Harry Potter & The Cursed Child: 18 Biggest WTF Moments

Plot holes, pigeons and criminal geriatrics...

By Simon Gallagher /

WC

Nineteen years later prophecies came true, the magical ether aligned and a new Harry Potter story came out. It might not be a book in the traditional sense, but The Cursed Child has sold an astronomical number of copies, with midnight events, preorder madness and the same race to finish that met the last books in the series.

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Unfortunately, while it's entirely fabulous to be immersed in the Wizarding World once more, something feels a little bit broken. It's not quite the black mirror parallel universe that appears in the play itself, it's just that there are things that feel a little too... odd. That's along with some stunning revelations, narrative twists and unexpected cameos that make this play a magical story.

Obviously the requirements for a stage play are different to books and film, and the call for more silliness and more of a pantomime spirit are inevitable, but The Cursed Child at times feels like giddy fan fiction, and the WTF count in there is pretty amazing.

Behold, the topsy turvy world of The Cursed Child. And that's before any time turners were even used...

OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE MASSIVE SPOILERS WITHIN. DON'T SAY YOU WEREN'T WARNED.

18. Why Would Voldemort Need An Heir?

Let's get this out of the way first.

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There's a pretty major issue with the idea of Voldemort wanting an heir: it just doesn't correlate with his plans when he was alive. His sole intent was to become immortal - it was his life's work, for which he was willing to make major sacrifices (like his nose) - and the idea that he would have a contingency is illogical. Not least because he thought his plan was impenetrable and himself infallible.

So why is he making a child to carry on his blood (which isn't even pure) after him? It's just wrong.

And he's not doing it for companionship either. As Dumbledore said:

"You will hear many of his Death Eaters claiming that they are in his confidence, that they alone are close to him, even understand him. They are deluded. Lord Voldemort has never had a friend, nor do I believe that he has ever wanted one."

He's a lone wolf, in other words, and Dumbledore said elsewhere that he wouldn't want to depend on anyone else (that presumably includes to carry his legacy on). Also, why is Delphi being his daughter automatically an indication that she is going to be evil, let alone affiliated with him?

And as for the idea the child was the product of a careless lack of protection...

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