What’s it like watching ‘Wicked: For Good’ for someone who’s only seen the movies?
I watched “Wicked” (2024) armed only with surface-level knowledge of “The Wizard of Oz.” I wasn’t aware of Elphaba’s backstory, her deep friendship with Glinda, and the injustice and lies she had to fight against. In fact, my only previous full encounter with the IP was 2013’s “Oz the Great and Powerful,” which I will defend as a great watch to this day.
And yet, even without the makings of a bona fide musical fan, I enjoyed “Wicked,” thanks in part to the dazzling performances of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, a catchy soundtrack featuring classics like “Dancing Through Life” and “Defying Gravity,” and the film’s gripping narrative.
But, unfortunately, the same can’t be said about the highly anticipated follow-up in “Wicked: For Good,” which was burdened by the expectations set by the first film, and a script that had too much going on.
No part three?
“Wicked: For Good” follows the divergent paths that Elphaba and Glinda took at the end of the first film, after the former defied both gravity and the Wizard of Oz.
Now branded as a Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba fights to free oppressed animals and reveal the Wizard’s trickery to the rest of Oz. However, because of the propaganda proliferated by Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible, she is branded as the kingdom’s enemy, making her feared by all.
On the other hand, Glinda becomes Emerald City’s darling, now known as Glinda the Good, and stands as the opposing force to the Wicked Witch. Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero Tigelaar is named Captain of the Gale Force and betrothed to Glinda, but maintains that he’s simply using the position so he can be the first to find Elphaba and guarantee her safety.
Meanwhile, Glinda is saddened by how Oz has vilified Elphaba, but is also elated by the adoration she’s received from the people.
Without delving too deeply into spoiler territory, the first half of “Wicked: For Good” sets Elphaba and Glinda on a collision course that tests their friendship—mostly caused by their love triangle with Fiyero, and a tragedy that came at the cost of a loved one. The end of this first half sees Elphaba embracing the wickedness the rest of Oz sees in her, while Glinda sees that she cannot effect change within the confines of the corrupt system she’s working in.
The film’s second half, however, takes the pace up a couple of notches and speeds the crowd through the rest of the remaining plot points. In fact, with the introduction of the events taking place in “The Wizard of Oz” and how these were supposedly happening in tandem to “Wicked: For Good,” I had thought that they were already wrapping up the film to set up a possible third entry.
But instead, I was blitzed with quickly changing intentions and motivations, and introduced new characters whose own arcs were never fully realized and fleshed out. The only saving grace was the heart-tugging duet of “For Good,” which was undoubtedly the best song in the “Wicked: For Good” soundtrack, and the perfect conclusion to the film.
A quick search through comment sections and review boards finds that the lack of pacing in the film was already present in the original “Wicked” Broadway runs. Perhaps having only two halves was not simply enough for such a rich story.
But why not make a third? Surely there was enough of a demand.
The burden of expectation
Ongoing discussions surrounding “Wicked: For Good” have it rated under last year’s entry, with popular complaints ranging from a less catchy soundtrack to the pacing issues previously mentioned.
But if anything, it’s not to say it wasn’t a good watch. Instead, it’s simply a matter of having expectations that can never be met. After all, a school setting with a rivals-to-best-friends setup lends itself to a lot of iconic and whimsical moments that a more grounded, serious, and political story would never have. And not to mention, the iconic “Defying Gravity”—that’s it, there’s just no beating that.
Could it have been better? Sure. But that doesn’t take away from the amazing two-year run that Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jon M. Chu, and the rest of the “Wicked” cast and staff had.
And to wrap up such a story in just two years—in an era where it normally can take several years before we see the sequel… that in itself is worth lauding.
