Two films. One story. A powerful and emotional conclusion.
(To the two chatty women who decided to sit directly right behind me in a completely empty theater, you are wicked…)
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
Wicked: For Good serves as the emotional and narrative conclusion to Jon M. Chu’s two-part adaptation. While this is technically the second film, I still view Wicked and Wicked: For Good as one complete story split into two halves. This chapter is less concerned with topping spectacle and more focused on payoff, closing the loop and reshaping everything we thought we knew about Oz.
The story resumes with Elphaba, with Cynthia Erivo once again anchoring the role, now fully branded an enemy of the state. Once hopeful and idealistic, she is forced into the role of villain not because she has changed, but because Oz needs someone to fear. Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard continues to sell charm and illusion, while Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible quietly pulls the strings behind the curtain. Together, they reshape public perception until Elphaba’s defiance is reframed as proof of wickedness. It is frustrating to watch, but intentionally so, since the audience knows the truth even as Oz refuses to see it.
The Wizard remains a familiar mix of charisma and dishonesty, using humor and spectacle to mask his intent. Morrible, by contrast, is colder and far more deliberate, operating with quiet control rather than theatrics. The contrast between them makes their manipulation of Oz feel disturbingly believable.
Elphaba’s arc remains the emotional core of the film. She never stops wanting to do good, even as every attempt only worsens her situation. Erivo allows the character’s exhaustion and anger to build naturally, culminating in a powerful rendition of “No Good Deed.” The moment marks Elphaba’s acceptance that being good will no longer protect her.
The supporting characters bring an unexpected amount of heartbreak. Boq, portrayed again by Ethan Slater, slowly moves toward his fate as the Tin Man, and the journey there is quietly devastating. His quirkiness replaced with a deep sorrow. Fiyero’s eventual transformation into the Scarecrow is even harder to watch. Jonathan Bailey brings warmth and confidence to the role early on, which only makes the loss of that version of the character more painful. These arcs give the familiar figures of Oz a much darker emotional history.
One detail that becomes unintentionally funny in hindsight is how often Elphaba lights the Scarecrow on fire in The Wizard of Oz. Watching this after For Good, it is hard not to laugh and think, wow, she really set the love of her life on fire. Multiple times. I guess love hurts.
The film handles Dorothy and company with notable restraint. She is present and characters refer to her without overtaking the narrative. One moment that genuinely caught me off guard was remembering that Elphaba’s sister becomes the Wicked Witch of the East. I found myself waiting to see if the film would show the house falling on her, and I was relieved when it did not. That choice felt respectful and emotionally grounded though her character becomes a significantly unlikable oppressor of sorts. My boy Boq can’t even get on a train?
Glinda continues to evolve as well, with Ariana Grande giving the character more internal conflict and maturity this time around. Her relationship with Elphaba remains the heart of the story, and their final moments together, separated by a door, are devastating in their simplicity. Two friends on opposite sides, unable to fully reconcile, yet unwilling to let go. That scene absolutely pulled a tear or eight out of me.
Going into Wicked, having never seen the stage show, there was a lingering sadness hanging over the experience. I thought I already knew Elphaba’s tragic fate. What I did not know was that she has a trap door, quite literally, and that she escapes with Fiyero. Ending the story this way came as a genuine surprise and left the film on a far more hopeful note than I ever expected.
All in all the filmmakers should be proud of their accomplishments as Wicked: For Good succeeds as a satisfying conclusion that adds sadness, weight, and humanity to Oz. It may not soar musically quite as high as the first chapter, but it completes the story in a meaningful way and cements itself as a pair of modern day musical classics for a generation. Now, the real question is where does the red brick road lead?
Rating: 4/5 (for this chapter)
Overall Rating: 5/5 (for the full two-part experience)
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