The theater buzzed with excitement as fans of all ages, genders, and backgrounds gathered to witness the conclusion of a beloved story. Children dressed in pink and green, adults sporting themed merchandise, and everyone in between filled the seats, creating an atmosphere of palpable anticipation for Wicked: For Good, the second part of the musical adaptation that reimagines The Wizard of Oz.
A Triumphant Return to Oz
When the lights dimmed and pre-recorded messages from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo welcomed viewers back to the magical world, applause erupted throughout the theater. The question hanging in the air was whether this conclusion would do justice to the cherished story. The answer proved to be a resounding yes.
The film demonstrates spectacular scope and thematic depth, intentionally crafted to continue the narrative while celebrating the legacy of Stephen Schwartz's musical. Since Wicked: Part 1 debuted last November, the story has reached a global audience, democratizing access to this reimagined Oz universe.
Picking Up Where Defiance Left Off
The first film established the backstory of Elphaba (Erivo) and Glinda (Grande), showing how the green-skinned future Wicked Witch of the West befriended the blonde future Good Witch of the North. It concluded at the climactic moment when Elphaba, scapegoated by the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), rises into the sky proclaiming she is unlimited.
Wicked: For Good begins precisely where the fall starts. Elphaba has built a forest hideout and lives in exile, determined to expose the wizard's destructive lies single-handedly. Meanwhile, the wizard and Madame Morrible have elevated Glinda to pedestal status, with Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) joining her for a wedding designed to give Ozians something to celebrate.
The plot complexity deepens with several key developments:
- Fiyero's secret love for Elphaba creates emotional tension
- Nessarose (Marissa Bode), Elphaba's sister, governs Munchkinland with Boq's (Ethan Slater) assistance
- A female child and her dog prepare to fall from the sky, signaling Dorothy's arrival
Musical Evolution and Cinematic Excellence
While the second act of the stage musical contains fewer catchy numbers, Wicked: For Good navigates this challenge by revamping the soundtrack. According to co-producer Stephen Schwartz, at least half of the music features new elements.
The film introduces Every Day More Wicked as its opening number, a well-executed medley weaving together memorable pieces from the first film. Two completely new songs—No Place Like Home sung by Erivo and The Girl in the Bubble performed by Grande—enhance the emotional landscape, while Wonderful has been revised to include Glinda.
The music serves as the unifying thread throughout the narrative. Unlike the first film where characters mostly interacted at Shiz University, in For Good they embark on individual journeys that intersect at crucial moments. The musical consistency prevents the plot from feeling disjointed while allowing exploration of Oz's diverse locations and inhabitants.
The production design by Nathan Crowley achieves hyper-realistic detail in every scene, from Elphaba's forest hideout and crumbling castle to Glinda's Emerald City quarters. This realism is enhanced by Paul Tazewell's detailed costumes and Frances Hannon's hair and makeup design, creating a cinematic scope that elevates the story's stakes beyond personal transformation to encompass the fate of every person and animal in Oz.
Political Parallels and Character Depth
The film presents obvious political parallels between the fascism overtaking Oz and contemporary realities. As HuffPost contributor Jake Kleinman noted last spring, the curse of Wicked lies in how its fascist allegory grows more potent with time.
However, where Wicked: For Good truly excels is in its depiction of individual capacity and the multitudes we all contain. This complexity shines through in the character arcs of both Elphaba and Glinda.
While Part 1 focused on Elphaba redefining wickedness, the second film gives Glinda equal space for transformation. For Good becomes her opportunity to be more than a girl confined to a bubble—it's about learning to steer it, use it, pop it, step out of it, and ultimately redefine perceptions of goodness.
This character development stems from what Elphaba and Glinda have learned from each other and how they've shaped one another for good. Without revealing spoilers for those unfamiliar with the stage production, the ending isn't conventionally happy, but its imperfections create profound impact.
The refrain looking at things in another way echoes throughout the film, reminding audiences that seeing depictions of how relationships transform us, and how we adapt to our limitations in defying gravity, has made Wicked resonate for over two decades.
Wicked: For Good is now playing in theaters, offering a conclusion that has, quite literally, changed many for good.
