(Not-So) "Fantastic Beasts" and Where is this Franchise Going?

Now, before you get all in a huff, you should know that I love "Harry Potter." Like, LOVE it. I, of course, know my House (Slytherin represent!), I have cosplayed as several characters from the series, I have some great merch (but, still, never enough) and I have read all of the books and seen all of the movies countless times (and am, in fact, starting to read them in Spanish!). J.K. Rowling did a fantastic job. And really, she should have just left it there.

All images are property of/belong to Warner Bros. I do not own any of them.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"

I was, as any HP fan would be, ecstatic when the first "Fantastic Beasts" movie was announced. "More magical Harry Potter-esque media," I thought "from good old J.K. herself! What could go wrong?" And, you know what? The first movie was actually pretty good, and lulled me into a false sense of security.

It was very wholesome and lighthearted, and reminded me a bit of the feel of the first "Harry Potter" movie. However, this joy at the thought of a new "Wizarding World" series was not meant to be.

"Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald"

The second movie, after such success and excitement from the first, was really hyped up. Characters' roles were revealed as huge secrets, more beasts and fight scenes were shown in the trailers, and I was PUMPED. But, then I actually saw the movie, and it felt...wrong.

I mean, I guess I enjoyed it on some level, but it just didn't feel right. The characters seem to have become different people, and were making choices/saying things that did not align with who they had been established as in the first movie.

True, there were still some cool "fantastic beasts," but they felt like they were added last minute as like, "Oh yeah, that's right, this movie is still called 'Fantastic Beasts!' Better put some in!" It just felt like a completely different movie, genre, and series from the first one, and made me lose my faith in J.K.'s script writing ability.

This isn't even mentioning the inconsistencies with characters from info that she had already made cannon (for example, that Professor McGonagall was teaching NOT ONLY in the timeline of the movie, but also when Newt was at Hogwarts, which is YEARS before she was actually born, according the original books and Pottermore).

The Threequel

Now, putting all of this negativity aside, a question must be asked. "But, then Treyson, does that mean that, when the third movie comes out, you won't see it?" Good question. The answer is...No, I will still go and see it.

As disappointed as I was by the second movie, I still have, not unlike Pavlov's dogs, been conditioned to salivate at the slightest mention of new HP content. I will still go see it, yes. But begrudgingly with significantly lowered expectations.

It was originally scheduled to come out in November of this year, but has been delayed until November of 2021. I guess we'll have to wait and see if it, like the 2nd one, strays into the Forbidden Forest, or more like the 1st, soars like Faux the Phoenix to success.

All in all, I still love "Harry Potter," and am a fan of J.K. Rowling's writing, but really only in book format. J.K., why, oh why didn't you just stick to what you can actually do? Screenplays are not for you. Sorry not sorry.