With nearly two decades since the release of the final Harry Potter TV show, the new interpretation will only add fuel to the ongoing fire.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts and the primary events of The Deathly Hallows, the epilogue picks up nineteen years later, showing the main trio sending their children off to Hogwarts. Harry and Ginny are married with three children, and Ron and Hermione have two of their own, suggesting that life has been fairly peaceful after the devastating events that transpired. Harry exchanges a glance with Draco Malfoy, who's there dropping off his son, Neville is revealed to be the herbology professor at Hogwarts, and Harry refers to Snape as the bravest man he ever knew.

Harry Potter's Epilogue Is One Of The Most Heavily Criticized Aspects Of The Series

The Epilogue Scene Is A Divisive Topic

Harry Potter Epilogue featuring an older Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), and Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright)

Everyone has their own personal favorite Harry Potter book and favorite Harry Potter movie, and there are a number of reasons to favor each installment. The Deathly Hallows often earns praise for its darker tone and bittersweet ending, which is typical for a fantasy series. The heroes win the day, but at a great cost, and with so many phenomenal characters among the ensemble, the fates of characters like Lupin, Fred Weasley, and Dobby sting even deeper. That makes the epilogue stand out even more.

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Considering the sequence of events, the book ends with Harry defeating Voldemort, a celebration, and Harry returning to Dumbledore's office to discuss the fate of the Deathly Hallows. Book 7 then ends with the brief epilogue sequence. While not every reader is distasteful of the epilogue, it's remained a point of criticism and discussion for years for multiple reasons. Regardless of how one feels about the chapter, the critiques are certainly valid and worth the conversation, especially given how little has been added to the story after the fact.

Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows' Ending Is A Little Too Optimistic

The Book Goes From War To Happily Ever After Almost Instantly

The final Harry Potter epilogue is practically dreamlike and euphoric compared to all that’s happened. Everyone is happily married to their high school sweetheart, living ideal lives, and sending their children off to Hogwarts. There’s no mention of the war and its consequences, leading many to believe the epilogue is just too optimistic. There's such a sharp and drastic contrast between the dreary end of the battle and the sudden time jump that doesn't address any of the grief or other serious themes that came with the war.

There's so much to imagine in of what happened during that nineteen-year gap. Hogwarts and the entire Wizarding World had to be rebuilt from its foundation, several characters had to deal with the loss of friends and loved ones, and there were countless moments of emotional catharsis that readers never got to see. Consider Harry's return to the Dursleys, Lucius Malfoy's trial, the marriages of all the main characters, and more. These would have been far more fulfilling and realistic events to display.

The Names Of Harry's & Ginny's Kids Have Become A Point Of Contention

Albus Severus Potter Raises Some Questions

Harry hugs Albus Potter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

It seems clear that Harry had the opportunity to name each of his and Ginny's children, with all of them named after people who were prominent in his life and barely relevant to hers. I suppose that's the benefit of being the chosen one, but it's still slightly amusing to read and has become a source for memes among the community. As it pertains to the names themselves, there's even more that readers love to critique. First, the name "Albus Severus" and Harry's point of praise for Snape brings up another significant debate,

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A compelling counterargument for this would be that Harry named his son Severus as a way of forgiving Snape, which feels in line with his character. It's worth considering both sides, and I think this one really just boils down to how one feels about the whole Snape debate. Regardless, these are fair critiques to make, as they speak to the author's suggestion of how one should feel about particular characters or events, and many dedicated readers have far more complicated emotions regarding the matters at hand.

Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows' Epilogue Does Little To Address The Aftermath Of The War

How Has The World Changed?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2)

The Harry Potter book series was written with YA audiences in mind, but there are still incredibly dark and mature themes, which is part of what's given them such an all-encoming appeal. These are fantasy novels that deal with slavery, blood purity, torture, and more, and the defeat of Lord Voldemort is essentially the final battle of this period between good and evil. Considering another story with a similar premise, The Lord of the Rings is sure to offer some context for the events after Sauron's downfall and how Middle-earth was shaped in his absence.

the lack of any world-building in the aftermath of the war denies readers the opportunity to see how the world has improved.

Sure, one could make the case that Harry Potter is a character-driven story, and using the epilogue as an opportunity for an exposition dump would feel impersonal, but the characters it focuses on aren't exactly the ones we spent seven books reading about. These chapters are primarily about the children rather than the main characters. Readers get to see a glimpse of a "happily ever after" sort of life for the heroes, but the lack of any world-building in the aftermath of the war denies readers the opportunity to see how the world has improved.

The purpose of the hero's journey is for the hero to return home after the quest and bestow boons on their kin. For Harry, he's saved the world and had children, and one could suggest that he's ed on noble lessons to them. However, not seeing that on a broader scale indicates that the world of Harry Potter may be doomed to repeat itself. It's hard to say, as there's just not much to go on outside of The Cursed Child.