The enchanting world of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them captivated audiences, and one of its most heartwarming elements was the burgeoning relationship between No-Maj Jacob Kowalski and the free-spirited Queenie Goldstein. However, the film concluded with Jacob’s memories seemingly erased by the Obliviation spell, leaving fans wondering: did Jacob truly forget his magical adventure and, more importantly, Queenie? Let’s delve into the evidence from the original screenplay and cast interviews to unravel this memory mystery.
Screenplay Hints: A Flicker of Recognition
The official screenplay of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them offers an initial clue. In the poignant bakery scene where Jacob and Queenie reunite, the script explicitly states:
JACOB looks up and is thunderstruck all over again: it’s QUEENIE. They stare at each other – QUEENIE beams, radiant. JACOB, quizzical and totally enchanted, touches his neck – a flicker of memory. He smiles back.
This “flicker of memory” is a significant detail. It suggests that the Obliviation spell wasn’t entirely successful in erasing Jacob’s experiences, especially concerning Queenie. This subtle hint laid the groundwork for further exploration of Jacob’s lingering recollections.
Actor Insights: Dan Fogler Confirms Lingering Memories
Adding to the screenplay’s implication, actor Dan Fogler, who portrays Jacob, offered further confirmation in an interview. When questioned about Jacob’s memory in Crimes of Grindelwald, Fogler stated definitively:
Dan: I think he does have… yeah. It’s not explained exactly why, but he does have some recollection for sure, yeah.
Fogler’s assurance reinforces the idea that Jacob retains some level of memory from the first film. He emphasizes that while the exact mechanism isn’t explicitly detailed, the recollection is undeniably present. This suggests that the emotional impact of Jacob’s experiences, particularly his connection with Queenie, played a role in preserving his memories.
The Obliviation Loophole: Good Memories Endure
The reason behind Jacob’s partial memory recall is further clarified through dialogue in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. In a conversation with Newt Scamander, Jacob himself reveals the key to bypassing the Obliviation’s full effects:
JACOB: It didn’t work, pal. I mean, you said it, the potion only erases bad memories. I didn’t have any. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I had some weird ones. But this angel . . . this angel over here, she filled me in on all the bad parts, and here we are, I guess, huh?
This dialogue is crucial. It reveals that the Obliviation potion specifically targets bad memories. Jacob’s experience in the wizarding world, despite its chaotic moments, was largely positive due to his bond with Queenie and the wonder of magic itself. Therefore, his positive memories, especially those associated with Queenie, were strong enough to resist the memory-erasing effects of the spell.
Queenie’s Radiant Presence: Triggering Full Recall
Ultimately, Queenie’s presence in the bakery acts as the catalyst for Jacob’s memories to resurface more fully. As described by Fogler:
No, I think you see at the end of the first one. It comes flooding back to him
And further elaborated with Alison Sudol:
Dan: Then it all comes flooding back when she’s smiling at him. Or a lot of it.
Queenie, “this angel,” as Jacob calls her, is not just a trigger for his memories; she is intrinsically linked to the positive emotions that protected those memories in the first place. Her radiant smile and familiar presence serve as a powerful reminder, allowing Jacob to reconnect with his magical past and the enchanting woman who was a central part of it.
In conclusion, while the Obliviation spell aimed to erase Jacob’s memories of the wizarding world, the screenplay, actor insights, and in-universe dialogue all confirm that Jacob did remember, at least partially, his adventures and his connection with Queenie. His positive experiences, particularly his bond with Queenie Goldstein, acted as a shield against the memory-erasing magic, allowing their heartwarming story to continue in the Fantastic Beasts saga.
