FAAAAAANtastic Beasts. Yes, again. I have THOUGHTS, and questions.

[birdsofshore]

So, first of all, two questions and some other discussion for anyone who's seen the film:

Did you notice about Graves being SOOO interested in why Dumbledore was fond of Newt? Gosh, I didn't even think about it til I saw the film the second time knowing Graves was Grindelwald, and then it gave me shivers, how much that question obviously meant to him. I thought that was really cool and clever, and they even showed it in the trailer, and we had NO IDEA. O_O I love that.

I borrowed the script from the library specifically to check on what Grindelwald said to Newt at the end, because it was incomprehensible! Apparently it was: "Will we die, just a little?" WTF does THAT mean? I read a theory that suggested Grindelwald and Newt have ~history, and that does make sense, really, because he addresses this directly to Newt, and this line of dialogue is so inexplicable at the moment, but maybe it means something to Newt? Any ideas on this?

Then, I read the Credence/Graves scene that those of us sick enough to be into twisted grooming really enjoyed, and I think it's actually MORE homo-erotic in the script:

"GRAVES gently, almost seductively, moves his thumb across the cuts, healing them instantly. CREDENCE stares...

GRAVES seems to make a decision. He puts on an earnest, trustworthy expression as, from his pocket, he produces a chain bearing the symbol of the Deathly Hallows.

GRAVES: I want you to have this, Credence. I would trust very few with it -

GRAVES moves close, placing the chain around CREDENCE's neck as he whispers.

GRAVES: Very few.

GRAVES places his hands on either side of CREDENCE's neck, drawing him in, his speech quiet, intimate.

GRAVES: ...but you - you're different.

CREDENCE is unsure, both nervous of and attracted by GRAVE's behaviour...

GRAVES moves even closer to CREDENCE, his face inches from the boy's neck - the effect is both alluring and threatening - as he whispers.

GRAVES: Do this and you will be honoured among wizards. For ever.

GRAVES pulls CREDENCE into a hug which, with his hand on CREDENCE's neck, seems more controlling than affectionate. CREDENCE, overwhelmed by the seeming affection, closes his eyes and relaxes slightly."

OMG, and YES PLEASE. ♥

And some spoilers about the rest of the series, for people who don't mind discussing that:

NO MORE GRAVES! I am really quite mopingly unhappy about this. WOE and bugger, bugger, bugger. This info came from David Heyman in the interview here: Snitchseeker interview . And the Credence/Graves ship is doomed before it properly began *waiiiiillll*

(my son J says this is how most people feel about Sirius dying in HP and it serves me right. !!!)

CREDENCE LIVES: The script has a little description of his apparent death which shows AHA he's not gone...

As Newt follows Madam Picquery’s gaze, he sees a tendril of black matter, a small part of the Obscurus, floating down through the roof. Unnoticed by anyone else, it eventually floats up and away, trying to reconnect with its host.

And apparently A deleted scene showed him boarding a boat at the end of the film. This is great news, but I cannot be truly content without the prospect of more Graves/Credence alleyway angst.

And apparently, we can expect a fadeout of Newt, Tina, Queenie and Jacob as main characters, to be replaced by Grindelwald, Credence and Dumbledore. I thought the first film was pretty dark and depressing on the whole, and it seems the tone of the series will if anything get darker? I'm not sure how I feel about this, but if Credence is involved, it can't be all bad. :DD

And finally: still no news about the casting of Dumbledore... what do you think? Any hopes or fears?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. ♥

Comments

[carpemermaid.livejournal.com]

I saw a hilarious post on tumblr about Graves/Grindelwald's interest in Dumbledore lol, it said something along the lines of being a jealous/possessive boyfriend.

"Will we die, just a little?"
Maybe... and, I'm just shooting in the dark with guesses here, but maybe it has to do with the Obscurus? Maybe it's a hint about Credence?? Maybe, even though Credence is still alive, a part of him dies when the Obscurial is destroyed by the Aurors? Which, if that's the case, would tie it closer to Horcruxes perhaps? IDK IDK??

And that is some SUPER suggestive scene direction lmao! And really interesting to see that alongside how Colin and Ezra played out the scene.

I'm pretty sad about the idea of them phasing out Newt, especially after the bait and switch feel. I mean, I'm totally interested in more Credence and Dumbledore, but I'm left feeling a bit cheated to be introduced to these lovely characters only for them to fade out of importance.

[birdsofshore]

Yes! He totally seems jealous when you rewatch that scene, the whole intensity of it and the focus of his questioning on that ONE issue, hehehe!

I really hope it's not to do with Horcruxes. Augh! But really, JKR could take this in any direction.

I thought people might enjoy the scene direction... :D Wow, the word choice! Seductive, alluring, attracted, intimate... ♥ NGL, their twisted dynamic is my favourite thing from the film. *blush*

I agree with you about the bait and switch! I was feeling so excited to have new canon for a part of the HP verse, but one that wasn't going to affect my HP feels in any way. The connection is exciting in some ways, but mostly it makes me feel concerned that stuff we already love is going to be affected by the new material, possibly in negative ways. It feels REALLY risky and I'm not crazy about risks concerning the things I love most. And yes, why get us all attached to the four main characters (I worked HARD to do that, to get to know them and like them, haha!) and then decide you ACTUALLY want us to care about this whole other story you REALLY wanted to tell...

[carpemermaid.livejournal.com]

The connection is exciting in some ways, but mostly it makes me feel concerned that stuff we already love is going to be affected by the new material, possibly in negative ways.

Oh yes, absolutely, THIS!!! It seems like JKR wanted to tie it in with the existing canon to make it familiar, but like you said that totally opens up the risk of retconning. I was chatting with amorette on her post last night about the speculation about whether or not Ariana was an Obscurial, and how that affects what we know about Dumbledore + Grindelwald's history/motives/morals, not to mention the fact that Harry, Merope, etc didn't turn into them, so it seems kinda finicky at best. I really hope they don't tie in to the Horcruxes, too.

[amorette.livejournal.com]

I did get some insight into that whole "But how about Harry and Snape though..." argument! Someone on tumblr said there probably needs to be an element of having to consciously suppress your magic. That explanation does fill in the bit of finnicky plot holeyness we were feeling.

[birdsofshore]

This didn't bother me, the fact that others didn't turn into Obscurials. It seems like a very rare thing, and stuff like this is not always predictable. I mean humans aren't machines which you can program a certain way and they always react the same, so I think it's a deterministic view to think that everyone in a similar situation would become an Obscurial. For instance, you could put 10 people through the same set of stressful experiences and maybe 3 of them would suffer from depression, 1 from anxiety, 1 from PTSD and the other 5 might recover and not suffer any lasting effects? I don't know if that analogy works, but do you get what I mean?

[amorette.livejournal.com]

I can understand that :)

[shiftylinguini.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhh this has totally been on my mind lol, and that's super interesting about needing to consciously repress magic for this to maybe manifest. I'm curious about Ariana as well...was she mentioned, or is this something people are speculating about after the Obscurials being introduced/what we know about her already?

[amorette.livejournal.com]

As for Ariana, it's only a theory right now about her being an Obscurial.

[shiftylinguini.livejournal.com]

about whether or not Ariana was an Obscurial, and how that affects what we know about Dumbledore + Grindelwald's history/motives/morals, not to mention the fact that Harry, Merope, etc didn't turn into them, so it seems kinda finicky at best. I really hope they don't tie in to the Horcruxes, too.

*huge eyes* yeah that really would add a different layer to the albullert (hahaha) history and to Ariana...I sort of hope she wasn't one...I dunno. :/

Gosh I am so excited to learn more about Albus and Gellert though!!!1