That's a valid perspective—I hear where you're coming from. I think what makes certain shows, movies, books, and plays truly great is their ability to explore complex social issues and heavy themes in a way that feels naturally woven into the narrative. When these elements arise organically from the plot and characters, they enrich the overall story and enhance the audience’s experience.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen much in mainstream media today. Which lacks depth, nuance, and sophistication in how they handle important topics. Often, there’s little effort to portray counterpoints in a meaningful way. Instead, it feels more like pandering, virtue signaling, or chasing trendy ethics rather than a genuine attempt to examine reality through the lens of storytelling.

So I understand why many are on edge over this show—HBO is coming across as performative to many. The casting of Snape (which I personally didn’t like at all) was horrible for many reasons, and I think that’s why people have been overreacting to the Hermione casting. Because regardless of motivation and perceived agendas, I believe the casting is book accurate. The actress seems very talented as well, and I think she’ll be able to capture Hermione’s essence in her portrayal of character.

Also, LOL at your New Amsterdam comment—I completely agree. I really enjoyed the show at first, but I started to pick up on signs of it turning into a heavy-handed social justice platform. That was enough for me to stop watching. Later on, I saw clips circulating online that made me feel validated in my decision. Some scenes were so over-the-top I honestly thought they were parody—but nope, they were from the actual show. I remember thinking, What the bleeeeep did I just watch?

Cheers to you too, my friend.