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Is The Cursed Child canon? is a question that I saw a lot when the book first came out. From before release to years after, I’ve seen the answer shift from one side to another, which I find interesting.
What is The Cursed Child?
I should explain this first. The Cursed Child is a theatre production in London, but the screenplay/script was released in a book format before the show. I think it was to stir up some hype.
The entire official name of the production and book is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. So, according to the name and writers, it is part of the Harry Potter universe. (However, this fact is what we will be discussing today.)
The story follows Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley’s child, Albus, as he starts his first year at Hogwarts, nineteen years after the Second Wizarding War. The Cursed Child starts where the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows finishes. Since this is a theatre production, no film or TV show accompanies the films.
What does Canon mean?
In this setting, Canon describes whether events in the Universe actually happened and are considered true to the storyline. Canon, in the lamest terms, means what is historically accurate in the fictional storyline of the Universe.
An example would be how many fans like to say George Weasley danced with Ginny twice at her wedding to Harry, once for himself and once for Fred. J. K. Rowling has never written this, so it is not technically canon. However, since so many people in the fandom agree that this is something they believe the character would do, it is accepted as so, despite the lack of official material.
Rarely does the reverse happen, where the official creator or body releases something that is then classed as canon, and the fandom rejects it. Most of the time, the creator releases new media and the fandom rework their ideas and believed storylines around the new material. However, The Cursed Child was released and rejected, with many of the fans claiming it to not be canon and that it never actually happened. Why is that?
Opinions Before Release
First, I want to discuss my opinions before I read it. The Cursed Child was released a good many years after the Harry Potter series’ final book and film. Since then, many online platforms have had the Harry Potter fandom coming together, creating their own stories and producing discussions on various storylines.
- What happened in the aftermath?
- Will we get a Marauders series?
- What about books on the four founders?
- Did Dudley and Harry ever rekindle their connection?
- What will the children of the golden trio be like in school?
The last one was what we got, but it wasn’t the most popular storyline fans wanted to see. Honestly, from my experience, most people wanted to see the Marauders getting their chance to shine.
Anyway, from what I can remember, there was a lot of positive buzz around the book’s release. This was the first actual story-driven book from the Wizarding World released since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Everything else has been books referenced in the series–like The Beedle and the Bard, Fantastic Beast (Bestiary) and History of Magic. I hadn’t grasped that this would be a screenplay/script we were getting, but nevertheless, I was excited, like many others.
Release
The excitement was palpable, especially when I walked into Waterstones that day. I had so much hope. I think I understood this would take off where the Deathly Hallows epilogue ended, but I can’t quite remember. All I remember is being super excited and my parents taking me there. I think we all went to the shopping centre for various things, and this is what I went for. So, I went straight to Waterstones to pick up my copy (I pre-order it). I can’t remember if I made it back to the car or if I found a bench just outside of the Waterstones and waited, but I got my copy (hardback) out and immediately started to read it.
At the time, I was a lot slower at reading than I am now.
So, to my surprise, I finished the book in a few days. I remember telling my Mum how excited I was to read it, then the further I got through the book, the more devastated I became. By the end of the book, I was lost, confused and…I would say disappointed, but that doesn’t even describe it.
When I closed the book on the final page, I didn’t even do my usual ‘Harry Potter ending’ that I do with the Harry Potter books (listen to Leaving Hogwarts from the Philosopher’s Stone soundtrack as I read the last few pages). Why? Because The Cursed Child wasn’t worth it. I hadn’t even remembered when I finished. My brain was so offended. All that excitement, the pre-ordering, pick up, money, everything for…this.
The story ripped up the original storyline that I knew and loved. The storyline I GREW UP knowing. A storyline that shaped my childhood and teenage years–A STORY THAT STILL IMPACTS MY ADULTHOOD. It was carelessly destroyed, and proudly written on its credits was the one who created it all. The creator to the destroyer. Dramatic, I know, but the pure devastation I felt at the time was wrought with these feelings. I felt like this was so visceral of a reaction that I couldn’t be the only one.
Online Reception
Looking at the online world for solidarity, I saw many had lots to say about it. From what I saw, most people didn’t like it. The Cursed Child went from being highly anticipated to being shredded online.
Main Issues
**Spoilers ahead**
The main plot was the biggest issue I saw people upset with, so it wasn’t like a few things could be ignored. I agreed completely and felt relieved that I wasn’t the only soul left staring at the pages of a book I had been so excited to read.
For context, the main plot of The Cursed Child involves Harry’s son Albus and Draco’s son Scorpius meeting Delphi and getting a hold of a Time Turner. Delphi ended up being the daughter of Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange (I know, I had to put the book down when that was revealed), who wanted to free her Dad, Voldemort, from limbo, where his soul ended up after he lost to Harry at the Battle of Hogwarts. In order to do that she needed to turn back time to the day Harry’s parents were killed to stop Voldemort from doing so and kick-starting the events of the original storyline.
There are several issues here alone. First, many folks say Voldemort couldn’t have a child as he was incapable of love (I think he could still produce a child, just not love the mother, the child or the act creating said child itself). Also, there was, at no point in the original story, any mention of Bellatrix being pregnant or having a baby. It could have fit. I mean, Tonks was pregnant with Teddy, so Bellatrix could have been pregnant. I guess.
Voldemort And Bellatrix Sitting In A Tree?
What bothered me was that it didn’t fit the characters. Don’t get me wrong, Bellatrix was mental for Voldemort and would have done whatever he said; I’m nearly sure that would’ve included cheating on her husband with him. However, Voldemort was never interested in anything but power. He wanted his legacy to be him, not some infant. There was never an inkling in the original story of Voldemort wanting his bloodline to continue. He was going to continue to live. He wanted to be immortal, so why would he need a bloodline to carry on his name? Voldemort had no intention of going anywhere despite repeatedly failing to kill one single boy who couldn’t understand or use magic properly for the first twelve years of his life. Just saying.
Also, could Voldemort actually have children? Like, forget the shitty ‘magic could help him do it’ thing. I’m not sure physically if Voldemort could have a child. Like, everyone who has read the books knows he was more snake-thing than humanlike. So, did that make him infertile? He essentially ruined his body for immortality, so somewhere, the price had to be paid in multiple ways. He physically paid the price; we saw that, so it’s not a stretch to assume that infertility was part of that price. Plus, Voldemort was determined to live forever, so having children wasn’t a thought for him.
How dense did they need to make Albus?
The subtitle sounds harsh, but yeah. Albus was fine to have his nerves about starting Hogwarts; every child starting a new school, especially high school, will have some level of nerves. However, in the epilogue Harry spoke to Albus. Told him that if he wanted Gryffindor then all he needed to do was ask the Sorting Hat, just like Harry did. Albus also had his big brother, James, in the school already. Yeah, it’s not cool to hang out with your younger siblings, but he was there for him. I’m the oldest of three, and yeah, hanging out with your wee siblings can be a bit meh during your teenage years, but if something was seriously upsetting them, then I’d tell our parents. James surely would have at least been the same. I mean, they would want him to be a good character and big brother, right?
So, why? Just why? Why did they make the story that Albus’ first year at Hogwarts would be taken up purely by trying to upstage his Dad? Okay, you’re Harry Potter’s son. Your brother has already come here and set the bar of expectations for Harry’s children. No one expects them to save the world like him.
And the worst part? Albus sought it.
Albus sought after adventure. A way to one-up Harry by saving Cedric Diggory–you know, the guy who died in the Triwizard Tournament in Harry’s fourth year–using a Time Turner, which are illegal and extremely rare now. Harry, on the other hand, as a first-year, got caught up in a shitshow. Between Voldemort-Possessed-Quirrell trying to steal the Stone and kill Harry and Snape actively acting shady, Harry was sucked into trouble. The rest of Harry’s academic life pretty much followed that.
Want a normal year, Harry?
Ahahaha! Nope! Here is a Dementor and some Death Eaters. Good Luck, dude! Oh, by the way, your Dad’s ex-bestie is now kissing his murderer’s freaky toes!
Like, Albus. WTF. You want to one-up your Dad (which is weird), stirred up so much trouble and did this. Also, the most dense part is, even at eleven, with Hermione Granger as an Auntie, HE TOOK AND USED A TIME TURNER. How dense is that?
Do the writers want me to like this kid? Really? I’d actually be so stunned if this happened that I’d need a six-month break just to form a response that won’t comprise of only swear words and insults. I do really think the writers did a poor job with Albus and his motives. I mean, saving Cedric. What does that do? Yeah, Harry was heartbroken, but really? Had Ron or Hermione been the ones who died, and Albus was going back to save one of them, I could understand better, but not Cedric. No offence to Cedric.
How did Albus & Scorpius see the Potters at Godric’s Hollow?
At some point, Albus and Scorpius end up back in time at Godric’s Hollow the night the Potters die. The boys are described as seeing the Potters take wee baby Harry out for a walk in his pram and then seeing them through the windows of the house.
First, if you are being hunted by the most evil wizard ever to grace this era, let alone time, I think your baby can go without a wee walk. It won’t make or break him. He’ll be fine. The Potters weren’t dumb; they knew this. They wouldn’t have risked going out with Harry. Their final actions revolved around saving his life, and the writers want me to believe they took him out of the house? Aye, alright.
Second, how did Albus and Scorpius see the Potters at all? The Potters had an active Fidelius Charm on them the night they died. So, no one should have seen them? Including the boys? The only people who could have seen them were themselves, Peter Pettigrew (who was their secret keeper) and Harry (both baby self and Albus’ Dad self). Albus and Scorpius fall into none of those people, funnily enough.
Again, the writers just want me to say, yeah, okay, and forget the rules of a world so ingrained into my childhood and teenage years that I couldn’t shed it, even if I tried with fire?
The Trolley Witch Moment
This shit is just wild. I’ll not say much, but she turned into some Shadowhunter monster with massive teeth and claws, shapeshifting from innocent old lady to eldritch horror. Yeah, no. Just no.
Is The Cursed Child Canon?
Ultimately, no. If you base it on the fans’ reception.
Normally, anything official, especially from the author, would be considered canon. However, this was the exception to the rule. I think many felt this was a bad fanfiction that J.K. Rowling approved and released. It was almost an insult to the fans and Wizarding World for some.
The story messed up so much of the world’s rules and the timeline. Honestly, they could have done so much better. Literally, stirring a bit of friction like having Umbridge escape Azkaban and take her rage towards what Harry had done to her. Explain that someone agreed with her way of doing things during Voldemort’s hold over the Ministry during the seventh book to the point where they found a way to break her out. I would believe that more than Bellatrix and Voldemort’s love baby’s deranged plan to manipulate two first years who want to prove to their Dads that they can be just as mischievous as them in Hogwarts.
Obviously, The Cursed Child is not the worst, according to everyone. The theatre production still occurs in London, so it is bringing in money there. I’m not sure how much it’s worth or if it’s any good–I’ve never been–but I’m with the group of people who feel that The Cursed Child is a bit of a slap to the face for all the fans of the Wizarding World and choose to believe that The Cursed Child is not canon.
