What I liked
The Fiona character was immensely likeable; a true Hufflepuff to the core. Of all the characters this was the one who most fully embodied the essence of the persona and I felt drawn to that performance and performer the most powerfully.
What I didn't like
The Ana character was well played as scripted but the final character choice made me struggle; I get why she would take her own path, but not telling the others simply crossed a line that I don’t think could be recovered. This made the final reconnection scene hollow for me…the conflict between the two characters was evident throughout the show, but not their connection, and the final scene didn’t leave me feeling reconciliation as much as I already felt the distance. As friendly advice, when I talk to those I know in the 2011 high school cohort and ask them what they think about Harry Potter now, they all feel distance and more than a little betrayed by JK Rowling. For the show to capture that audience segment, it might be wise to directly confront that in the script, maybe with a final “10 years later scene” or some more foreshadowing that their nostalgia for the show is going to be lost when the author takes a dark turn. The disclaimers and chant at the end make the intent of the production clear, but the issue haunts the plot at present and might need to be addressed directly. The heart of the JK Rowling question is the art-and-artist separation, and a nostalgia show about Harry Potter in 2025 would do much by directly tackling the matter.
My overall impression
Definitely has the components of something special; there is more than enough here to see the potential of something really compelling. Better balance and pacing will capitalize on that potential. The nostalgia moments were consistently getting a crowd reaction.
