For Good or For Worse? A Wicked Review

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Editor’s Note: Spoiler warning for Wicked: For Good!

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By: Alexa Neal & Maya Doraiswamy

Wicked: For Good swept into theaters this past Thanksgiving as both the end of the two-part film and the finale of a cultural phenomenon. As huge fans of the musical (and admittedly partial to the first act), we had plenty to say about this highly anticipated conclusion. So, take a look below for our thoughts, as well as some fun, interactive Wicked content!

Alexa’s Perspective:

"When coming into Wicked: For Good, I had incredibly high expectations because of the first movie, and I wouldn’t exactly say they were met. Just to preface, I thought this movie was magnificent, emotional, and deep. A moment that I especially enjoyed was the callback to Glinda’s childhood, and the pressure she faced to be magic when she accepted the bubble from Madame Morrible. This section added depth to Glinda’s character, giving us insight into her backstory that the first movie lacked. It also allows us to connect more with Glinda in a way that wasn’t possible, considering her incredibly shallow personality seen previously. The flashbacks, accompanied with Ariana Grande’s “The Girl in the Bubble,” give true, profound depth to her character. Another scene that stuck out to me was the end, which gives beautiful closure to the story as a whole. “For Good,” the closing song, is not only one brimming with passion and sentiment, but also helps develop a picturesque image of Glinda and Elphaba’s last moments together, creating the atmosphere of a heartwrenching conclusion, notably for Glinda, as she believes Elphaba will die after. 

As much as I individually enjoyed this movie, when looked at in comparison to the first film, I can’t say it had the same effect. What first came to mind was the soundtrack. The songs from both movies are incredibly strong, but the second act lacks in a few ways. Considering everything that happens in act two, it’s understandable why the songs reflect the intensity, but there feels little time for relief and to process. This wasn’t just reflected in the tracklist, but the pacing of the movie itself feels incredibly rushed. There is so much happening in Act Two, and it’s difficult to fit all of it into an already long movie, but there were certain moments that were much longer than needed to be. For example, the “Wonderful” sequence, not just the song but the scene describing the Wizard as a whole, was around seven minutes, and I think this was far longer than it needed to be. Another aspect that I didn’t enjoy was the transformation of the scarecrow and how it was censored and felt blurry. I wish it were a bit more detailed to show the full cruelty of the new, corrupted system of power in Oz.

All in all, I think Wicked: For Good was exactly what it needed to be, and I’m not sure if it could’ve lived up to the first one. With how drastically different the two films are, although from the same story, it’s difficult to truly compare them because they have such different tones."

Maya’s Perspective:

"Before diving into my praise, I’ll start with a few critiques: my main criticism lies in the pacing. The movie does a thorough job of building up to the climax, but feels rushed once it arrives. They have a large gap to bridge between the two movies, which fairly accounts for needing a longer beginning (although certain aspects, such as Nessarose’s rise to governor, felt just a bit too rushed for my taste, considering the slow start). However, in what feels like a very short span of time, there is, simply put, a lot happening: Fiyero’s brutally hung to soon revive as a Scarecrow (tell me strawified Fiyero doesn’t look like Ryan Reynolds), Dorothy and co. are sent to kill Elphaba, Glinda and Elphaba make bittersweet amends before an elaborately faked melting, Oz (revealed to be Elphaba’s father) and Madame Morrible are rather effortlessly taken down by Glinda, and Elphaba escapes with Fiyero—it’s a whirlwind.

Still, for a story already known for its

heightened drama and emotional swings, the ending isn’t far from what it’s intended to be. All in all, considering the nature of the musical itself, the chaos and rapidness make for a fun movie I’d say feels largely true to its purpose (I’d argue the musical’s structure has a stronger first act to begin with). The first film generally has the best of the soundtrack, but Cynthia Erivo’s “No Good Deed” was, in my opinion, flawlessly executed—the emotion is raw and chilling, with ridiculously impressive vocals. The character arcs are handled with nuance, and I appreciate the thorough attention to detail within the costume design, color theory, and world-building choices. The last thing I’d say is the cinematography was outstanding; I see this as, by far, one of the franchise’s greatest strengths. The film leans into beautifully symbolic imagery that enriches the narrative—the parallels between Glinda walking down the aisle and Elphaba discovering the cages especially stuck with me.

To put it briefly, Wicked: For Good is the weaker of the two films, but it succeeds in being the finale that was both expected and needed. I’d give it roughly a 7/10; while not without its imperfections, it stays true to the musical in delivering the emotional punch, visual spectacle, and powerful ending fans hoped for." 

Tower Hill’s Perspective

We asked around, and there seems to be a consensus: although there are fair criticisms to be made, the sequel has some fantastic vocals, intriguing symbolism, and a solid storyline.

“I thought Wicked: For Good was a pretty decent film adaptation that stayed true to the story of Wicked while adding new aspects. Cynthia Erivo’s vocals are INSANE and her rendition of “No Good Deed” is enough to go see the movie alone.” - Senior Paige Abessinio

“I loved Wicked: For Good and thought that it was a great movie to watch as a form of escapism. Though it was slow in the beginning, sticking it out to the end was worth it. Glinda's final dress was perfect, and the foreshadowing of Elphaba's future was so cool!” - Junior Izzy Daniel 

While many found the first movie better, there were still a number of students who found it to be equally as good as the first, or even preferred it. As senior Lily Emery says, “I thought it [Wicked: For Good] was better than the first movie. I think there was more character in the second movie than in the first one.”

Polls!

Which Wicked character are you the most like?

• 0%Glinda
• 0%Elphaba
• 0%Fiyero
• 0%Boq

What is your favorite Wicked adaption?

• 0%The first movie
• 0%The second movie
• 0%The musical