I saw the movie during the Fantastic Fandom Event on November 13th and have been waiting three days to discuss it in a group setting (which is much harder than I thought it would be :P). I'm just going to jump right into my thoughts.

— The Newt/Tina subplot was the cutest thing. Newt first told Dumbledore he couldn't go to Paris because of his travel ban, but the minute he hears Tina's in Paris, he decides being a law-abiding citizen no longer matters.

— I loved Leta Lestrange. I thought she was wonderfully complex compared to the other characters we were introduced to in the movie. I loved the flashbacks and how they established how she became who she was. My only complaint is that we didn't get to see the situation that led to Newt's expulsion and how she and Theseus came to be a couple.

— Queenie going to the "dark side" was something I anticipated solely off promotional materials. I don't believe she'll always be bad, but her decision to join Grindelwald wasn't unrealistic given her priorities through the story.

— Grindelwald's speech was AMAZINGLY manipulative and I'm ashamed to say that I could see myself believing in his message if I had been among the many people who came to listen.

— Corvus IV is a real shitty human being and his story makes me question how people live in the magical world without being afraid for their lives when they wake up every morning.

— I believe the "Aurelius Dumbledore" ending was one of Grindelwald's schemes. J.K. Rowling has been known to make some... questionable... choices in regards to adding onto her established canon, but I can't find an angle that this would make any sense.

— The soundtrack was wonderful.

— Jude Law made a PERFECT Dumbledore.

— The NIFFLER. <3

— I have many questions about how blood pacts work and I can't wait for that explanation.

— The Grindelwald chase scene had my mouth hanging wide open.

— I disliked the introduction of the minor characters. Most of them never had a solid arc (or appeared for one scene and were never seen again).

— I hope Vinda Rosier is given more solid development (as Abernathy was) in future installments because damn she has so much potential.

— The movie was much darker and I loved that. Mentions of WWII, seeing an actual infant murdered (which I suppose was a nod to the original Harry Potter movies), and the whole Corvus Lestrange arc.

— The movie seemed to serve as a filler between the last and next installment, which I was fine with. If it was going to be a filler, though, I wish it would have filled us in on everything that had happened between the last movie and this one. I didn't get enough of that with Queenie/Jacob and Newt/Tina.

— Bunty and the "maybe you should take your shirt off" scene was a huge #mood.

— After seeing it, I am horribly disappointed at the lack of magic in my posts, because this movie was FULL of it. I love that it showed the actual way spells work rather than firing colored sparks off and making something happen.

The following 1 user Likes Edric Umbridge's post:1 user Likes Edric Umbridge's post
   Prudence Browne

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— set by MJ! —

Grindelwald's speech gave me huge Church of Magical Jesus vibes. Just saying.

  

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Gilded beauty by MJ!

Gonna respond to your stuff in order with my own comments, Bree:

— I ship it.

— Leta Lestrange was fabulous. I really hope that the next movie will explore Newt's Hogwarts years and the actual expulsion.

— I was not surprised one bit that Queenie didn't go. I was 50/50 on Jacob going with her or not though. Love is a powerful thing, but it was pretty in character for him not to go with her.

— Not gonna lie, I probably would have bought into the message as well. Especially with the magical presentation of war that he did.

— Part of me wondered what other Lestranges would have thought of Corvus's actions. Especially the ones we see on Charming.

— Honestly, the moment Grindelwald made his 'reveal' I instantly thought "naw, he's so lying". With that, Elaine and I also did some canon math, and it really doesn't fit the timeline of 'Aurelius' being a Dumbledore.

— Agree 100% that the soundtrack was amazing, and the fact that they found a perfect young Dumbledore.

— I love both Nifflers and their babies now, so cute. Want one.

— Hopefully we'll get more info on the blood pacts with the next movie. I'm kinda wondering if we could bring that into Charming, if it fits to what is already established.

— I can't lie, I was pretty shocked during the reveal of the little switch of prisoners with the chase scene. I wonder how Grindelwald was able to make such an escape and have someone else in his cell.

— I'm all for solid arcs, so totally agree with your statement.

— All we know is that she's mysterious and seems quite loyal to Grindelwald. I also hope that we learn more about her as an individual.

— I also love how it was more dark. With both that and magical creatures, it made me so happy. But little baby Lestrange dying did shake me. And that poor woman who thinks that her child is dead made it even more heart breaking, along with Leta's own guilt over the situation. I was also shaken by the whole thing with Corvus and Leta's mother.

— I'm so glad that it was an interesting filler. Because fillers can be interesting. More info would indeed have been better though. Flamel should have had more screen time, and I really wish that his wife could have at least been mentioned.

— Newt looked so done, yet still confused by the statement. I loved it. I really hope we see more of her, she's so adorable.

— I was surprised by the amount of wordless magic going on, honestly. From certain theories, America having plenty of non-verbal magic makes sense. But Paris? Perhaps I'm reading too much into it. But my posts seriously need more magic as well.


Also, Elaine... yeah... that makes sense.

  

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Magic by Elaine!

— Honestly, the moment Grindelwald made his 'reveal' I instantly thought "naw, he's so lying". With that, Elaine and I also did some canon math, and it really doesn't fit the timeline of 'Aurelius' being a Dumbledore.

I was talking to someone in the bathroom after the showing and they said they wouldn't put it past J.K. Rowling to do that after including McGonagall in the flashbacks (who should have been born in 1935), but I think that was more fanservice than a major plot point. There's also speculation that Ariana Dumbledore was an obscurial and her obscurus invaded Credence, which would make him a "soul brother" more than a "blood brother". I'm not sure, though.

— I can't lie, I was pretty shocked during the reveal of the little switch of prisoners with the chase scene. I wonder how Grindelwald was able to make such an escape and have someone else in his cell.

Considering the way Newt and Dumbledore talked about being able to destroy it in the final scenes, I'm sure the blood pact will be a focal point in the next installment of the series.

— I was surprised by the amount of wordless magic going on, honestly. From certain theories, America having plenty of non-verbal magic makes sense. But Paris? Perhaps I'm reading too much into it. But my posts seriously need more magic as well.

The original HP series treated magic as something new and special, which it was when you consider that the main characters were children. The main characters in Fantastic Beasts are adult characters in their late 20s/30s who have lived with magic for a long time—and that's before you even consider that you have a handful of aurors and magical professionals. I'm sure nonverbal magic is something that adult wizards and witches learn as spells become more familiar to them. I think of it as tying a shoe: it takes children a while to learn how to tie the knot perfectly, but it's not really something we think about as adults unless we're flustered or in a rush.

  

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— set by MJ! —

Hypothesis - is the McGonagall presented in the film actually Minerva? Or could it be her mother? We know Minerva displays a preference for wizarding robes, even in the later films where almost everyone is in casual Muggle attire, and this McGonagall is seen wearing a conservative brown dress that looks like it belongs in the 19o0s or earlier - still fitting for a wizard of the era, however, seeing as they tend to have odd concepts of fashion sense.

But that's just a theory.

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   Ophelia Devine

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Gilded beauty by MJ!

I was talking to someone in the bathroom after the showing and they said they wouldn't put it past J.K. Rowling to do that after including McGonagall in the flashbacks (who should have been born in 1935), but I think that was more fanservice than a major plot point. There's also speculation that Ariana Dumbledore was an obscurial and her obscurus invaded Credence, which would make him a "soul brother" more than a "blood brother". I'm not sure, though.

I also agree with that as well. With a nod to Elaine's theory, it could also be an aunt or distant cousin of the McGonagall that we know (since wikia claims that McGonagall!Mother was a Quidditch Captain).

I have read that theory regarding obscurials, and it is possible. The whole name of 'Dumbledore' for Credence would be a lie still, but the full thing would be a half-lie on Grindelwald's part. I personally think he's too intelligent to make a wild guess and think it was actually true.

Considering the way Newt and Dumbledore talked about being able to destroy it in the final scenes, I'm sure the blood pact will be a focal point in the next installment of the series.

I completely agree. Finding out more things about the magical world of Harry Potter is wonderful, as long as it is realistic to older canon.

The original HP series treated magic as something new and special, which it was when you consider that the main characters were children. The main characters in Fantastic Beasts are adult characters in their late 20s/30s who have lived with magic for a long time—and that's before you even consider that you have a handful of aurors and magical professionals. I'm sure nonverbal magic is something that adult wizards and witches learn as spells become more familiar to them. I think of it as tying a shoe: it takes children a while to learn how to tie the knot perfectly, but it's not really something we think about as adults unless we're flustered or in a rush.

You have a fair point. I'd been under the assumption that type of magic was more like the level of microbiology or something. Yeah, was probably reading too much into it.

  

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Magic by Elaine!

Also, are we gonna talk about Irma?!?!?! HALF-ELF PEOPLE, HALF-ELF! There's only one canon species referred to as elves!!!

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   Edric Umbridge

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Gilded beauty by MJ!

Also, are we gonna talk about Irma?!?!?! HALF-ELF PEOPLE, HALF-ELF! There's only one canon species referred to as elves!!!

When you put it in the context of the Lestrange family, whose patriarch kidnapped and forced women to have his children, it's FAR creepier. I can only assume that someone forced their female house-elf to do that and just... ugh.

  

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— set by MJ! —

I'm just wondering why the third mother of his children had pointed ears.

And, are we making half-house elves site-canon?

  

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Magic by Elaine!

Also, are we gonna talk about Irma?!?!?! HALF-ELF PEOPLE, HALF-ELF! There's only one canon species referred to as elves!!!

When you put it in the context of the Lestrange family, whose patriarch kidnapped and forced women to have his children, it's FAR creepier. I can only assume that someone forced their female house-elf to do that and just... ugh.

I'll agree that it sounds creepy and gross, but hey - now we know it's biologically possible. >_>

  

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Gilded beauty by MJ!

my main gripe is there was not nearly enough gay between dumbledore and grindelwald in this film

  

my main gripe is there was not nearly enough gay between dumbledore and grindelwald in this film

To be fair, at least one of them wants to have the other killed. But Dumbledore did have some lovely angst. More in the next films would be better. (We all deserve more flash backs, cause I really want to see younger Dumbledore and Grindelwald angst in person. All the feels.)

  

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Magic by Elaine!

i just want all the gay and thats it

also 100% it's defo a grindelwald ploy re credence being a dumbledore

The following 1 user Likes Charles Caulfield's post:1 user Likes Charles Caulfield's post
   Acacia Darlington

YAY I SAW THIS AND I LIKED IT HERE ARE MY GENERAL THOUGHTS:

— If "Aurelius" isn't a ruse (my immediate reaction was "ew wtf" but I could see myself warming to it depending on how it's framed next film) then I think it would be a fun twist if he was the Dubledore to kill Grindelwald and Albus just takes the credit.

— Petition to do a new HP movie series in 30 years with Jude Law as Dumbledore.

— I was really annoyed by how much authority British aurors had in France.

— SO MANY PARALLELS between Grindelwald and Trump and Hitler. I loved it. I think that having Queenie swing that way was a fab way to illustrate how easily "normal" people can be swayed by a compelling message.

— I was really skeptical (aka I hated it) about Depp as Grindelwald but, costuming choices aside, I really enjoyed what he did with it.

— Is it dumb that they made Nagini a snake woman? Yes. Did I like the character in the film regardless? Also yes.

— Leta was fabulous but I understand neither the IC or OOC reason for her death, so there's that.

— The...fire...dragon? was garbage and I would have rather had a good old fashioned duel. There was a lot of ~social stuff going on without an OTT magical spectacle with no real stakes, IMO.

— The weird lady at the French Ministry with the cat things gave me Mecha Trolley Lady vibes and I loathed it. I didn't think this portion was useful at all, frankly. It accomplished nothing that couldn't be done by simply saying "the truth is at the tomb" or some shit.

— WHAT EVEN WAS LETA'S JOB?

— The casting on the young versions was A+.

— AYYYY YOUNG MCG.

  

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— Aldous walks with a cane and pronounced limp as the result of a splinching accident. —

— graphics by lady ❤ —

Grindelwald's speech gave me huge Church of Magical Jesus vibes. Just saying.

YES ALSO THIS.

I was sitting there thinking "Well, that's one CMJ devotee that goes off the rails." xD

  

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— Aldous walks with a cane and pronounced limp as the result of a splinching accident. —

— graphics by lady ❤ —

— If "Aurelius" isn't a ruse (my immediate reaction was "ew wtf" but I could see myself warming to it depending on how it's framed next film) then I think it would be a fun twist if he was the Dubledore to kill Grindelwald and Albus just takes the credit.

— Petition to do a new HP movie series in 30 years with Jude Law as Dumbledore.

High key agreement here, on both points. He really reminded me hardcore of the original Dumbledore actor and I was kind of having feels, because that was something that had me in tears....

— Leta was fabulous but I understand neither the IC or OOC reason for her death, so there's that.

— WHAT EVEN WAS LETA'S JOB?

Point A: To bring the Scamander brothers back together and give Newt even more reason to side with Theseus. Point B: I WANNA KNOW TOO OMFG!!

— The...fire...dragon? was garbage and I would have rather had a good old fashioned duel. There was a lot of ~social stuff going on without an OTT magical spectacle with no real stakes, IMO.

I was thinking Fiendfyre, tbh. Think about it. Magical beasties made out of fire.

Grindelwald's speech gave me huge Church of Magical Jesus vibes. Just saying.

YES ALSO THIS.

I was sitting there thinking "Well, that's one CMJ devotee that goes off the rails." xD

Literally was muttering it to myself during the speech, like, "Holy crap."