Wicked (2024) follow up finally made its way to theaters and people cannot stop talking about it! Neither can I if I’m being honest. This blockbuster film was phenomenal from start to finish! However, when comparing Wicked to Wicked: For Good, many say that part one was “better than part two. Ranging from the music being more “upbeat” in part one to the pacing of part two being “weird” or “slow”. The biggest one of these critics is that Wicked: For Good was darker than Wicked. I agree but I find the darkness of the film necessary to deliver the topics touched upon that the first film barely introduces, especially the topic of consequences.
The film starts off approx. 5 years after the end of Wicked, meaning we are not in the preppy school days anymore. Glinda Upland (Ariana Grande) has become a public figure and a symbol of good along with Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) who became captain of the Gale Force. NessaRose (Marrissa Bode) is now the governor of Munchkinland and Boq (Ethan Slater) is one of her footmen. These characters have grown into adults with important decisions to make. We start the film pretty strongly as things have escalated. It’s made clear that the animals are now second class citizens and are being used for slave labor in contrast to the first film where animals still had their ability to speak and weren’t being persecuted.
Additionally, the new song added, “No Place Like Home”, performed by Elphaba as the animals were trying to escape Oz is the one song in the musical that specifically speaks to the oppressed and the sacrifice they make, leaving the only home they’ve ever known. Not only that but it enhances our understanding of Elphaba’s character and her love for Oz which is the reason she is fighting so hard for it. It makes her sacrifice at the end of the film much more heavy.
A big thing Wicked: For Good talks about is a corrupt government. The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) conspire together to sell out the idea of Glinda representing “good” and Elphaba or “the wicked witch of the west” representing evil. Shooting out so much propaganda including flyers, rallies, and lies against Elphaba so that Oz can have one common enemy revealing the fascist regime that lies just below the surface. The power of propaganda twisted Elphaba’s persona, in such a way that even her old friends and sister view her differently. Let’s not forget that even Glinda fell for that propaganda at the end. Furthermore, NessaRose’s character is also used as a symbol of corrupt government as she uses her power and authority to not allow any munchkin to leave Munchkinland without her permission, all because she didn’t want Boq to run off to the Emerald City to see Glinda. Talk about abuse of power.
One thing that shocked me so much was the scarecrow transformation. For those who haven’t seen the musical, we don’t get much of this transformation on stage. However, in the film, we get small flashes through “No Good Deed” of Fiyero getting beat up by the guards while Elphaba tries to save him. Though the flashes weren’t that graphic, it does leave to the imagination and that combined with Cynthia Erivo’s (Elphaba) beautiful vocals, it was just super emotional and it had me shedding a few tears. Boq’s transformation to the Tin Man was also pretty rough but was articulated so great for the film. I liked the foreshadowing for both Fiyero and Boq on who they were going to become. Both the transformations are a turning point to understanding that things will never go back to what it was before which can be a depressing thought. Especially the flashbacks of Fiyero, Boq, NessaRose, Glinda, and Elphaba back in college and how that was one of the last times they were all happy together and it shows how quickly time can change things.
And of course the saddest part of this film was the duet with Glinda and Elphaba, “For Good”, signaling their goodbye which marks the tragic ending. Tears throughout this whole part, especially the door shot with them crying on either side of the door broke me. If you’ve ever had such a deep friendship, you understand just how heartbreaking this is. The ending is bittersweet as both Glinda and Elphaba get what they wanted in a way but at the cost of each other. It stings my heart just thinking that they will never see each other again. Go watch Wicked: For Good if you haven’t! There’s a little bit of everything for everyone and you will be changed for good :’)!