My like-dislike relationship continues...

...with Tuesday Morning Quarterback, who has returned for the NFL season.  In his first column back from his annual offseason hiatus, Easterbrook attacked various plot points of the final Harry Potter book. I have to say that even by his occasionally-suspect standards, he did a really shoddy job of picking Deathly Hallows apart.  Here are TMQ's lingering questions, followed by OP's answers (WARNING: if you plan on reading the book, do not read the Q and A below):

Q: How did the sword of Godric Gryffindor get into the Sorting Hat? A: Simple: because it had happened before (Chamber of Secrets), and because both items actually belonged to Gryffindor regardless of what the goblins felt.  Rowling herself explains this in a post-release online chat that ties up several loose ends she should have included in the book 

Q: Why didn't the good witches and wizards buy guns?  A: That's a very good question, and one I asked myself when I was reading the book.

Q: If Harry is true master of the Elder Wand, how is Tom Riddle able to use this implement to "kill" our hero? A: because the Elder Wand killed Voldemort's Horcrux, which in turn affected Harry.  Look, I didn't like the "King's Cross" chapter either, but it had to happen. 

Q: What the heck is happening in the scene where Harry is "dead"? A: I have no idea. Like I said, I didn't like the chapter either. 

Look, nobody is claiming the books are perfect. And this is TMQ's biggest flaw when he reviews shows, movies and the like in popular culture: he nitpicks.  If I treated all his columns the way he treated the Happy Potter books, I'd be telling everyone what a terrible writer he is all the time.  I'd really like to see some examples of movies where he doesn't have anything to pick at.   

But in he next entry, you'll see the exact opposite: why TMQ is, at his best, an invaluable columnist.

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