Jacob's Purpose In Fantastic Beasts Is A Mockery Of Harry Potter
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
The character of Jacob Kowalski has been a popular addition to the Fantastic Beasts franchise but now he is little more than a mockery of the Harry Potter franchise. The Muggle baker was introduced in the first Fantastic Beasts film with Dan Fogler bringing an easy humor to the role that endeared him to audiences. This encouraged Warner Brothers to bring the character back for the second and third films, but Jacob often doesn’t have much to do in situations that require genuine magical skill.
In the first of the three decreasingly profitable Fantastic Beasts movies, Jacob’s presence highlights the unfair views that wizards often hold towards Muggles. He falls in love with Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol) but the laws of the MACUSA prohibit a magical person from marrying a “No-Maj”. Queenie is convinced to join the evil Grindelwald (now played by Mads Mikkelsen after taking over for Johnny Depp) based on his promise to make this sort of intermarriage legal but Jacob refuses to come with her. After recognizing Grindelwald’s deception, Queenie leaves his cause and she and Jacob are married in secret by the end of The Secrets of Dumbledore.
Related: Fantastic Beasts 3: How Jacob Can Become A Wizard — Theory Explained
Through all of these events, Jacob has very little agency in his story. He is coerced into being involved in the events of the second and third films by wizards. Once he is entangled in the wizards’ plans to defeat Grindelwald, he is often just a tagalong and is unable to provide substantial help for their cause. Jacob’s character may be marginally helpful for those who are less familiar with the Wizarding World and need an entry point
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