Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Book Club special!

TL;DR

Fans of the Harry Potter franchise are left disappointed by the plot and dialogue of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which deviates from the original series.

Transcript

hello and welcome to the special video in the Simon oxf book club I'm Simon Ox Fizz and I'm joined by Lily and Dan Lily's a friend of ours Dan is my housemate I am indeed we're all students and we're all talking about Harry Potter and the cursed child the most recent book well it's not really by JK ring is it it's not really rling or rolling ring r... Read More

Key Insights

• 🪭 The plot and dialogue of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child received substantial criticism from fans.
• 🪭 The book deviated from fans' expectations and focused more on the Next Generation rather than the original trio.
• 🗺️ Time travel was a contentious aspect of the book, with some finding it intriguing and others feeling it was convoluted.
• 🗺️ Suggestions for improvement include focusing more on the original characters and removing the time travel element.
• 📞 Some emotional moments in the book, such as Harry's interactions with the portrait of Dumbledore, were well-received.
• 🕵️‍♀️ The introduction of Scorpius Malfoy was generally liked, while the portrayal of the female villain received criticism.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were the main issues with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?

The main problems with the book were the plot, which many found to be weak and filled with time travel complications, and the dialogue, which was considered abysmal by some readers.

Q: How did the book deviate from fans' expectations?

The book introduced new characters and focused more on the Next Generation, rather than the original trio. Some readers also felt that the character development was lacking, with certain characters, like Ginny Weasley, not being true to their previous depictions.

Q: Was the use of time travel in the book effective?

While it may have been intriguing for some readers, others found it convoluted and unnecessary. Time travel is a notoriously difficult concept to write about, and in this case, it seemed to weaken the plot rather than enhance it.

Q: Should readers who haven't read the original Harry Potter series attempt to read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?

It is not recommended for readers who are not familiar with the original series, as the book deviates significantly from the established canon and may not be enjoyable without prior knowledge of the characters and settings.

Q: Could Harry Potter and the Cursed Child have been improved?

Some suggestions for improvement include removing the time travel element and focusing more on the developments in the original characters' lives. Others felt that the book shouldn't have been written at all, as its inclusion feels unnecessary and lacks the same depth as the original series.

Q: What were the highlights of the book?

Readers found some emotional moments in the book, such as Harry's interaction with the portrait of Dumbledore and the opening up of Snape's character. The introduction of Scorpius Malfoy was also generally well-received.

Q: What were the criticisms of the female villain in the book?

Some readers found the female villain to be unconvincing and indicated that Voldemort, the main antagonist from the original series, wouldn't want a child or have sexual organs. Others thought her storyline was lazy and didn't add depth to the plot.

Q: Is there potential for more stories set in the Harry Potter universe?

While the author has stated that this will be the end, fans are always open to more stories set in the Harry Potter universe. It is uncertain if she would create more stories, but if she did, it would likely be separate from the main series and explore new characters and themes.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The three participants in the video, Simon, Lily, and Dan, all have different opinions on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Simon found the book to be anger-inducing, Lily was upset by the deviation from her expectations, and Dan enjoyed it as a die-hard Harry Potter fan.

• The plot revolves around Harry's youngest child befriending Scorpius, Draco Malfoy's son, and their adventures involving time turners. The story jumps between different timelines and flashbacks.

• The book received mixed reviews, with criticism directed at the plot, dialogue, and changes in character development.