Set nineteen years after Deathly Hallows, young sons Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy form an unlikely friendship as they struggle to handle life at Hogwarts under their family's influence.

The duo goes to great lengths to step out of the shadow of their father's legacies. Potter, who is sorted into Slytherin instead of the favored Gryffindor house, contends with being overshadowed while Malfoy is bullied by swirling rumors as an illegitimate heir to Voldemort. By gaining access to one of the last Time Turners, they try to change the past by preventing Cedric Diggory's death. Their choices set off a domino effect, edging this adventure to enchant but also wonder if less is better than more.

J.K. Rowling with Jack Thorne and John Tiffany choosing Cedric's death as the moment the boys try to fix is both a great starting point but also completely random.

For many fans, Diggory's death was the pivotal moment in realizing nobody was safe. From then on, the books became a bloodbath. If we ever wondered what life would've been like, we get the lowdown in several different ways. It's fun to explore what mysteries lurked under the surface had events gone down differently - like Hermione and Ron not getting married, Voldemort rising to power after the Battle of Hogwarts, among others.

However, Lil Potter and Lil Malfoy using the Time Turners kinda comes out of nowhere. Potter seems to be angry at his dad for so long, and then overhearing one piece of information, takes matters into his own hands because he can. There isn't really an emphatic context on why the story has to fall down this rabbit hole, except that it just does.

Their adventures succeeds in subtly moving the differences between parents and teenagers along, and making us feel engaged with their detachment and misunderstandings. At first it feels wondrous and exciting, but the continuous returns jumps backwards also grows repetitive; like someone scratched a Prisoner of Azkaban dvd when Harry and Hermione try to save Buckbeak, and we continue to see that part of the story two more times with slight variations of how the characters make amends and reach understandings.

As the famous Dumbledore saying goes, “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities", what the young boys decide to become is the heart of the eighth the story. As Harry and Draco echo the same dichotomy of bleeding Gryffindor versus Slytherin as always, Albus' bond with Scorpius is touching, funny, and endearing. Moving beyond the close-mindedness the 'elder' generation held onto throughout their teens, Cursed Child hones in on breaking the cycle of compartmentalizing ideas of evil and raising the next generation differently.

This is also reflected with another new character, Delphi, who is a fascinating addition but also the biggest and most frustrating issue. She is a raw and fierce element; an untamed force of nature without parental guidance as she strives to take her place as the rightful heiress next to the Dark Lord. She's a cool villain, however, the revelation of her being Bellatrix and Voldemort's child feels forced rather than adding something substantial to the long-term worldbuilding.

Similar to new info shared on Pottermore and by Rowling on twitter, a string of post-series' details has varied in its ability to please. Rowling's collaboration with Thorne and Tiffany isn't perfect, but is fun, weird, confusing, beautiful and adventurous. Like trying to separate a book from it's film adaptation, a new challenge emerges in accepting or denying how and if this eighth story fits into the wizarding world as we know it. Rather like the alternate universes explored here or even as some are saying with other pieces of fanfiction, Cursed Child works as a likable standalone but doesn't match its kin.


Things I Loved / Additional Thoughts:

"Hogwarts will be the making of you, Albus. I promise you, there is nothing to be frightened of there."
"...look you've got a nose."
Petunia kept Harry's baby blanket and Dudley sent it to him when she passed away.
Absolutely would love to see Platform 9 3/4, the wand fights, and the bookshelves/Ministry scene on stage
"I'm paint and memory, Harry, paint and memory."
Harry's vitriol attitude towards McGonagall = UNACCEPTABLE, DUDE.
Apparently, not getting the boy or girl you love turns you into a grumpypants no matter who you are. Hello, Snape-mione.
Draco's character development is the best.
Of course, it all goes back to Neville.
But where were other characters like Neville. Maybe not Arthur/Molly/George needed to be featured, but the play does take place at Hogwarts where Neville is a teacher....sooo....
Will Voldemort Day become a thing?
Snape grows a sense of humor.
[ALBUS] You just saw me two minutes, ago. [SCORPIUS] A lot has happened since then.
Only Hermione could cancel a meeting with the Goblins.
Act Four. Scene 15. Favorite scene of the whole play.