For years, J.K. Rowling has told us she would not write another "Harry Potter" novel, and she has held up to that promise. Amazingly enough, she's still fueling a generation's obsession with many other additions to the "Harry Potter" franchise.
First, she gave us the elaborate website, Pottermore, which she continuously fills with tidbits about her magical world and the characters inside it. She even taught us about the United States equivalent of Hogwarts, Invermorny, and gave us elaborate sorting quizzes for both schools (Ravenclaw and Horned Serpent all the way).
As if the website wasn't enough, on March 13, 2014, Rowling announced that "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" would be coming to the big screen as a cinematic trilogy. The first installment comes to theaters November 18. This is what Potterhead dreams are made of, people. None of us expected more movies to add to the memories of Potter premieres past.
It still wasn't enough. Potterheads were constantly asking for more. More about Harry, Ron and Hermione's present. More about their children. Just more of everything. Then it happened. On October 23, 2015, J.K. Rowling announced she was co-writing a "Harry Potter" play. To make this revelation even more exciting, Rowling said the play would also be published in book form and produced on stage in London. The Potterverse exploded. We were getting another "Harry Potter" book release.
Waiting for new "Harry Potter" novels were major childhood highlights for any "Harry Potter" fan. The release parties were spent dressed in robes, making fake potions, and participating in costume contests. Magic acts were going on down the hall, while a palm reader had a line going out the door. Those nights were the definitive of magic. Having the opportunity to go to another book release was almost better than the new script itself.
Unfortunately, going to Barnes and Noble on July 31 was not in my cards, so I purchased the book on August 4. It took me a little under two hours to devour the script, which, shockingly left me feeling numb. It's not that I didn't like the play. For Rowling's first dabble in playwriting with the assistance of director, John Tiffany and writer, Jack Thorne, it was decent. However, this particular addition to the "Harry Potter" franchise was too much.
Rowling's Pottermore snippets about Harry Potter's future, like Rita Skeeter's Quidditch World Cup coverage from 2014, were satisfying glimpses I could handle. But a pit in my stomach grew, scene after scene as I read "Cursed Child." This was a full fledged intrusion into a future I wasn't supposed to know. I was entering forbidden territory. The final line of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" rang in my ears, "All was well."But as I finished the script, it wasn't, and I didn't know why. Then it hit me: Harry Potter had grown up, and I couldn't handle it.
I have a passion for the "Harry Potter" franchise that has transcended more than a decade of my life. These books taught me more about decency and acceptance than almost any other piece of literature I read as a kid. They were my escape from the real world, while also teaching me about reality. I accredit them for showing me the importance of individuality and empathy. I owe J.K. Rowling so much—for giving me the magic I needed as a shy and unsure bookworm, and for showing me the good in the world. However, I couldn't handle the Harry Potter Trio as worried parents and confused adults. It was too real.
I think this may be the true reason there has been a decent amount of backlash towards the "Cursed Child" script. Not because the play was badly written, or because we didn't like how Harry's life turned out, but because Harry Potter was supposed to be our hero with a happy ending. The closure we received 10 years ago was actually enough.
Maybe if I had watched the play in its intended form, I would see things differently. There are some things you can't bring to a script without a stage. But "Cursed Child" was what the "Harry Potter" generation thought they needed, while in reality they didn't. Thus is human nature. Thankfully nothing will ever destroy the love I have for the Boy Who Lived, the respect I hold close for J.K. Rowling, and the gratitude I have for all the franchise has done for me. I will always be a part of the Harry Potter generation.