
The musical Wicked and its follow-up, Wicked: For Good, offer a fresh take on The Wizard of Oz, reimagining familiar characters and events from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West. This leads to surprising twists, including a portrayal of Dorothy as the villain. The story challenges our understanding of the original film, making us question what we thought we knew. By the end of these two films, many beloved characters are seen in a completely new light. (Be warned: spoilers follow!)
Throughout the musical Wicked, Dorothy remains an enigmatic, distant figure – we never even see her face. Despite this, she’s ultimately responsible for Elphaba’s downfall in Wicked: For Good – or so everyone, including Dorothy herself, believes. While Wicked emphasizes that every story has multiple perspectives, Dorothy’s role subtly paints her as something of a villain. This outcome feels almost predetermined, considering how the story is told, and a specific detail really solidifies this impression.
Dorothy Unwittingly Does Madame Morrible’s Bidding in Wicked: For Good

It’s hard to understand Dorothy’s motivations in Wicked without knowing her backstory, but she’s definitely presented as an opposing force. She seems to be manipulated by Madame Morrible and unknowingly serves Oz’s purposes. Dorothy may believe, like the original Wizard of Oz character, that the Wicked Witch is a real danger. However, seeing the story through Elphaba and Glinda’s eyes reveals a more complex truth. This makes us sympathize with Elphaba and Glinda, and view Dorothy more as the villain.
The musical Wicked encourages us to reconsider whether Dorothy was truly a good person. It’s hard to see Elphaba’s downfall without questioning Dorothy’s actions. The story shows Dorothy actively pursuing and then celebrating what she believes is the Wicked Witch’s death – a disturbing reaction for someone who seems so innocent, no matter who the victim is. This new perspective on the famous scene makes us view Dorothy with suspicion.
This Toto Detail Confirms That Dorothy Is One of Wicked’s Bad Guys

A key detail suggesting Dorothy is a villain in the upcoming film Wicked: For Good is the fact that she keeps Toto on a leash. In the original The Wizard of Oz, Toto is usually carried in a basket or simply follows the group, but he’s never restrained like that. While it might seem minor, this detail is actually quite significant. The entire story of Wicked centers around the control and mistreatment of Animals, and this is the core reason Elphaba opposes the Wizard and the world of Oz – even more so than his deception.
Even though Toto isn’t a particularly important animal, the fact that Dorothy controls him is significant, especially since she’s portrayed as the story’s antagonist. This connection places her on the same side as the Wizard and Madame Morrible. It also sharply contrasts with how Elphaba treats animals, really emphasizing how different their beliefs are.
Dorothy’s Actions in Wicked: For Good Are Difficult to Justify

Okay, so I just saw Wicked: For Good, and while the movie initially paints Dorothy as some kind of wronged hero, I’m not buying it. Honestly, looking at what Elphaba actually does, she’s not nearly as wicked as everyone says. It’s pretty clear the negative image of her is totally manufactured – straight-up propaganda! And Dorothy just believes it, which makes it hard to root for her. She arrives in Oz and just accepts everything she’s told without even questioning it, and as a viewer, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Glinda doesn’t hold any personal grudge against Elphaba; actually, it’s Elphaba who resents her, especially after Glinda takes Nessarose’s silver shoes. This makes Dorothy’s determination to defeat Elphaba puzzling. It also makes Dorothy seem insensitive and reinforces her role as the story’s protagonist. If Elphaba had directly challenged or threatened Dorothy earlier, Dorothy might have appeared more sympathetic. As it stands, Dorothy seems more like a product of biased storytelling, and the audience isn’t given much reason to feel empathy for her.
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2026-03-21 21:43