I Still Can’t Get Over Wicked: For Good’s Most Emotional Scene (And It Wasn’t Even in the Script)

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The film Wicked: For Good brings the emotional ending of the popular Broadway musical to the big screen, and one scene in particular has deeply touched viewers. Continuing the story of Wicked (2024), the movie focuses on Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) after she’s wrongly branded as the Wicked Witch of the West for trying to protect the animals of Oz. Meanwhile, Glinda (Ariana Grande) appears to have it all as a celebrated figure, but secretly feels unfulfilled after Elphaba is forced into exile. Their complex and touching friendship is tested as the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) intensify their efforts to portray Elphaba as a threat to Oz, leading to a powerful and moving climax in Wicked: For Good.

The song “For Good” is the most emotionally powerful moment in Wicked, representing the culmination of Elphaba and Glinda’s complex relationship. Through this touching duet, they acknowledge the lasting impact they’ve had on each other’s lives. Elphaba realizes she won’t be the hero she envisioned and decides to sacrifice herself, entrusting Glinda with improving Oz. Their goodbye at Kiamo Ko is particularly heartbreaking when Elphaba pushes Glinda into a closet and they share a tearful “I love you.” The scene then shows them crying, hands pressed against the door – a moment that leads into the supposed scene of Elphaba being ‘melted’ by Dorothy. Director Jon M. Chu surprisingly revealed this powerful moment wasn’t scripted; Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande improvised it. This scene is the highlight of Wicked, and it demonstrates the film’s perfect casting choices.

Wicked: For Good’s Closet Door Scene Beautifully Illustrates Elphaba and Glinda’s Heartbreaking Farewell

Dividing the story of Wicked into two movies could have lessened the power of Elphaba and Glinda’s heartbreaking farewell. However, Wicked: Part One delivers a surprisingly strong emotional impact. The scene where they say goodbye isn’t rushed; the camera spends a full 25 seconds focused on Glinda inside and Elphaba outside, letting their cries and the movie’s music truly resonate. This moment is different from the stage version of Wicked, making it a particularly shocking and moving experience for audiences.

It’s incredibly moving to watch Elphaba and Glinda say goodbye, even knowing from Wicked: For Good that Elphaba didn’t actually die. Their separation remains deeply sad. You can’t help but imagine they could have been happy, close friends in a fairer world, but their different choices and the problems within Oz force them apart. As an audience member, their heartbreak feels just as powerful as it did when they were separated by a simple barrier.

The incredibly moving final scene in Wicked: For Good, where Elphaba and Glinda say goodbye at the split door, wasn’t originally planned. Director Chu revealed to USA Today that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande spontaneously created the powerful moment while rehearsing the song “For Good,” and it almost didn’t make the final cut.

The director explained that they let the actors continue performing because they were so immersed in the moment. Unexpectedly, the actors began to improvise a scene, even saying ‘I love you’ – a surprisingly self-aware moment. The shot of the door separating, yet connecting, the two characters wasn’t planned, but the director realized they needed to capture it while watching the scene unfold. It provided a sense of emotional release for the director, and they believe it will do the same for the audience.

Chu’s decision to include the imagined door scene with Erivo and Grande in the movie Wicked was a brilliant move, and it’s arguably the film’s best change from the stage version. According to Variety, Chu even had a wall demolished to get the perfect shot.

Chu explained they had to remove a wall despite being warned they’d lose access to the set if they did. He didn’t hesitate, saying it was the right moment and ordering its demolition.

The raw and honest way Elphaba and Glinda say goodbye to each other is more emotionally powerful than anything in the original Wicked musical. Director Chu, and stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, deserve huge praise for including and maintaining this important scene in Wicked: For Good.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s Improv Further Proves Their Perfect Castings as Elphaba and Glinda

From the moment Wicked premiered, it was clear that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were perfectly cast as Elphaba and Glinda. Their incredible singing and nuanced performances shone through in songs like “No One Mourns the Wicked” and “The Wizard and I,” culminating in a powerful rendition of “Defying Gravity.” In Wicked: For Good, Erivo and Grande once again deliver, capturing Elphaba’s painful struggle to reveal the Wizard’s dishonesty and Glinda’s journey towards true goodness. They bring such emotion and honesty to their roles, making the Wicked movie adaptation surprisingly vibrant and engaging.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have incredible chemistry, and it truly shines when they act together. A perfect example is the scene where Elphaba and Glinda say goodbye behind the closet door in Wicked: For Good. Their heartfelt “I love you” feels completely natural, especially since no other characters in the musical ever say those words. The raw emotion in their tears and sobs before and after the door closes is deeply moving. The farewell scene between Elphaba and Glinda is exceptionally powerful, and Erivo and Grande deserve the credit for making it such a memorable moment in the film.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande perfectly captured the roles of Elphaba and Glinda, and their spontaneous creativity truly shines through. A particularly memorable moment, where they created a split-screen effect on the spot, proves how deeply they understand their characters. This unscripted farewell was incredibly moving and highlights their natural talent. It was a genuinely magical connection between the two actresses, resulting in the most emotional scene in Wicked: For Good, and fans are lucky it made it into the film.

Wicked: For Good is now playing in theaters.

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2025-11-27 21:14