Get ready to revisit the Land of Oz! As “Wicked: For Good” graces the big screen, fans of the beloved stage musical are discovering some captivating new twists in the story’s second act. Join us as we explore the most significant changes from the Broadway sensation to the cinematic spectacle. From character arcs to expanded storylines and musical moments, prepare to dive deep into how the film reimagines Elphaba and Glinda’s journey. Which changes surprised you most?
00:09And today, we're looking at ways that Wicked For Good differs from the second act of its stage counterpart.
00:14There will be spoilers on both fronts.
00:16I have been changed for good.
00:23Although Act 2 catches up to The Wizard of Oz, those events are pushed to the sidelines.
00:37Dorothy is an unseen figure, a silhouette shot being the most we ever get on stage.
00:42Wicked For Good remains focused on Elphaba and Glinda's story, but Dorothy does have more of a presence this time.
00:47Goodbye, Dorothy.
00:49Goodbye, Dodo.
00:49It's just that one road the whole time.
00:51Newcomer Bethany Weaver, who comes from a musical and dance background, steps into the role of Dorothy.
00:57While we still don't get a good look at her face, there are several shots from behind and from afar as Dorothy walks down the yellow brick road, meets the wizard, and is captured by the Wicked Witch's flying monkeys.
01:09I swear it never ends with that girl.
01:11We're still not entirely sure how she got home in this version, however.
01:14Number 9, It Takes Three to Be Wonderful
01:18In the stage musical, Wonderful is shared between the wizard and Elphaba.
01:32The wizard makes one last plea for Elphaba to join him, almost convincing her that they can still do wonderful things together.
01:38They call me one, so I am one, in fact, it's so much who I am, it's part of my name.
01:52Elphaba doesn't just give up the chance to be celebrated throughout Oz, but also being with a father figure, in more ways than either realizes.
02:00Instead of a duet, the film ups the emotional stakes by bringing Glinda into the number.
02:05She's a welcome addition for a few reasons.
02:07They call him wonderful
02:11So I am wonderful
02:13He is so wonderful
02:15Outside of For Good, Glinda and Elphaba aren't given many musical moments together in Act 2 of the show.
02:22Glinda's presence reinforces just how much Elphaba is sacrificing.
02:25Not just the wizard, not just Oz, but her best friend.
02:29Think of what we could do, together.
02:33Number 8, The Yellow Brick Road
02:36The first film featured a scene in which the wizard showcases his plan to construct a road that will lead all Ozians to him.
02:45He hasn't quite settled on a color, but Glinda favors yellow.
02:49The yellow relay?
02:49The wizard's vision for the Oz of tomorrow comes at the expense of the animal's rights.
03:03In Wicked For Good, enslaved animals are forced to lay bricks.
03:07While the stage musical revealed how animals are being oppressed and silenced, this film goes a step further, with them being used for free labor.
03:15This eerily mirrors how enslaved human beings have been used to build entire nations throughout history.
03:20And I don't see why you can't just teach us history, instead of always harping on the past.
03:25Because we cannot escape the past, and we ignore it at our own peril.
03:31It also still serves as an allegory for animal cruelty, as it's not far from how some are treated in reality.
03:37Number 7, Elphaba as a Vigilante
03:39The stage version suggests that Elphaba is doing what she can to help the animals and push back against the wizard.
03:52In Wicked For Good, we actually get to see this.
03:55During the construction of the Yellow Brick Road, Elphaba swoops in, battling the guards mistreating the animals.
04:16She also attempts to expose the wizard's lies as Ozians gather to commemorate the newly established road.
04:21Beyond standing up against the establishment, we see Elphaba interact with the animals that she has dedicated her life to protecting.
04:28It's a very lonely road to have moral courage, and we get to see that in Elphaba, fighting for justice.
04:36Despite this, not every animal trusts Elphaba, given some of the things she's done in the past.
04:42Even the ones who do would rather flee than fight, making it truly feel like it's Elphaba against Oz.
04:47No good deed goes unpunished
04:51No act of charity goes unresented
04:55Number 6, Bach trying to break free
04:59Whatever you say, Madam Governor
05:01I asked you to call me Nessa.
05:04Remember?
05:07Bach
05:07Unlike the stage version, Elphaba already knows that their father is dead when she returns to Nessa, who has become the governor of Munchkinland.
05:17Act 2 of the stage show finds Bach reluctantly serving Nessa, who has forced the Munchkins to remain in their homeland, all in the name of unrequited love.
05:25Nessa?
05:26Yes?
05:27Uh, Nessa, surely now I'll matter less to you, and you won't mind my leaving here tonight.
05:36Wicked for Good provides more context, showing Bach's initial attempt to leave Nessa.
05:41Bach is ready to move on, but Nessa remains stuck in the past.
05:44Although Bach always carried a torch for Glinda, you get the sense that he at least cared about Nessa as a friend.
05:51Whatever affection he might have had for her is gone upon arriving at the train station, learning that Munchkins are forbidden to leave without Nessa's permission.
05:59Number 5, More of the Animals
06:01Wicked for Good gives more attention to the animals, who plan to flee Oz to the land beyond.
06:10Among them is Elphaba's former nanny, Dulcibear.
06:13Although Elphaba urges them to stay and fight, the cowardly lion argues against this.
06:17In his eyes, Elphaba didn't rescue him as a cub, but rather released him into an unfamiliar habitat.
06:23I didn't mean to scare you.
06:27Why is it you're always causing some sort of commotion?
06:30I don't cause commotions, I am one.
06:33That doesn't stop Elphaba from setting a room full of caged animals free.
06:37Seeing Dr. Dillamond imprisoned and unable to speak convinces Elphaba that she can never join the wizard.
06:43While that last part is in the stage musical, it's never made clear what exactly happened to Dillamond.
06:48The film provides more closure, seeing him return to the classroom as animals across Oz are given their rights back.
06:55Number 4, A Not-So-Wonderful Wedding
06:57Glinda tells Elphaba that she's marrying Fierro before even he knows.
07:08Fierro and I are getting married.
07:10He asked you already?
07:15Oh, he doesn't know yet.
07:15In fact, most of Oz hears the happy news before Fierro has any idea.
07:20Fierro agrees to go through with the wedding, although his heart belongs to another.
07:24Somehow I'm over, under your spell.
07:31Glinda and Fierro's wedding day never comes in the stage show.
07:34In Wicked for Good, they almost meet at the end of the altar.
07:37Glinda is trying on her wedding dress when Elphaba returns to the Emerald City.
07:41She puts a pin in her pending nuptials to convince Elphaba to join the wizard.
07:45Glinda takes off after seemingly getting through to her friend.
07:48As animals come crashing through the ceremony, though, Glinda's big day gets trampled over,
07:53and the heartbreak is just beginning.
07:55There's a girl I know
07:59He loves her
08:02So
08:03While there was no undoing Nessa's tragic fate, the filmmakers made some progressive changes.
08:16Upon reuniting on stage, Elphaba enchants Nessa's shoes so she can walk.
08:21What have you done to my shoes?
08:23The PWD community helped Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holtzman to see that this might have
08:38inadvertently sent the message that Nessa's problems would be, quote,
08:42solved if she could just walk.
08:44To emphasize that was never their intention, the filmmakers strived to do right by Nessa.
08:48Casting Marissa Bodie, who uses a wheelchair in real life, was a great start.
08:53The fact that they're casting a disabled actor in Wicked, I think is so important.
08:58Being in a wheelchair, we can do anything.
09:00I'm so ready to fly!
09:02Rather than use her magic to make Nessa walk, Elphaba gives her the chance to fly.
09:06Even with magic, Nessa's problems won't go away.
09:09I'd always been unsure I could
09:13But finally from these powers
09:17Despite levitating, she continues her descent into darkness, becoming the Wicked Witch of the East.
09:23The Wicked Witch of the East
09:28Number 2. New Songs
09:30There's no place
09:35Being a two-part cinematic experience, we were bound to get a few new tunes.
09:53The opening number is expanded upon, while Nessa is given a brief song that stresses why she's called the Wicked Witch of the East.
09:59If I can just make them believe in the truth, that all that he says is a lie
10:05Elphaba's No Place Like Home serves as a rallying cry to fight for the place you hold dear, even if it's far from perfect.
10:12Why do I love this place that's never loved me?
10:17The song's name alludes to one of Elphaba's lines in the show, which in turn was a nod to Dorothy's iconic line.
10:24The girl in the bubble sees Glinda confront her life of luxury, realizing the bubble must pop for the greater good.
10:30For the girl in the bubble
10:34I'd like to try to be Glinda the good
10:37If not for this new song, the I'm Not That Girl reprise would have been Glinda's only solo in this film.
10:43Don't wish
10:44Don't start
10:47Wishing only wounds the heart
10:54Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
11:01You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
11:05If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
11:11Number 1. Glinda and the Grimmery
11:13We can't let good be just a word. It has to change things.
11:17Glinda is perhaps given the most development in Wicked for Good.
11:20Since childhood, she wanted to be magical, but it appears the closest she'll ever get is a mechanical bubble and a wand that's just for show.
11:28As Elphaba and Fierro venture beyond Oz, Glinda makes good on what her friend would have wanted, reintegrating the animals back into Oz.
11:36With this act of leadership, the Grimmery opens for Glinda.
11:39This change establishes that the Grimmery didn't respond to Elphaba simply because she had powers since birth.
11:45It was because Elphaba has always possessed a good heart.
11:48Before knowing Elphaba, Glinda didn't truly understand the meaning of the word good.
11:52It is my heart's desire to become a sorceress. Thank you for having faith in me.
11:58Actually, I have no faith in you. This is your roommate's idea, not mine.
12:05Now that she does, she's ready to carry on what Elphaba started, with the Grimmery's help.
12:10Do you think these changes were for the better? Let us know in the comments.
Be the first to comment