Wicked: For Good Landed the Broom With a Perfect Ending

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Everyone’s wondering how the filmmakers will turn the second act of Wicked into a full movie. This has been a major challenge since Universal announced the musical would be split into two films. The first act is full of well-known, catchy songs like “The Wizard and I” and “Defying Gravity,” which made it easy to create a big movie moment. But the second act is more difficult. It’s less musically strong, focuses on a falling-out between the main characters, and relies on a complicated retelling of The Wizard of Oz. Simply put, the songs aren’t as memorable or widely loved.

A year after the first Wicked film, I saw Wicked: For Good and unfortunately, my concerns were mostly confirmed. The movie felt disjointed and slow, with confusing special effects during action scenes, uninteresting political plots, and songs that constantly interrupted the flow. It seemed counterintuitive, but I thought the only way to make a good Wicked movie would have been to split it into two parts, removing the second act to save the first. Those were my initial, harsh thoughts, until the last 20 minutes or so. The film finally focuses on Glinda and Elphaba’s final reunion and goodbye, and while the journey there is a bit rough, it ultimately delivers a truly perfect ending – one that feels completely right. It’s the only image the movie could have left us with: a recreation of the famous Broadway poster!

Before the climactic moment, a series of intense events unfold: Glinda unexpectedly dresses in black, wearing Elphaba’s old boots, and rides off to rescue her. Elphaba imprisons Dorothy, and the two share a deeply emotional song, revealing their powerful connection. Elphaba stages her own death, and Glinda, inspired by Elphaba’s bravery, returns to the Emerald City and overthrows the villains, becoming a just ruler. The film then circles back to the beginning, but with a new understanding of everything that’s happened. A cow and a koala reappear, and Fiyero is revealed to be alive – transformed into a scarecrow. Finally, Elphaba and Fiyero-as-a-scarecrow leave Oz, ending up in a desert landscape reminiscent of Arrakis. Elphaba spots a rainbow, possibly a message from Glinda, while Glinda’s spellbook begins to open, seemingly responding to Elphaba.

Suddenly, the movie flashes back to a soft, dreamy scene from Elphie and Glinda’s school days. They’re in a field of poppies, both smiling and sharing a private moment. Glinda turns to Elphaba, playfully covers her mouth, and whispers a secret – a secret the audience will never hear, just like in the movie’s promotional materials and the show’s program.

The ending was a lovely treat for fans, giving me the same feeling I get when seeing a classic superhero moment. While predictable, it was surprisingly effective after two hours of visual effects because it was small, quiet, and focused solely on the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda. It stripped away everything else – the elaborate world-building, complex plot, unnecessary explanations, and grand spectacle – and highlighted what truly matters. The friendship between these witches was the heart of the first movie, and Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s performances brought it to life, even with all of Wicked’s quirks. The second movie didn’t give them enough time together, and one scene was dominated by Jeff Goldblum. This final scene beautifully reminded me of what I loved about the first Wicked by refocusing on the core of the story.

To prevent the scene from becoming overly sweet or sentimental, the moment includes a playful touch. Interestingly, this pose caused some drama before the release of Wicked last year. Cynthia Erivo strongly reacted to fans who photoshopped the movie poster to resemble the Broadway version, even calling it deeply offensive. Now, she’s recreating that same pose, giving fans exactly what they were playfully requesting! This final image is a lighthearted peace offering between the artist and her fans – a charming mix of sweetness and good-natured teasing.

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2025-11-22 01:54