Wicked & Wicked for Good Review, Thoughts, and Analysis

Wicked (2024) & Wicked for Good (2025) 

-If you haven't seen it please DO NOT CONTINUE reading. Spoilers ahead.

-If you feel NEGATIVELY about the cast or film, I suggest you to DNI.

-TW: mention of Death, Abuse, and Bullying 

I'm not much of a movie goer but these film made me! I really wanted to hear their renditions of the songs and how they made the musical into a film. I would say that I am really satisfied and applaud the crew and team that made it happen. I would say that they have nailed everything down and I have nothing negative to say. I really love this film (Evident by how I clipped the our local Cinema's popcorn container as a poster 'cause there's not much merchandise here *sad emoji*). Actually, I didn't know the existence of Wicked as a Musical. I only know of Hamilton and that's it. I do know the Wizard of OZ and has watched the film extensively before when I was a kid so I learned about it from my BF, Adriane. 

As a Movie that tackles Elphaba and Glinda of The Wizard of Oz, I think they did them both justice ALTHOUGH in context of continuity from the main source material, there are still some evident plot holes (?) which I don't mind. I think how Wicked tackles these 2 main characters are splendid in a way that it gave them such depth that the concept of "is Wickedness thrust upon them" is apparent into the characters and answers the same question. I'll even go and say that it is explored on the main cast of characters. we saw Wickedness as a "phrase" thrown by Ozians as a label to paint people black and white when everyone is grey. Societally, they have forced that imagery to Elphaba and completely disregarding their own "wickedness" in doing so. How the Wizard and Madame Morrible pulls these strings to manipulate the masses for their own benefit and narrative for success is a good commentary on social control. CRAZILY, they all make sense on a vacuum. despite the situation, their opinions and reasoning makes sense but that's only when we assume that everything is black and white. HOWEVER, not everything is black and white and they're just thrusting that ideology upon them selves because they fail to introspectively think of it deeper and greyer. 

Narratively: 

the Wizard was FORCED to be the prophesized one and people took that "possibility" and ran away with it the same way the Wizard himself accepted the role due to the "power" it comes with such authority despite knowing he is NOT able to. His idea of power and being on the side of goodness requires "evil' to exist as the contrast amplifies his "influence and control" over Oz since Ozians will always associate him with being Good. People want Narratives and that's what he's bringing them, a false sense of rightness and assurance of being correct. It's crazy how sometimes he makes sense since he has seen crowds react to things and despite everything, not everyone is as introspective as they are extrospective of situations. 

Glinda sees the situation in a different light as She sees her Best friend and THE WIZARD "bicker" for what is right. Glinda also wants the grandiosity of having power like how she always had control over societal situations (seen in Shiz University) and she knows "siding" with the Wizard will give her that and enable her to have that same control but at the same time she reasonably sees Elphaba question the falsity of the wizard's claim of power. She has always tried to support her best friend (after the OZ ball arc) but she has her own ambitions. I also think Glinda herself has an idea on how to approach the situation differently and "civilly" than Elphaba's hence her absoluteness with working with the Wizard. Glinda acts as an obstacle in Elphaba's motives and plans; personally, I LOVE Glinda's character since she felt the MOST human after all the characters. We see her develop into something greater than before and we see her feel contrasted and torn and have choices based on what she felt was right. I can make a whole deep dive of her character and I hate how she is painted as a caricature of her character.

Elphaba is such an amazing character and I like the reinterpretation of the "Wicked Witch" from the Wizard of Oz story. It added such depth and created a more enticing character to learn about. from our perspective, Elphaba's upbringing ultimately worked against her favor because we see her see things as "good" OR "evil' since she was always made to feel the latter. people pushed the narrative of evilness into her and in her efforts to separate her identity away from it, it only amplifies people's narrative of her "wickedness" because her power is directly reflective of her emotions. Her having no control over it makes her explosive to others (valid btw, have you seen how she's treated?!) BUT it's not productive for her. in doing so, she sees everyone as having no reason to support her. We see Glinda try to reason with her but She never hears it out and when she did we learn that the Wizard was just manipulating her still but even there, we see her storm off and try to be reckless. I honestly think that if she just sat a bit and think it out and vocalized her reason with someone sensible, them taking control and revealing the truth could have been possible. I STILL LOVE HOW THE STORY ENDED, OK? it doesn't need a traditional happy ending. 

(I head canon they're all happy and Elphaba and Glinda have afternoon teas everyday... she defies gravity anyway LOL. She'll get there) 

Nessa Rose, although her character was insufferable, she was still human and her emotions was very valid. Her feeling incapable due to her not being able-bodied and only to turn into a grim person with governance over Munchkin Land was a good subversion. People brush off what she did as "not that bad" but IT IS. imagine not being allowed to go outside and you NEED HER PERMISION to be allowed to is MADNESS. you could have all the reason but I imagine if she wakes up in the wrong side of the bed, she'll deny you! Her character makes sense since she's been manipulated into thinking that Bach LOVES HER! Isn't it crazy that probably when she was being conceived, her mother must have also suffered from the lack of love from the governor (their father), dosing her with so much Milk-flower, and eventually dying with doubts and we see Nessa grow and be lied to. 

Boq being a hopeless romantic, then actively lying to Nessa to gain Glinda's attention and acceptance and taking TOO FAR then BLAMING his eventual transformation into the Tin man to Elphaba. there was no reasoning with this man but he must have felt broken transforming into something hideous and he knew he would not compare to Fiero because of his new appearance. He wanted Glinda but now she's too far out of reach now due to his appearance. well, he did lie for such a long time to Nessa soo.... 

Okay. this is getting too long since we have a lot of character to go about but what I'm trying to say is that, these characters are all HUMAN and they're all grey. it works with the story so well since it establishes characters with real feelings, issues, challengers, opinions, and approach into equally realistic (in concept) problems. i mean no human is green but we do experience some form of prejudice or stereotyping. Additionally, as a movie, it brings up concept of socialism and politics that are very relevant with the current state of the world we live in. 

on a lighthearted note, Ariana & Cynthia played their characters well. you can't even feel 'Ariana' in Glinda. Glinda felt like a character on her own. A lot of actors can't be separated with something they're known of but she doesn't feel that way when she played Glinda. Their rendition of the songs were heavenly and I could listen to them all day.. I sing it too even though I AM A HORRIBLE SINGER SORRY