*DISCLAIMER: This article contains spoilers for the film Wicked: For Good, and centers around the author’s opinion.
Just over a year ago, the world of Broadway returned to cinemas with its long-awaited cinematic addition: Wicked. Fans of the beloved stage show found themselves ecstatic to see the roles of Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of The West) and Glinda (The Good) reimagined through actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The first film, covering Act 1, was undeniably a cinematic masterpiece, winning hearts, earning nominations and awards left and right, and setting expectations sky-high for the story’s next chapter.
Ariana Grande (left) as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo (right) as Elphaba in Wicked (2024)
But upon exiting the cinema hall after the sequel, Wicked: For Good, I found myself admittedly conflicted.
Yes, the film had memorable moments, but did it keep me as emotionally attached as its predecessor? Not quite. With that in mind, let us step back into Oz and revisit the film’s magical moments, while we acknowledge what should’ve been able to ‘defy gravity’ a little better.
Promotional poster for Wicked: For Good
- Pacing
Let’s put it plain and simple; the film’s pacing was infuriating on my end. As someone who followed the stage musical for quite a while, it’s only natural that I know what’s meant to unfold. Yet, despite already knowing the entire plot beforehand, I still found myself completely stumped. The film flew by unbelievably fast, despite a runtime of 2 hours and 17 minutes, many felt that the first installment dragged on a little too long; Wicked: For Good undeniably needed more time to breathe.
The film’s rush through the events of Act 2 didn’t just leave little room to absorb the plot; it left me emotionally detached (like a heartless Boq, if you will). I barely had time to feel the characters, let alone be fully invested in their journeys. And yes, I did have my little tearful moments, but only because of the attachment I’ve grown for Wicked as a whole over the past few years (+ I watched it with my Elphaba), not because the film itself gave me any space to feel.
Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good in Wicked: For Good
Additionally, Boq and Nessa’s relationship ‘progress’ (or lack thereof) felt rather abrupt, as we were given no context for how things had collapsed this drastically. I didn’t feel any emotional weight to their declining relationship; it just felt hollow. Nessa’s character ‘downvelopment’ seemed irrational and even by theatre kid standards, overdramatic. While in the stage musical itself, Nessa has always been a hated character, her train of thought in the film was exaggerated to the point it was just plain silly and illogical.
Ethan Slater and Marissa Bode as Boq and Nessa in Wicked (2024)
Nessa in Wicked: For Good (2025)
Nessa and Boq promotional posters for Wicked: For Good
- Songs Galore, Both Old and New!
The music of Wicked has impacted various demographics for over 2 decades now; ‘I’m Not That Girl’ became an unofficial anthem for emo teens facing supposed unrequited love, ‘For Good’ became a staple for theatre-kid friendships, and ‘Defying Gravity’ covers conquered YouTube for what felt like an eternity.
With Wicked: For Good, Stephen Schwartz has written two new songs: ‘No Place Like Home’ and ‘The Girl in the Bubble’. ‘The Girl in the Bubble’ explores Glinda’s feelings of loneliness and the pressures of having to live up to others’ expectations, whereas ‘No Place Like Home’ for Elphaba’s character feels contradictory. In the film, Elphaba preached to the animals about staying in Oz despite the way its people have treated her, yet by the film’s end, she chooses to leave Oz with Fiyero, which refutes the message of the song.
Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) in Wicked: For Good
As for the film’s take on songs from the original stage musical, I would say that some may have performed better than others. ‘As Long As You’re Mine’ felt more emotionally connected this time around, with amazing octave changes and runs by both Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey. The addition of a small instrumental section of ‘Defying Gravity’ inserted into ‘For Good’ helped add emotion and feel to the song, which I’ll admit, I desperately needed. The inclusion of Nessa’s song, ‘The Wicked Witch of the East’, was a nice surprise as it has always been performed in the stage musical but never in official recordings. It added depth to Nessa’s progressive insanity and gave us a hint early on where the film is headed.
Elphaba and Glinda during the ‘For Good’ number
Fiyero and Elphaba during the ‘As Long As You’re Mine’ number
But unfortunately, I can’t say the same for all the other songs.
Separating the film’s opening number into two separate tracks, ‘Everyday More Wicked’ and ‘Thank Goodness/I Couldn’t Be Happier’, felt unnecessary and overly extended, especially as it was one of my favorite songs from the original stage production. And while I have undying respect for Michelle Yeoh, the autotune used on her when she sang in this number had me in, well, absolute shambles. I agree that casting legendary actors for films will do wonders for the numbers, but casting actors who have talent is equally important. While Michelle Yeoh portrayed Madam Morrible perfectly, her singing didn’t exactly meet the standard.
While I’m sure some may not be bothered, I felt disappointed with the absence of “Fiyero!” at the start of ‘No Good Deed’. That little moment in the stage production made the song stand out and capture emotion from the very beginning, and without it, the film’s rendition felt like it lost a key spark. The film’s soundtrack also didn’t include ‘Finale’, which made ending the album with ‘For Good’ feel incomplete.
Fiyero and Glinda during the ‘Thank Goodness’ number
Elphaba during the ‘No Good Deed’ number
- Familiar Faces
With Wicked taking place before and during the events of the iconic 1939 film, ‘The Wizard of Oz’, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow once again grace the silver screen, offering audiences a sense of nostalgia.
In Wicked: For Good, Boq turns into the Tin Man after having a spell gone wrong cast upon him by Nessa. Ethan Slater did a brilliant job in bringing the Tin Man to life with an unsettling presence, capturing how Boq went from being smitten for Glinda to giving her a glare worthy of sending shivers up our spines. Similarly, Jonathan Bailey may have only revealed himself as the scarecrow at the film’s end, but his performance leaves a lasting impression. As for the Cowardly Lion, though only appearing briefly, has showcased his genuine fear and disdain for Elphaba.
But the most notable (and mysterious) presence was that of Dorothy’s. While we, the audience, never saw her face, her importance is felt throughout the film. Many of the dialogue and character decisions were influenced by her unseen presence, and keeping her face anonymous is not only a direct reference to us never seeing Dorothy in the stage production, but also pays homage to Judy Garland, whose portrayal of the character remains forever celebrated in cinematic history and pop culture.
Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey (as the Scarecrow) on set of Wicked: For Good
The Tin Man, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow
- Our Leading Ladies
We simply can’t have a Wicked review article without acknowledging our leading ladies, now can we? There’s no denying the absolute powerhouses that are Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. We’ve already seen how the two brought Elphaba and Glinda to life in the first film, and they carried on this same passion and energy through to the sequel.
Their versions of Elphaba and Glinda have shaped the way audiences view these characters. Much like how Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth have inspired generations of theatre kids over the past 20 years, Cynthia and Ariana remind us why we fall in love with these characters over and over again. What makes their portrayal of these characters so authentic is how effortlessly their friendship translates into Elphaba and Glinda, allowing best friends across the globe to feel just that more emotionally connected to each other. That’s a win in my books!
Elphaba and Glinda during the ‘Wonderful’ number
Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked: For Good
What’s the Verdict?
While Wicked: For Good may not have shone as brightly as the first film, it still brought magic to new fans and longtime theatre kids alike. While the film has its pacing issues and some questionable musical decisions, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s performances ground the story with heart, friendship, and undeniable vocal power. With that being said, Wicked has undoubtedly left its mark on the ever-expanding world of The Wizard of Oz, and will continue to do so for years to come.
By Ashley Anne Danker
