Does Elphaba die? Here’s what happens in Wicked Part 2 (according to the musical)
As someone who has grown up with the enchanting tales of Oz, I must say that the recent release of “Wicked” in cinemas has truly taken my breath away! The storytelling, the music, and the performances are simply extraordinary. But what struck me most was the twist on Elphaba’s fate – a clever subversion of our collective memories of the Wicked Witch of the West.
At long last, “Wicked” has made its debut and is a massive success at the box office, making everyone eager to retrace our steps along the Yellow Brick Road for the sequel, “Wicked: Part 2”.
As a devoted fan, I thought I was familiar with the tale of Glinda and Elphaba from “The Wizard of Oz,” but “Wicked” offers a unique perspective that deviates significantly from both the film and L. Frank Baum’s original narrative. The first movie only presents one side of the story; however, “Wicked” delves deeper and reveals a far richer narrative that was previously untold.
If you haven’t experienced the Broadway musical “Wicked” or read Gregory Maguire’s book on which it is based, there are likely many unanswered questions for you, particularly regarding Elphaba’s final outcome since the movie begins following Elphaba’s apparent melting.
If you’re eagerly anticipating the outcome of Wicked: Part 2 and can’t bear to wait a year, we’ve got you covered by sharing the storyline – provided, of course, that the sequel adheres to the musical’s plot.
Major spoilers ahead for the musical (and likely for Wicked 2).
Who plays Dorothy in Wicked?
It’s not surprising that Dorothy Gale is featured in “Wicked: Part 2”, given Judy Garland’s iconic portrayal of the character in “The Wizard of Oz” that made it famous.
As a gamer, I may say: In Wicked, though I didn’t step foot on the Broadway stage, Dorothy makes an appearance right off the bat, but she’s only shown from behind and isn’t even given credit for it.
Following the discovery of Elphaba’s hat floating in a puddle, director Jon M Chu has described Dorothy’s appearance as visiting “the most renowned crime scene in both cinema and literature.” He explained to Variety that this cameo is intended to emphasize that Wicked does not follow the dream-like narrative suggested by The Wizard of Oz.
It hasn’t been decided yet who will portray Dorothy in the second part, but despite Chu not wanting to influence our perceptions of her character, he hinted that she might have a more significant role.
He stated that the importance lies in its impact on what transpires and how events connect. Essentially, this is how we manipulated the situation. However, only by watching movie number two will you understand the extent to which we develop her character.
Following hints from Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman that their new project isn’t titled “Wicked: Part 3”, there’s a flurry of excitement suggesting we might be preparing for another retelling of “The Wizard of Oz” before its centennial celebration.
This clarifies the reason behind Chu including a cameo of Dorothy and also addresses the speculations among fans, suggesting that Alisha Weir’s character Abigail might have portrayed Dorothy in the previously filmed sequel and could possibly continue to do so in future installments.
Who is the Tin Man?
In the musical Wicked, although the Cowardly Lion doesn’t feature prominently (it is his cub that Elphaba and Fiyero save, though), it’s interesting to note that the characters of the Tin Man and Scarecrow actually play more significant roles than one might initially assume.
Both characters have their individual, heartrending turns – and it appears that Ethan Slater’s portrayal of the Woodsman may not end favorably.
In the story, it is hinted that Boq will eventually become the Tin Man, as he is frequently depicted as emotional yet seemingly heartless. Meanwhile, Boq becomes so preoccupied with winning Glinda’s affections that he neglects Nessarose’s feelings, who happens to be Elphaba’s sister. (Marissa Bode plays Nessarose in this context.)
In Act Two of the musical Wicked, Nessarose assumes governance over Munchkinland upon her father’s demise. Boq, however, finds himself in a situation resembling servitude to her. Upon learning that he harbors feelings for Glinda, an outburst from Nessarose results in her casting a love spell on him using Elphaba’s Grimmerie.
Because Nessarose’s magical abilities were weaker than her sister’s, using magic had an adverse effect on Boq, causing his heart to wither. As Wicked cautions us that no spells from the Grimmerie can be undone, Elphaba is forced to intervene and save Boq by casting another spell.
Although this one stops his need for a heart, it puts him to sleep and turns him into the Tin Man we know from Baum’s book and The Wizard of Oz.
In Act Two of “Wicked,” when we reach the scenes from “The Wizard of Oz,” a once-disenchanted Tin Man holds Elphaba responsible for his predicament and becomes an active participant in the pursuit against her.
Who is the Scarecrow?
Glancing at Dorothy, the Straw Man, the Tin-coated One, and the Timid Lion strolling along the Yellow Pathway following Elphaba’s apparent demise, one could be led to believe they already know the tale’s conclusion. (However, there is more to discover about that incident in a moment.)
It transpires, as followers of the musical can attest, that the Scarecrow character is actually portrayed by Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero, a startling twist in the narrative.
In a manner reminiscent of Boq’s hints about Fiyero’s fate, there are numerous allusions throughout the story. Additionally, the song “Dancing Through Life” with lyrics like, “Life’s more painless for the brainless,” and Elphaba’s blunt remark to Fiyero when they first meet, “Go get stuffed,” suggest a complex relationship between these characters.
In Act Two of “Wicked“, we find that Fiyero has been made Captain of the Guard and is supposedly on a mission to capture Elphaba. However, what’s truly happening is that Fiyero is secretly working towards rescuing Elphaba. This covert operation reaches its climax when he assists Elphaba in her escape. Unfortunately, the Wizard’s guards catch up to him for his act of betrayal and hang him in a cornfield as punishment.
In her castle at Kiamo Ko, Elphaba conjures a spell to shield Fiyero from harm; however, in a twist reminiscent of a Monkey’s Paw story, he transforms into the mindless Scarecrow, immune to injury. The play concludes with Scarecrow Fiyero departing the Emerald City and reconciling with Elphaba for a bittersweet ending… or so it seems.
Does Elphaba die?
The biggest change from Baum’s book and The Wizard of Oz is the fate of Elphaba.
In the classic film, everyone recalls the moment when Margaret Hamilton’s character, the Wicked Witch of the West, meets her demise quite literally. When audiences first see the musical Wicked, they may initially believe that a similar fate awaits the witch, but this is not the case.
Instead, Elphaba manages to contrive a semblance of a happy ending by feigning her own demise and concealing herself beneath a hidden door.
It wasn’t until Glinda inadvertently brought sorrow to Elphaba that she devised a plan. This plan involved Glinda suggesting to the Wizard (played by Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) to start a rumor about Nessarose’s safety, with the intention of drawing Elphaba back.
Moreover, they push things even farther when Morville exerts her mastery over the weather, causing destruction.
In the tale that intertwines with “The Wizard of Oz,” Nessarose meets her demise when Dorothy Gale’s house accidentally crashes down upon her, an unfortunate consequence of Madame Morrible’s enchantment that summons Elphaba out of seclusion.
Similar to how the musical Wicked suggests that Elphaba is protected from harm by the elements, sensationalist rumors falsely claim she can be harmed or even killed by water. However, in truth, Dorothy’s act of tossing a bucket of water on Elphaba was actually part of a strategic move to ensure her safety.
Despite some uncertainty about the enigmatic figure seen departing Kiamo Ko on a horse at the beginning of Wicked, the presence of the Scarecrow along with Dorothy suggests strongly that this elusive character could be none other than Elphaba, having staged her own death.
Despite the possibility that Fiyero and Elphaba may depart together towards the horizon, there remains a question as to whether Glinda is aware of Elphaba’s survival or not. This ambiguity could leave Glinda grieving both the loss of her unrequited love and her best friend, as the musical fails to provide a definitive answer on this matter.
Wicked is out now in cinemas. Wicked: Part 2 is released in cinemas on November 21, 2025.
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2024-11-27 16:20