In “Wicked: Part One,” director Jon M. Chu brought the cherished Broadway musical to the big screens with unforgettable performances from Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey and many other esteemed actors.
I went into the first movie with almost no knowledge of the deeper lore that is behind the Wizard of Oz. Sure, my fifth-grade drama class made us enact the play and at ten years old, I wholeheartedly believed the Wicked Witch of the West was the ultimate villain; but to discover that these witches had a backstory was truly exciting. I walked out the theater that day in tears not because of Elphaba’s misunderstood reputation, but because I had to wait a whole year to watch what happens next.
Thankfully, the agonizing wait came to an end when the final part was released on Nov. 21 of this year. I have to admit it was so pleasant to see Johnathan Bailey, recently named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive, bring Fiyero to life with his charismatic sense of yearning for the unexpected yet important character.
The film continues where the first part left off, following Elphaba as she embraces her destiny, fighting to bring justice to the ousted animals by plotting to expose the Wizard of Oz for who he truly is.
Elphaba’s pursuit of justice drives her into deep isolation while her sister, Nessa, remains unaware of the weight that accompanies her obsession with Boq. It was so refreshing to watch the house fall on top of Nessa; I believe it was an accurate depiction of how someone who abuses power should fade away. The most popular character, Glinda, steps into a new role of leadership where she finds herself perplexed between the choices of fame and justice; ultimately we see her choose loyalty and defend the friendship that changed her for good.
Even though the narrative of the film is set in a fantastical world, I could not help but realize how much of the plot mirrors the realities we face today.
As these characters step into roles they were never meant to lead, the tension in Oz mimics the disorder of the world with propaganda, political division and prejudice. Elphaba becomes vilified for seeking justice for those being wrongfully evicted from the land that is rightfully theirs; Nessa deports more individuals because of her inability to take criticism; Fiyero is punished for standing up against injustice; and Boq is manipulated into fighting against his own conscience. Together, their arcs expose how easily power can distort the truth.
Most importantly, the Wizard of Oz acts as a dictator, using his ineffective powers to manipulate the citizens of Munchkinland, knowing exactly how to use their ignorance for his benefit.
As a conclusion to the two part saga, “Wicked For Good” tackled all aspects of the story from Elphaba’s journey to justice, Glinda’s evolution into the Good Witch and the Wizard of Oz facing consequences for his unjust decisions.
Now that the film series has come to an end, I already find myself missing the press tour interviews that had everyone questioning what actually happened on the set of the movie, the concept of Cynthia Erivo memes and Johnathan Bailey’s thirst trap edits.
