The fic was written back in 2007, when HP fever was still on a high, the Dark Lord Potter forum was thriving, and attitudes were very different. The latter points are kind of important.
Firstly, because Nonjon (the author) was a definite part of the Dark Lord Potter forum. DLP was known for favouring Super!Harry fics of one form or another, which usually ended up being dull Gary Stu power-fantasies filled with Ron the Death Eater bashing of one variety or another, and lots of needless smut. Oh, and generally a dislike for canon pairings. That's reflected here.
Secondly, comedy included a lot more punching down than we might be comfortable with now. Of course, you turn back the clock another 13 years, to 1994, and someone from 2007 would probably have said the same. Turn it forward to 2033, and there may yet be someone saying the same thing (and other people complaining about Political Correctness Gone Mad). That is also reflected here - Nonjon quite clearly grew up in the 1990s or early 2000s.
Accordingly, it's stereotypical straight white male humour for a straight white male audience - one that favours American frat humour. It's got a fair few uncomfortably homophobic, sexist, transphobic, and perhaps even racist jokes (though I would note that the ableist criticism isn't entirely valid, since the characters are actually transfigured into children for their 'midget detention'). The latter depends how you interpret Nappy the House Elf, who has stereotypical 'happy black slave' mannerisms. Is it playing the old trope straight, or an intentionally absurdist exaggeration of how House Elves seem to be happy to be a Slave Race in canon? I think it mixes the two, enough to be more than a little uncomfortable. Also, there's one about male rape, which leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Now, some of the criticisms, about the exaggerated 'no homo' attitudes of the protagonists, them being inexplicable sex gods, and other related humour can be explained by the fact that this story is almost a parody of most of the other fics in the same line. It leans straight into the absurd with the humour, thriving on how ridiculous the concept is, it has no problem embarrassing and outright humiliating the protagonists at times, and even the apparent distaste for Harry/Ginny is tempered by the fact that AU Ginny is pretty awesome.
The plot is also rather clever, especially with the nature of "That Fucker" (also Played for Laughs), a moderately intimidating AU Voldemort (he's not the world's most massive threat, but he is unmistakeably a total monster, genuinely dangerous, and defeating him carries a price, just as in the universe that other Harry comes from), some interestingly and effectively sketched out laws of magic, and the carefully plotted heists. It even thinks through the conceit of Harry's magical arms, making what could be a simple ridiculous OP feature genuinely intriguing by characterising them as a modulated combination of summoning and banishing charms.
This isn't to say that it's a brilliantly subversive piece that subtly undercuts every single trope of the time, because it absolutely isn't and it absolutely doesn't. The criticisms are completely valid, especially regarding the humour, and it plays fandom specific tropes like the 'Harry flips off everyone and gets away with murder' concept straight as an arrow.
But it is cleverer than it is believed to be. It knows exactly what it is, and doesn't pretend to be anything else, while making nods to how ludicrous the whole thing is. And it was of its time. This does not make the cringey and problematic elements any less so, but it does give context: it was written when that was basically normal.
If you like Deadpool and can tolerate a few cringe moments, then this is probably a story you'll enjoy. If not, then... not. As I say - it was of its time. That is the best, and the worst, I can say of it.
Of Its Time...
... is probably the best way to put it.
The fic was written back in 2007, when HP fever was still on a high, the Dark Lord Potter forum was thriving, and attitudes were very different. The latter points are kind of important.
Firstly, because Nonjon (the author) was a definite part of the Dark Lord Potter forum. DLP was known for favouring Super!Harry fics of one form or another, which usually ended up being dull Gary Stu power-fantasies filled with Ron the Death Eater bashing of one variety or another, and lots of needless smut. Oh, and generally a dislike for canon pairings. That's reflected here.
Secondly, comedy included a lot more punching down than we might be comfortable with now. Of course, you turn back the clock another 13 years, to 1994, and someone from 2007 would probably have said the same. Turn it forward to 2033, and there may yet be someone saying the same thing (and other people complaining about Political Correctness Gone Mad). That is also reflected here - Nonjon quite clearly grew up in the 1990s or early 2000s.
Accordingly, it's stereotypical straight white male humour for a straight white male audience - one that favours American frat humour. It's got a fair few uncomfortably homophobic, sexist, transphobic, and perhaps even racist jokes (though I would note that the ableist criticism isn't entirely valid, since the characters are actually transfigured into children for their 'midget detention'). The latter depends how you interpret Nappy the House Elf, who has stereotypical 'happy black slave' mannerisms. Is it playing the old trope straight, or an intentionally absurdist exaggeration of how House Elves seem to be happy to be a Slave Race in canon? I think it mixes the two, enough to be more than a little uncomfortable. Also, there's one about male rape, which leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Now, some of the criticisms, about the exaggerated 'no homo' attitudes of the protagonists, them being inexplicable sex gods, and other related humour can be explained by the fact that this story is almost a parody of most of the other fics in the same line. It leans straight into the absurd with the humour, thriving on how ridiculous the concept is, it has no problem embarrassing and outright humiliating the protagonists at times, and even the apparent distaste for Harry/Ginny is tempered by the fact that AU Ginny is pretty awesome.
The plot is also rather clever, especially with the nature of "That Fucker" (also Played for Laughs), a moderately intimidating AU Voldemort (he's not the world's most massive threat, but he is unmistakeably a total monster, genuinely dangerous, and defeating him carries a price, just as in the universe that other Harry comes from), some interestingly and effectively sketched out laws of magic, and the carefully plotted heists. It even thinks through the conceit of Harry's magical arms, making what could be a simple ridiculous OP feature genuinely intriguing by characterising them as a modulated combination of summoning and banishing charms.
This isn't to say that it's a brilliantly subversive piece that subtly undercuts every single trope of the time, because it absolutely isn't and it absolutely doesn't. The criticisms are completely valid, especially regarding the humour, and it plays fandom specific tropes like the 'Harry flips off everyone and gets away with murder' concept straight as an arrow.
But it is cleverer than it is believed to be. It knows exactly what it is, and doesn't pretend to be anything else, while making nods to how ludicrous the whole thing is. And it was of its time. This does not make the cringey and problematic elements any less so, but it does give context: it was written when that was basically normal.
If you like Deadpool and can tolerate a few cringe moments, then this is probably a story you'll enjoy. If not, then... not. As I say - it was of its time. That is the best, and the worst, I can say of it.