CHOO CHOO! Join us as we head back to Hogwarts on this week’s episode of MuggleCast! Andrew, Eric, Micah and Meg as they play a few games and discuss the school’s prime locations for first kisses, homework, parties and more! Plus, with David Yates beginning a new project, could the latest Fantastic Beasts news spell more trouble for the five-part movie franchise?

• Last chance! Only one day remains to select your 2021 MuggleCast patrons physical gift! Join us at Patreon and make your selection between our throwback socks and the customizable wooden car by September 1st!
• With so much time having already elapsed between Crimes of Grindelwald and Fantastic Beasts 3, what do we make of the news that there will be a “break” between Fantastic Beasts 3 and 4?
• Could the Fantastic Beasts franchise rest on the success of the third film? Andrew has a theory for what this break really means!
• Main Discussion: It’s time to go Back to Hogwarts!
• Where would each of the hosts sit on the Hogwarts Express? What would be the first thing each of us did upon return to Hogwarts?
• “What Would You Do?” & Guess That Book (Back to Hogwarts Edition)
• Where at Hogwarts would you: have your first kiss? Do your homework? Have some “me” time? Hold secret parties?
• Quizzitch: In what books does Harry not directly interact with Draco Malfoy while on the Hogwarts Express? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer!
• This week’s episode is sponsored by MeUndies (get 15% off your first order plus free shipping ) and GreenChef (get $100 off plus free shipping)!

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Coming off of the success of our last episode where we defended Slytherin House, the MuggleCasters turn their sights to that other maligned Hogwarts house: Hufflepuff! Join Andrew, Eric, Micah and Laura as they discuss the qualities possessed by Hufflepuff students, examine why Hufflepuff does not get much glory in the books, and why everyone should want to know a Hufflepuff in real life. All that and more, on MuggleCast episode 527!

• Important: Only one week remains to select your 2021 MuggleCast patrons physical gift! Join us at Patreon and make your selection between our retro throwback socks and the customizable wooden car by September 1st!
• We begin the episode with a fun segment, “The Top 5 Most Disparaging Scenes Featuring Hufflepuff”!
• Main Discussion: While they may have been “picked last for kickball” in the books, Hufflepuffs may represent the best of us.
• A brief video of the author from after the books were published seems conciliatory to all Hufflepuffs burned by their book representation.
• What do traits such as “just” and “loyal” mean? What are the values of hard work and patience, and why do Hufflepuffs prefer to walk the quiet road to glory?
• Helga Hufflepuff’s philosophy of “I’ll teach the lot, and train them up the same” is actually the best policy when it comes to education, Laura explains.
• Eric shares which moments from the Hufflepuff Welcome Letter made him feel most at home in his new house.
• Other famous Hufflepuffs: from Newt AND his brother Theseus, to Helga herself, Hepzibah Smith, the founder of Hogsmeade and more, just which witches and wizards wore the badger when they were at Hogwarts?
• Each hosts says something nice about Hufflepuff House and listeners give their thoughts!
• Quizzitch: What conceals the entrance to the Hufflepuff Common Room? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer!
• This week’s episode is sponsored by UE Fits True Wireless, Custom Fit Earbuds (Get 15% off your order by going to UE.com/fits and using promo code MUGGLECAST at checkout) and BetterHelp (Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/mugglecast)

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• Welcome Tylor, President of the Wizarding World-inspired animal rights nonprofit, The Protego Foundation, and co-host of The ChickPeeps podcast with Evanna Lynch!
• Who is Tylor’s favorite character? The answer may shock you (but is perfect for this episode)!
• Main Discussion: In Defense of Slytherin House
• What do we make of the first words revealed to us by the Sorting Hat about Salazar Slytherin? Does this introduction mislead us?
• Is there an argument to be made that Slytherin’s preference for pure-blood students could have been due to muggle persecution of wizardry?
• Andrew shares why he converted to Slytherin House
• How much of Salazar Slytherin’s legacy should be used against current members of his house?
• The Slytherin Spectrum: we rate notable members of Slytherin House, including Merlin, Severus Snape, Regulus Black, Leta Lestrange, Dolores Umbridge, Horace Slughorn and more!
• Which characters are still down with Slytherin’s pure-blood mania? Which are on the right side of history, but may have some ingrained blood status bias?
• Each hosts says something nice about Slytherin House and listeners give their thoughts!
• Quizzitch: What living creature are both Marvolo Gaunt and Salazar Slytherin compared to, in appearance? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer!
• Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, including our new physical gifts (Be sure to order your gift by September 1st)! Also access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more!

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On this week’s episode of MuggleCast, we’re discussing Tina Goldstein’s role following the events of The Crimes of Grindelwald, and what lies ahead! Plus, we revisit our predictions made after seeing her in the first Fantastic Beasts movie.

• Welcome to Slug Club Member Deanna and Alohomora’s Katy Haile!
• Fantastic Beasts Character Discussion: Tina Goldstein and her role in The Crimes of Grindelwald
• We revisit some of the things we mentioned back in Episode 320 during our initial Tina discussion to see if anything held true in Crimes of Grindelwald!
• Did her standoffishness subside? Did she get her mojo back after catching Grindelwald? What does Tina’s horoscope say about her character? What happened to Tina’s story between movies? Why did she never reach out to Newt about the photo of him and Leta? Why didn’t Queenie help to clarify the situation?
• Tina The Auror & The Search for Credence
• Why was she so easily duped by Yusuf Kama?
• What will Tina and Queenie’s relationship be like now that she has (supposedly) sided with Grindelwald? Are we headed toward a showdown between sisters?
• Knowing World War II will serve as a backdrop to future Fantastic Beasts films, how concerned should we be for the Goldstein family?
• What can we expect of her future relationship with Newt? Will it be a very minor subplot?
• Was Tina catching Grindelwald at the end of the first movie foreshadowing of what’s to come? Will Credence save her much like she has saved him?
• New Game: Whose Eyes Are They?
• Quizzitch: As of the late 20th century, Tina Goldstein lived with her husband Newt Scamander in Dorset with their pet Kneazles, what were their pets’ names? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer!
• This week’s episode is sponsored by Quip (get $5 off their mouthwash starter kit) and ThirdLove (get 20% off your first purchase)!
• Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, including our new physical gifts! Also access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more!

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• It’s another MuggleMail episode, folks!
• But first: The Cursed Child’s North American productions are being condensed into one part! What does this mean for the show’s future?
• It’s time to announce this year’s MuggleCast Patreon physical gifts: Throwback socks and a “Sweet 16” customizable wooden model car!
• Listeners must sign up to our Patreon and choose their gift by September 1st to be eligible to receive them.
• Voicemails from listeners concern Petunia’s motivations for spying on her neighbors, character maturities, a big fandom moment, and fond memories from the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 red carpet.
• It’s DumbledoreMail galore as listeners write in about the hiding of Ariana, the blood pact and 12 uses of dragon’s blood being related, and when phoenixes appear.
• Could Travers already be working for the Dark side in the time of Crimes of Grindelwald? He’s got family history.
• Bellatrix’s comment about Snape’s neighborhood leaves one listener asking if his home town puts Snape in hot water with the Death Eaters.
• That same listener asks why NOBODY told Harry that Snape and Lily were childhood friends! Lupin, Sirius, and Dumbledore all hide that fact for their entire lives.
• Did the Hogwarts Sorting Hat always reflect Salazar Slytherin’s bias?
• The hosts reflect on which scenes from the Potter films most improved on the books.
• In this month’s Throwback Email, an Australian listener details WW2 references present in Grindelwald’s backstory.
• A new game, “Who Said It?” has us identifying which of us said the excerpt read by Andrew. The participants do not do particularly well!
• Quizzitch: What is the name for the double agent, working for the British MOM as a bounty hunter, who is secretly taking orders from Grindelwald? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer!
• This week’s episode is sponsored by MeUndies! Get 15% off your first order, free shipping, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee at MeUndies.com/mugglecast
• Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, including our new physical gifts! Also access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more!

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• Our character discussions return as we celebrate the birthday of Neville Longbottom!
• Professor Trelawney drops in to give us a refresher on the Lost Prophecy
• Had Voldemort marked Neville as his equal, would a similar situation have played out with Alice sacrificing herself to save her son?
• Neville & Hannah Abbott: was the plan all along that she and Neville end up together, or did the idea evolve as the series neared its end?
• The hosts give their reactions to the movies pairing Neville and Luna together.
• It’s not fair! Augusta constantly compares Neville to her own son, Frank!
• Both orphaned in their own way, we discuss the similarities of Harry and Neville’s upbringings.
• Was Neville always doomed to feeling “second best” even if  he had a more supportive parental figure?
• Why did Neville want to be sorted in Hufflepuff? Did it further diminish the house’s reputation for readers early on in the series?
• The hosts share moments from their own lives where they felt like they didn’t belong.
• Neville’s Notable Moments of Development: we discuss him standing up to Harry, Ron and Hermione in Sorcerer’s Stone, his actions inside the Ministry of Magic in Order of the Phoenix and his confrontation with Voldemort in Deathly Hallows
• Matt Lewis: how was Neville portrayed in the films and what were some notable movie differences for the character?
• What if… Neville was The Chosen One? What would his upbringing have looked like? Who would be his Ron and Hermione at Hogwarts? What would his relationship with Dumbledore be like?
• Quizzitch: Right after impersonating Neville Longbottom during his ride on the Knight Bus in Year 3, Harry bumps into the real Neville outside Flourish and Blotts. What is Neville looking for, in this moment? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer!
• This week’s episode is sponsored by Warby Parker (order 5 pairs of glasses to try at home for free for 5 days – with no obligation to buy) and Logitech UE Fits ( get 15% off your pair of Ultimate Ears FITS True Wireless Earbuds using code MUGGLECAST).
• Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! On this month’s Bonus MuggleCast, we talk about our favorite Jude Law Dumbledore moments from Crimes of Grindelwald!

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• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 turns ten years old!
• On this episode, the MuggleCasters and Slug Club member Molly reminisce about the last film in the original series.
• Where were we when Deathly Hallows came out?
• We experience the touching farewell speeches given by Dan, Rupert and Emma on the red carpet in London.
• Movie 8 has the highest Rotten Tomato rating of the whole series! And it made the most money. Can we see why?
• We deep dive the plot of DH2 and re-learn what was new and different, including Aberforth.
• Micah recaps the biggest omissions in adaptation from the page to the screen. Tonks’ pregnancy, portrait Dumbledore and Carrows vs. McGonagall all got changed.
• Meanwhile, the scene in the Chamber of Secrets is shown for the first time, and Snape gets a change of scenery!
• The hosts revisit what they were most looking forward to, after having read the book, and what scenes surprised them.
• The Epilogue was shot, and then re-shot. Remembering the geriatric non-millennial trio and friends.
• In this week’s debate, hosts take sides defending or criticizing the last film’s adaptation. Let us know who won via our social media poll!
• Quizzitch: Five years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, the franchise was continued with the first Fantastic Beasts film. What is the first spoken sentence of Fantastic Beasts? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer!
• This week’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (Get 10% off by visiting BetterHelp.com/mugglecast) and HelloFresh (Get up to 14 free meals and free shipping by going to HelloFresh.com/muggle14 and using code ‘muggle14’ at checkout)
• Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! On this month’s Bonus MuggleCast, we talk about our favorite Jude Law Dumbledore moments from Crimes of Grindelwald!

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• With one year to go until the film’s release (we think), our Fantastic Beasts character discussions return! Up first… Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore in his younger years!
• Jude Law: Youngledore, DumbleDAMN, Yumbledore!
• How did Deathly Hallows help inform our knowledge of the Dumbledores before seeing Crimes of Grindelwald? Aunt Muriel and Rita Skeeter weigh in!
• Did Albus fail in his responsibility to take care of both Ariana and Aberforth?
• What was so terrifying about the duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald?
• Exactly what happened during the fight that killed Ariana?
• Why was Ariana seemingly kept a secret from the larger wizarding world?
• Gellert the Manipulator: did Grindelwald go to Godric’s Hollow with the intent of meeting the Dumbledores?
• Was Ariana Dumbledore the first person to die “for the greater good”?
• Why does Dumbledore have such a close & trusting relationship with Newt?
• Even at a young age, Dumbledore didn’t see eye-to-eye with the Ministry
• The Blood Pact : does it really need to exist? Is it too Horcruxy?
• We revisit the Credence/Aurelius Dumbledore reveal! Do we buy it?
• What’s next for Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts storyline?
• Quizzitch: Ciaran Hinds, who portrays Aberforth Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, starred alongside fellow Potter alums Gary Oldman, Toby Jones and John Hurt in the film adaptation of this novel by John le Carre, what is the name of the movie? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer!
• This week’s episode is sponsored by ThirdLove (Get 20% off your first purchase) and Quip (Get $5 off their mouthwash starter kit!).
• Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! On this month’s Bonus MuggleCast, we talk about our favorite Jude Law Dumbledore moments from Crimes of Grindelwald!

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• We continue our discussion on the most shocking moments in Harry Potter fandom history, with some stories you’ll remember and others you probably forgot about!
• In 2012, Micah discovered that JKR had announced she was actively working on a Harry Potter Encyclopedia, but it was quickly retracted once the story got out.
• In 2013, Rowling was outed as male author Robert Galbraith by a lawyer’s… wife’s… friend… and a British newspaper.
• Later that same year, only a week after MuggleCast “ended,” the Fantastic Beasts film series was announced!
• Years later, can we all agree Fantastic Beasts IS a prequel?
• Dumbledore’s appearance in Crimes of Grindelwald and the casting of Jude Law was a delightful surprise.
• In 2016, more Wizarding World schools were announced, and controversy may have prevented us from getting more that were promised.
• The same year, the stage show Cursed Child is announced, and debuts in 2 parts! We revisit the original description of the show, which is very different than the final product.
• Honorable mentions submitted by our listeners include Ron/Hermione regrets, Rowling on Twitter, and the Wizards Unite game.
• We also reflect on the actors we’ve lost over the years.
• To wrap up our discussion, each of the hosts speculates on which crazy “impossible” idea will be the next shocking news story in fandom.
• Quizzitch: Who portrayed the character of Barry Fairbrother on the BBC series adaptation of the Casual Vacancy? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer!
• This week’s episode is sponsored by
• Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! On this month’s Bonus MuggleCast, we share our thoughts on a Harry Potter cast reunion!

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• Welcome back Andy, of Harry Potter Fan Zone (and PotterNoMore.com)!
• This is Part 1 of a two-part discussion, wherein the hosts discuss the most Shocking Moments in Harry Potter Fandom History.
• First up: In 2005, JK Rowling invites fan site heads Emerson and Melissa to her house!
• In 2007, before Deathly Hallows and high-speed internet, a live stream revealed a new Harry Potter theme park! What was the significance of a Potter-themed park at the time? And why did Rowling say no to Disney?
• …but Andy had already been to a Harry Potter theme park, down in Australia, called Warner Bros. “Movie World”!
• Also in 2007, JKR Fan Site Award winner The HP Lexicon was taken to court by JKR/WB over their plans for a book. How did this feel to us as fellow fan site workers?
• The split that changed it all: How WB’s decision to break up The Deathly Hallows changed history and set the bar for future film franchises to come.
• Half-Blood Prince’s unexpected release date postponement disappointed fans like few things had at the time. Andrew had made a reaction video and a new version of the HBP trailer.
• Pottermore announced: We discuss the early days of the website, why it was so special, and what ultimately happened to it.
• Stay tuned next week for more shocking news moments, like the time JKR confirmed she was finally writing an Encyclopedia, Fantastic Beasts coming into existence, the earliest Cursed Child information, and so much more.
• This week’s episode is sponsored by MeUndies. Get the most comfortable undies with the coolest prints by visiting MeUndies.com/mugglecast. You’ll get 15% off your first order and free shipping!
• Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! On this month’s Bonus MuggleCast, we share our thoughts on a Harry Potter cast reunion!

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