The first 'Wicked' film dazzled audiences with the bright, vibrant beginnings of Oz, but it was always just half the story. The upcoming conclusion, 'Wicked: For Good,' is set to trade spectacle for sorrow, delivering a much darker finale.
From 'Defying Gravity' to Facing Consequences
Director Jon
M. Chu's decision to split the beloved Broadway musical into two films was a deliberate choice to preserve its sprawling story. This split creates a natural tonal shift right where the stage show has its intermission. The first film builds to the soaring, defiant anthem 'Defying Gravity,' a moment of triumphant rebellion where Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) breaks free. It’s a story of discovery, of a burgeoning and complicated friendship, and the first hints of corruption in a glittering world. But as Chu explained, the second movie is about the consequences. After flying away from the Emerald City, Elphaba is no longer a misunderstood student; she's a public enemy. The dream of changing Oz from the inside has shattered, and 'For Good' is left to pick up the pieces.
A Fractured Friendship and a Darker Oz
While the first film thrives on the oil-and-water chemistry of Elphaba and Glinda (Ariana Grande) becoming unlikely friends at Shiz University, the sequel sees them leading separate lives. Elphaba is in hiding, branded the 'Wicked Witch of the West' by Madame Morrible's propaganda machine, while Glinda becomes 'Glinda the Good,' a popular public figurehead for the Wizard's corrupt regime. The fun, lighthearted moments of songs like 'Popular' are replaced by a story of political intrigue, oppression, and personal loss. The second act of the source material is filled with tragic events: Elphaba’s sister Nessarose becomes a tyrannical ruler, Boq is tragically transformed into the Tin Man, and the flying monkeys are revealed to be enslaved animals Elphaba was tricked into creating. This is the grim reality the second film is set to explore.
The Emotional Weight of 'No Good Deed'
The musical scores of the two acts also reflect this tonal divide. The first part is packed with introductory anthems and bright, hopeful numbers. The second, however, features some of the story's most emotionally devastating songs. Where the first film's climax is the empowering 'Defying Gravity,' the second film's emotional peak for Elphaba is 'No Good Deed'. It’s a raw, powerful song of despair where, after believing her attempts to save Fiyero have failed, she finally embraces the wicked reputation forced upon her. Chu has called Cynthia Erivo's performance of the song 'ridiculous' in its power. Likewise, the film gets its title from 'For Good,' the tear-jerking duet where Elphaba and Glinda say their final goodbye, a moment Ariana Grande said was so emotional to film that she felt she 'left her body'.
A More Mature, Character-Driven Story
Ultimately, the first 'Wicked' is a story of world-building and the birth of a revolutionary. It's vibrant and, despite its drama, full of the comedy and charm of new friendships. 'Wicked: For Good' promises a pivot to a more somber, character-driven narrative that deals with failure, regret, and the high cost of standing for one's beliefs. Reviews of the second film note this shift, describing it as darker, more mature, and less about spectacle than emotional payoff. The story will also more directly intersect with 'The Wizard of Oz,' with Dorothy's arrival acting as a major catalyst for the final chain of events. While the first movie asks what it takes to defy expectations, the second seems poised to ask a much heavier question: what is the price of that defiance?
