MuggleCast: The Harry Potter Re-Read Podcast

Welcome Slug Club member Laura! Andrew and Eric recap their trivia party The final Crimes of Grindelwald trailer is released! Our reactions to the big Nagini reveal! Will this change how we think about Nagini in the Potter series? Why is she on Voldemort's side in later years?  Is it possible she's our first thread between Grindelwald and Voldemort? Could Credence be helping her try to control her power much like himself? Why is Nagini at Circus Arcanus? Is it by choice? Or is she being held captive? Do we really believe JKR has been keeping this secret for 20 years? Jamie Campbell Bower & Toby Regbo reprise their roles as young Grindelwald & Dumbledore What does this mean for future films? Will their relationship finally be explored? Why can't Dumbledore move against Grindelwald? Convenient excuse or something more magical? Is Nicolas Flamel's home the "safe house" Dumbledore tells Newt about? What's Tina doing in the Parisian sewer system? What's draping all of the buildings in Paris? New beasts, bomber jets, cool portkeys, Newt's basement and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You asked, we answered: Our latest movie commentary is for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! This audio file features our commentary on the sixth Potter movie as we all watch it. The beginning of the file offers instructions on how to sync up with us so that you can watch along! (The movie's audio is not included in this commentary track.) Patrons were able to join us as we recorded the commentary, and we incorporate their feedback throughout the episode. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special guest Kamilah joins the show! A plug for Alanna Bennett's excellent piece on what a Black Hermione represents Evanna Lynch is Dancing With The Stars! Eric has all of the info. Lethal White hits store shelves next week! Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Draco's Detour Our seven word summary makes a little more sense this week: Diagon Alley looks really sad and desolate End of the Innocence: they kidnapped the ice cream guy and the wandmaker! JKR provides some insight on Fortescue‘s intended role Quidditch Captain = preferred bathroom access Why has Molly's perspective on security changed in one chapter? How is Hagrid a viable security guard? Harry and Narcissa face off in Madam Malkin's Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes provides some much needed levity in an otherwise dark chapter We’re all impressed by the twins’ level of magic Inside Borgin and Burkes: Vanishing cabinets, necklaces, dark marks and more Why does Hermione take such a uncalculated risk? The hosts given their MVPs of the Week and Rename The Chapter Quizzitch: Who is in the first train compartment that the trio run into on the Hogwarts Express? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

News: Back to Hogwarts featurette, JKR's old website returns and just when was SS released in the US? Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Chapter 5 of Half-Blood Prince We rename the chapter to... the best of our ability: Fleur was entering Harry’s room and existed Harry and Dumbledore arrived to The Burrow sooner than expected. What else did the Headmaster have up his sleeve to pursue Slughorn? What business does Dumbledore have with the Minister? Why is Tonks so visibly upset? Slughorn taught Molly and Arthur. Could there be a Fantastic Beasts cameo in the works? We discuss the themes of security, comedy and xenophobia  Harry lets Ron and Hermione in on the fact that he will be having lessons with Dumbledore and the truth about the prophecy OWL mayhem  Quizzitch returns! What classic childrens' game gets a magical upgrade in Chapter 6, Draco's Detour? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode is sponsored by Puffs the Play! Receive a special discount on ticketsto see Puffs at New York City's New World Stages. Slug Club member Matt joins the show! Back to Hogwarts: Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law surprise fans at King's Cross Potter movies return to theaters this September Get your velvet Slytherin bath robe! Pottery Barn releases an amazing new line up of Potter stuff! It's the 20th anniversary of Sorcerer's Stone - the hosts and patrons share their memories of picking up the first book! Main Discussion: Crimes of Grindelwald Set Report (spoiler alert) We explore Paris' version of Diagon Alley... and their sewer system! Credence has drawn everyone to Paris and is himself in search of someone important Grindelwald escapes! Who will he be able to rally to his cause? Will we see Nurmengard? Magic lungs, ministerial hearing parchments and sorcerer's stones What interesting information could be found inside the French Ministry's Ancestral Archives? New Beasts are revealed as we are introduced to the Matagot, Zouwu, Firedrake and Leucrotta The latest on Yusuf Kama and the Maledictus, plus several of Grindelwald’s supporters have familiar names Voicemails cover owls, wizarding jobs and trivia night in Chicago Introducing our new Chapter by Chapter archive! Quizzitch and Chapter-by-Chapter return next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pat joins the show and shares his Wizarding World experience and why he still plays Hogwarts Mystery The hosts review two recent interviews with Eddie Redmayne and David Heyman Newt's apartment, his relationship with Theseus, Dumbledore's manipulation and more Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Chapter 4 of Half-Blood Prince The hosts recap the chapter in 7 words with a new Group Summary game! Harry is allowed to use magic outside of school, but is it his first time truly Apparating? We learn that Voldemort is now on the defensive (against Harry's mind) Dumbledore continues to put his final plan in motion by recruiting Slughorn References two and three - what's up with Dumbledore's blackened hand? Why does Harry never check that Dumbledore... is in fact Dumbledore? How does Dumbledore know where Slughorn is living - has he been tracking him? Does Slughorn recognize what's truly happened to Dumbledore's hand? Is Horace correct that he would be better off/safer not at Hogwarts? The Master Collector: why does Dumbledore want Harry to become a member of the Slug Club?  Harry will receive private lessons this year - about time! The hosts give their MVPs of the Week and Rename the Chapter We receive an email on the recent Crimes of Grindelwald trailer specific to Leta Lestrange's Hogwarts house Quizzitch: The night Harry arrives at the Burrow, which characters does he spot who aren't in the film adaptation, and which characters does he NOT interact with that he does in the movie? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hypable.com writer Kendra joins the show! Eric recaps a great LeakyCon weekend in Dallas! We meet a brand-new Fantastic Beast - the chupacabra - and get our first glimpse at baby nifflers Newt is headed to Paris to "track" Credence, but how does he even know he's alive? Chapter-by-Chapter continues with Chapter 3 of Half-Blood Prince Are the media headlines meant to make readers and the wizarding community feel safe despite Voldemort's known return to power? Why has Dumbledore been reinstated as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot? Our first (passing) mention of Inferi Is Harry's lack of trust in Dumbledore showing up at Privet Drive a result of their relationship from Order of the Phoenix? Why didn't Harry tell the Dursleys that Dumbledore would be visiting? How would they have reacted if he did? We discuss Dumbledore and Petunia's prior correspondence. Was Dumbledore ready to play that hand if necessary? Privet Drive Payoff: Dumbledore puts the Dursleys in their rightful place! Are we seeing a Grindelwald-era Dumbledore based on the way he intimidates the Dursleys or is he just setting affairs in order? Dumbledore's hand, mead, Grimmauld Place, Kreacher and more! We learn that Harry must return to Privet Drive one more time The hosts give their MVPs of the Week and Rename the Chapter; plus a great Crackpot Theory on Felix Felicis Quizzitch: Who gave Ambrosius Flume his first job, thanks to Slughorn? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

… Did that work? Is he listening to this episode? With Micah gone this week, we're joined by two of our listeners, Alex and Stefanie, who do their best impressions of the NY News Anchor. Patrons in the U.S. have received their mugs, but we need to know if they arrived okay! And if yours arrived broken (rare but possible), let us know. This week's episode is sponsored by Puffs the Play! Receive a special discount on tickets to see Puffs at New York City's New World Stages. Chapter by Chapter continues with Chapter 2 of Half-Blood Prince: Spinner's End. The brilliance of this chapter is how Snape is playing Bellatrix and Naricissa simultaneously but in different ways. How much does Voldemort know about Dumbledore's injury? He can't know about the Horcrux… right? Does one line from Bellatrix help make Delphi's existence canon? Why would Bellatrix have such a hard time trusting Snape's word when Voldemort is content with his reasoning? And what should she do if she had ever learned the truth? Who is the MVP of the chapter? Those poor elves… We rename the chapter to reflect what really happens. Crackpot Theory: Has Bellatrix made an unbreakable vow before? Have questions or comments about HBP Chapter 3? E-mail mugglecast@gmail.com, or use the voicemail line or feedback form on our website! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Birthday Harry & Jo! We rank Harry's birthdays from worst to best MuggleCast turns 13 years old on August 7! We break down the details of two new Crimes of Grindelwald posters ZouWu? JKR reveals the mysterious beast in the recent Crimes of Grindelwald trailer! Ezra Miller talks about Credence's character development The biggest Harry Potter LEGO set ever hits store shelves August 15 Patrons share their thoughts and questions on the latest trailer Does Dumbledore see Grindelwald in the Mirror of Erised because he desires him to be captured? What role exactly will Nicolas Flamel play in The Crimes of Grindelwald? How will Jacob find himself with Newt? Will Credence be reunited with his true family? Will he ever get the chance to go to wizarding school? Was Abernathy working for Grindelwald the whole time? Did he help him capture Graves? We compare Grindewald's populist movement and Dumbledore's timid response to that of the U.S. in the 1930s Voicemails cover the Deathly Hallows, splitting the films into five parts, Johnny Depp and more Chicken Soup For The MuggleCast Soul returns Don't forget: Cormoran Strike is back in Lethal White on September 18 Quizzitch: What floor is Vernon Dursley's office on at Grunnings? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew and Eric reminisce on their latest trivia night battle, which leaves Andrew and friends with a huge prize. The new Crimes of Grindelwald trailer is here and we go scene-by-scene! There is some mixed reaction to Dumbledore's DADA lesson with Newt What interests Credence so much about Circus Arcanus? Who is Grindelwald addressing when he says hiding in the shadows serves us no longer? A flying black curtain - is this a new obscurial effect or perhaps a Lethifold? Dumbledore's deepest desire is not socks - he sees Grindelwald in the Mirror of Erised! Newt, Tina and Leta team up to escape the French Ministry of Magic! The Niffler is back! What's up with those cats? And is Newt trying to rescue the Oni Oni? Is Leta referring to herself when she tells Newt he never met a monster he couldn't love? Could Grindelwald be referring to his own failed relationship with Dumbledore when he asks Newt if Dumbledore will mourn for him? Could it be a reference to Ariana? Does Abernathy help Grindelwald escape from prison? What are Newt and Jacob up to in Nicolas Flamel's home? The hosts react to Johnny Depp's in-character appearance at Comic-Con Patrons weigh in with their thoughts on the new trailer Quizzitch: On what historic date was the actor who plays Grimmson born? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices