I desperately wanted to love this. And I don't hate it. But I'm not sure I needed it. 
 I knew it wasn't going to be an eighth book, and I thought my expectations were in check. But I guess deep down, I couldn't help but hope for a continuation of life for my favorite characters that matched the fabulous characterization created by Rowling in the original saga. A lot to ask of a play, but if I'm honest, I know that's where my problems with Cursed Child arise. 
 It was hard to watch my childhood heroes relegated to mediocre parents and incompetent bureaucrats bogged down by paperwork. The story has always matured alongside Harry, and I get that we're not seeing this from the naive eyes of a child anymore. So, while I wouldn't have expected perfection for these characters, I expected more than this. (I mean, after all the seventh book did to bring genuine depth to Ron's character, I was terribly disappointed to see him demoted to almost pure comic relief). 
 Along the same line, I detested the way Harry and Co. spoke to McGonagall (No one...NO ONE talks to Minerva McG. that way), but I must admit that I loved the way the Harry/Draco relationship evolved. That was the only relationship in the play that felt like a natural and gratifying progression from the original series. 
 The dialogue seemed weak, but I understand that a script can run dry and still be implemented beautifully onstage. Even so, it was a hard pill to swallow compared to the beautifully familiar narration of the books. 
 Regarding the new plot (or not so new plot--I think its originality is up for debate), parts of it were far too fanfiction-esque for my taste ((view spoiler)[hardcore time travel rendering the entire last half of the original series nonexistent, Voldemort and Bellatrix's child (really. REALLY.) (hide spoiler)]). A story about Albus and Scorpius, their respective relationships with their fathers, and the changing dynamics of the original generation, could have stood alone. I'm really not sure why it didn't go that route. 
 I'd love to see the play, and I'd even go so far as to suspect that the impact of the story would be much stronger on stage. For now, Cursed Child will find a place on my bookshelf, but in many ways I don't think I'll ever truly accept it as the continuation of the series that has been such an integral part of my life since I was eleven years old myself.