Wicked: For Good Ending Explained & What It Means For Elphaba And Glinda

Okay, so I just saw Wicked: For Good, and wow – what an ending! This movie really delivers on the emotional journey we started with Elphaba and Glinda. It picks up where the first Wicked left off, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande absolutely shining as they fight to create a better Oz for everyone. It’s basically the second half of the Broadway show, and it beautifully wraps up their story, really driving home the importance of friendship and doing what’s right. It definitely reshapes everything you thought you knew about the land of Oz!

The final scenes of Wicked: For Good feature Glinda opposing the Wizard, while Elphaba comes to terms with the fact she can’t fix the problems in Oz. This leads to an ending similar to The Wizard of Oz, with the death of the ‘Wicked Witch’, Glinda ascending to power, and Oz being ‘saved’ by Dorothy.

Let’s explore what happens to Glinda, Elphaba, and Fiyero at the end of Wicked: For Good, how it differs from the original Broadway musical and the novel, and if it hints at a possible sequel.

Why & How Elphaba Faked Her Death

The surprising reveal in Wicked: For Good is that Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, didn’t actually die. Everyone in Oz, including Glinda, believes she did, but the story shows that Elphaba faked her death when Dorothy Gale seemingly defeated her.

Elphaba uses the common belief that water can harm her to her advantage. Before Dorothy arrives, she fills a bucket with water, intending to use it as part of a deception. When Dorothy throws the water at her, Elphaba pretends to melt, but actually escapes through a hidden passage in the castle floor – a secret Fiyero had told her about earlier.

Elphaba doesn’t reveal she’s still alive until Fiyero, now the Scarecrow, appears. He was instrumental in the plan: he sent Chistery with a message explaining his transformation, warning of approaching enemies, and hinting that she should take refuge in the castle until he arrived.

Elphaba decides to leave because she realizes Oz will never truly accept or listen to her. Even with her powerful abilities, she’s been labeled a villain and can’t gain the support of the people. Following the advice of Dulcibear and other animals, she believes Oz will only be safe once she’s gone.

Because of this, Elphaba changes her strategy, allowing Glinda to make the necessary improvements. Glinda’s popularity will make it simpler for her to revitalize Oz and return it to its former state. Fortunately, Glinda’s desire to do good, combined with her newfound willingness to look beyond her own world, aligns perfectly with Elphaba’s goals.

Why The Grimmerie Opens For Glinda

The musical Wicked ends with Glinda in the Emerald City, left with a magical book called The Grimmerie. Elphaba gave it to her, explaining that Glinda would need to learn how to use it.

She was surprised when The Grimmerie suddenly opened to a specific spell. Since Glinda doesn’t have magical abilities, it’s strange the book opened for her, and there are a few possible reasons why it did.

The Grimmerie has noticed Glinda’s recent change in character. Because she’s now prioritizing others instead of herself, this might be the time the book finally allows her to use its magic.

In the Wicked films, the spell book sometimes mysteriously opens to pages relevant to a character’s desires. Glinda appears to be developing the powers she’s always longed for, now that she’s fully committed to goodness.

Elphaba’s link to The Grimmerie suggests another idea. Perhaps she opened the book from afar, anticipating Glinda would find it. If so, this might be Elphaba’s subtle way of letting Glinda know she’s still alive, even if she’s no longer in Oz.

This idea clashes with Elphaba’s last conversation with Fiyero, where she insists no one, even Glinda, can know they both survived. Still, given the story’s focus on friendship and the close connection between Elphaba and Glinda, Elphaba might have chosen to offer Glinda some reassurance anyway.

Where Elphaba & Fiyero Go

The musical Wicked concludes with Elphaba and Fiyero together, having escaped Oz. They journey through a desolate, windy, and enigmatic landscape. This location isn’t officially named; it’s simply referred to as “the place beyond Oz.”

I’ve learned some interesting things from what Elphaba discussed with the animals fleeing Oz along the Yellow Brick Road! It’s a shame, though, that the books and the musical never really tell us where that couple ends up – they just show them leaving for some unknown place. It’s a bit of a mystery, honestly!

How Glinda Reshapes Oz

After Elphaba’s disappearance, Glinda dedicates herself to restoring Oz to its former greatness. She exposes the Wizard’s secrets, revealing that Elphaba was actually his daughter, and sends him away. Madame Morrible is then imprisoned for her wicked plots, including her role in Nessarose’s death and other misdeeds.

With the Wizard gone, Glinda takes charge of Oz, vowing to live up to her reputation as “Glinda the Good.” She finally makes Elphaba’s dream come true, allowing animals to live openly alongside humans throughout Oz – we see them thriving in places like Munchkinland and the Emerald City, and even Dr. Dillamond returns to teach at Shiz University.

What Happened To Dorothy, The Cowardly Lion, & The Tin Man/Boq?

In the movie Wicked, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, and Boq (after he becomes the Tin Man) appear briefly. The final scene shows them in the Emerald City as the Wizard flies away in a balloon, but the movie doesn’t explain what happens to them after that.

According to the original story, Dorothy returns to Kansas, despite rumors among the people of Oz that she stayed. The Cowardly Lion’s adventures continued in later books, where he ultimately became a key advisor to the ruler of Oz. However, the character Boq doesn’t appear in any of the newer stories that reimagine the Oz tale.

Does Wicked: For Good’s Ending Set Up Wicked 3?

What does the future hold for the Wicked series? It makes sense to hint at possible future stories in Oz, in case audiences want to see more after Wicked: For Good, and to build on the story beyond what the stage musical presented.

While Wicked: For Good leaves the door open for a potential Wicked 3 by keeping both Elphaba and Glinda alive, it doesn’t actively build towards another film. It feels like a complete ending to the story as presented in the Broadway musical, and the finale provides a satisfying resolution.

Currently, there are no plans for a third Wicked movie. However, Universal could continue the film series using other books by Gregory Maguire, such as Son of a Witch. If they do, the movies will need to reveal some major plot points to stay true to the books’ storylines.

How Wicked: For Good’s Ending Compares To The Musical & Book

As expected, the ending of Wicked: For Good closely follows the stage musical. Although the musical was originally based on the novel, it significantly altered the characters and plot. These new films from Universal are more faithful to the musical than the book, and the filmmakers stayed true to the musical’s conclusion without making major changes.

The musical and the book have very different endings. Key events and characters from the book – like the transformations of Fiyero and Boq, the fates of Dillamond and Morrible, and even Elphaba’s survival – aren’t shown in the musical. The book also features Elphaba and Fiyero’s son, and a separate family for Fiyero, none of whom appear in the musical or movie adaptation.

The Real Meaning Of Wicked: For Good

While Wicked explored whether people are born evil or become that way, Wicked: For Good delves deeper into the nature of good and evil. It examines how far people will go to seem like heroes, to portray others as villains, and to protect those they care about.

This connects to a central idea in the movie: the search for belonging. Both Elphaba and Glinda grapple with whether Oz is a place they can truly call home and if it’s worth defending.

At its heart, Wicked: For Good explores the transformative power of friendship. The song “For Good” highlights how relationships can profoundly and permanently change people, and this idea is central to the entire film. We see this play out as Elphaba and Glinda’s bond is both challenged and strengthened.

2025-11-21 00:05