I just want to share this absolutely lovely quote regarding Newtina from one of the books.
I only rejoined the HP fandom after seeing the first Fantastic Beasts movie. I left the HP fandom after the book release of Goblet of Fire…I loved the books but I hated the infighting among the fans. And I shamefully admit that even then, I thought Rowling was having another cash grab so I didn’t watch the movie right away. When I watched the movie, I was with my husband and kids - and my youngest was quite rowdy that I have to leave the theater several times. But what really got me was the end - when Newt offered to give Tina his book in person. And I was like - “DAMN…JK sure knows how to pack a punch”. It’s such an original way to open a relationship. Even my husband turned to me and told me that was so sweet.
So when I managed to get my hands on the BluRay, I rewatched it and I fell in love with Newtina and the movie. I dare say, I find it more interesting than the original Harry Potter books/movies because it is more mature and not everything merely happens within the confines of the school and the school year. I’m just hoping that by the end of all 5 films, Rowling will have a 10,000 page novelization of the films.
But Newtina really struck me hard and after Crimes of Grindelwald, I dare say it is the best pairing in the whole Wizarding World franchise. I am not opposed to any of the canon pairings - I did ship them during my time in the HP fandom - but Newtina puts those pairings to shame IMHO.
The school environment is a very convenient way to form relationships. These are relationships formed by seeing each other every day for a good chunk of the year. I’m not knocking down those relationships since I know how beautiful school relationships can blossom but nearly every relationship in the original series were formed within the confines of Hogwarts. To a certain degree, Fantastic Beasts does have that with the relationship between Newt and Leta.
Newt’s trip to New York changed all that. I think it was probably a big deal that Newt’s closest friends turned out to be foreigners and these relationships that were formed quickly but sincere. I assume that during that time, Americans and British had some significant cultural differences so forming those bonds were serendipitous. And Rowling made sure to show that since the three main protagonist Newt, Tina and Jacob all encounter each other for the first time at the same place. There was no train station, train car, sorting hat or whatever — just three people literally bumping into each other by chance.
The quote above is perfect for how Newtina started. At first glace Newt and Tina are total opposites but deep down they share the same core values/potential. And they began to see that potential in each other. Of course there is the obvious physical attraction between them specially with Newt being absolutely besotted with Tina in CoG — Salamander Eyes and all…but it all started with a realization that the other person has so much heart to give.
Newt saw it by accident when Tina was almost executed. He had a glimpse into Tina’s cherished memories: her love for her family and sister and risking her career to save Credence. Prior to that, Tina is just the haughty Auror that Newt despises.
Tina probably saw Newt as the errant rule breaker. She initially misunderstands the purpose of Newt’s book thinking its an extermination guide for beasts. But she finally sees how he takes care of his creatures and how far he will go to make sure they are safe and that resonated with her because that’s probably how she is.
And her change of heart with regard to his creatures becomes apparent when she inadvertently gives him the title of his book due to her personal experiences with them. She is transformed by her experience…technically Newt’s first believer. Newt sees this and is stunned. Really Rowling…bravo for that moment. Who would have thought that the origin of a book title could have so much significance.
Inherently they are very similar. They are stunted, probably with limited relationships, crave a degree of solitude. And when that thought finally settles in their minds in the first film, it hits them like a train that they can’t stop. They fell for each other quickly and unexpectedly.
Tina, who wasn’t really forward, actually goes to ask Newt about Leta. You can see the sadness in her face thinking that she will probably never see him again. Newt responds to that by assuring her that he will be back and it’s something else for the author, who lives an ocean away form you, to offer to deliver you his book in person. There was no mistaking his intent at that moment.
Then a few months pass and misunderstandings come in primarily because these two characters are also insecure of themselves.
Newt ends up breaking his promise to deliver his book and Tina eventually reads a fake news article about him engaged to his childhood love. Tina is crushed, insecure and upset that she might have misread the whole thing between her and Newt. She stops their correspondence completely, after all it’s not proper for her to keep writing to an engaged man.
When Queenie explains the circumstances behind Tina’s silence the the probability of her moving on, Newt becomes desperate to be reunited with Tina - desperate enough to challenge his travel ban and get himself locked up in Azkaban.
Some people have expressed their dislike with Newt not wanting to pick a side but immediately running to Paris to meet his ‘crush’. But it’s really more than that and Dumbledore attests to that. Newt will always follow his heart but whatever situation he is faced in, he will always do what he believes is right. Newt went to Paris to find Tina but he got caught up with all the Grindelwald mess but eventually did what is right. Dumbledore counted on that which is why Newt is Dumbledore’s point man in this whole war with Grindelwald.
It’s actually quite ironic that in the first movie, Grindelwald/Graves tells Tina she has a knack for showing up where she is least wanted — why least wanted? Because she will always do the right thing as well.
And the whole Salamander Eyes moment… It starts out as comedic relief with Jacob telling Newt to go by the conventional route of talking to a girl. But with Newt being Newt, he just went on but Tina finishes his sentence for him. And wow…ok Rowling bravo once more. Tina knew what Newt was going to say and accepted it for what it truthfully means. When the two of them look at each other, it is a confirmation that their feelings for each other are reciprocated.
It’s just like the docks all over again. They know they love each other even without kissing or saying ‘I love you’. It’s amazing. Yes, I want to see a kiss but I cannot deny how beautiful the scene worked with out the default cues we think when we talk about love. I also have to credit the actors, Eddie Redmayne and Katherine Waterston for their amazing chemistry because all these cues wouldn’t have worked if they couldn’t pull it off.
And last but not the least…
Newt went to America to set a Thunderbird free. Little did he know that another Thunderbird came back to him.
Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
