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Hey brother.
Okay. I don't know
if anybody else had this question after walking
out of secrets of dumb the door, but I definitely did.
Which is why did the Qilin bow to Dumbledore at the end?
We all saw him raise Harry
as like a pig for slaughter, right?
I mean, to be fair, Harry ultimately did have to die
but he had to make sure that he like didn't know
that he could come back
cause it's a big part of it, whatever.
But honestly this little deer has like changed the game
and brought it to the surface so many new questions.
But in case you need the three second refresher
on what a Qilin is, it is a very rare
Fantastic Beast that has super unique characteristics.
One of these is that they're spilled blood
is actually capable of providing a glimpse into the future,
which is both dark and sad.
Like come on Grindelwald aren't you already a seer?
Or are you just like coming up with different ways
to do this including hookah technology? Not the point.
The other thing that a Qilin can do
that is very important to the story
is they can look straight into your soul
and determine your purity of heart.
And in the event that they deem you at pure of heart
they have a gesture that they will provide to let you know
of that bit of information. They will bow.
And this creature and gesture are
so important to the Wizarding World.
That once upon a time, it is literally how they determined
who should be their publicly elected officials.
What this does is ensure the fact
that leaders are just good people.
It's not a bad system.
Especially when given the fact that politicians are
absolutely known for knowing the right things to say
but not always being the best at following through
or actually executing those ideas.
So for me, I can personally see the appeal here,
like knowing that the person
who is telling you all of these things,
wholeheartedly it believes in what they're saying.
Because at the very least that it would mean that
whatever they ended up doing or not doing
had less to do with their actual conviction
and maybe just their ability to enact the change.
Kind of like a, you didn't actually get it done,
but I appreciate the fact that you really did
mean you were trying to.
All of that being said, though,
I have always sort of interpreted Dumbledore
as someone who did what needed to be done
but also falls into a pretty moral gray area.
So I am very curious to get to the bottom of
why the Qilin bowed to him.
Today, we try and break it down.
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Okay. So I will be the first to admit
that I don't entirely know how I feel
about how the ultimate climatic scene
of Secrets of Dumbledore played out.
First of all, I absolutely felt like the movie
was going to great length to let us know
that the Qilin was ultimately going to a bow
before one of our characters.
I just really didn't think it
was gonna ultimately be Dumbledore.
And to be fair, I'm not even sure Dumbledore
thought that it would.
And I don't necessarily disagree with the outcome.
I do absolutely have thoughts on it,
but I will come back to that in just a minute.
Because thematically, I felt like the movie set up
and had a really, really good opportunity to do something
marvelous with this creature.
And unfortunately, might have
missed that opportunity completely.
We get the introduction to this beast
basically right out of the gate.
Where Newt is in some far flung location
in search of a mother Qilin who is expecting.
Who's not expecting, is Newt,
who is then ambushed by Credence
in a gang of Grindelwald's followers.
First of all, I felt like this was just
really kind of an odd way to go about having
all of these characters cross paths
because the fact that Newt was uniquely capable
of tracking down the creature in the first place
felt like something that is very specific to Newt.
It doesn't exactly feel like anybody else
in the Wizarding world should
have been capable of finding it.
On top of that, they even seemed to find it
better than Newt did.
He had to take a raft to get there.
Credance on the other hand shows up like right on location.
An explanation that I'm going with here
and making absolute headcanon is that
they somehow were just tracking Newt
and he lead 'em right to it.
Dang it!
Should have just apparated instead
of building the awesome raft.
Either way, we of course see that the mother is killed,
the fawn is taken and Newt is left injured.
But, plot twist! There is a twin!
What?
Second movie in a row where two small specimens
are the major plot devices in terms of misdirect?
Yes!
Credence isn't a Lastrange because the babies were swapped!
Good thing that plot line didn't come back at all.
Sorry. I feel like I'm getting in the weeds.
This is probably gonna happen more than once in this video.
Qilins!
By the way, did you know that Qilin is spelled Q-I-L-I-N
because it is!
And we're back in the weeds, told you more was coming!
but speaking of plot points
that never come back around again at all.
One of the big questions that we had
leaving the first Fantastic Beast movie was
why Dumbledore had instilled just so much faith in Newt?
- What makes Albus Dumbledore so fond of you?
- We had no idea, but fortunately, in Crimes of Grindelwald,
we find out why.
- Do you know why I admire you Newt?
You do not seek power. You simply ask is a thing right.
- And the fact that the Qilin
has this unique ability to determine purity,
felt like a really good way to tell us the audience
that Dumbledore's assessment of him is correct.
Which is what you're telling me now,
that Dumbleldore is more pure than Newt
because I will fight you.
Because seriously, if there is a more pure soul
in the Fantastic Beast movies than Newt,
well then it's of course Jacob!
Or at the very least, it really, really, really
really felt like this is where the movie was going.
After all a huge portion of what Grindelwald's
entire platform is, is to rise up over the muggles.
So wizards can take their rightful place in things.
His words, not mine.
But Jacob's involvement in this story has been really great.
And I actually think that his character in particular
is like the shining bright spot
of the entire Secrets of Dumbledore movie.
And I also think that they went through some length
to set up the idea that Jacob
might be the ones who ultimately get the bow.
It all starts at the beginning
with Lally's recruitment of Jacob in the first place.
It's almost even like a soft version of the bow.
Basically what they're trying to determine
is whether or not Jacob is the type of person
who will come outside into the dark streets
and fight for a complete stranger.
And he does exactly that.
He puts himself at risk
for someone else who he doesn't know.
Then there's also this really adorable moment
when Jacob meets the Qilin for the first time
and we're getting a little bit of the backstory
as to what it can do.
And he like sits down
and gives it some of his food and plays with them.
On top of that, he is also like the prime representation
for non magical people inside of this series
and is essentially the exact opposite of Grindelwald.
So if you are Grindelwald or for that matter,
just the person who is telling this story.
Then what better way to cap off the entire story
of a man who hates muggles,
attempting to use a fake Qilin to gain power.
Completely backfire when a real Qilin
steps onto the scene and bows before wait for it, a muggle!
The exact thing he's fighting against.
The non magical community.
The Qilin doesn't care what his magical status is.
It's case in point proof that this person is good and pure.
It's a great reminder to the people of the Magical World
and a huge blow to Grindelwald's cause.
But alas, ear wax.
Nope! But of course, that will bring us
to the person that the Qilin does bow before.
The one the only, Santos!
Wait, who?
- You got, one, two.
- Okay. So to be fair, absolutely nothing against Santos.
She is the one who like steps in
and relieves Jacob of the Cruciatus curse.
And she also, oh, wait, no. That was all we know about her.
Cool. Cool, Cool, cool, cool.
- Wait, what?
- Now to be fair, I'm not super fussed about this.
I'm just not exactly sure why
you would introduce a brand new character entirely
and not just use like Madam Picquery
from the first Fantastic Beast movie.
You know, someone who we've
actually seen in action a little bit
and someone who has captured Grindelwald once before.
But instead brand new character
who we can now all completely rest assured
is in fact pure of heart. Excellent!
Either way. It's not really the point.
The point is what happens, just moments before
Santos is determined to be a Saint by a small deer.
We didn't know a lot about Santos
that was obviously just you know, a little bit underwhelming
but a character we know a whole butt load
about is one Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore!
Take that Santos, we don't even know any
of your middle names!
Bet one of them is Patricia.
Patty Santos! Goes by her middle name.
The Qilin bowing before Dumbledore though
was big to me for a variety of reasons,
not the least of which,
is the fact that Dumbledore himself
continues through the rest of his life,
not believing that he himself is pure of heart.
He holds himself responsible for being tempted by power,
and says the following,
"It is a curious thing, Harry,
but perhaps those who are best suited to power
are those who have never sought it.
Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them,
and take up the mantle because they must,
and find to their own surprise that they wear it well."
I've always read this, as if Dumbledore
is absolutely comparing Harry in contrast
to characteristics of himself.
And I guess what I'm ultimately curious to discover is,
whether or not Dumbledore is just unaware
of the fact that this is also true about himself.
And the obvious argument
against this very thought is the fact
that Grindelwald's mantra is, "For the Greater Good."
A sentiment typically shared by villains.
Essentially, it's a cause harm for the overall good.
But how is this ultimately that much different
from all of the rigor that Dumbledore subjects Harry to
during his years at Hogwarts?
He's making him slowly unravel the truth on his own.
Also that when the moment comes,
he is willing to accept death.
One boy's life in exchange for taking down the Dark Lord,
still feels pretty Greater Goodish.
Either way, there are some other details
to discuss about this piece of knowledge.
The Qilin, when it kneels before Santos,
is effectively electing her
to the position of Supreme Mugwump.
Or as I like to call it, supreme ruler of the wizards!
!nd the entire plot of this movie is
Grindelwald literally trying to take over this position
because it would then put him in charge
of the entire Wizarding world.
Like, it's a huge freaking deal.
And yet, one of the very first things that we ever learned
about Albus Dumbledore, on his letter to Harry
on his invitation to Hogwarts is,
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore, Order of Merlin,
First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards.
So turned down the position of Minister for Magic
on three separate occasions, just took the position
that that position reports to.
Hardly power. I'm just basically the king of wizards!
Starting to sound an awful lot like Cornelius Fudge
there Dumbledore. That's not a good thing.
Either way, here's what I think we can begin to interpret
with this piece of information.
The scene with the Qilin is probably ultimately
what qualifies Dumbledore for this position
in the first place.
A position that we see, he actually refuses
in this exact scene.
And if the day ever does arise,
where Santos does need to step down
from this particular role, it could be the case
that someone much more dangerous
is on the precipice of accepting it.
in this event, Dumbledore accepting the position
at that point in time, would be a very similar situation to
what he's explaining to Harry.
Power is being thrust upon him.
Because again, Harry never sought out power or leadership.
It just kept needing to be him to lead the charge.
So if he ultimately does accept this position
and is in fact, still holding this position
as of Harry's first year at school,
then some questions start to arise as to
like how Dumbledore just couldn't simply override Fudge
on any of the decisions that we see him making
during Harry's time's school.
Like specifically in Order of the Phoenix, right?
He's literally fighting tooth and nail with Fudge
to get him to see reason, but he is Supreme Mugwump, right?
Can't he just overrule him.
Didn't Grindelwald temporarily get elected as
- The new leader of the Magical World.
- Why doesn't Dumbledore have more power here?
Here's what I'm inclined to believe happened.
Dumbledore does not trust himself with power,
even though he has been assured by the Qilin
that he is pure of heart.
So if this position ultimately is offered before him
and if he doesn't take it,
it means that someone much more dangerous will.
Then the accepting of that position
is probably more a protecting power than seizing it.
Beyond that, his inability to override Fudge,
during Harry's years at school could just have
literally been his first act as Supreme Mugwump.
Essentially he would finally accept the office
but then immediately it downgrade his own power.
An act that would make this position more
of a figurehead kind of positioned
rather than something that does hold power.
And it would also then prevent another person
from ever attempting to weaponize this exact position,
which is pretty much what Gindelwald
spent the entire movie trying to do.
And it would also explain that
despite holding such a prestigious position
during Harry's time at school, that Dumbledore,
nor anyone else who could be holding this,
doesn't have any more sway over the ministry.
And it would once again,
bring us back to Dumbledore's own line,
"Perhaps those who are best suited for power
are those who have never sought it.
Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them,
and take up the mantle because they must,
and find their own surprise that they wear it well."
If all of this is true,
then what it would mean is that Dumbledore,
who is someone who sought power as a young man
turned into someone who ultimately became a great leader
through a lifetime of not seeking power.
What this means for the Qilin, at least for me,
is that Dumbledore absolutely in his heart
does not want to seek out power ever again.
Ironically, this is the thing that makes him a perfect fit.
So it almost seems like what the Qilin is really doing
is determining purity of heart based on someone
who deserves power, deserves it, but does not seek it.
And whoever that is, is the one who gets it.
And in Dumbledore's case, we know that he goes on
to be a leader in a massive number of different ways.
Not only holding this very position,
but he's also Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.
He's the head master at one of the most prestigious
Wizarding schools in the entire Wizarding World
and the leader of the legion of the Order of the Phoenix
twice. Plus if we're being super real about it,
the captain of his bowling team.
(bowling pins thudding)
The point is, just because he didn't seek it out,
doesn't mean it wasn't thrust upon him.
But guys, point of my question of the day,
is there anyone else that you would love
to see the Qilin bow before?
Who else do you think could serve
as a candidate within the Wizarding World?
Let me know in the towel section, down below.
but guys, as always, thank you so much for watching.
Be sure to like this video and subscribe to the channel.
If you haven't already.
If you'd like to find out another theory
we have about what the Qilins could be capable of,
you can check out this video right over here,
but otherwise, until next time, bye!