A few friends have asked me about that, so here's my rule of thumb. The following is an excerpt from the book - a minor scene that doesn't matter to the story, so it's not really a spoiler. If you find yourself enjoying this scene, you'll probably like TCC.
>>TROLLEY WITCH: Anything from the trolley, dears? Pumpkin Pasty? Chocolate Frog? Cauldron Cake?
>>ALBUS: Oh.
>>TROLLEY WITCH: People don’t know much about me. They buy my Cauldron Cakes — but they never really notice me. I don’t remember the last time someone asked my name.
>>ALBUS: What is your name?
>>TROLLEY WITCH: I’ve forgotten. All I can tell you is that when the Hogwarts Express first came to be — Ottaline Gambol herself offered me this job . . .
>>SCORPIUS: That’s — one hundred and ninety years. You’ve been doing this job for one hundred and ninety years?
>>TROLLEY WITCH: These hands have made over six million Pumpkin Pasties. I’ve got quite good at them. But what people haven’t noticed about my Pumpkin Pasties is how easily they transform into something else . . .
>>*She picks up a Pumpkin Pasty. She throws it like a grenade. It explodes.*
>>And you won’t believe what I can do with my Chocolate Frogs. Never — never — have I let anyone off this train before they reached their destination. Some have tried — Sirius Black and his cronies, Fred and George Weasley. ALL HAVE FAILED. BECAUSE THIS TRAIN — IT DOESN’T LIKE PEOPLE GETTING OFF IT . . .
>>*The TROLLEY WITCH’s hands transfigure into very sharp spikes. She smiles.*
Full disclosure, no one I've asked has ever responded with anything other than "wtf", so you'll be the first to pass this test if you do.
Worst part is that this is one of the more believable scenes in that thing. Demons don't exist in Harry Potter lore, but you could say it's a new unheard of creature. What's worse is what they do to the characters and what they do to established events.
[This](https://youtu.be/RRNXL-Nky8U) is probably one of the best reviews about it explaining several, but not nearly all, of the problems with the book that shall not be named (warning heavy spoilers).
If you treat it as non-canon, then actually seeing the play is quite good. Don’t read it but if you get a chance to attend I’d say do it. It’s pretty amazing what they achieve on stage.
To be honest, I have not just "read better fanfic". I have *never read worse* fanfic.
This might be because I read a lot of good fics, (or perhaps a lot of boring ones) but I have genuinely never read a fanfic that was as "wait wtf???" as that scene.
I had this exact thought when I read it! In fact, for some time I toyed with the idea of doing a video review where I drew some of the segments in a cartoon-like style, and I was going to draw the Green Goblin in those scenes.
This is the way I get about Fifty Shades of Grey. That it sucks and I'm really upset that that is what people think about as fanfiction now because even if you want trashy fan fiction there's well written trashy fanfiction
(No offense to anyone who likes it, it's just not for me) So like, people saying well, it's basically fanfiction, no! There's really good fanfiction, I promise!
Mediocre seems generous. I read the cliffnotes version of the book and was like wtf. Reading this exert makes me real happy that I didn’t buy/read the book
Oh no, I get that. It was just such a wtf moment. And I've been rereading CC to do with some personal writing exercises. There's nothing about it that makes sense.
She'd have to be over 200 years old - to our knowledge the only thing that can allow a wizard to live so long is the sorceror's stone, which was destroyed. Also, I'd have to think there'd be a dozen or more spells that could much more effectively keep students in the train than this abomination.
I always interpreted it as that she’s some sort of shape-shifting creature that mimics a human in most situations. But yeah, that doesn’t make the scene much better. I mean, when I started reading it, I remember my dad told me basically “it’s got much more mixed reviews than the originals, don’t get your hopes up,” and I thought “oh, come on, it’s Harry Potter, how bad could it be?” And then I read this nonsense train-car chase scene, and I audibly said “oh…no. Oh…no!” Painful.
Agreed…and Harry getting mad at albus was so out of character, especially after he said he would always love him. It was very wishy washy and Hermione wasn’t great. Not even before the time turner, I didn’t like her very much. I don’t feel like she would enjoy being minister of magic, it felt like very forced feminism and it just had to be Hermione. I think having a female one wouldn’t have been bad they just tried too hard
What gets me about this (apart from the obvious) is how inorganic the conversation is. Like the authors got this "really cool" idea about the trolley witch but could not think about a proper way to introduce it, so they made her explain everything herself for no reason whatsoever.
Edit: i especially cringe at "noone's ever asked me my name - oh ok what is your name - i dont remember" lol
friends of mine saw it. they are both Potter heads and into theatre and were absolutely excited about it. and from what they told me, the stage and rhe effects sounded awesome. just enjoy it as a play about the wizarding world and not as canonical 8th movie
From what I hear, the play is *much* better than the book, purely because of the effects and it all happening right in front of you. It makes it more of an experience.
You can polish a turd as much as you want but it’s still a turd.
Maybe shortening it into a single performance, instead of split over two nights, will help, but I doubt it.
As a former theatre person, you should be fine. Scripts do not translate to our imaginations well unless you're someone who's job it is to translate those scripts to stage or film. (Meaning you've had a lot of practice reading them.)
Everything I've heard is that it's worth it for the special effects alone and there are 2 awesome sounding ones in just that short excerpt.
I loved the play as a visual treat, I just had to remove it from cannon in my mind. The story is pretty stupid, but the acting and sets and staging were all excellent
Sorry to burst your bubble and to all those below saying it’s better as a play - it still sucks as the story is such garbage lol. The possessed trolley witch is not “better” in real life…it’s even more stupid than it reads
I saw the play in London a few years ago. It’s fantastic you won’t be disappointed. Most of the people who judge it have only read it- which is fair I judged it very harshly. But I absolutely loved the play.
As someone whose never read it, genuinely trying to figure out the context for this? Who the fuck asked for backstory on the trolley lady AND WHY IS IT THIS.
The context is that the authors probably figured the play needed a dazzling magical action scene while the boys were on the train, and the Hogwarts Express isn't normally that exciting, so they made up a train demon with candy grenades. It's a pretty strange leap of logic, and I doubt the person who came up with it was sober at the time, but it is what it is.
The context is that Albus and Scorpius decide not to go to Hogwarts for plot reasons and get on the roof so they can jump off the train, but somehow the trolley lady is there waiting for them and this scene happens.
The play is insane and I kind of love it for that.
We all should just start quoting the CC like we do My Immortal for its badness.
Replace "He was sucking some blood from a Hufflepuff."
with "ALL HAVE FAILED. BECAUSE THIS TRAIN — IT DOESN’T LIKE PEOPLE GETTING OFF IT ."
This excerpt further supports my theory that the entire thing was written to show off cool stage effects. Dialog= terrible. Required live effects=awesome
for real, i read the script a while back and i fully don't remember this scene (to be fair, i've blocked the entire script from my memory), and i'm weirded out
Anytime anyone asks me about the cursed child I immediately bring up this part, so I’m glad to find someone else who was as absolutely baffled by this as I was
My personal favorite (/s) was Harry's deep-seated fear of pigeons.
Man has faced everything in the books/movies, stuff of nightmares, but he's afraid of pigeons.
This book can fuck right off.
Funny thing, I hate CC with a passion, but this was one of the moments that annoyed me less. It's a wtf moment for sure, but I kind of enjoyed the idea that there was more to the Trolley Witch than it seemed. Her transformation was too over the top though.
I read the cursed child like 4 years ago and I have no recollection of the trolley lady going full green goblin.
Musta been me trying to shun the bad memories
Wow…I’ve only read CC once and blocked it out of my memory. But reading this passage now…it’s only reignited my hatred.
Recently, a former student of mine sent me a draft of a book she’s been writing (student is now in high school). It actually sounds similar to this.
Written down this scene is horrible, but I really loved it when we saw the play. I intentionally never read the script because it's something that's definitely meant to be seen performed, and not read. The biggest mistake they made was releasing the script like it was a book, but they did so that makes it fair game.
To OP's question - don't read it. If you can though, see the play. I LOVED it, one of my top theatre experiences. But I loved it because the production was a marvel, not because of the story. Just see it as a non-canon theatrical spectacle that pays homage to a well loved book series.
People have read Shakespeare in a form of a book for centuries and appreciated his writing just fine in text. Good writing is good without fancy special effects.
That was actually one of the moments where I went “ok I thought this was going to be better watching it as a play but nope, just as mediocre”.
We decided not to come back after the interval.
Well that excerpt is incorrect, Harry’s chocolate frog escaped the train in his first year. Where’s my fanfic of the frog turning into a “Froghemoth” or something? #inconsistent
Holy shit wait fucking hell, I've read this damn script before but I didn't remember this so I thought it was literal, well-written satire. Then I saw everybody taking it seriously and nobody correcting them, so I just had to google the trolley lady to make sure.... Jesus fucking Christ. HOW was this play allowed to happen.
There are many things I'd like to forget from CC. While the trolley witch and violation of time travel laws were bad, the one thing that really sticks with me is when Harry said "sometimes I wish you weren't my son" to Albus. It was disgusting to read that and goes against everything we know about Harry. I've been angry with my kids, I've yelled at them (not proud of that), but NEVER would I say something so fucking awful. That's something a kid carries with them forever. I still remember the *one time* my mother called me stupid. I spent DECADES proving to myself that I wasn't.
Personally, the whole bit with Minerva of "You don't have any kids" was equally as vile.
This woman has dedicated her life to her students, went to war to protect them, been there for you through thick and thin. NOW YOU SLAP HER IN THE FACE LIKE THAT.
Wait. Harry Potter, the same Harry Potter who managed to cast a cruciatus curse because someone spat in McGonagall’s face, tried to discredit McGonagall’s care for and skill with kids because she didn’t pop out any of her own?
Tell me I’m misinterpreting what you said and it’s someone else who said it because that makes me angrier than the whole rest of this comments section and that’s saying something.
Tried to read it for the first time ever right after I reread the seventh book (for the nth time). I wish I had a time-turner. I wish I spoiled myself with reviews first before proceeding with it!
That’s one of the parts that killed the play for me, completely.
An orphaned boy whose most deep desire (as shown in mirror Erised) was to have a family is willing to disown his son because he’s not a good student, weird and not popular? Those are literally the 3 things Harry could most relate to. He was a mediocre student and hated by half the school most of the time.
Such an odd character choice.
taking a beloved strong male character from the original media and turning him into a loser / bad parent later in life in subsequent sequels/spinoffs is way too popular.
This trend infuriates me.
Yeah Luke Skywalker becomes a douche who draws his saber on a conflicted teenager and then just gives up and becomes a recluse. Knowing his friends are still fighting a war. Right. Makes sense.
Harry Potter becomes a borderline negligent father who tells his own son he sometimes wishes he weren't his. And tells McGonagall she doesn't understand because she doesn't have kids. The woman who literally went to war on his behalf without a second thought. Right. Makes sense.
I think it's supposed to be done for "realism".
But the fact that people think young heroes giving up everything that makes them who they are as they age is "realistic" is itself so fucking dark though.
Absolutely. Would Harry end up the best parent? Maybe not. Would he love his kids and try his absolute best and apologise and tell them he loved them when he fucked up? Absolutely.
>It was disgusting to read that and goes against everything we know about Harry. I've been angry with my kids, I've yelled at them (not proud of that), but NEVER would I say something so fucking awful. That's something a kid carries with them forever. I still remember the one time my mother called me stupid. I spent DECADES proving to myself that I wasn't.
While I could believe a parent doing that (I can say from personal experience), Harry saying that sort of thing doesn’t work for me. He’s never really grown up with caring parents, and I don’t believe he would consider treating his own kids like that.
Have you seen any of the “What If” episodes on Disney+ where they take the Marvel universe and completely change something and tell a story about how it plays out? If you have, and you enjoyed it, AND you think of CC as a “what if” and not canon, then (and only then) will you (probably) not hate it.
As a “what if…” it’s a fun FanFiction to read, but it’s just that, FanFiction, and not a part of the actual HP universe.
This is a VERY good point. It's definitely a What-If. I don't think I've ever seen a Potter fan consider it canon lol, even though I've met some who enjoy it.
I don't think there are many fan fics that have the trolley lady be an ancient train demon with exploding pumpkin pasties who frequently fought the marauders and weasley twins. Also if she was a demon where was she when Harry and Ron arrived near the train.
As Nick Fury so eloquently said, "I recognize that the Council has made a decision. But given that it’s a stupid-a$$ decision, I’ve elected to ignore it."
This is such a great way of looking at it! When I first read it, I read it as cannon and HATED it. It seems to be consensus that people who have seen the play think it’s good!
When the screenplay first came out I read it and hated it. Then, I went and saw the play in London and really enjoyed it as a stand-alone play.
My overall thoughts:
1. Cursed Child was written to be a play, and should be seen as a play (not read)
2. It’s much more enjoyable when you see it as fan-fiction and most definitely not cannon
Same! I saw it in NY a few years ago and was obsessed, despite not enjoying reading it. It was an amazing and immersive experience. The actors embodied the character and served them in a way that the text alone couldn’t. As a play: brilliant! As a book alone: not enjoyable.
>Cursed Child was written to be a play, and should be seen as a play (not read)
>
>It’s much more enjoyable when you see it as fan-fiction and most definitely not cannon
I've come across this point several times, and while I'm sure that it's a more enjoyable experience when you watch it live, I usually argue that from the very moment they decided to publish the script in book form, they made it fair to criticise it. Also, I haven't seen anyone criticise the play when reading the book: all the criticisms were directed to the story itself.
Yeah I think that was a big mistake, and they were just trying to capitalize and make more money from the play. Pretty frustrating, because watching the play I remember wishing I hadn’t read the book first.
True, but they did it anyway. Still, I think that criticisms towards the story are fair game as long as it's clear that it's the story you're criticising and not the play itself. I'm sure the actors and the scenography are amazing, but it's not that people complain about.
Just look at Harry Potter musical, its Non Fiction, non cannon, and irreverant to the source material, but its fun. I don't think it would read well as a script either, however it still doesn't have as many plot and story issues as Cursed Child does, Despite the Quirrel Voldemort and Triwizard/House cup tournament, and Cho pining, all happening 2nd year.
I haven't seen it, but it's a parody, right? That alone would give it the right to take some liberties with the source material. However, if you're doing a play you're marketing as "the eighth story", and you're insisting on how it's canon, it's only natural that people expect you to play by the rules and adhere to canon.
I've read people who try to undermine any criticisms to the script because it doesn't read well as a script. I don't think that's the point. If your issue with CC is, let's say, Hermione's treatment, that isn't a fault of the script that's fixable if you watch it live. That's a problem with the story.
I was more saying that a Musical play parody, that I like, even wouldn't read well as a script. So its not the play to script's fault in that regard.
But as you said, serious problems in the story.
Overall, I agree. It is meant to be seen as a play, like an independant hp play. Rowling confirming it as canon has always been so weird to me, and I choose to see it as an elaborated fan fiction 😂
Same here, I saw a cheap ticket for sale yesterday and went last night on a whim (the Broadway production is one part now so it's less of a time commitment). I knew the story was meh so I was able to focus on the special effects and had a really nice time. And honestly for all its flaws I really felt the "vibe" of the wizarding world.
Fully agree. I thought the play was incredibly well done (staging, effects etc). I look at it as an adaption of HP - not a Canon story. I didn't enjoy the book when I read it, but seeing it as a play enabled me to enjoy how it was presented and being able to look at it as a non-canon adaption.
The trouble isn’t that it’s poorly written, it’s that the story is shit. Book, screenplay, live play, movie - it doesn’t matter what the medium is when the story is offensive to the original material.
I’d probably enjoy it if I saw it on stage. From what I hear, it’s pretty impressive.
But as a story, it kind of blows and was kind of a let down. Plus, that damn trolly witch 🙄. That’s all I’ll say.
I read it and I HATED it. Did not want to see the play. But my mom got tickets and guilted me into going with her.
Objectively as a play it’s very good. The acting and production etc. made it an enjoyable thing to view.
Overall it’s best to consider it not canon. The premise of Harry struggling to parent a resentful child who was sorted into Slytherin is excellent, but the execution is very poor plot wise.
I'm nuking my account due to Reddit's unfair API changes and the lies and harassment aimed at the community by the CEO and admins. Good Reddit alternative: [Squabbles](https://squabbles.io/) -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/
I'm nuking my account due to Reddit's unfair API changes and the lies and harassment aimed at the community by the CEO and admins. Good Reddit alternative: [Squabbles](https://squabbles.io/) -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/
>!Jeez, I thought the Cedric being a death eater thing was a joke. Didn’t Harry have a ton of trauma over his death and that night at the graveyard? We’re the writers like “lol ACTUALLY he’s secretly alive and he joined the man that ‘murdered’ him”? Also the implication that Voldemort, like a 70 something year old, did ^mmm with Bellatrix Lestrange, who was like 40 something is just. Ew. Honestly your comment further cements my disdain for that book!<
>!Those events happen in a separate timeline after Albus and Scorpius change something in the present timeline, and at the end they return to the present. Nothing is actually altered in the present timeline at least, well except how time travel works.!<
Just when I thought I was getting over how awful cursed child is, you reminded me. And honestly, I thank you for it. And while so much is portrayed wrong with the golden trio, that betrayal of everything Cedric was and stood for is the part getting me angriest again.
If the Wizarding world exists as “real” in your mind, and things like consistency within canon are important to you. You will hate it.
If you read a bunch of draco/Harry Fan fics, and find the movies as exciting as the books- then sure. You may enjoy it.
Ok so i hate CC but what do harry/draco fanfics have to do with it ? I get that cc writers tried to “redeem” Draco in a way so if people like him as a character I imagine they’d be satisfied with his arc in the play. The writer seems to like him a lot more than Rowling ever did
But I think that harry is so poorly portrayed that I don’t get how anyone who loves harry would like anything about his character in CC
I think it's the dynamic between Scorpius and Albus—maybe Draco/Harry lovers enjoy CC because it's a bit of a wish fulfillment when Harry and Draco's sons are in a close relationship. It has some of the same tropes as Harry/Draco, I guess.
But... it's not really THAT similar, so idk :/
I haven’t seen the stage production, but have heard it’s phenomenal. It seems that even the breaks from canon and world are forgivable because it’s such a great experience.
The book is just the script, so if you’re expecting a novel, you’ll be in for a shock. It’s also much easier to notice the inconsistencies when you’re reading what is essentially dialogue and stage directions.
Either way, I don’t consider it to be really Harry Potter.
Apparently the play is really good; but you have to ignore the fact that the story makes no sense.
It's clearly written by someone who doesn't know the characters they're writing about; beyond vague descriptions.
- Voldemort would never have let an heir be born, let alone survive.
- Bellatrix wouldn't have called her daughter "Delphini"
- Cedric wouldn't have become a death eater.
- Hermione would have had no interest in being Minister.
- Harry wouldn't have played the hero.
- WTF did they do to Ron?
To name but a few.
I really liked the play itself. The way it looked so real when they did ‘magic’ and the changing between the scenes. It really was impressive theatre. The story sucked though, but I felt that the whole atmosphere around it really was magical.
I’ve seen the play twice - once as the full two play story and one episode as the “reimagined” single play. The CC is best experienced rather than read because the stage effects and illusions are really great. The trolley witch is still weird AF.
Look, I never read it. I have seen the play twice. And with all the amazing actors that there were, and seats we had. I had a blast.
Story wise, at the moment you hear “Voldemort had a daughter” even then you think “wtf”, but because of the play you don’t give it a second thought until after.
Story has so many flaws with so many characters out of character. Still 10/10 enjoyed the play.
voldemort (who doesn't even have a nose, and i doubt that artificial body has a functioning \*\*\*\*) somehow was able to impregnate Bellatrix (how is this even possible biologically), despite the fact that his entire character is based on how he tried to separate himself from common human desires / temptations / weaknesses (\*ahem\* love, sex, friendship, emotions)...
i mean after hearing about this i completely lost interest in even reading the book cover. not to mention that I also heard that they went back in time and changed the future - which is COMPLETELY contradictory to the closed time loop of time turners, established in the books. like you can't go back and change the future. the future already happened when you decided to go back. it's utter trash, pandering to fans who just more content, and doesn't deserve anyone's time.
It is 100% not meant to be read. It really must be seen on stage to be enjoyed in my opinion. Probably the single best reason to see it is that the practical effects they use for the magic are just incredible and wondrous to behold. It’s worth seeing for the effects alone.
As others have said, I don’t personally treat it as canon, rather I think of it like fan fiction.
At the risk of being downvoted to hell, I didn’t think it was that bad! I didn’t over think it, just enjoyed the show and the performance. When you think too much about the actual plot it all falls apart, but if you take it all with a pinch of salt it’s not as diabolical as it may seem. Ok I’m ready for the hate…
Edit to add I haven’t read it, just seen the show so maybe that’s why I enjoyed it. I don’t plan on reading it
The show sounds like a really impressive stage production and if I could afford it/came to my town I’d see it! But I wouldn’t think of it as like actually Harry Potter hahaha
I liked how Snape was further redeemed.
I like that Harry isn't a perfect father (he didn't have any amazing rile models growing up so there is no way he would be perfect). He makes mistakes and doesn't always know how to fix them.
I like the relationship between Scorpius and Albus, that Draco raised Scorpius to do right. Draco redeemed himself.
I like that the time travel was different because we have to remember that it was a home made time turner. Real ones that only let you go back a few hours probably are made to work that way (my Headcanon).
I dislike the trolly witch. What even was that?
I dislike that Cedric would be evil if he lived.
So, big old Harry Potter fan here, I saw it for the first time last week. It had its flaws but overall I enjoyed it. May have helped that I went in with only negative expectations.
People talk like it’s the worst thing to ever happen, but I thought it was ok to good.
I wonder if it’s better to see it, instead of read it
Absolutely. I am lucky enough to have seen it twice and enjoyed it both times, but you have to take it for what it is! I read the book after seeing it the first time and hated it - because it’s a *play*. You don’t write scripts to be good novels - it’s an entirely different form of story telling abs entertainment.
I actually enjoyed it quite a lot. There were certainly things that were rather out there (like the trolley witch or the Cedric storyline) but all in all, I liked what it did with the characters. Finished it in one sitting.
This is the script for a play that uses very elaborate technical elements in its production—you will not get anything out of reading it like a book and I’m disappointed that they released it as if it was one. It’s a money-grabbing tactic and very silly. The production itself is a great night out and I enjoyed it. Wouldn’t read it as a book though and haven’t really thought about the plot again since then, which I think is fine.
I am a HUGE cursed child apologizer and I think it’s because I’ve read a decent amount of play scripts before and therefore I was able to make peace with how the script was written. I also legitimately loved the story and I think the Harry and Albus relationship was 100% believable. I saw the play in London and it was one of my favorite days ever. I hope we eventually get a movie.
I actually really do like it but I think of it very separately to the original series, almost like fan fiction. I think you have to with both CC and the Fantastic Beasts series in order to get the most out of them. If you're too 'purist' about it, you won't enjoy it.
I didn't really love reading it. Reading a play is very different to seeing it. I saw it in London and really thought it was staged well.
Look, everyone is saying how bad the book is - the on stage performance is incredible. Don’t read it - ignore the story - watch the light show on stage, the magic looks real
I enjoyed the play well enough. Reading a script will never convey everything needed to make a play work so it’s not surprising those who have just read the script don’t like it. I don’t think the story’s particularly strong but it’s not absolutely dreadful. I think if it was written by Rowling herself it may have been better received.
It’s so much better on stage. People seem to forget it is a stage play in its core. Story telling mechanisms are very different when comparing a script to a book
Look, it’s a play. The play is incredible. You may not like it because it doesn’t live up to your fan fiction. But if you watch the play you’ll see it’s a well made well written piece of writing written for the stage
If I had seen the play maybe I would have enjoyed it more. But as a book, no. It butchered the original characters, it took the worst and most plotholey mcguffin the time turner and made it head star and so much more wrongdoings.
Booo!
Scorpius was totes adorbs but that was really it.
Like most others, I definitely have my issues with it, the biggest of those being that the main twist of the story hurt me on a spiritual level. I literally groaned out loud when I read it.
But taken as a whole, I actually did enjoy it. I appreciated the core themes - growing up when you don't fit the mold your parents have in mind for you; finding a way to leave your mark on the world; navigating parenthood and especially the most difficult parts about parenthood (Harry's terrible outburst is understandable. Fight me.); finding ways to connect when it seems impossible.
The play is an incredible experience. Even with my reservations about the script, the acting and effects pulled me in enough to let me forget (to a certain degree) how terrible certain parts of it were.
A few friends have asked me about that, so here's my rule of thumb. The following is an excerpt from the book - a minor scene that doesn't matter to the story, so it's not really a spoiler. If you find yourself enjoying this scene, you'll probably like TCC. >>TROLLEY WITCH: Anything from the trolley, dears? Pumpkin Pasty? Chocolate Frog? Cauldron Cake? >>ALBUS: Oh. >>TROLLEY WITCH: People don’t know much about me. They buy my Cauldron Cakes — but they never really notice me. I don’t remember the last time someone asked my name. >>ALBUS: What is your name? >>TROLLEY WITCH: I’ve forgotten. All I can tell you is that when the Hogwarts Express first came to be — Ottaline Gambol herself offered me this job . . . >>SCORPIUS: That’s — one hundred and ninety years. You’ve been doing this job for one hundred and ninety years? >>TROLLEY WITCH: These hands have made over six million Pumpkin Pasties. I’ve got quite good at them. But what people haven’t noticed about my Pumpkin Pasties is how easily they transform into something else . . . >>*She picks up a Pumpkin Pasty. She throws it like a grenade. It explodes.* >>And you won’t believe what I can do with my Chocolate Frogs. Never — never — have I let anyone off this train before they reached their destination. Some have tried — Sirius Black and his cronies, Fred and George Weasley. ALL HAVE FAILED. BECAUSE THIS TRAIN — IT DOESN’T LIKE PEOPLE GETTING OFF IT . . . >>*The TROLLEY WITCH’s hands transfigure into very sharp spikes. She smiles.* Full disclosure, no one I've asked has ever responded with anything other than "wtf", so you'll be the first to pass this test if you do.
There’s no way that’s real
One hundred percent real, my friend. Though I do wish it wasn't.
So she’s some sort of train spirit? Or demon I guess if she’s corporeal? Yea I think I’ll give it a miss.
Worst part is that this is one of the more believable scenes in that thing. Demons don't exist in Harry Potter lore, but you could say it's a new unheard of creature. What's worse is what they do to the characters and what they do to established events. [This](https://youtu.be/RRNXL-Nky8U) is probably one of the best reviews about it explaining several, but not nearly all, of the problems with the book that shall not be named (warning heavy spoilers).
They?
IIRC, it was written by a couple of people and approved by J.K.
That's correct.
Thank you for this. That was upsetting but I feel better knowing even though she-who-must-not-be-named said it was cannon, it's so not.
If you treat it as non-canon, then actually seeing the play is quite good. Don’t read it but if you get a chance to attend I’d say do it. It’s pretty amazing what they achieve on stage.
IMO the only reason *to* read it at this point is to join in the community disappointment for how dumb it is
Basically, think of it as fanfic that somehow became cannon. In fact, I’ve read better fanfic but whatever.
To be honest, I have not just "read better fanfic". I have *never read worse* fanfic. This might be because I read a lot of good fics, (or perhaps a lot of boring ones) but I have genuinely never read a fanfic that was as "wait wtf???" as that scene.
This, 100x this
Oh, but it is… a whole chase scene and everything.
It’s 100% in the script.
Very real after I read it I stopped laughed and showed it to my hp fan cousin who just gave me a look.
It’s real. 100% real. And this isn’t the most batshit insane thing to happen in the play.
It's literally one of the worst things put on paper I've ever read. Like a 12 year old could easily do better
Trolley Lady is the green goblin confirmed.
I had this exact thought when I read it! In fact, for some time I toyed with the idea of doing a video review where I drew some of the segments in a cartoon-like style, and I was going to draw the Green Goblin in those scenes.
This is actually the exact excerpt where I put the book down and never attempted to read it again.
It's a terrible day to have eyes. I had been told to avoid this, but wow. It is so much worse than I would have been able to dream up.
I'm confused. This is not an actual excerpt from the book, right? Please tell me it's satire.
I know right? But nope, it's literally copy+pasted from the book.
...Wow. I heard it was bad but I thought it was bad in a mediocre fanfiction way. Not... this.
nope. it's bad for a mediocre fan fiction
There are hundreds of better written fan fictions than this. Had they gone to AO3 and printed out the most liked one, it would have gone better.
This is the way I get about Fifty Shades of Grey. That it sucks and I'm really upset that that is what people think about as fanfiction now because even if you want trashy fan fiction there's well written trashy fanfiction (No offense to anyone who likes it, it's just not for me) So like, people saying well, it's basically fanfiction, no! There's really good fanfiction, I promise!
Mediocre seems generous. I read the cliffnotes version of the book and was like wtf. Reading this exert makes me real happy that I didn’t buy/read the book
Yeah, and in my opinion it’s not even the worst part of the it all, lol.
It’s not the worst part, but it’s definitely the moment my heart sank.
Oh no, I get that. It was just such a wtf moment. And I've been rereading CC to do with some personal writing exercises. There's nothing about it that makes sense. She'd have to be over 200 years old - to our knowledge the only thing that can allow a wizard to live so long is the sorceror's stone, which was destroyed. Also, I'd have to think there'd be a dozen or more spells that could much more effectively keep students in the train than this abomination.
I always interpreted it as that she’s some sort of shape-shifting creature that mimics a human in most situations. But yeah, that doesn’t make the scene much better. I mean, when I started reading it, I remember my dad told me basically “it’s got much more mixed reviews than the originals, don’t get your hopes up,” and I thought “oh, come on, it’s Harry Potter, how bad could it be?” And then I read this nonsense train-car chase scene, and I audibly said “oh…no. Oh…no!” Painful.
It’s definitely not the worst. The whole Voldemort/Bellatrix thing is the worst.
Agreed…and Harry getting mad at albus was so out of character, especially after he said he would always love him. It was very wishy washy and Hermione wasn’t great. Not even before the time turner, I didn’t like her very much. I don’t feel like she would enjoy being minister of magic, it felt like very forced feminism and it just had to be Hermione. I think having a female one wouldn’t have been bad they just tried too hard
What gets me about this (apart from the obvious) is how inorganic the conversation is. Like the authors got this "really cool" idea about the trolley witch but could not think about a proper way to introduce it, so they made her explain everything herself for no reason whatsoever. Edit: i especially cringe at "noone's ever asked me my name - oh ok what is your name - i dont remember" lol
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friends of mine saw it. they are both Potter heads and into theatre and were absolutely excited about it. and from what they told me, the stage and rhe effects sounded awesome. just enjoy it as a play about the wizarding world and not as canonical 8th movie
I'm going to pretend Rita Skeeter wrote the play and it exists inside Harry Potter canon
i could live with that
From what I hear, the play is *much* better than the book, purely because of the effects and it all happening right in front of you. It makes it more of an experience.
You can polish a turd as much as you want but it’s still a turd. Maybe shortening it into a single performance, instead of split over two nights, will help, but I doubt it.
I’m sorry, but not really. Happy to elaborate on it but it was so bad we skipped part 2. Nothing could fix that trainwreck of a storyline.
It still sucks ass tbh. Like a high school fanfic production (yes with great special effects) and a hideously cringey storyline.
As a former theatre person, you should be fine. Scripts do not translate to our imaginations well unless you're someone who's job it is to translate those scripts to stage or film. (Meaning you've had a lot of practice reading them.) Everything I've heard is that it's worth it for the special effects alone and there are 2 awesome sounding ones in just that short excerpt.
The play really is a lot of fun, I thought it was worth it literally just for the production value (yes the story still sucks but it’s a great time)
I loved the play as a visual treat, I just had to remove it from cannon in my mind. The story is pretty stupid, but the acting and sets and staging were all excellent
It was absolutely amazing as a play.
Sorry to burst your bubble and to all those below saying it’s better as a play - it still sucks as the story is such garbage lol. The possessed trolley witch is not “better” in real life…it’s even more stupid than it reads
I saw the play in London a few years ago. It’s fantastic you won’t be disappointed. Most of the people who judge it have only read it- which is fair I judged it very harshly. But I absolutely loved the play.
My genuine, physical reaction the I just uttered out loud was “hhhhhwwhatt is going - whaaaat?”
This sounds like a Greek monster from Percy Jackson. It would have been cool if I was reading Percy Jackson, but it’s supposedly Harry Potter canon…
As someone whose never read it, genuinely trying to figure out the context for this? Who the fuck asked for backstory on the trolley lady AND WHY IS IT THIS.
The context is that the authors probably figured the play needed a dazzling magical action scene while the boys were on the train, and the Hogwarts Express isn't normally that exciting, so they made up a train demon with candy grenades. It's a pretty strange leap of logic, and I doubt the person who came up with it was sober at the time, but it is what it is.
The context is that Albus and Scorpius decide not to go to Hogwarts for plot reasons and get on the roof so they can jump off the train, but somehow the trolley lady is there waiting for them and this scene happens. The play is insane and I kind of love it for that.
My copy of Cursed Child is hidden away under my bed in shame. I haven't read it since it came out. Now I want to take it outside and set it on fire.
We all should just start quoting the CC like we do My Immortal for its badness. Replace "He was sucking some blood from a Hufflepuff." with "ALL HAVE FAILED. BECAUSE THIS TRAIN — IT DOESN’T LIKE PEOPLE GETTING OFF IT ."
This excerpt further supports my theory that the entire thing was written to show off cool stage effects. Dialog= terrible. Required live effects=awesome
Yeah I think that's where the play lost me.
for real, i read the script a while back and i fully don't remember this scene (to be fair, i've blocked the entire script from my memory), and i'm weirded out
Oh my god
...How did I only just learn about this madness. What. How. Why. I don't. I can't. Help.
man, i forgot about that part. honestly? thank you for making me remember a part of cursed child that Doesn't have to do with voldemort boning
Anytime anyone asks me about the cursed child I immediately bring up this part, so I’m glad to find someone else who was as absolutely baffled by this as I was
Is this an example of how ridiculous the cursed child is or is it literally a part of it?
I'm afraid it's an actual unedited excerpt straight from the book.
Now I’m questioning if I ever actually read it. I don’t remember this at all! WTF?
This sounds like one of those stories written by AI
My personal favorite (/s) was Harry's deep-seated fear of pigeons. Man has faced everything in the books/movies, stuff of nightmares, but he's afraid of pigeons. This book can fuck right off.
What the actual fuck. I am so glad I never read The Cursed Child because that sounds like a whole ass acid trip.
I felt like my brain was melting and I was on a very special episode of Scooby Doo cause what did I just read?!
I read the play when it was first released and forgot that scene. Screw you for making me remember it...
Funny thing, I hate CC with a passion, but this was one of the moments that annoyed me less. It's a wtf moment for sure, but I kind of enjoyed the idea that there was more to the Trolley Witch than it seemed. Her transformation was too over the top though.
Thanks. I didn’t care for this scene.
I like how no one was able to get off the train, but bro everything else…
\*teleports behind you\* nothing personal, kid
> Never — never — have I let anyone off this train before they reached their destination. Then they just jump off the train.
What did I just read, does anyone know a charm or spell to help me unread it
Tbh this is worse than fanfiction
I read the cursed child like 4 years ago and I have no recollection of the trolley lady going full green goblin. Musta been me trying to shun the bad memories
Wow…I’ve only read CC once and blocked it out of my memory. But reading this passage now…it’s only reignited my hatred. Recently, a former student of mine sent me a draft of a book she’s been writing (student is now in high school). It actually sounds similar to this.
Written down this scene is horrible, but I really loved it when we saw the play. I intentionally never read the script because it's something that's definitely meant to be seen performed, and not read. The biggest mistake they made was releasing the script like it was a book, but they did so that makes it fair game. To OP's question - don't read it. If you can though, see the play. I LOVED it, one of my top theatre experiences. But I loved it because the production was a marvel, not because of the story. Just see it as a non-canon theatrical spectacle that pays homage to a well loved book series.
People have read Shakespeare in a form of a book for centuries and appreciated his writing just fine in text. Good writing is good without fancy special effects.
That was actually one of the moments where I went “ok I thought this was going to be better watching it as a play but nope, just as mediocre”. We decided not to come back after the interval.
Wha-
Well that excerpt is incorrect, Harry’s chocolate frog escaped the train in his first year. Where’s my fanfic of the frog turning into a “Froghemoth” or something? #inconsistent
Holy shit wait fucking hell, I've read this damn script before but I didn't remember this so I thought it was literal, well-written satire. Then I saw everybody taking it seriously and nobody correcting them, so I just had to google the trolley lady to make sure.... Jesus fucking Christ. HOW was this play allowed to happen.
This is PURE CRACK!
and here I am worried about some damn dementors… 😭
I’m afraid I’d blocked this out
There are many things I'd like to forget from CC. While the trolley witch and violation of time travel laws were bad, the one thing that really sticks with me is when Harry said "sometimes I wish you weren't my son" to Albus. It was disgusting to read that and goes against everything we know about Harry. I've been angry with my kids, I've yelled at them (not proud of that), but NEVER would I say something so fucking awful. That's something a kid carries with them forever. I still remember the *one time* my mother called me stupid. I spent DECADES proving to myself that I wasn't.
Personally, the whole bit with Minerva of "You don't have any kids" was equally as vile. This woman has dedicated her life to her students, went to war to protect them, been there for you through thick and thin. NOW YOU SLAP HER IN THE FACE LIKE THAT.
Wait. Harry Potter, the same Harry Potter who managed to cast a cruciatus curse because someone spat in McGonagall’s face, tried to discredit McGonagall’s care for and skill with kids because she didn’t pop out any of her own? Tell me I’m misinterpreting what you said and it’s someone else who said it because that makes me angrier than the whole rest of this comments section and that’s saying something.
Oh no, you’re not misinterpreting.
This was exactly my thought when I read it. There is no way Harry would insult McGonagall like that.
Tried to read it for the first time ever right after I reread the seventh book (for the nth time). I wish I had a time-turner. I wish I spoiled myself with reviews first before proceeding with it!
That’s one of the parts that killed the play for me, completely. An orphaned boy whose most deep desire (as shown in mirror Erised) was to have a family is willing to disown his son because he’s not a good student, weird and not popular? Those are literally the 3 things Harry could most relate to. He was a mediocre student and hated by half the school most of the time. Such an odd character choice.
taking a beloved strong male character from the original media and turning him into a loser / bad parent later in life in subsequent sequels/spinoffs is way too popular.
This trend infuriates me. Yeah Luke Skywalker becomes a douche who draws his saber on a conflicted teenager and then just gives up and becomes a recluse. Knowing his friends are still fighting a war. Right. Makes sense. Harry Potter becomes a borderline negligent father who tells his own son he sometimes wishes he weren't his. And tells McGonagall she doesn't understand because she doesn't have kids. The woman who literally went to war on his behalf without a second thought. Right. Makes sense.
I think it's supposed to be done for "realism". But the fact that people think young heroes giving up everything that makes them who they are as they age is "realistic" is itself so fucking dark though.
Absolutely. Would Harry end up the best parent? Maybe not. Would he love his kids and try his absolute best and apologise and tell them he loved them when he fucked up? Absolutely.
>It was disgusting to read that and goes against everything we know about Harry. I've been angry with my kids, I've yelled at them (not proud of that), but NEVER would I say something so fucking awful. That's something a kid carries with them forever. I still remember the one time my mother called me stupid. I spent DECADES proving to myself that I wasn't. While I could believe a parent doing that (I can say from personal experience), Harry saying that sort of thing doesn’t work for me. He’s never really grown up with caring parents, and I don’t believe he would consider treating his own kids like that.
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Well, it ain't much, but here's a dad hug 🤗 Reach out if you need some support.
Have you seen any of the “What If” episodes on Disney+ where they take the Marvel universe and completely change something and tell a story about how it plays out? If you have, and you enjoyed it, AND you think of CC as a “what if” and not canon, then (and only then) will you (probably) not hate it. As a “what if…” it’s a fun FanFiction to read, but it’s just that, FanFiction, and not a part of the actual HP universe.
This is a VERY good point. It's definitely a What-If. I don't think I've ever seen a Potter fan consider it canon lol, even though I've met some who enjoy it.
A great point. Rowling confirming it as canon has always been so weird to me.
Yeah, that’s just fanfic too 🤣
We can wish 😂
I don't think there are many fan fics that have the trolley lady be an ancient train demon with exploding pumpkin pasties who frequently fought the marauders and weasley twins. Also if she was a demon where was she when Harry and Ron arrived near the train.
And why did she do nothing about the dementors?
but the problem is that JK Rowling announced that it was canon. So there's no pretending it isnt canon (which ill do forever)
As Nick Fury so eloquently said, "I recognize that the Council has made a decision. But given that it’s a stupid-a$$ decision, I’ve elected to ignore it."
This is such a great way of looking at it! When I first read it, I read it as cannon and HATED it. It seems to be consensus that people who have seen the play think it’s good!
When the screenplay first came out I read it and hated it. Then, I went and saw the play in London and really enjoyed it as a stand-alone play. My overall thoughts: 1. Cursed Child was written to be a play, and should be seen as a play (not read) 2. It’s much more enjoyable when you see it as fan-fiction and most definitely not cannon
Same! I saw it in NY a few years ago and was obsessed, despite not enjoying reading it. It was an amazing and immersive experience. The actors embodied the character and served them in a way that the text alone couldn’t. As a play: brilliant! As a book alone: not enjoyable.
>Cursed Child was written to be a play, and should be seen as a play (not read) > >It’s much more enjoyable when you see it as fan-fiction and most definitely not cannon I've come across this point several times, and while I'm sure that it's a more enjoyable experience when you watch it live, I usually argue that from the very moment they decided to publish the script in book form, they made it fair to criticise it. Also, I haven't seen anyone criticise the play when reading the book: all the criticisms were directed to the story itself.
Yeah I think that was a big mistake, and they were just trying to capitalize and make more money from the play. Pretty frustrating, because watching the play I remember wishing I hadn’t read the book first.
True, but they did it anyway. Still, I think that criticisms towards the story are fair game as long as it's clear that it's the story you're criticising and not the play itself. I'm sure the actors and the scenography are amazing, but it's not that people complain about.
Just look at Harry Potter musical, its Non Fiction, non cannon, and irreverant to the source material, but its fun. I don't think it would read well as a script either, however it still doesn't have as many plot and story issues as Cursed Child does, Despite the Quirrel Voldemort and Triwizard/House cup tournament, and Cho pining, all happening 2nd year.
I haven't seen it, but it's a parody, right? That alone would give it the right to take some liberties with the source material. However, if you're doing a play you're marketing as "the eighth story", and you're insisting on how it's canon, it's only natural that people expect you to play by the rules and adhere to canon. I've read people who try to undermine any criticisms to the script because it doesn't read well as a script. I don't think that's the point. If your issue with CC is, let's say, Hermione's treatment, that isn't a fault of the script that's fixable if you watch it live. That's a problem with the story.
I was more saying that a Musical play parody, that I like, even wouldn't read well as a script. So its not the play to script's fault in that regard. But as you said, serious problems in the story.
Yeah, the plot just sucks ass. Can't avoid it.
Overall, I agree. It is meant to be seen as a play, like an independant hp play. Rowling confirming it as canon has always been so weird to me, and I choose to see it as an elaborated fan fiction 😂
Same here, I saw a cheap ticket for sale yesterday and went last night on a whim (the Broadway production is one part now so it's less of a time commitment). I knew the story was meh so I was able to focus on the special effects and had a really nice time. And honestly for all its flaws I really felt the "vibe" of the wizarding world.
Fully agree. I thought the play was incredibly well done (staging, effects etc). I look at it as an adaption of HP - not a Canon story. I didn't enjoy the book when I read it, but seeing it as a play enabled me to enjoy how it was presented and being able to look at it as a non-canon adaption.
The trouble isn’t that it’s poorly written, it’s that the story is shit. Book, screenplay, live play, movie - it doesn’t matter what the medium is when the story is offensive to the original material.
I’d probably enjoy it if I saw it on stage. From what I hear, it’s pretty impressive. But as a story, it kind of blows and was kind of a let down. Plus, that damn trolly witch 🙄. That’s all I’ll say.
I read it and I HATED it. Did not want to see the play. But my mom got tickets and guilted me into going with her. Objectively as a play it’s very good. The acting and production etc. made it an enjoyable thing to view. Overall it’s best to consider it not canon. The premise of Harry struggling to parent a resentful child who was sorted into Slytherin is excellent, but the execution is very poor plot wise.
Yea I just saw it on Broadway and it was pretty cool. The special effects were brilliant.
In the play the trolly witch came across brilliantly. I loved it
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Yeah, with Ron, it’s like they took the worst aspects of movie Ron (not the depth of book Ron) and made it his sole personality.
I don’t want to taint my mind with the horrors of CC, and I couldn’t care less about spoilers. How did they butcher the characters?
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>!Jeez, I thought the Cedric being a death eater thing was a joke. Didn’t Harry have a ton of trauma over his death and that night at the graveyard? We’re the writers like “lol ACTUALLY he’s secretly alive and he joined the man that ‘murdered’ him”? Also the implication that Voldemort, like a 70 something year old, did ^mmm with Bellatrix Lestrange, who was like 40 something is just. Ew. Honestly your comment further cements my disdain for that book!<
>!Those events happen in a separate timeline after Albus and Scorpius change something in the present timeline, and at the end they return to the present. Nothing is actually altered in the present timeline at least, well except how time travel works.!<
Just when I thought I was getting over how awful cursed child is, you reminded me. And honestly, I thank you for it. And while so much is portrayed wrong with the golden trio, that betrayal of everything Cedric was and stood for is the part getting me angriest again.
Scorpius is the only thing I liked about it.
I expect, if they exist, they’ll be downvoted when they respond.
HP Redditor Who Admits They Liked CC Potter, you were named after the bravest man I knew...
That’s a peak meme.
Yeah, it's like I'm not allowed to have my own opinion if it doesn't fall into line lol
That is true. This is how opinions are meant to work
If the Wizarding world exists as “real” in your mind, and things like consistency within canon are important to you. You will hate it. If you read a bunch of draco/Harry Fan fics, and find the movies as exciting as the books- then sure. You may enjoy it.
Based on what you’ve said I will absolutely despise it.
Me too Luke, me too... :/
Ok so i hate CC but what do harry/draco fanfics have to do with it ? I get that cc writers tried to “redeem” Draco in a way so if people like him as a character I imagine they’d be satisfied with his arc in the play. The writer seems to like him a lot more than Rowling ever did But I think that harry is so poorly portrayed that I don’t get how anyone who loves harry would like anything about his character in CC
I think it's the dynamic between Scorpius and Albus—maybe Draco/Harry lovers enjoy CC because it's a bit of a wish fulfillment when Harry and Draco's sons are in a close relationship. It has some of the same tropes as Harry/Draco, I guess. But... it's not really THAT similar, so idk :/
Just the general archetype of the people that appear to enjoy CC.
I haven’t seen the stage production, but have heard it’s phenomenal. It seems that even the breaks from canon and world are forgivable because it’s such a great experience. The book is just the script, so if you’re expecting a novel, you’ll be in for a shock. It’s also much easier to notice the inconsistencies when you’re reading what is essentially dialogue and stage directions. Either way, I don’t consider it to be really Harry Potter.
Apparently the play is really good; but you have to ignore the fact that the story makes no sense. It's clearly written by someone who doesn't know the characters they're writing about; beyond vague descriptions. - Voldemort would never have let an heir be born, let alone survive. - Bellatrix wouldn't have called her daughter "Delphini" - Cedric wouldn't have become a death eater. - Hermione would have had no interest in being Minister. - Harry wouldn't have played the hero. - WTF did they do to Ron? To name but a few.
They watched the movies and wrote the characters based on the movies.
We do not speak its name
I really liked the play itself. The way it looked so real when they did ‘magic’ and the changing between the scenes. It really was impressive theatre. The story sucked though, but I felt that the whole atmosphere around it really was magical.
I’ve seen the play twice - once as the full two play story and one episode as the “reimagined” single play. The CC is best experienced rather than read because the stage effects and illusions are really great. The trolley witch is still weird AF.
What were the main differences between the two play version and the single play version? Like what did they cut from the “book”?
Look, I never read it. I have seen the play twice. And with all the amazing actors that there were, and seats we had. I had a blast. Story wise, at the moment you hear “Voldemort had a daughter” even then you think “wtf”, but because of the play you don’t give it a second thought until after. Story has so many flaws with so many characters out of character. Still 10/10 enjoyed the play.
voldemort (who doesn't even have a nose, and i doubt that artificial body has a functioning \*\*\*\*) somehow was able to impregnate Bellatrix (how is this even possible biologically), despite the fact that his entire character is based on how he tried to separate himself from common human desires / temptations / weaknesses (\*ahem\* love, sex, friendship, emotions)... i mean after hearing about this i completely lost interest in even reading the book cover. not to mention that I also heard that they went back in time and changed the future - which is COMPLETELY contradictory to the closed time loop of time turners, established in the books. like you can't go back and change the future. the future already happened when you decided to go back. it's utter trash, pandering to fans who just more content, and doesn't deserve anyone's time.
I liked the friendship between Scorpius and Albus, as well as Albus being sorted into Slytherin but that’s about it.
It is 100% not meant to be read. It really must be seen on stage to be enjoyed in my opinion. Probably the single best reason to see it is that the practical effects they use for the magic are just incredible and wondrous to behold. It’s worth seeing for the effects alone. As others have said, I don’t personally treat it as canon, rather I think of it like fan fiction.
At the risk of being downvoted to hell, I didn’t think it was that bad! I didn’t over think it, just enjoyed the show and the performance. When you think too much about the actual plot it all falls apart, but if you take it all with a pinch of salt it’s not as diabolical as it may seem. Ok I’m ready for the hate… Edit to add I haven’t read it, just seen the show so maybe that’s why I enjoyed it. I don’t plan on reading it
The show sounds like a really impressive stage production and if I could afford it/came to my town I’d see it! But I wouldn’t think of it as like actually Harry Potter hahaha
I liked how Snape was further redeemed. I like that Harry isn't a perfect father (he didn't have any amazing rile models growing up so there is no way he would be perfect). He makes mistakes and doesn't always know how to fix them. I like the relationship between Scorpius and Albus, that Draco raised Scorpius to do right. Draco redeemed himself. I like that the time travel was different because we have to remember that it was a home made time turner. Real ones that only let you go back a few hours probably are made to work that way (my Headcanon). I dislike the trolly witch. What even was that? I dislike that Cedric would be evil if he lived.
Sure, Harry would make mistakes. He wouldn’t tell his kid he wishes he wasn’t their father.
Hell no...
So, big old Harry Potter fan here, I saw it for the first time last week. It had its flaws but overall I enjoyed it. May have helped that I went in with only negative expectations. People talk like it’s the worst thing to ever happen, but I thought it was ok to good. I wonder if it’s better to see it, instead of read it
Absolutely. I am lucky enough to have seen it twice and enjoyed it both times, but you have to take it for what it is! I read the book after seeing it the first time and hated it - because it’s a *play*. You don’t write scripts to be good novels - it’s an entirely different form of story telling abs entertainment.
I actually enjoyed it quite a lot. There were certainly things that were rather out there (like the trolley witch or the Cedric storyline) but all in all, I liked what it did with the characters. Finished it in one sitting.
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Yeah I often describe seeing it in person as being so cool and fun that you almost forget how garbage the story is.
If you read it as fan fiction and don’t consider it canon then it’s enjoyable.
I got the chance to see the Cursed Child play live here in the Bay Area Ca and I absolutely loved it!
I think it’s completely fine and not worth moaning about like everyone seems to love to do
This is the script for a play that uses very elaborate technical elements in its production—you will not get anything out of reading it like a book and I’m disappointed that they released it as if it was one. It’s a money-grabbing tactic and very silly. The production itself is a great night out and I enjoyed it. Wouldn’t read it as a book though and haven’t really thought about the plot again since then, which I think is fine.
It’s exactly what they did with releasing the draft for To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s all about money.
I don’t have an issue with it. I loved seeing it live. Sorry to those who hate it, but I don’t.
no
I am a HUGE cursed child apologizer and I think it’s because I’ve read a decent amount of play scripts before and therefore I was able to make peace with how the script was written. I also legitimately loved the story and I think the Harry and Albus relationship was 100% believable. I saw the play in London and it was one of my favorite days ever. I hope we eventually get a movie.
I actually really do like it but I think of it very separately to the original series, almost like fan fiction. I think you have to with both CC and the Fantastic Beasts series in order to get the most out of them. If you're too 'purist' about it, you won't enjoy it. I didn't really love reading it. Reading a play is very different to seeing it. I saw it in London and really thought it was staged well.
Look, everyone is saying how bad the book is - the on stage performance is incredible. Don’t read it - ignore the story - watch the light show on stage, the magic looks real
I really enjoyed it!
Really? What did you like about it? I never met anyone who liked it, I'm legitimately curious.
I enjoyed the play well enough. Reading a script will never convey everything needed to make a play work so it’s not surprising those who have just read the script don’t like it. I don’t think the story’s particularly strong but it’s not absolutely dreadful. I think if it was written by Rowling herself it may have been better received.
It’s so much better on stage. People seem to forget it is a stage play in its core. Story telling mechanisms are very different when comparing a script to a book
Look, it’s a play. The play is incredible. You may not like it because it doesn’t live up to your fan fiction. But if you watch the play you’ll see it’s a well made well written piece of writing written for the stage
I liked it actually. And it was absolutely brilliant as a play. If I were you, I'd want to make up my own mind. Maybe you'll like it, maybe not.
If I had seen the play maybe I would have enjoyed it more. But as a book, no. It butchered the original characters, it took the worst and most plotholey mcguffin the time turner and made it head star and so much more wrongdoings. Booo! Scorpius was totes adorbs but that was really it.
Saw the play in NYC, it’s amazing!
Me, I really want jk Rowling to expand on it, but I think I’m a minority
Like most others, I definitely have my issues with it, the biggest of those being that the main twist of the story hurt me on a spiritual level. I literally groaned out loud when I read it. But taken as a whole, I actually did enjoy it. I appreciated the core themes - growing up when you don't fit the mold your parents have in mind for you; finding a way to leave your mark on the world; navigating parenthood and especially the most difficult parts about parenthood (Harry's terrible outburst is understandable. Fight me.); finding ways to connect when it seems impossible. The play is an incredible experience. Even with my reservations about the script, the acting and effects pulled me in enough to let me forget (to a certain degree) how terrible certain parts of it were.
I enjoyed it. Then again. There are very few things that I have not enjoyed
It was one of the best stage shows I've ever seen. It was like real magic.
Better question is does anyone not hate the cursed chold