Jacob's Fate In 'Fantastic Beasts' Is Mystifying

One of the biggest mysteries of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them isn't about the movie's hero, Newt Scamander, or even any of the beasts that give the film its title. Instead, it's Jacob Kowalski, the No-Maj (that's an American non-wizard to you newbies) baker who accidentally gets caught up in Newt's magical adventures, and whose situation at the film's end leaves viewers in the lurch. Spoilers ahead. At the conclusion of the film, Jacob, having witnessed too much magic for some wizards' liking, is forced to have his memory obliviated — or at least, that seems to be the case. At the very end of the movie, Jacob is seen replicating the shapes of the magical beasts he saw in pastries at his bakery, and he even seems to vaguely recognize his witch love, Queenie, when she walks into his shop. So was Jacob really obliviated at Fantastic Beasts ' end? Actor Dan Fogler isn't so sure.

"That’s interesting, isn’t it?" he says with a smile, referring to the obliviation mystery while at Fantastic Beasts' New York press day. "It’s kind of like what happens in a dream or something... whatever’s buried in the id seeps out and gets buried in his pastries."

Fogler clarifies that he doesn't necessarily think that Jacob wasn't obliviated, and that Queenie protected him from the full effects of the obliviation spell by kissing him under a magical umbrella, an act she might've done in the hopes of saving the memories of the man she adored. But Fogler does think that it's possible that Jacob's magical adventures, which included getting bitten by one of Newt's creatures and kissing Queenie, might've helped his body defend itself from any type of memory-erasing spell.

"This is what I think happens, this is what I kind of made up for myself," Fogler says. "Between the bite and eating the magical strudel and the medicine he puts on and hanging out with all the creatures and everything, and the kiss — I think that maybe he gives him some kind of protection against the obliviation spell."

Let's certainly hope so. It'd be a shame if Jacob had no memory of all the fun and craziness he experienced while helping out Newt, Queenie, and Tina. Whatever happens in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts sequel, it won't be nearly as satisfying if Jacob doesn't get to join in on the magical fun.

Image: Warner Bros.