On Nov. 21, “Wicked: For Good” was released in theaters, which was a follow up of “Wicked: Part One” that was released a year prior. The movie was based on the second act of the Broadway musical, “Wicked,” while the musical itself is based on the novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.”
“Wicked: For Good” immediately picks up at the cliffhanger that was left at the end of “Wicked: Part One” and dives into Elphaba on a mission to expose the Wizard of Oz. Elphaba has earned the nickname “Wicked Witch of the West,” while Glinda is known for being “Glinda the Good.”
Throughout “Wicked: For Good” multiple allegories are brought up such as propaganda, suppression and discrimination. The Wizard of Oz and Madam Morrible paint Elphaba as the enemy, blaming her for the mistreatment of animals. They blame Elphaba because she had figured out the truth behind their intentions, and they use propaganda to make all of Oz against her. The suppression of talking animals represents the scapegoat tactic for political control because the Wizard and Madame Morrible utilize animals to ignite fear in the citizens against a common enemy. This is to distract from the fact that the Wizard has no real power and cannot solve any actual issues Oz is facing.
The visual appearance of “Wicked: For Good” improved since the first movie with the enhanced CGI consisting of flying scenes and glowing elements of the emerald city. The musical choice is perfect because the song “For Good” explains how both Elphaba’s and Glinda’s relationship has developed and evolved. Both the visual and musical elements work cohesively to create an immersive experience for the audience.
Elphaba and Glinda responses to the rising tension in Oz emphasizes the emotional and moral growth. Elphaba is deemed as an outsider, but still wants to fight against corruption even when costing her reputation. While Glinda has to make decisions at the hand of public pressure. She has an internal conflict with herself deciding to do what is expected of her or doing what is right.
The casting for “Wicked” was full of talent, starring 2025’s Sexiest Man Alive, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Michelle Yeoh as Madam Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard. Fans have had mixed reviews on whether or not the sequel was better than the original. The majority agree that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande had incredible performances. Viewers were found emotionally impacted by the movie and have left in tears because of the powerful story of friendship. Their connection was amplified at the ending of the movie with the song “For Good” about the lasting impact of their bond and how their friendship has made each other a better person.
Overall, “Wicked: For Good” delivers a successful heartwarming follow up of the previous movie. Although the movie was superb, expectations for part two were higher when compared to the first movie, so it led viewers to be disappointed. The film did a great job of highlighting allegories of discrimination, suppression and propaganda. Cynthia Erivo’s and Ariana Grande’s performance resonated with viewers by emphasizing the powerful bond between the two characters.
