Harry Potter And The Cursed Child: 7 Ups & 3 Downs

3. Scorpius And Albus Are Great

This is a story in the wizarding world, so while it may have Harry Potter in the title, obviously there's a lot of focus on the kids. In particular, Harry's kids. Or just one of them, Albus Severus, and his friendship with Scorpius Malfoy, son of Harry's great rival, Draco.

For anyone worried that this new generation might not be as interesting, fear not: the kids are more than alright. In fact, they've absolutely 'Force Awakensed' it, crafting a new set of characters that you learn about and care for, and setting them alongside the series stalwarts to great effect.

Albus and Scorpius are at the heart of the Cursed Child, and both are fascinating characters that it's a pleasure to spend time with. The first twist is that neither of them are really like you'd expect, knowing what we do about their parents. For all Harry's assurances about telling the Sorting Hat what you want, Albus is put into Slytherin, alongside Scorpius (Malfoys gonna Malfoy).

From their meeting on the Hogwarts Express, which nicely plays on the meeting of the original trio, to their misguided adventures throughout the story, they're a duo with a real, admirable friendship, and feel like the right kids to carry this forward: outcasts, struggling under the weight of who their fathers are. Albus is likeable despite his angst, with a rebellious and inquisitive streak just like his father, while Scorpius is a bright child with a dry sense of humour. Had the pair, or even just one of them, not been right on the money then the entire story would've fell flat; they're a huge part of why it works.