Credence's Drastic Change In Fantastic Beasts 3 Explained

The following article contains spoilers for "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore."

In the previous "Fantastic Beasts" movie, we learned all about the myriad of crimes committed by Grindelwald. This time around, the focus is on the secrets of one Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law), such as how he and Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) were once lovers. As such, they created a pendant that forbade both of them from making a move against the other, resulting in the two needing to go to nefarious ends to take the other one out. 

However, more than one Dumbledore in this story has a secret they're trying to keep. We found out in the previous film that Credence (Ezra Miller) was, in fact, a Dumbledore, and this time around, we learn that he's the illegitimate son of Albus' brother, Aberforth (Richard Coyle). It's revealed that those two have been communicating throughout the movie via notes in mirrors.

Aberforth's desire to make amends with his long-lost son ultimately results in one of the biggest turns in the franchise's history.

Since the first "Fantastic Beasts" movie, we've known that Credence is an Obscurus. It's a magical condition that prematurely kills its host, but Credence has been special. It makes sense, seeing how he's a Dumbledore and is, therefore, a powerful magic-user. However, even he can't control the parasitic force for long, and it's clear by the end of "The Secrets of Dumbledore" that he's dying, as evidenced by his phoenix companion slowly dying, as well. In one last final gesture, he turns against Grindelwald at the closing election ceremony, revealing to the wizarding world that Grindelwald bewitched a dead Qilin to look into his soul and bow to him. This allows Newt (Eddie Redmayne) and his comrades to bring the other newborn Qilin into the picture so that it can bow to the proper leader who is actually pure of heart. 

Credence finally caught wise to the fact Grindelwald was manipulating him, and Aberforth was making a genuine effort to get him to come home. We see this when Aberforth reaches out to Credence initially, asking, "Forgive me." Credence then responds, "Do you know what it's like to be alone?" Finally, we see the final message from Credence, who simply wants to come home to his father. 

It would seem Aberforth has accepted this invitation, as the two are arm-in-arm by the movie's finale. Credence isn't long for this world, but at the very least, he'll have a chance to reconnect with his father for a brief period of time before he perishes.