Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald was stuffed with major revelations. One of the biggest was the reveal that Nagini, Voldemort’s closest ally, was no ordinary serpent: she was a Maledictus, a human woman with a blood curse that forced her to transform into a snake. While some were excited at the thought of Nagini having more to her story, others were concerned that, being one of the only Asian women in the Harry Potter franchise, her portrayal might play into harmful stereotypes. These fears were not assuaged with the film’s release, as her role mainly consisted of accompanying Credence on his journey to self-discovery.
Nagini’s minimal involvement left many wondering why she was even included in the film. But while she may not have had that big of a role in the theatrical cut, The Crimes of Grindelwald’s deleted scenes tell a more nuanced story. They don’t reveal any more of her mysterious backstory or show her doing anything to drastically alter the course of the movie, but two particular scenes showcase the depth of her and Credence’s relationship, making her inclusion more understandable.
The first scene, titled “Murmuration,” features some quiet moments between Nagini and Credence after they escape from the Circus Arcanus. It opens with the two waking up next to each other as the morning light creeps into their hideout. The scene then cuts to Credence and Nagini sitting on the roof, where she asks him to reveal his obscurus form to celebrate their freedom. He does as she requests, and Nagini smiles as she watches the dark cloud soar through the air, a moment that fans actually caught a glimpse of in The Crimes of Grindelwald trailers.
Although the finished film hints at the connection between Credence and Nagini, this scene provides a little more insight into how Nagini views Credence. The wizarding community perceives Credence as someone to pity at best; at worst, they see him as a threat that must be neutralized at all costs. In contrast, Nagini has been ostracized because of her own “monster within,” so she understands Credence in a way no one else can and embraces him for all that he is. The scene also shows audiences what they’re like when they’re not in mortal peril or trying to sleuth out Credence’s parentage: quiet and somber but incredibly kind to each other.
The second scene, simply called “Nagini and Credence in Alley,” is a short but telling sequence. As Credence sits in an alleyway, Nagini appears carrying a loaf of bread. She tears it in half and offers some to him. Before eating, Credence takes a moment to kiss her hand. Despite its length, the scene effectively shows how much Credence has come to care for Nagini. After growing up in an abusive household and being manipulated by Grindelwald in the first Fantastic Beasts movie, he’s finally found someone who takes care of him without any ulterior motive. She’s genuinely there for him every step of the way, and that means a lot to him.
The Crimes of Grindelwald‘s climax sees Credence leave Nagini behind to join Grindelwald and learn his true identity. She then appears alongside Newt and his allies, implying she’ll take their side in the upcoming war against Grindelwald. While it is still sad seeing Credence choose him as Nagini begs him not to, this decision could’ve had way more impact if the deleted scenes had been included. Witnessing the true depth of their relationship would’ve given Credence’s decision more weight and emphasized how betrayed and distressed Nagini must’ve felt by it. It also would’ve better justified her inclusion in the story.
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