Okay, so as a total movie buff, I have to say the Wicked films really flipped my understanding of Oz on its head! We all grew up with the classic Wizard of Oz, thinking it was a pretty straightforward story of good versus evil. But Wicked and Wicked: For Good actually take place before and during the original, and they give us the backstory on all those iconic characters. It’s brilliant how they take this familiar tale and show you that things aren’t always what they seem – the ‘heroes’ might not be so heroic, and the ‘villains’… well, they might just have a really good reason for doing what they do. It totally reframes the whole story!
Instead of starting with Dorothy’s arrival, Wicked and Wicked: For Good reveal what happened beforehand, completely reshaping how you see the famous characters and scenes from The Wizard of Oz. Get ready to reconsider everything you believed about the Land of Oz.
10) Why Elphaba Wants the Slippers So Badly
In The Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West wants the ruby slippers for herself. However, the musical Wicked tells a different story: the slippers originally belonged to Elphaba’s mother and were then given to her sister, Nessarose. After Nessarose unexpectedly died, the slippers were Elphaba’s only remaining connection to her family. So, when Elphaba learns that Glinda gave the slippers away to someone else, she understandably feels furious – it felt like a terrible disrespect to her sister’s memory.
This revision reframes the Wicked Witch’s pursuit of the slippers, shifting the focus from a selfish desire for power to a heartfelt attempt to reclaim a precious family possession, seek justice, and be remembered. Instead of appearing simply villainous, Elphaba’s actions are now driven by grief and a strong sense of family loyalty, making her motivations much more relatable and sympathetic.
9) How the Flying Monkeys Became Loyal to Elphaba
In The Wizard of Oz, the flying monkeys are frightening creatures that do the Wicked Witch’s bidding. The musical Wicked explains how they began working for her, showing that Elphaba originally made an agreement with the Wizard to free them.
Elphaba earned the monkeys’ unwavering loyalty by genuinely trying to help them, seeing them as victims of the Wizard’s schemes. They weren’t devoted to her out of fear, but because they were truly grateful, making them dedicated allies instead of simply frightening creatures she controlled.
8) Why the Munchkins Were Celebrating the Death of The Wicked Witch of the East
Even within the fantastical world of Oz, the Munchkins’ joyful reaction to the Wicked Witch of the East’s death feels unsettling. The musical Wicked reveals that Nessarose, the deceased witch, was actually a harsh and controlling ruler of Munchkinland. She mistreated her people, becoming increasingly cruel and power-hungry, all because she desperately wanted to hold onto the affection of Boq.
The joyful celebration in The Wizard of Oz isn’t about someone simply dying; it’s a release of relief after escaping a cruel ruler who controlled people through fear. Understanding that Nessarose became a tyrant explains why the Munchkins’ seemingly insensitive song and dance, “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead,” is actually a sincere and justified expression of freedom from a oppressive government.
7) Glinda and Elphaba’s Tragic Friendship
The classic story of The Wizard of Oz portrays Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West as rivals, with Glinda appearing inherently good and kind. However, the musical Wicked tells a different story: these two witches were once close college roommates and best friends who profoundly influenced each other. This new perspective reframes Elphaba’s fate in the original story, making her ‘death’ a deeply personal loss for Glinda.
The connection between the characters is a key part of the story, showing how outside pressures and politics can damage even the closest relationships. The fact that Glinda and Elphaba truly loved each other – even though Glinda couldn’t ultimately save Elphaba – makes Glinda’s constant happiness in The Wizard of Oz even more heartbreaking. Her cheerful demeanor is a facade, masking her sadness and a way to respect Elphaba’s last requests.
6) Dorothy Looks More Like A Villain
The classic story of The Wizard of Oz portrays Dorothy as a simple farm girl who unexpectedly becomes a hero, facing off against the terrifying Wicked Witch of the West. However, the musical Wicked: For Good offers a different viewpoint, revealing Elphaba’s side of the story and portraying Dorothy as a disruptive force. From Elphaba’s perspective, Dorothy accidentally killed Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose, and then took the magical shoes from her body, refusing to give them back.
Even though Dorothy doesn’t mean to cause harm, her actions have devastating consequences for Elphaba. She’s not just a girl wanting to return home; she unintentionally creates chaos and becomes a serious danger to Elphaba, which makes the Witch’s vow of revenge understandable. Seeing Dorothy agree to kill Elphaba for the Wizard is especially disturbing in this new light.
5) Fiyero Being The Scarecrow
In The Wizard of Oz, the Scarecrow is a kind companion to Dorothy, longing for a brain from the Wizard. The musical Wicked foreshadows Fiyero’s eventual fate, and Wicked: For Good fully explains the heartbreaking events that lead to his transformation. When Fiyero attempts to rescue Elphaba from the Wizard’s guards, they capture and brutally beat him, leaving him for dead in a cornfield. To save him, Elphaba casts a spell intended to protect him, but it unintentionally turns him into a scarecrow.
The Scarecrow’s desire for a brain isn’t just a simple wish – it’s a deeply sad and personal struggle, representing his inner pain at being trapped in a body made of straw. Joining Dorothy on her journey is both wonderful and agonizing for him, because he has to act as if she’s evil to hide his true feelings and protect his secret.
4) Boq Being The Tin Man
In the classic tale, the Tin Man is known as a kind character searching for a heart. However, the musical Wicked tells a different story: the Tin Man is actually Boq, a Munchkin who was secretly in love with Glinda. Too shy to confess, he ended up trapped with the Wicked Witch of the East, Nessa, for years. When Nessa tried to magically make him fall in love with her, Boq began to die because his heart was failing. Elphaba quickly intervened, casting a spell that transformed him into the Tin Man – a being who no longer needed a heart to live.
As a movie fan, I’ve always felt for the Tin Man, and a new way to look at his story really hits hard. It’s not just bad luck that he doesn’t have a heart; it’s the result of a really messy love triangle. His desperate need for one isn’t just about wanting to feel again, it’s about the deep emotional pain he suffered – like he’s been cursed by a broken heart. It makes him a tragic figure, a victim of love gone wrong, rather than someone who just happened to lose his heart.
3) The Cowardly Lion’s Backstory
As a huge fan of both The Wizard of Oz and Wicked, I was blown away by the connection they made with the Cowardly Lion! It turns out the adult Lion we all know isn’t just magically appearing – he’s actually the little cub we meet in the first Wicked movie. And the heartbreaking part? He was subjected to a really awful experiment – they tried to silence him, and other animals, to keep them trapped in cages. It completely reframes his search for courage, doesn’t it? Knowing why he’s so afraid makes his journey even more powerful.
Okay, so there’s this really heartbreaking scene where Elphaba sees this little cub – the Wizard’s been messing with animals, turning them into these…things. When the professor shows it off, Elphaba gets so upset she accidentally sends everyone to sleep with poppy dust, except for Fiyero. He uses the distraction to free the cub, and he tries to convince me to come with him to release it back into the wild. It’s sad though, because the cub was raised in captivity and didn’t know how to fend for itself, which is how it ended up becoming the Cowardly Lion. It just makes you feel for the poor creature!
2) Madame Morrible Bringing the Tornado to Oz
In The Wizard of Oz, a tornado sweeps Dorothy away to the magical land of Oz. However, the musical Wicked tells a different story, portraying the tornado not as a natural event, but as a deliberate and malicious spell cast by Madame Morrible. Morrible, who works with the Wizard and once taught Elphaba, creates the storm specifically to kill Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose, hoping to draw Elphaba out into the open.
This twist eliminates any idea that Dorothy’s arrival was accidental, showing it was actually a planned assassination orchestrated by the witch Morrible. Morrible, with her unique ability to manipulate the weather, is revealed as truly malicious, and Dorothy’s arrival is directly linked to the Wizard’s oppressive rule.
1) Elphaba Faking Her Death
As a movie lover, I’ve always found the Wicked Witch’s death in The Wizard of Oz a bit abrupt – just a quick splash of water and she’s gone! But Wicked: For Good offers a fascinating twist: it turns out her ‘death’ wasn’t real at all! Elphaba and Fiyero actually planned it as a disappearing act so they could escape and be together peacefully. It’s brilliant because the Wizard’s own made-up story about water harming Elphaba is exactly what she uses to pull off the illusion. Talk about a clever escape!
This new development changes the film’s ending from a triumphant win to a touching display of love and self-sacrifice. Learning that Elphaba lives alters her entire journey, establishing her as genuinely good and showing that leaving Oz with the man she loves was the only way for her to achieve lasting peace and freedom.
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2025-11-30 05:17