ministry officials, etc. It feels much more self-contained. Also, despite actually seeing what [blackout]Voldemort's wizarding world would look like[/blackout] the stakes never feel quite as high.

That being said, from a character perspective, I enjoyed it. Rowling clearly worked hard to make the relationships of Ron and Hermione and Harry and Ginny feel natural and she succeeds. Even the most ardent Harry/Hermione shipper cannot deny that the relationships make sense from a characterization perspective in this narrative. Maybe it doesn't undo the rushed nature of the relationships in the previous books, but it's is believable here.

Oh, and the Malfoys are amazing. One of my biggest complaints of Deathly Hallows is that Draco never gets closure or to come full circle. He indirectly causes Dumbledore's death and then just fades into the background of DH. This book gives us a satisfying end to Draco and his rivalry with Harry.

The biggest con is Albus. What an annoying, angsty ass he is. But, all things considered, he is a pretty realistic teenager.

Over all, it's not the strongest Potter story but it's not the worst. I'd rank it somewhere in the middle.

It does leave me with one question: how long until Rowling uses Twitter to reveal that Scorpius and Albus are together? There were entire pages that read like they existed solely for the purpose of working fanfiction writers into a frenzy.

 

[Tony Stark]

I just got done reading it. A very quick read in the screen play format. I think the format change definitely lessened my liking of the story, I really hope to see a stage production sometime, and surely the inevitable movie.

I agree that Draco and Scorpios are the two best characters here. There's a great redemptive story here and I'll leave it at that.

I don't want to spoil the plot here, but let me just say that the "mcguffin" of this story, which has been seen before, felt very weak and empty. It left me with more questions than answers and really made this feel like less of a Harry Potter story and more like something out of Star Trek combined with It's a Wonderful Life.

The whole story uses the past story as a crutch rather than try to build something new, and the plot device is weak an unoriginal. Where Rowling's original books felt fresh exciting and new, I felt like there was really nothing here that I haven't seen somewhere else.

I'm not sure where I would rank this and I feel because of the screenplay format, it's not quite fair for me to do so.

As I said, I think alot of people, especially young readers will be disappointed that this isn't a novel. When I've seen a proper stage production or movie adaptation it will be easier to compare, but as far as the plotine itself, I would say it was rather weak.

6/10 for me.

 

[Victarion]

How are the descriptions of the characters and settings compared to the prose novels?

 

[Sawyer]

The biggest con is Albus. What an annoying, angsty ass he is. But, all things considered, he is a pretty realistic teenager.

Looking at the story in hindsight, after having read the entire thing, I have to agree. The friction between him and his father and the discontent he feels just didn't seem to amount to anything. All throughout the story, I thought they were heading in a direction of Albus either coming to the realization that he's gay or struggling with being able to come out to his parents and his father in particular... the wall between Harry and Albus, his feelings of isolation at home and at school, the introduction and ensuing friendship with Scorpius that felt more like the first sparks of romantic attraction than the start of a kind of brotherly bond that Harry and Ron had... it all just would've fallen into place, but nope. Just turns out he was a standard brat.

It does leave me with one question: how long until Rowling uses Twitter to reveal that Scorpius and Albus are together? There were entire pages that read like they existed solely for the purpose of working fanfiction writers into a frenzy.

Though I really hate it when fans of a movie/show/book/comic/etc. see or manufacture a relationship between two characters and act as though they have ownership and know who they are/where they're going better than the actual person who created them.... Albus/Scorpius read very gay to me. I mean, any subtext to the relationship felt, like, 85-90% text to me. And the point where shippers and fan-fic writers would usually have to make leaps in logic to sell two characters being romantic, that's kind of how I felt in regards to playing both characters straight. I didn't buy for a second that Scorpius was interested in Rose. Even earlier in the story, he was applauding her and Albus asked why, Scorpius said "Well, she's your cousin" or something to that effect, which says to me "I'm trying to make an effort because I like you and she's your cousin", rather than "I like her". Albus being attracted to Delphi I could buy just a bit more, but still not entirely.

 

[Matt]

Looking at the story in hindsight, after having read the entire thing, I have to agree. The friction between him and his father and the discontent he feels just didn't seem to amount to anything. All throughout the story, I thought they were heading in a direction of Albus either coming to the realization that he's gay or struggling with being able to come out to his parents and his father in particular... the wall between Harry and Albus, his feelings of isolation at home and at school, the introduction and ensuing friendship with Scorpius that felt more like the first sparks of romantic attraction than the start of a kind of brotherly bond that Harry and Ron had... it all just would've fallen into place, but nope. Just turns out he was a standard brat.

Though I really hate it when fans of a movie/show/book/comic/etc. see or manufacture a relationship between two characters and act as though they have ownership and know who they are/where they're going better than the actual person who created them.... Albus/Scorpius read very gay to me. I mean, any subtext to the relationship felt, like, 85-90% text to me. And the point where shippers and fan-fic writers would usually have to make leaps in logic to sell two characters being romantic, that's kind of how I felt in regards to playing both characters straight. I didn't buy for a second that Scorpius was interested in Rose. Even earlier in the story, he was applauding her and Albus asked why, Scorpius said "Well, she's your cousin" or something to that effect, which says to me "I'm trying to make an effort because I like you and she's your cousin", rather than "I like her". Albus being attracted to Delphi I could buy just a bit more, but still not entirely.

Yep. Normally I am not the type to buy into stuff like that at all. Hell, I still don't buy that Dumbledore is gay, simply because there is absolutely NOTHING in the text or subtext to indicate that he is anything but asexual and would find something as base and crude as sex beneath him or as a waste of his precious time. But here, the subtext is full of implications. Thematically it is incredibly fitting. And even the text is outright suggesting it.

Actual quotes:

Delphi: "You two belong together."

Albus: "As pleasurable as it will be to hide in a hole with you for the next forty years."

These are just the two that spring to mind. But the script is full of little throw away lines that seem to suggest it. And even the stage directions, the emphasis it puts on something as simple as the two of them hugging...it just reads like a romantic relationship. You pointed out how you normally need to leap through logical loops to get to these types of relationships...but here, its more of a leap for them to NOT be gay, based on the text and subtext.

I am shocked Rowling did not go down that road. I thought she was braver than that. I mean, it is easy to declare on Twitter that a character is gay, with nothing in the text to support it, after the books have sold. It is much braver to actually have a book/play about a young character in the wizarding world finding his sexuality. Rowling quite literally had the stage to do something incredibly inclusive and moving for a whole generation of readers who grew up on her books. No one would've told her no, the Harry Potter franchise is too valuable. She can tell any publisher, stage producer, or film studio to **** off. They will print/make anything she writes. She could write 900 pages of Harry Potter watching paint dry and it would get made. So why back down when she had it set up? That is how this book reads throughout. It could've been so poignant for Albus to come out. Then it just stops and turns it into typical teen angst. Rowling seems to take genuine pride in sending positive social messages through her Twitter account. Why pull back from it here?

 

[Matt]

How are the descriptions of the characters and settings compared to the prose novels?

Non-existent. There really aren't descriptions, just stage directions.

 

[Sawyer]

Yep. Normally I am not the type to buy into stuff like that at all. Hell, I still don't buy that Dumbledore is gay, simply because there is absolutely NOTHING in the text or subtext to indicate that he is anything but asexual and would find something as base and crude as sex beneath him or as a waste of his precious time. But here, the subtext is full of implications. Thematically it is incredibly fitting. And even the text is outright suggesting it.

Actual quotes:

Delphi: "You two belong together."

Albus: "As pleasurable as it will be to hide in a hole with you for the next forty years."

These are just the two that spring to mind. But the script is full of little throw away lines that seem to suggest it. And even the stage directions, the emphasis it puts on something as simple as the two of them hugging...it just reads like a romantic relationship. You pointed out how you normally need to leap through logical loops to get to these types of relationships...but here, its more of a leap for them to NOT be gay, based on the text and subtext.

I am shocked Rowling did not go down that road. I thought she was braver than that. I mean, it is easy to declare on Twitter that a character is gay, with nothing in the text to support it, after the books have sold. It is much braver to actually have a book/play about a young character in the wizarding world finding his sexuality. Rowling quite literally had the stage to do something incredibly inclusive and moving for a whole generation of readers who grew up on her books. No one would've told her no, the Harry Potter franchise is too valuable. She can tell any publisher, stage producer, or film studio to **** off. They will print/make anything she writes. She could write 900 pages of Harry Potter watching paint dry and it would get made. So why back down when she had it set up? That is how this book reads throughout. It could've been so poignant for Albus to come out. Then it just stops and turns it into typical teen angst. Rowling seems to take genuine pride in sending positive social messages through her Twitter account. Why pull back from it here?

Hell, [blackout]Snape[/blackout] knew the main version Scorpius for all of an hour before he was drawing parallels between Albus/Scorpius and [blackout]Lily/Snape[/blackout]. And I'm supposed to believe there's nothing there? Hahah... no.

I guess the best thing to hope for is that Rowling's claim of this being the end of Harry Potter doesn't hold true for forever and, providing she revisits things post-Cursed Child, the relationship is shown as something they both had to mature into. Because it feels very much like something was being pushed in a certain direction and then backed out of at the last possible second.

 

[Jonwo]

Hell, [blackout]Snape[/blackout] knew the main version Scorpius for all of an hour before he was drawing parallels between Albus/Scorpius and [blackout]Lily/Snape[/blackout]. And I'm supposed to believe there's nothing there? Hahah... no.

I guess the best thing to hope for is that Rowling's claim of this being the end of Harry Potter doesn't hold true for forever and, providing she revisits things post-Cursed Child, the relationship is shown as something they both had to mature into. Because it feels very much like something was being pushed in a certain direction and then backed out of at the last possible second.

I'd say Cursed Child probably is the end of Harry's story but not the Wizarding World. I'd say Fantastic Beasts and this have open new stories to explore in the future.

 

[Matt]

I'd say Cursed Child probably is the end of Harry's story but not the Wizarding World. I'd say Fantastic Beasts and this have open new stories to explore in the future.

I don't buy Rowling's claim that she is done. She sang this song before. Then she started regularly leaking new info. Then she started writing new short stories. Then this. The optimistic view of this is that she loves the character and he is part of her, so she will always revisit. Cynically, I think after her attempts to transition into other stories were met with cool receptions she wanted to be back in her comfort zone. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle but whatever the case, I think we will see Harry Potter again.

 

[sueb1863]

I don't buy Rowling's claim that she is done. She sang this song before. Then she started regularly leaking new info. Then she started writing new short stories. Then this. The optimistic view of this is that she loves the character and he is part of her, so she will always revisit. Cynically, I think after her attempts to transition into other stories were met with cool receptions she wanted to be back in her comfort zone. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle but whatever the case, I think we will see Harry Potter again.

We sure will. As long as she's around she will never be done with HP. Fans will demand it and she will accept, if she hasn't already, that nobody is really interested in anything else she does. She will be writing HP or dealing with it in some capacity for the rest of her life.

 

[terry78]

This thing is like Star Wars to some people, so yeah. I suspect we'll be getting the movie adaptation of this book by WB in maybe a decade or so.

 

[psylockolussus]

Hopefully right after the Fantastic Beasts trilogy, so hopefully in 2022 or 2023.

 

[Lord]

"Hopefully" why though? It probably works well as a play, but the plot was kinda terrible. There was also a terribly fan-fictionesque villain that was underdeveloped. Would rather see more spin-offs exploring different eras. Or if they had to make a continuation, they should probably think of something different, cause while i liked Albus and Draco, the story they were a part of was not very good.

 

[psylockolussus]

I've seen movies that are better than the books. So maybe this could be better than the play. We'll see. I personally wanted a movie about the early days of the Hogswarts but that would be another prequel.

 

[Matt]

"Hopefully" why though? It probably works well as a play, but the plot was kinda terrible. There was also a terribly fan-fictionesque villain that was underdeveloped. Would rather see more spin-offs exploring different eras. Or if they had to make a continuation, they should probably think of something different, cause while i liked Albus and Draco, the story they were a part of was not very good.

Rowling isn't going to give Warners the green light to change the story. She has final approval on all Potter movies. No way she says "Cursed Child wasn't very good...go ahead and write an original story for Albus and Scorpius." Either Cursed Child will be adapted or it won't. There won't be an in-between.

 

[Lily Adler]

I would only want this as a film if they rewrite parts of the plot...

 

[Tony Stark]

Rowling isn't going to give Warners the green light to change the story. She has final approval on all Potter movies. No way she says "Cursed Child wasn't very good...go ahead and write an original story for Albus and Scorpius." Either Cursed Child will be adapted or it won't. There won't be an in-between.

It will be adapted, because it will make bank just for the Harry Potter name, especially if they can get the original cast to return. They're all old enough that with what CGI aging effects have done and makeup they can easily pass for 40 somethings.

I agree that this is not a good story, but I think people would go see it just because it's Potter.

 

[Drizzle]

I'd rather watch a blatant ripoff of The Force Awakens with the Harry Potter characters (Harry as Luke, Ron as Han, Hermione as Leia, Ron and Hermione's kid as the villain, etc.) than an adaptation of Cursed Child. That's how much I didn't like the story. Some stuff works, but it really does come off as bad fan fiction. If they do go ahead with a Cursed Child movie, they should rewrite most of it.

 

[Tony Stark]

I'd rather watch a blatant ripoff of The Force Awakens with the Harry Potter characters (Harry as Luke, Ron as Han, Hermione as Leia, Ron and Hermione's kid as the villain, etc.) than an adaptation of Cursed Child. That's how much I didn't like the story. Some stuff works, but it really does come off as bad fan fiction. If they do go ahead with a Cursed Child movie, they should rewrite most of it.

I didn't like it either, but I think anything with Harry Potter attached will probably do well.

The story sucked, and the reason it sucked it it's lazy story telling.

Spoiler

The way the time turner was sued in Prisoner of Azkaban was really neat because you realize that it was all part of the time line. The problem in this story is there are no rules to the time travel. You can travel back in time 20 years but for only 5 minutes? But then the Draco Ex Machina moment is when Draco reveals there's another time turner where you can go back in time for more than 5 minutes.

Just stupid lazy story writing.

 

[Boy Scout]

In my mind, CC isn't canon. Rowling may have approved of it, and had a hand in getting it developed, but since she didn't actually write the script, I have no problem ignoring it for my own sake.

 

[terry78]

You may as well say that about The Force Awakens. You just know she's going to label it canon at some point. As soon as WB wants that thing greenlit.

 

[Sawyer]

I would only want this as a film if they rewrite parts of the plot...

Like the heteronormativity.

 

[terry78]

Who names their kid Delphi? **** you.

 

[Boy Scout]

You may as well say that about The Force Awakens. You just know she's going to label it canon at some point. As soon as WB wants that thing greenlit.

I'm not anywhere near as attached to SW as I am Potter, so what is or isn't canon to that universe matters very little to me.

In real life, CC is canon. It's being marketed as the eighth story for a reason. I'm simply using the "Rowling didn't write it!" loophole for my own satisfaction.

 

[Boy Scout]

Who names their kid Delphi? **** you.

A lot of the characters in the series have weird ass names.

The [BLACKOUT]Black family[/BLACKOUT] has a history of naming their children after [BLACKOUT]constellations.[/BLACKOUT] Knowing [BLACKOUT]Bellatrix[/BLACKOUT], she would certainly want to continue the trend. Delphi could be short for Delphinus.