The Fantastic Beasts film series, set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, has introduced fans to many new and exciting characters over its first three installments. One of the most beloved is Tina Goldstein, played by Katherine Waterston. Tina was a prominent character in the first two Fantastic Beasts movies, but had a much smaller role in the most recent entry, The Secrets of Dumbledore.
Fans have been wondering, where exactly was Tina in The Secrets of Dumbledore, and why she had such limited screen time compared to the previous films. In this article, we’ll break down Tina’s role in the latest Fantastic Beasts movie and look at some possible reasons why her part was scaled back.
Recap of Tina’s Role in the First Two Movies
First, a quick recap of Tina’s importance in the first two Fantastic Beasts films:
- In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), Tina was one of the main protagonists. She was an Auror who teamed up with Newt Scamander to track down his missing magical creatures in 1926 New York City. Tina and Newt developed romantic feelings for each other over the course of the film.
- In Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018), Tina continued to work with Newt as part of a team led by Albus Dumbledore. Their mission was to thwart the dark wizard Grindelwald’s plans. Tina’s feelings for Newt grew, although their romance hit some obstacles. She was still a prominent character and appeared throughout the film.
So in the first two movies, it’s fair to say that Tina was one of the key protagonists in the overarching Fantastic Beasts story. But her role was quite different in the third film.
Tina’s Limited Role in The Secrets of Dumbledore
In Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, which debuted in 2022, Tina has very little screen time compared to the previous movies. Here are some key details about her role:
- Tina appears only briefly in a few scenes throughout the film.
- She is not part of the core team assembled by Dumbledore this time around.
- Her scenes mainly involve interacting with Newt and expressing concern for his safety on his mission.
- Tina plays no major role in the central plot and does not use her magical abilities on screen.
- Much of her dialogue revolves around her off-screen job protecting the Brazilian wizarding community.
Overall, Tina’s presence in The Secrets of Dumbledore is very limited, especially compared to her extensive involvement in the first two films. She appears only briefly to interact with Newt, with no meaningful impact on the key events and very minimal dialogue. Tina spends most of the movie off-screen in Brazil.
Why Was Tina’s Role So Small?
This drastic reduction in Tina’s screen time and importance to the plot left many fans disappointed and confused. Why was such a central character from the first two films relegated to what essentially amounted to a cameo in the third installment?
Here are some possible reasons and explanations for the decreased role:
- Scheduling conflicts – Katherine Waterston was filming other projects during production of The Secrets of Dumbledore, which limited her availability.
- Story focus shifted – The film centered more on Dumbledore and other new characters like Credence, so there was less room for Tina’s storyline.
- Relationship with Newt stalled – With problems in Tina’s romance with Newt, the writers may have struggled to integrate her character more.
- Upcoming developments – Her reduced role may have been setting the stage for important events, reveals or reunions with Newt in future sequels.
Whatever the exact reasons, it’s clear Tina’s diminished presence was somewhat controversial among fans who wanted to see more of her character and relationship with Newt. Hopefully she will regain a more substantial role in any future Fantastic Beasts films!
A Breakdown of Tina’s Brief Scenes
For those looking for more details on Tina’s specific but limited appearances in The Secrets of Dumbledore, here is a breakdown of when she shows up on screen and what happens in each scene:
| Scene | Details |
|---|---|
| Meeting with Newt | Tina meets Newt briefly in a tavern and expresses concern about the dangers of his mission for Dumbledore. |
| Farewell to Newt | Tina says goodbye to Newt as he prepares to depart on his quest, again voicing worry for his safety. |
| Message from Dumbledore | Tina receives a message from Dumbledore through his phoenix, asking her to come help in the fight against Grindelwald. |
| Reunion with Newt | Tina finally reunites with Newt after Grindelwald’s defeat, happily embracing him. |
As the table shows, Tina appears only four times briefly, mostly just long enough to interact with Newt. Her total screen time adds up to perhaps 5-10 minutes out of the movie’s 143 minute runtime. Most of the film revolves around Newt, Dumbledore, Grindelwald and other new characters without including Tina in the central plot.
Conclusion
Tina Goldstein, despite being such an important character in the first two Fantastic Beasts movies, unfortunately has very limited relevance in the third installment, The Secrets of Dumbledore. She appears only briefly, mostly in scenes expressing concern for Newt’s safety, rather than playing any major role in the overarching plot.
Possible explanations for her reduced screen time include scheduling conflicts, shifts in the story focus, stagnation in her relationship with Newt, and future plot developments. Many fans were disappointed to see Tina sidelined after she was such a central protagonist previously. Hopefully she will have a chance to return to prominence in potential future sequels in the Fantastic Beasts series.
