The Fantastic Masculinity of Newt Scamander
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- Опубліковано 28 тра 2017
- NOTE: Since this video was made back in 2017, author J.K. Rowling has turned into a transphobic bigot. Don't be like her. Support trans people! That's what Newt would do :)
Newt Scamander, protagonist of the Harry Potter spinoff, is an unconventional male hero. He performs a refreshingly atypical form of masculinity, especially for the lead in a fantasy adventure story.
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FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT
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FOOTAGE USED
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
• Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
• Scott Pilgrim vs The World (2010)
• The Matrix (1999)
• Doctor Who: The Eleventh Hour (2010)
• Thor: The Dark World (2013)
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
• Star Trek (2009)
• A Beautiful Mind (2001)
• Back to the Future (1985)
• Sherlock: The Blind Banker (2010)
• Sherlock: A Study in Pink (2010)
• MTV After Hours Hufflepuff PSA (2016)
COMMENTS
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FAIR USE
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CREDITS
Writer/Producer: Jonathan McIntosh
Motion Graphics: Jonathan McIntosh
Logo Design: Justin McIntosh
Outro music: Jonathan Mann
/ jonathanmann
Help us caption & translate this video!
amara.org/v/73xx/
"Why did you keep me around?"
"Because I like you. Because you're my friend"
"Oh"
I CRY EVERYTIME
The way the guy’s voice breaks with that “Oh” 😭
"Newt's truly special gift is not his magic. It's his empathy." Best summation of Newt Scamander I've ever read.
how do you have 37K likes and no comments
@@zaydzulqurnain594 because the quote spoke for itself? No idea haha
@@zaydzulqurnain594😮
"Defeating the monster is framed as a tragedy because they couldn't save him." That's right on the mark
Credence was a perfectly written and executed character. He’s technically a villain, but he’s not a bad person. He is simply hurting and lashes out
When working with animals, it is usually best to avoid eye contact because it can seem confrontational to them. Newt's aversion to eye contact, while also being a possible symptom of being on the autism spectrum, is a good instinct for him to have for his work with animals.
17k likes no replies???????
@@tuanzixiao3666 I thought I was the only one here after 3 years
i cant believe people dont like newt. he's such a good character?? he's here repping us anxious ppl too
pasywasy
He is
I praised Eddie's acting in this movie and was told by multiple friends I was wrong, that he was weak and sad for most of the movie... I questioned whether we saw the same movie.
They probably just have an antiquated definition of what traits should be considered "weak and sad," I suppose. Probably a good idea to send them this video.
OnigiriPuff odd friends. 😉 Eddie's acting might appear weak to people who have seen the horrible space fantasy "jupiter ascending" - recalling that performance can break the strongest illusion. i liked the character and think Eddie did a good job with it.
Honestly, Newt is refreshing. Nothing is more boring than a stereotype that you've seen thousands of times. Newt is brave in his own way, he is very competent in what he does and he has an absolute heart of gold. I can't relate to people (or really take seriously for that matter) who think Newt is weak or boring, because clearly, they weren't paying attention to him in the movie. He feels so much more real than most any male character that I've seen in a movie, it really immerses you into the experience. Not all birds have to be aggressive and brightly coloured to be interesting.
i agree! Newt is a unique hero and he is refreshing to see! He is capable but most importantly empathetic and kind
The fact that the fat, non-athletic, confused, non-magical dude gets an actual romantic arc makes me happy.
just cause it’s uncommon in movies doesn’t make it unrealistic
Why unrealistic? That's definitely not true especially nowadays, where obesity is a civilization disease. One in five people have overweight globally. And all kind of people fall in love and want to be in a relationship. What's unrealistic about that?
@@wesleytwiggs7687 cause magic doesn’t exist?
@@wesleytwiggs7687 well your talking about specifically a muggle/ NO-mage(?) no idea how to spell that but he literally meets magical people one of which can read minds finds him interesting and already know he likes her cause… well she is hot and good at cooking so if you or anybody else where in that situation had the same reaction wouldn’t the same thing happen?
@@wesleytwiggs7687 well hey what if that same guy met a girl who also loved to bake and also wasn’t the most athletic? Never know they might hit it off
Every single person I've talked to loves the character of Newt. To the point where finding out that the studio wants to demote him is a huge shock to me. I think it would be a terrible mistake.
Unfortunately, they aren't listening to the people you or I know who love the character, they're listening to reviewers who are used to seeing a specific type of hero in their movies, and almost unanimously say Newt stinks.
I walked out of the cinema thinking Newt was one of the most attractive male characters I've ever seen
lol
@@whizh i mean for me it's true 😅..other girls needs a kind guy like newt in this world..
Don't forget he is played by Eddie Redmayne
@@alexsmith1855 so
@nikolai what do you mean so? Eddie Redmayne is handsome
Newt is one of the very rare male protagonists I would trust with holding my drink and not spiking it
@@Switchspark Culture of Control tells them they deserve it. I say this speaking as a trans girl who, before by revalation, would have absolutely grown up to be the creepy dude handing girls drinks.
why do you feel that tho? Expressing your gender can change your worldview, but if you were open enough to change it, maybe you would be open enough to change and be empathetic and carry a healthy masculinity even as a cis male no ?@@TessdaWater
@@14thsomebodyelse I see where you're coming from, and I think I understand your point. "Be the change you want to see in the world," right?
The issue is that I would be ridiculously unhappy as a man. I *was* ridiculously unhappy as a teenager, when my parents refused to let me live as a girl. Unhappy to the point of almost attempting suicide. I would rather not go through that again.
So while I understand and agree with you, in that I could be a good man, I will not be doing that. I rather enjoy my life, and I don't want it bogged down by my unhappiness.
My point wasnt to tell you to not transition of course. That would be very rude of me and im sorry if it came off that way. Was just trying to say all men arent toxicly masculine or creepy. Even if someone grows up in a really sexist and toxicly masculine environment. They can still grow up to be empathetic as long as they canbe tought a somewhat healthy masculinity.@@TessdaWater
@@14thsomebodyelse I understand that not all men are creepy rapist types. My intention was to state that those that are brought up in a culture of control, in which they are told that men deserve to have women, tend to exhibit traits regarded as creepy and rapist-like.
At the end of the movie, Newt starts making direct eye contact with both Tina and Jacob (but only them). It was a cool detail that I didn't notice until you pointed out that Newt usually avoids eye contact.
That’s why he ended up marrying Tina and considered Jacob a friend.
Newt would have loved Hagrid
Lost your chance to title this video "Fantastic masculinity and where to find it".
It was amazing nonetheless!
Guiler I know right!
I don’t understand the people who don’t understand characters like newt.
i remember seeing lots of teen girls and young women raving about the actor when this movie came out, he was the new heart throb at the time.
i watched this movie today and found him to be very endearing. he was like that quiet, 'nerdy' boy in your class, who you secretly thought was cute, who grew up to be an understatedly charming man.
Obviously critics don't know what they are talking about. Newt has more heart and soul than all those "heroic" meatheads out there. It's refreshing and encouraging to see a man show tenderness instead of aggression.
That's the wrong observation, they do know what they are talking about. They express what they know and what they have been taught. They are biased because they are human, all humans are biased.
I think harry potter is the best example of a balanced guy
@@MrMarinus18both this and the og comment are profoundly good and points that can and should coexist! Great observations from both you and the original commenter
@@thefbiguyinurcomputer4788 I do like Newt though I don't dislike the more actiony heroes either. My problem with many of them is that they aren't heroes and are really just violent assholes.
Though if you do have a good person then they are a good person regardless.
@@MrMarinus18 so true!!
Newt is the ideal boyfriend lets be real
Yeah I’m a straight guy and I want him to be my boyfriend
Truely
Fr
@@tingledinkle I wonder if this is one of those "So deep in the closet they're in Narnia" type of situations?
@@tingledinkle same. 10/10 I'm gay
These so-called critics think that empathy is a sign of weakness... Hah! Fools... for there are three things all wise men should fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.
That's why they are called movie critics, not movie makers. They don't know anything but people give them power to judge which movie or which character is good or not good enough
Single most cringeworthy thing any human being has ever said.
@@reconbravo104 the last part was the ultra cringe Festival
Anger of a gentle man? How can a gentle guy get angry?
Even your compliment towards gentle men is centered around their violence, you’re no different than the critics
I really love it how you describe Newt as positive masculinity. You're clearly a man who sees empathy as power, not as a weakness.
That in itself is something I admire in you.
We are a terribly sad lot if we judge people as weak because they are sensitive and empathetic.
I mean, have you seen how many women are attracted to Newt? Seeing empathy and kindness in a male can't be more attractive to me.
I feel called out lol
I’m a trans lesbian. I have what feels like very exclusive attraction to women. However, seeing vulnerable men like this makes me much more interested in just cuddling or something like that? Idk. I love the idea of hugging Jason Isbell or Newt Scamander because they seem like such lovely men and what masculinity should be.
Guilty hehe
he’s everything i’d want in a man 😞
@@Zoe-yr4xw I am also a trans woman, but i am aroace and i feel you
AGREED WITH EVERYTHING HERE. i love newt's character soooooo much arghhhhh. i think eddie mentioned that he did a bunch of research with zoologists about their work. one thing he picked up was that animals prefer humans not to make direct eye contact. it keeps the animals calmer. eddie said he tried to incorporate that into his character
I related to him a lot to be honest. He felt a lot more human then most protagonists. I don't like Harry Potter at all but fantastic beasts really drew me in
Yea, me too! I really didn't read any of the books or watch any of the movies but fantastic beasts was a movie I got obsessed with.
it's amazing how so many critics actually lack depth and comprehension.
eddie redmayne really brought out newts character and is kind, loving, and compassionate, and there is nothing more attractive. People get turned off???? the qualities are extremely attractive
I can never understand why people disliked Newt, tbh. He was a rather adorable character and he was strong in his own way. I'll admit it wasn't in the traditional way, but Newt had his own strength.
which is what the movie teaches exactly. All men have different personalities and not all of them can fit into a specific gender-role box.
I have no problem with Newt bus dislike ow choppy these films are
I’m not telling men to not be masculine for women’s pleasure. What I’m telling men is that you can be whatever you want and do whatever you want, but do it with empathy and understanding. That’s hot.
I think what's amazing about this portrayal of masculinity is that it doesn't lack confidence: Newt knows who he is, what he believes, and certainly how to care for the creatures in his care, and is unafraid of the consequences of being a caring individual. That countercultural confidence is, I think, what makes him so attractive: he is bold and fearless enough to behave in a way that will not make him popular, but which will allow him to do good and remain true to himself.
the best part is he is never less man-ly. he is still very masculin. he isnt being girly. he is just being newt.
I HAVE TO COMMENT AGAIN. Newt and Jacob, man, their friendship is freaking heartwarming. I cannot express how much I love the last moment between them, where Newt tells his that he likes him. It was so sweet, so honest, so BEAUTIFUL. I expected a quip or a joke, but not that unexpected moment of honesty. It was glorious.
"because i like you and you're my friend." that hit hard
I don't really get why so many people disliked Newt Scamander. Maybe it's because I'm Norwegian and as such am more accostumed to European films which more frequently feature this type of character rather than just the super charismatic badass so popular in Hollywood, but personally I found his character really enjoyable and relatable. It's not often you get a shy male lead in a big budget film that isn't a comedy.
can you name some of those films
@@Blehblehblehhowlongwillthisgo- Please, I would love to know about these movies with this type of male lead!
I'm waiting too
People dislike him? I loved his character, I've know a lot of people dislike the movie but I haven't seen them disliking him
@@axelnoah dude you people are replying to 5 year old comments. 🙄
I spoke to a female zoologist and vet and she commended the film and Redmayne for the depiction of people who have been in the bush or on wildlife preserves with many dangerous animals. She said his indirect eye contact and many of his other physical mannerisms are characteristic of people accustomed to that environment. It might be interesting to research that aspect and factor that into this video.
The first time I watched the movie, I was deeply moved and so in love with who Newt was. I didn't know why I felt so warm about him. But this.. this video is like epiphany. I can finally explain and put into words as to why I love this character so much.
Thank you.
I can't express how much I love this video essay. A Hufflepuff lead is what I've been waiting for and Newt was the perfect character! #HufflepuffPride
i find men who are like newt extremely attractive, lol.
When I saw the movie and it got to the part where Jacob asked Newt why he kept him around, I was expecting Newt's response to be a joke or some kind of quip that would try hide the sentimentality of it all because that's what I was used to seeing in these kinds of scenes, but instead Newt just answered with pure sincerity, "because I like you. You're my friend." 😮😢 It melted my heart in the best way
Newt Scamander is the personification of 'speak softly but carry a big stick'. Soft spokeness backed up with impressive competence has historically been regarded as peak character, which has only recently seen a cultural change. It seems people have forgotten that humility is a virtue.
It's funny today how much aggression and big macho men are regarded as "masculine", because that wasn't even the case late into the 60s. It was only during the 70s, I'd argue, that the definition of masculinity really changed to our current action hero archetype. Those who were looked up to were well read, well-educated, emotionally articulate, and strong not necessarily just in body, but in mind and soul as well. Anti-intellectualism is very much a modern phenomenon, and it reflects itself most darkly in modern toxic masculinity.
Honestly, Newt is currently my favorite male protagonist. The best I've seen in a very very long time. I saw so much of my own social anxieties and awkwardness and found him to be very compelling despite how everyone was so quick to write him off as 'unremarkable.'
I can not describe the feeling of seeing a man who wasn't manly man punch you in da face cause reasons violent mc aggressive pants. An amazing character who actually has depth.
I find it odd some critics stated he lacked depth and soul...I liked him mainly because I thought he had much more emotional depth..but, that might have been me reading into it
That was my impression as well. Eddie Redmayne's performance communicated the subtlety, depth and complexity of Newt's emotions. I thought that the scene where he and Queenie discuss Leta Lestrange was particularly effective in this regard.
Right, and I think that was the issue...It was too subtle for people. I think I pick up on stuff like that because I'm a little more sensitive to emotion than most. I also think a lot of it is just how Eddie Redmayne acts. I've always liked his emotionality
I can't believe critics say that he lacks depth. Newt has a childlike soul and his heart and passions are his main characteristic, but he is still a strong, intelligent and serious lead. I would go more often to the cinema if there were more lead roles like his... And also, he's a Hufflepuff, what did they expect? A new Rambo? And many people have told me that they don't like his acting... But I find it very fine and sweet which is the type of man that I love.. Subtlety is so underrated.
as a someone with aspergers, both myself and my mum (who doesn't have it but definitely has traits) saw Newt as someone on the spectrum and for the first time I was so pleased with how it was portrayed, intentionally or otherwise. so many portrayals of autism/aspergers are so exaggerated and hard to watch i borderline get offended watching them. I definitely know some people whose autism causes them to embarrass themselves, overshare, and be interpreted as quite unlikeable, as well as being brilliant in one area of expertise - but for a lot of us it's less serious than that and yet more serious in other ways. one of my best friends reminds me quite a lot of newt, though he is less shy and tentative (at least with us) these days; in school he was constantly drawing, constantly with a pencil in his hand, didn't do eye contact much. but his real special interest was and still is small animals. specifically, for a while, ferrets. he could not tell you any times table but he could tell you everything you could ever want (or not want) to know about ferrets. to those unaware this is called a 'special interest'. in his case and the case of many others, including my other friend who is amazing at piano and at 19 years old is writing pieces to be played by orchestra, a special interest lasts for many many years or even their entire lifetime. in my case, special interests tend to last a few years then switch quite dramatically, which ha made me very average at a number of things while in my friends' case they channelled their energy into one task and became masters of them. Newt's special interest is magical creatures. it's what his whole life surrounds, it's the lens he sees his life through. very cool to see that aspect of aspergers represented and not just to see people like me as obsessive, obnoxious geniuses.
I totally agree! A gentle, vulnerable and empathetic masculine protagonist is too often ignored in modern adventure/fantasy/scifi movies today! Men have feelings too!
A kind of... weird point to make... is that a lot of my female friends and I consider Newt very attractive. I've heard this many times on the Internet too. And I'm not referring to the actor, but the CHARACTER of Newt.
Now, I'm not sure what I mean by this. Masculinity isn't weighed by female attraction, that's not true at all. But rather, nurturing and empathetic characters are also attractive. Charisma and wit are not the end all be all of attractiveness. Everyone likes a breath of fresh air in male characters, and some might swoon over Thor and his alphaness, but there's a bunch of us who swoon over a guy calling himself "mummy" to a bunch of tiny dragon-snakes. In some aspects, I think that too is healthy knowledge for guys.
I know this comment is weird and I'm not sure what I wanted to say. If anyone finds this interesting, take the first bit as you like it ツ
I did a movie analysis for an university assignment and mentioned some of these points that I agree with, but my teacher insisted that his 'lack of masculinity' stuck with the actor from his previous movie in which he played a woman... I was so mad at my teacher, heavens.
**facepalm** That's what we call a bad teacher.
They better keep him as the main character for all the movies.
Honestly Newt Scamander is the definition of a cinnamon roll
Newt is one of the few things that I actually liked about the movie. He wasn't a punch in the face, he was a kind man who cared, and it's sad how uncommon that is with male leads....
Also this Sherlock Holmes archetype I would have agreed with if Elementary didn't happen, and thank goodness it did, bc BBC Sherlock is bad writing,,,,
I was mesmerized by Redmayne's performance. It was exquisite. So profound. Stupid people. The man even changed his walk. GUYS, HE CHANGED THE WAY HIS FEET MOVE IN ORDER TO CONVEY CHARACTER. It was fantastic. And he was so sensitive. The underdog. This whole movie. Did anyone notice that women outside of the magical world didn't wear pants. But most of the women in the magical realm wore pants. AND most of the policing force were a mix of race and gender, both equally male and female. Most of a darker skin complexion. DARLINGS, this is such a nuanced film. You have to watch it multiple times in order to really get how elligantly they separated the worlds and characters. And how amazing the female and male leads in this movie ripped apart gender stereotypes and unnecessary expectations of the Hollywood movie scene.
these critics literally have no idea what they're talking about. it has been established that hufflepuffs are empathetic, kind, loyal, and sensitive souls which means that newt cannot be the stereotypical male hero they expect him to be. the one who is reckless and headstrong and doesn't think before entering the battlefield. and in my opinion, why the heck would you want someone as cliche as that? newt is amazing and that's that.
Those critics are ignorants, biased for thinking that every male person should be the same. We are all different. The era of toxic masculinity comes near to an end
Newt is competent, intelligent, creative, empathetic, he has great purpose, is present and kind. He offers containment and has integrity. He is generous, genuine, honest and goes for what he values, despite his slight awkwardness. He has a quiet confidence and gets around in the world and he is very noble and I bet he can actually teach a lot of interesting and useful things. He is not weak at all. In fact, all these things require immense strength. He is one of the most interesting characters I've seen and I really hope they keep him and show more of him. It's so nice to see someone who is completely devoid of an inflated ego. I think he is very attractive and someone you can actually feel safe with.
He failed to save the monster... what a powerful sentence and I'm glad you emphasized it.
I adore this, but I would have loved to see you explore Jacob as a counterpoint. I almost feel like he's more subversive, as he's painted as an average Joe, but he displays many feminine traits without it ever being painted as comedic or contradictory. His only dream is to pursue baking professionally, he loves his Grandma and feels bad for letting her down, he's giggly and enamoured around the woman he has a crush on, and completely in awe with the world Newt introduces him to.
Unlike Newt, he is shown to be insecure, but even when he's played for comedy he is never shown to be as ineffective as he feels. He ends up being crucial to saving the day even without magic, and ends up being the first to really reach out and understand Newt. Hell, he's even completely unafraid to cry, and it doesn't seem pithy or anything other than ordinary just because it's so genuine.
I feel like in the situation Jacob is placed in, it would have been easy to double down on a "tough guy", reactionary character. Instead, although he looks tough, we seem him approach this new world with trust, curiosity and open arms, even though he is low in the power hierarchy and surrounded by more powerful women. I think he makes a great role model in that way, especially in a culture that more and more frequently tells men to react to the other with threats of force or feelings of supremacy.
There are so many movies about male friendship, but I don't think I've ever seen any so nuanced and so gentle - I think there's something to really be explored there.
Jacob is a brilliant character for all the reasons you summarize (and more!) I just ran out of time for it in this essay. I'll likely return to Newt and Jacob's relationship as a positive example in a later video focusing on Hollywood's depiction of male friendship.
That would be wonderful! There really isn't anyone else making content like this right now, so that would be amazing to see. Keep up the good work!
I have to say I couldn't agree more! Jacob is so precious, it was wonderful to see him be valued and desirable when other films might've used his character for laughs and played his characteristics as weaknesses and "unmanliness".
Newt felt a lot to me like the Doctor from Doctor Who, eccentric Brit with many mysterious secrets and knowledge who has an object that's bigger on the inside. Jacob's role felt like he could be compared to a companion, which as of late have been typically been women who end up falling for the Doctor.
+
"Oh Newt. You never met a monster you couldn't love" - Leta Lestrange
I prefer Newt's quiet, and empathic masculinity, and for the record, Hufflepuffs are the best. Just as I prefered Qui Gon Jinn from the Star Wars series because he had a compassionate and humble personality, which many of the others lacked, I feel a connection to Newt and am so pleased that he is the leading man. We need the Newt Scamanders of the world to be put in the spotlight, despite the fact that they probably don't want to be singled out, so they can be positive role models for young men. I wish I had known someone like him when I was young, they would have been a breath of fresh air compared to what I was used to. A movie like this, sadly, is probably nothing more than an anomaly, we aren't likely to see another like it for a long time, but Amen to Hollywood finally showing the world what real men are like... We need more of them.
Shouldnt put all men in a box
Newt was automatically my favorite character and it was all because he was so different than any other male lead I'd seen before. I really hope he stays a crucial role in the movies to come.
I find Newt so much more attractive than any of those other guys. I'm also a Hufflepuff though so I might be prejudice. Eddie was perfect for the role. His smile and eyes are so kind.
I love Newt. I waited so long for a protagonist who is more sensitive. Not the same old "I'm a man so I am strong and aggressive or just a figure for the laughs". I am also a guy who struggles with people and I know how hard it is for an introvert to be thrown into a world where everyone around you seems to be so confident and extraverted. I love that they tried to make a character like him and the fact that they did it in such a big movie. The people who are saying they don't like such a "weak" protagonist with "no character" annoy me. If a woman is protrayed basically like a man everybody claps their hands. But if a man isn't just a brainless superbeing or a charismatic jerk he's instantly a bad character and a weak protagonist.
Hey, I stumbled across this video essay quite some time ago and for a long, long time, didn’t know, what to comment. I just have to say, these words describing and analyzing Newt feel like a warm blanket during the evening and sum up pretty much everything that other viewers describe admiring about this unique character. The first movie set up a series of Newt as an explorer, who faces with an open mind and genuine curiosity what others fear for their otherness. He honestly seems to be the friend that we all don’t know we need and you describe him very well throughout this video.
About his life goal being to write textbooks, this is probably a part of his goal, but I believe he has a much deeper motivation. Newt actually states at one point, that he wants to teach wizarding world about the fantastic beasts he loves so much, and writing textbooks in a world without our information technology is probably the most effective and easiest way for an introverted traveler to do so. His desire to teach even expands to his connections: The first time we see Newt bonding with Jacob Kowalski, he takes him down to his zoo of magical creatures and shows him how to care and communicate with the beasts. Newt is clearly uncomfortable talking about his emotions and desires, so he proceeds to show them to Jacob, basically teaching him, not only the knowledge about the animals, but also the compassion and interest he has in them. This scene may be written off as exposition dump, but it can be watched as one shy character introducing himself to another person by doing what he wants to do the most - teaching, albeit in his own unique way.
I personally would have loved to see five movies about a magical explorer travelling the world, getting caught up in culture shocks and interior politics while teaching everybody around him about fantastic beasts and the connection to the natural world in his own unique way, while his book would grow in detail with his experiences. (This is actually an alternative storyline for this franchise that has been proposed in this or similar forms by fans multiple times.) Watching “Crimes of Grindelwald” just seemed weird, as they seemed to try squeezing Newt into an action adventure movie where his character traits have hardly any impact and he became an exposition machine in explaining random facts about the beasts they happened to be running into on the way; a common “nerdy” stereotype that unfortunately reduces scientists, explorers and characters similar to them to talking trivia machines (and is also heavily overused on autistic or autistic-coded characters like Newt). Maybe the question was not whether WB has the guts to keep Newt as the protagonists, but whether they had the innovation and creativity to actually write the right story for this protagonist, as the first movie did. You just don’t get to pet yourselves on the shoulder for an original hero if his potential is wasted in a traditional, if convoluted good-vs-bad storyline that renders his character traits meaningless within the very next installment.
Newt will always keep a special place in my heart. The sad thing is, when we look at the world right now, I believe we really might be in dire need for an open-minded, empathetic hero like him in a popular franchise.
Personally, I love how they wrote Newt. I love how different he is from the stereotypical male lead roles.
f*ck critics, we need more lead men like newt, and we need them desperately
Indeed. Even Bob Chipman completely missed what makes this character great.
Well said
I heartily agree!
Paloma Cabrera Newt is such a refreshing lead. He knows his shit, isn't arrogant about it, polite to everyone even the ones he doesn't like or like him back and honest. Which is a lot more dimension than most leads in movies.
Thankfully none of those critics came from sources I find credible. On the weekends I volunteer at a sanctuary with lions, tigers, leopards, etc. I friggen hate people but will do anything for the cats there. When i give the tours I don't even want to make eye contact because everyone with an opinion wants to interject and start an argument to prove that they know more about something they've barely explored. Redmaine nailed Newt and his motivations perfectly, right down to the point where you thought he was a pushover only he wasn't because he'd stand up to someone. I found him to be an accurate representation of most of the guys who work there. ...shows that the critics know.
This is a wonderful take on Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander. I agree completely with the various points made throughout this video. I now understand why I enjoyed the movie SO much. It's NOT the same formulaic Hollywood hero stuff, yet Newt is definitely our hero and we love him by the end. In fact, we love all of the characters (through Newt's eyes) and that includes the many so-called beasts and monsters. Well done!
I have no idea if this comment will be read, but this video has impacted my life and my mental health in such a profound way that I need to say this.
I watched this video around 6-7 months ago. In all fairness and honesty I subscribed to the idea that masculinity means being strong, buff, rich, witty, and a bit of cad that we see in Hollywood often. I came across this video, and initially I did not understand it at all. It wasn't a concept that was foreign to me, but I had trouble reconciling the idea maybe Newt Scamander has something that I can learn. That maybe my idea of masculinity is wrong, or maybe at the very least incomplete. It wasn't much but this video left an uneasy feeling where I had trouble reconciling the ideas presented.
That was 6-7 months ago. That uneasy feeling would not leave me, and I leaned into it more and more. Trying to discover what masculinity truly genuinely means for me. I don't think I have a perfect answer yet, and I feel I am still very early in my understanding, but today I can say that I can appreciate the type of man that Newt Scamander is far more than I could 7 months ago. This search for meaning and need to deepen my understanding has lead me to have more peace in my life. My mental health has improved leaps and bounds, and I am practically a different man for it.
Thank you so much @PopCultureDetective for sparking the curiosity that allowed me have more peace and growth in my life.
Thank you for sharing Nirav 🙏
Yeah thanks for sharing. I appreciate that you had the guts to tell your story. Even if not a lot of people see this. It's still seen by the few who do
Thank u for sharing. Brilliant.....and gutsy!!
Excellent video. I think kudos for unconventional male heroes should also go to Kowalski. His goals aren't hugely masculine, after all he wants to open a bakery. He's also not particularly skilled to combat anything and is the most humorous character. HOWEVER, I was very relieved that this did not mean he would have some Will Ferrel level freakout moment when he saw all of Newt's menagerie. Instead he's amazed and wants to see more.
I loved the movie. Empathy is the greatest strength a human can have. Agression is a sign of weakness because it stems from fear.
I hope they keep Newt as the lead character, he's very unpredictable, which is a nice change.
I think you can find a similar type of masculinity in aang the character from the last air bender. If you ever have the time I would love to hear your opinion on it.
I want them to keep Newt. I was glad he was less heroic, because often these Hollywood heroes are kind of superficial, focused on their mission. Newt is calm, gentle but shy, and I love that kind of sensibility about him. Eddie Redmaine does a wonderful performance and it would be a shame if damn American movie industry (ok, it does great movies, too) would replace him just because he is not the sort of hero some critics want to see
If Hollywood insisting on get rid of Newt, I must say they're standing on the wrong side of history.
So are the people in the audience urging them to go down this path.
Dang, dude. You want something to eat with that salt?
He's not boring and simple to me, darnit. But hey, maybe I'm just biased because I'm in the group that feels represented by him, so naturally I relate to and see "the real depth and subtlety" in him and don't want him to go away.
But that's the entire point of this video, is that we're so used to seeing a certain type of hero portrayed in media that anything out of that comfort zone seems weird and alien to us when it SHOULD seem just as normal. It's extremely restrictive for storytelling to say "You can only portray a character who acts like this, no one else will work or feel right." It's like a self fulfilling prophecy where people just want to see the same action movie over and over again with a different skin. I wouldn't even say Gryffindor's main virtue is "endurance" as much as it is "embracing impulsiveness," and that isn't going to make every conceivable situation work out for the best.
Believe me, I understand it's important to have SOME restrictions when it comes to writing fantasy. When someone can point out a plot hole in a crazy world you've created, that's a good thing because it means you've laid enough clear ground rules that people can pick up on when something is off/out of place/inconsistent. What I'm talking about is requiring every character focused on in stories like this to, on some level, be the same person. Don't get me wrong, I like Harry. I like him a lot. But if Newt was essentially the same character as Harry with a similar personality, why even watch a movie like this? He would just be a poor man's Harry who has to compete with and "out-Harry him" ultimately never escaping that shadow. So Kudos to the creators for making Newt very different and very much his own man instead of playing it way too safe, even if a number of people don't find his traits attractive or admirable for whatever reasons. If I want Harry Potter, I'll go back and read the books or watch the movies that already exist. If you think Newt is a weak character, fine. I just don't see where you're coming from because I don't identify his traits as weakness. To say this video is utterly garbage is kinda saying someone's entire worldview and their view of people is garbage.
Newt is my favorite character from the Harry Potter universe thus far. Well he's at least high on my top 10 list. The fact that he's awkward and quiet and struggling to actually enjoy people and not just avoid them is relatable. I feel like a lot of people who enjoyed Harry Potter can relate to being the weird kid. At least I can and it feels awesome to see an awkward nerdy character not only be the main focus but also try so hard to do the right thing.
Normally, I'm a bigger fan of side characters that the actual lead. But Newt is an absolute exception because of his character deph and everything built around that.
Did i just watch a 14 minute video to fall in love with Newt scamander all over again? Yes, yes i did. Now I’m gonna rewatch Fantastic Beasts franchise.
*"To be soft is to be powerful."* -Rupi Kaur
I love Rupi Kaur's poems!!
Likewise!
I liked Redmayne's portrayal of Newt. He's played so many introverts, he practically has it down pat by now and it shows. I like how Newt isn't the sort of character who always seems like they're shouting for attention; indeed, at first I thought Redmayne was going to ham up Newt's quiet side through the whole movie, like he has in other roles, but once he got inside case and was in his element....you see that whole other side of him, the side that is passionate about his field and his mission in life, and you can't help but relate to it. A lot of the smartest and most heroic people I've known were people who didn't care for recognition and much less for attention. Those are the sort of heroes we need more of these days.
Really, Newt was engaging to me because of his empathy. His compassion, going against the grain in a quiet, confident way, it all struck chords with me.
Can we have a Ravenclaw archetype sometime? I mean Slytherin and Griffindor and Hufflepuff has already had theirs. Let's switch it up and make the lead female, preferably along the character lines of Professor Trelawni and Luna Lovegood, quirky blended alongside wit.
Newt's role is a small but important step to de-escalating toxic masculinity in our culture through popular media
You should send this video to J.K. Rowling so she gets to hear the oppinion of the fans who loves this beautiful character of Newt and not just get to see the oppinions of "newspaper-experts" who thinks Newt is weak, sad and boring just because he's not muscular, angry and like a typical action figure (which I found much more boring than the loving, caring, a little nervous Newt. Whom by the way have an amazing character development). I don't want him to litterally go backwards in his development and become angry and bossy and like the typical man-hero.... Our world needs this kind of main characters if we want to get rid of the gender norms we have in our society.
(sorry for bad english, not my native language)
Newt Scamander was the best leading man I've seen in YEARS, and Fantastic Beasts, with only one movie, has surpassed my love of the Harry Potter movies. In fact, I want a novelization, because its so good and Newt is such an amazing character. I have so much love for this film, and Newt.
Ever since I found out I'm autistic, I've started finding autistic traits in the characters I relate to, including Newt. I love finding characters that portray the traits without being harmful stereotypes.
I thought the lack of eye contact and awkwardness was borne from Newt working with the animals too much. Eye contact with many rl animals is considered a challenge to be answered so I figured it was the actor's great insight to incorporate the behavior into Newt's habits.
I'll be pissed if they demote Eddie. His take on the hero was deeply refreshing and we need more representation like it. Not all heros need to be the same two character types!
Newt is the older brother type everyone should have had as a child
The deep personal connections Newt makes aren’t only central to his character development, they are central to theirs as well. An overlooked and too often uncredited but beautifully important value of nurturing, authentic, and emotionally secure people like Newt are the safe spaces they create for growth and justice.
Sensitivity should be considered a strength!
This is what I've been talking about for years! You don't need to pick up a sword or give bracing speeches to be strong! Strength comes from inner resolve! Knowing who you are and what you believe in seems like the truest kind of strength to me.
The reason why Fantastic Beasts is so successful to me in the first place is because the hero is literally not your everyday hero (in the movies). THIS IS WHAT TRUE HEROES ARE LIKE!!
I relate to Newt way more than Harry
Newt scamander's personality is honestly my favorite part about the movie. It was what made it good. The beats are just a bonus
I, too, feel that his character charming in a way. Different from the usual, guy shoots-first-ask-questions-later and getting the girl at the end. Newt feels like an actual person, not just character. I really relate to male characters that are not the usual rugged, "manly' man. On a surface level, it challenges cultural expectations, and on a subtler, deeper level, it redefines masculinity and what it means to be a man completely. That's why I really like characters like Newt, because it's so much harder to be caring and thoughtful than just be aggressive and bottling up all your feelings. My favourite character is Merlin from the BBC series and he is my favourite because of those reasons exactly; he is the main lead without being violent, angry, and domineering, playing all tough like most male leads in media are 'supposed' to act. Instead, he is the hero because he solves problems by being diplomatic and kind.
I really like to compare Newt with Hiccup (in the first movie) because they are kinda the same character type just that Hiccup has a little more confidence then Newt and it’s also very interesting to look what the difference between them are and what each reader made better.
Newt is so lovely, my favourite kind of person. Kindness is my most valued attribute in people. Humor is great but kindness will alway win out hands down.
Whelp, this convinced me to watch the movie. Thanks, man - I love that you give a good hand to positive depictions of masculinity, in addition to critiques of the toxic stuff. As someone struggling with the masculine side of my gender identity, healthy masculine representation means a LOT to me.
Dude, totally same.
Newt is a refreshing change from all those agressive male sci-fi leads. He is more caring and empathetic. I can imagine Thor being just like the aurors who killed Credence, just going in and immediately start shooting. I am actually more attracted to Newt than Thor because Newt is more gentle and he really cares for his friends human or creature. He is a very persistent character who believes that not every magical creature is dangerous. That these species should be treated well and not exterminated. Thank you for creating this positive video.
Newt is one of the most relatable protagonist for me .-.
Those news articulate pisses me off, "newt lacks soul"........ siriusly?? I doubt they ever read the series! Newt has as much depth as Harry Potter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stupid reporters not researching enough before they post things out...................
Newt never appeared weak to me. I saw his kindness and maternal instincts as a strength. Harry, on the other hand, annoyed me on and off again throughout the original series. Now I realize it's because he's another Hero I've seen a billion times: always a boy, always Chosen, always has to fight. Excellent video.
THEY BETTER KEEP NEWT AT THE PROTAGONIST!!!!! I LOVE HIM! 😭😭
I just wanna wrap newt up in a blanket and cuddle him.
From the beginning until end and i repeated the movie, the actor never fail to make me love newt's character