Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One & Two (Special Rehearsal Edition): The Official Script Book of the Original West End Production is a script of a play in the Harry Potter universe that recently had a premiere in London. The story is written by Rowling and then edited to meet the needs of theatre and, boy, I couldn’t be more disappointed.
This book is considered to be the eight in the Harry Potter series, but I consider it more like a companion ‘novel’, just like Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Quidditch Through the Ages.
I said that I wouldn’t read this book, because I hoped to get to see the real thing, but after four or five days passing the store which was full of these books, Tom convinced me to buy it. I read it almost all in the same day and now Tom is struggling through it. I am not sure anymore, if we will try to get the tickets to the play. I think it will be a lot better than the script alone…
Lets start to tackle the first thing that everyone seems to be angry about – the format. It is written like a script and well, what did you expect? It is in the title! Anyways, I didn’t have much problems with it. I have read scripts before, so I guess I was prepared. I actually enjoyed the format, I didn’t need the explanations or descriptions, because I have been so devoted to Harry Potter that I could simply imagine all the descriptions of places and events from the seven books and films, I guess we all have a little voice of J.K. in our heads, huh? So I had my own voices for the characters, I had their looks and wasn’t missing anything. I have to say that, if I just think about the form and not the content, it was quite good.
I am quite sure that it will translate better on stage, the actors will add the bits that were missing and I am sure there are enough special effects to make the change of the scenes fluid (the play has a lot of locations, so I think that is probably done very well).
I have been saying for years that Rowling should let go. Her little stories about Harry Potter or his friends are getting out of the hand, because she just creates more and more of them and this is another one. The problem is though that she can’t write anything new. Harry Potter was big enough to have an amazing amount of fan fiction and big part of that fan fiction is better than her own improvisations that have been published after the release of the seventh book. I don’t want to sound like scolding her, because I feel like she just can’t let it go, it is her baby, but the more she feeds her need to add something, the more painful it will be to stop, which will mean that the reader will never get a closure.
Let’s move on to the big disappointment of the day – the story. Did you see how many plot holes it had (or if you haven’t read it, how many do you predict)? I don’t know much about Rowling, but she strikes me as a bit of a perfectionist and it didn’t actually sound like she read this thing before approving that this is good enough and they can stamp her name all over it.
Alright, so obviously my biggest problem was with the plot holes. The world that was so carefully built (and I admit, did have mistakes) in the seven books, seemed to be destroyed in this one little installment. I believe that I don’t have to go any deeper into this, because everyone who has read it, will understand what I’m talking about and everyone who hasn’t, shouldn’t know.
It isn’t easy to put plot holes aside to look at the raw story, I tell you that.
The characters didn’t seem like themselves. I do see that of course the battle and everything that happened to the heroes might have changed them, but it didn’t seem like the changes were logical. I didn’t recognize characters I loved and even those that I hated. I know a lot of people loved Scorpius and I am not really on the same wave, because it seemed like he was made the way he was in order to be liked by readers and I had a huge prejudice because of that feeling.
There was something else to talk about, but I don’t remember. I didn’t actually wanted to write this, because well, everyone’s reviewing this book and I’m sure you are already tired of them, but here we are – I was too busy (or lazy) to read a different book to review. This book received two stars from me on my goodreads page and I don’t have to suggest it to anyone, because you are all going to read it.
Everything after this sentence will be full of spoilers.
I liked the time traveling idea (although it is a cliche) and I was pretty excited when I found out about it, you know, when they started to mention time turners, I imagined the perfect loops and how the children have always been in their parents past, but it went all bad and terrible, so many mistakes… And in the second round of time turning – the rebel Hermione round, I hated everything so much. And again, I was happy to see professor Snape and it had double meaning because the actor passed away very recently, but again it felt like he was there to create only emotions and play on reader’s heartstrings. He didn’t really change much in the story.
Some of the people say that Rowling chickened out of a gay story line. I am not entirely sure what to think of that. First of all, I think that gay story would be wonderful, but might ruin the Harry Potter image in many countries in which it is not widely accepted, so plainly – bad for sales. I could also say that it wouldn’t really be that loved, prejudice is one strong thing, but also the inability to relate to characters etc. What more… I think that, if they would have been gay, it would be Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl all over again and that might seem like stealing ideas to some. Love is not in the centre of this story, so the gay relationship wouldn’t be either, but people would make it a big deal.
For me personally the gay plot would have been a brave step by the authors, it would have meant a lot to the gay community that is struggling for their rights, but it would have meant a drop of sales in conservative countries and countries that don’t support and approve gay relationship. And I think that my opinion about the book wouldn’t change much, except the appreciation for the step forward in equal rights for same sex couples.
I hated how everyone called Voldemort – Voldemort. I mean, when Harry was growing up, not much more time had passed, but everyone feared his name, now suddenly everyone’s fine with that? Really? And do you really think Voldy banged Bellatrix? He didn’t even have a nose, so what’s the situation below?! And how did no one ever notice her pregnant? Ok, I don’t want to go to this dark questioning place. Let me know your thoughts of this… thing below!
August 9, 2016 at 16:22
Yeah, I’m still reading this myself. I agree that some fanfiction stories do a better job than this “official” 8th story. Will that stop me from seeing the play if it ever comes to the States? No but it is kind of hard to take this as cannon because of the characterization and plot holes as you said.
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August 9, 2016 at 16:27
I think that lack of tickets might do that though. 😀 I am living in London and the tickets available are for 2018.
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August 9, 2016 at 17:44
While there were flaws, overall I enjoyed the play. However, the pregnancy thing really bothered me too. There just didn’t seem to be enough time in the narrative – as the books laid it out – for Bellatrix to have been pregnant and given birth without it ever coming up. I guess I was hoping for another Dark Wizard to be trying to take a swing at Harry as opposed to seeing Voldemort return. So it wasn’t anything that I expected but, by and large, it didn’t frustrate me as much as you.
Interestingly enough, I think it would be easier for JK Rowling to go back to writing these characters regularly, She said, so definitively, she was done but still clearly wants to play in the world she created, hence the little side stories. It’s like when Billy Joel (who I adore, so I’m speaking with love) stopped writing songs with lyrics after his 1993 album ‘River of Dreams’ ended with the song “Famous Last Words.” He saw it as sort of prophetic…even though he still (obviously!) wants to tour and keeps putting out live albums of old material (which I still buy and love). I think Rowling’s painted herself into a similar corner. Maybe, if she did an adult series and showed Harry struggling with living as the Chosen One, people questioning the reality/relevance of what went down after twenty years, those kids having to grow up and deal with the SERIOUS PTSD they’d have from their youth, and every Dark Wizard who wants to prove they are stronger than Voldemort going after Harry, then she could write a real sort of closure as opposed to all these little side stories. I don’t know…maybe I’m just getting rambly too :). Either way, great piece! While I’m sorry you’re so frustrated I enjoyed your honesty!
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August 9, 2016 at 19:17
I think that the Fantastic Beasts is a brilliant idea – it widens the world, but doesn’t include Hogwarts or any or our characters, because it happens in a different time frame. And I wouldn’t mind Rowling to take such paths.
I totally understand that for her (and probably for many of the fans) it is like letting go a baby, it is sweet. And I know for sure that there are many fans who do not agree with me, so perhaps it is for the best that she is pushing out more.
I don’t think that a very realistic version of Harry would be a selling point, because for many people Harry is magic, dream and Christmas. You don’t really want reality in that. 😀
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August 9, 2016 at 21:25
Hahaha, yes, I think you’re right. A realistic take would probably not be very well received. I’m intrigued about ‘Fantastic Beasts’ too. The idea of widening and exploring the wizarding world across the globe and through time would give her limitless story ideas. But I get the sense she’ll say, “This is it!”…and then return. And that’ll be the cycle. Like you said in your piece though, however it goes, I hope it remains purposeful.
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August 10, 2016 at 08:02
I was sceptical about it, but then I read the book. It is so vague and has so much freedom, that I think it is going to by interesting and funny, you could make a whole series out of it. BUT, I hope it doesn’t turn into the next HP and they don’t turn it into series, which is highly possible, if it’s good.
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August 9, 2016 at 18:07
Wow. I really appreciate your honesty in this review. I think your observation that Rowling should be done with this is true, especially as the successive books seem to fall short of the originals…as they usually do in such a long series. And if the plot holes in this last book/screenplay are so big and obvious I wonder how the play could actually help? I think I will get this from the library before I buy it!
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August 10, 2016 at 07:52
I definitely am sad that I paid money for that book, so that’s that.
The reason I think that the play might be better is because the actors and stage would be so good, that you wouldn’t have time to think about the problems with the script. In very good books people tend to ignore mistakes (like in the original HP’s), because it is just so good, I think something similar might happen on stage.
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August 9, 2016 at 19:09
I never even noticed they were calling Vildemort by his name! Ugh, the more reviews I read, the more upset I get by the story. 😦
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August 10, 2016 at 07:53
I couldn’t get over it, because of how big of a deal it was not calling Voldermort – Voldemort in the original series and suddenly everyone believes that this time he really is dead? After coming back so many times? I would certainly not go with Voldermort, if I would have called him something else for 20 years prior.
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August 9, 2016 at 19:16
Time travel is always a risky plot device to grapple. Plot holes pop up in those kind of stories more than any other and, when alternate timelines get involved, the whole thing just gets way too messy to handle (see Bioshock Infinite). And, personally, I don’t think this story even needed time travel. There was a perfectly good story in there about Albus being unable to live up to the expectations surrounding him and I think his friendship with Scorpius was the best part of the whole book. I think the writers would have made everyone happier if the last scene had been cut and the question of Albus and Scorpius’ possible gay relationship was been left nicely ambiguous.
Personally, I don’t think Delphi is really Voldemort’s child. Much more likely that she was the child of a Death Eater (I’m not convinced it was Bellatrix) who had been lied to about her parentage and trained as a figurehead for a future attempt at power. This sort of thing has happened before in history where someone who wants a kingdom has trained a child to believe it’s the rightful heir and therefore will overthrow the current ruler with their ‘guardian’ by their side, ruling through them.
As it is, making her Voldemort’s child feels like such an exasperating cliche, as does a lot about the book. I’m honestly inclined to disregard The Cursed Child’ as canon as it really doesn’t feel like something J.K. would write.
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August 10, 2016 at 07:57
I don’t think that they found a story about friendship magical enough, they wanted to add something.
Love your theory by the way about Bellatrix. I am a tiny bit afraid that they will write HP 9, just to makes everything make sense and spite everyone who’s talking and trying to figure out the plot holes.
I know that the time travel is cliche, but I really liked the idea of it. I was so excited, because I thought that there will be the perfect loop – the children had always been in all our books (and didn’t change anything, because it’s not possible, like the third book defined), so they couldn’t change anything, but would have adventures together, just like the trio, just now a duo.
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August 9, 2016 at 22:49
I agree that she maybe needs to let go. I think the world is certainly expansive enough to include more stories, both prequel and sequel-wise, but I don’t really want that to be the case if the resulting stories read like a cash grab, which this one did for me.
Ultimately, I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t enjoy it enough to wan to revisit it. (I’m really happy I got a review copy from the library I worked for because I think I would have been madder if I had to pay for it.)
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August 10, 2016 at 08:04
Yeah, as I said, I didn’t wanted to buy it, I had a hunch that it’s not worth it, but Tom convinced me.
I like the idea of Fantastic Beasts, the book was so vague, it certainly has places to expand and it is not connected to HP at all. I’m just afraid that, if it will be successful, they will turn it into series and the whole thing will start again.
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August 10, 2016 at 16:51
I’ve not actually read Fantastic Beasts, but the trailer for that one did intrigue me.
I agree with you, though, that it definitely has the potential to generate pointless sequels. I think having new characters will help (and hopefully new storylines), but it will still be easy to turn it into a cash grab, and that doesn’t excite me.
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August 10, 2016 at 00:56
Reblogged this on Books, Books, and more Books and commented:
I am still debating if I want to read this book. Very torn.
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August 10, 2016 at 02:30
My God, I can’t even process that one with Bellatrix and Voldemort. Hahaha I was like “WAIT WHAT?!” Yeah I did a post on this and it made me equally sad and disappointed as you. I do wish they didn’t make it as HP#8 and just branded it as a companion novel. Despite the fact that everyone of us do want more of Harry Potter, I think it really is time to let go, don’t you think?
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August 10, 2016 at 08:09
I think that the #8 is silent try to convince people with series that their series are incomplete, if they don’t own #8 hence to get money.
I don’t know, if I am too critical or everything really is about money nowadays. 😀
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August 10, 2016 at 09:18
Well actually that is a big possibility. So many people are already complaining how they seem to be milking the whole series. 😂
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August 10, 2016 at 09:07
I haven’t read the book and after reading your review (the only review I’ve read so far) and the comments i don’t rhink i will bother. I expected a new fresh story set in the wizarding world of Harry Potter but it sounds like the book/ script dredged up the past. Let it go!
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August 10, 2016 at 14:54
Voldemort banged Bellatrix???
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August 10, 2016 at 16:34
Well, you should listen, when I say that the things will be spoilt in the text following! 🙂
If you would check other comments, you could see how people are saying to not believe that scenario, but that is what the book told us, yes.
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August 11, 2016 at 00:35
I always suspected it, that dirty little…
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August 13, 2016 at 23:46
Great review. I like how you expressed the high and lows of the book. I keep hearing how great it is but never explained why. What do you think of the on stage play and the casting?
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August 14, 2016 at 20:12
I have just finished The Cursed Child and then I found your blog, so I am going to chip in as well, since I haven’t yet written my review. I was a bit disappointed with the story; everything wraps up too perfectly. How convenient that they had a second time-turner when the first one was destroyed. How fantastic that Harry could talk Parseltongue again (I really didn’t understand how this happened, wasn’t the part of Voldemort that lived inside of him destroyed in Deathly Hollows? How could it have been awakened by Voldemort’s return if there was nothing there? Not sure if I missed something or if this is really a plot hole). The dialogues were a bit cheesy too, too much I love you and I forgive you. Hermione too raw, cold. I did read this as a play and I am certain that, as a play, it works – so many changes in scenery and so quickly, I suppose the pace is a bit different on stage – but I couldn’t see the characters I already knew – MY characters – as them. The gay romance could have been passed on to the readers without making a fuss, all they had to do was remove Scorpios crush on Rose and leave the rest to speculation. Of course, J.K. might have to answer to that later on, but she has already admited Dumbledore was gay, so I don’t see why it could become a problem. I’ll re-write the story in my head, change the dialogues a bit and maybe I’ll fall in love with it the way I did for the other books. 🙂
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September 1, 2016 at 02:29
Wow, I had wanted to read and review this, so glad other books came around instead. I love Harry Potter and all the books and movies, so I would not want those memories destroyed by a bad new book. Going on your review and the comments here, I do not understand why Rowling had to make a big deal about a gay relationship. Is this a gimmick to garner interest around the net? If so, it worked-here we are.
I think, for the first time in my life, I will trust everyone else completely and not read, review, or buy this book. Maybe I’ll check it out of the library just “for fun,” but it sounds like it may not be much fun. Thanks for the honest review. I’ve seen a lot of wonderful “reviews” that praise the book, but always sounded more like they were written for the publisher and author than for the blog reader. Honesty is good, even if it is not positive. I love reviewers who are willing to write what others will not. Thanks (and to t hose who commented as well).
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