Wicked: For Good’s new songs fix a long-running major issue of the musical

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The musical Wicked has always struggled with keeping a good pace, particularly in its second half. Ending both the stage show and the first part of Jon M. Chu’s movie adaptation with the powerful song ‘Defying Gravity’ presents a problem. After such a high point, it’s difficult to maintain the same energy and emotional intensity, leaving the rest of the story feeling less impactful.

Okay, so the first part of Wicked – basically the first movie – is just a total blast. It’s full of those huge, catchy songs you can’t help but sing along to, tons of funny lines, and, let’s be real, Glinda constantly flipping her hair. It’s just pure, energetic fun that leaves you feeling amazing. The second half, though, when you see it live on stage, is a lot different. It’s much shorter and speeds through a lot of the story, really focusing on the heavier stuff like the political issues bubbling underneath. But in Wicked: For Good, the director really tries to smooth out that difference between the two, making everything feel more connected.

Staying true to the original story, Wicked: For Good feels different from the first film – it’s more thoughtful, and explores themes of hardship, sadness, and loss. Director Jon M. Chu, no longer limited by the challenges of staging a flying witch, has taken the time to develop the characters’ motivations and journeys, particularly to better explain the key turning points in the second half of the musical. This is most noticeable in two newly added songs.

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Stephen Schwartz, the composer, came back after twenty years to write songs tailored for Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who play Glinda and Elphaba. He aimed to strengthen the story and its connection to The Wizard of Oz. A key addition is Glinda’s new song, ‘The Girl in the Bubble,’ which appears when a hostile crowd gathers, offering viewers a glimpse into her journey toward becoming the ‘good’ witch.

The song’s beautiful and thoughtful lyrics reveal Glinda’s inner thoughts as she understands that by prioritizing her own popularity and helping the Wizard and Madame Morrible, she’s unintentionally become involved in their harmful plans against Elphaba. Like the musical Dear Evan Hansen, it’s a captivating song that shows a more sensitive and fragile side to Glinda than audiences typically see in the stage version.

Through flashbacks, we see Glinda was trained from a young age to appear magical and charming, almost like a performer, though her true talent lay in simply lifting people’s spirits. After Nessarose dies, Glinda comes to a harsh realization: she’d been living in a fantasy world, hoping both that Elphaba would make amends with the Wizard and that Fiyero was in love with her, not Elphaba.

The emotional scene near the end of the film allows Glinda to become a more fully developed character, building on the strong dynamic already established by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Without this moment, the story tends to center on Elphaba, with her powerful songs like ‘No Good Deed’ and ‘As Long as You’re Mine’ dominating the second half.

Elphaba’s powerful new song, ‘There’s No Place Like Home,’ connects the musical even more closely to The Wizard of Oz, echoing Dorothy’s famous line about there being no place like home. While traveling, Elphaba finds a group of animals escaping through a tunnel beneath the Yellow Brick Road, including her former nanny, Dulcibear, who urges her to leave Oz as well.

Feeling like an outsider, Elphaba accepts she’s unwanted and struggles with being forced away from the only home she’s ever known. She tries to convince the animals to join her fight against the Wizard, but they refuse to stand by her side. This explains why Elphaba is fighting for justice in Oz all alone, representing those who are mistreated and vulnerable.

The song deeply resonates because its lyrics explore the pain of being uprooted from home and losing a sense of community in search of safety. It captures a universal feeling of longing – it’s not just Dorothy who misses Kansas, but everyone who yearns for the familiar comforts of the past.

The songs, and scenes featuring Glinda’s cheerful interactions with the Wizard, like in ‘Wonderful,’ consistently highlight the two female leads as the heart of the story. While stories often focus on romantic love as a woman’s ultimate goal, this one prioritizes the strong, non-romantic bond between these two unlikely, yet deeply connected, friends.

The musical Wicked: For Good does something different by focusing on the powerful connection between its two main characters, Glinda and Elphaba – the relationship that audiences loved in the original film and that was highlighted during promotional events. While a romantic storyline exists, the musical ultimately emphasizes that the women’s friendship is what truly shapes their destinies and drives their choices.

Following the events surrounding ‘The Girl in the Bubble,’ Glinda shifts from being carefree and naive to a proactive leader. Instead of remaining detached, she actively engages with Oz’s problems, making difficult choices even if they make her disliked. Meanwhile, Elphaba comes to terms with her isolated destiny – she can never return home and will always face prejudice, ultimately leading to Dorothy’s attempt to destroy her.

Okay, so Wicked: For Good isn’t flawless, I’ll admit that. It does drag a little in places, and it’s not quite as bubbly and fast-paced as the stage show. But honestly, I think the new songs really help fix some of the things I felt were missing from the musical. They really build up the emotional weight, and that final scene with Elphaba and Glinda? It absolutely destroyed me in the best way. It really landed the heartbreak.

The musical Wicked is successful because it doesn’t portray Glinda and Elphaba as simply ‘good’ and ‘wicked.’ Instead, it presents them as complex characters with flaws, making them both relatable and compelling. The addition of two new songs also enhances the show.

For more on Wicked: For Good, check out:

Okay, so I’m totally obsessed with Wicked: For Good right now, and I’ve been trying to find out everything I can! I’ve been looking up reviews, of course, and trying to figure out who plays Dorothy in the movie. I’m also dying to know when it’ll be available to stream so I can watch it again and again! I checked how long the movie is, and I’m already planning my viewing party. Plus, I’ve been browsing for all the best Wicked gifts and merch – I need it all! And I even learned something surprising: the famous ruby slippers aren’t actually ruby slippers! It’s been a deep dive, but totally worth it.

Wicked: For Good is out now in cinemas.

The latest issue of Living Legends is now available! You can purchase Ariana & Witches at newsstands or online for only £8.99.

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2025-11-22 10:20