Warning: This article contains some minor spoilers for the Broadway musical Wicked.Those familiar with the Broadway show will have noticed some changes made the instant they saw the first trailer for Wicked: For Good, including Ariana Grande’s Glinda apparently joining in on a musical number she is not a part of on the stage. The second act of the smash-hit musical, which reimagines The Wizard of Oz, sees Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) aka the Wicked Witch of the West, on the run for her supposed crimes and battling the Wizard’s (Jeff Goldblum) corrupt regime. Naturally, this separates her from Glinda for much of the rest of the story.
After Elphaba and Glinda were the faces of last year’s record-breaking Wicked phenomenon, it makes sense that the movie adaptation would want to include more scenes between them in the second half, which I, for one, am eager to see. Alterations to the show’s plot also include the addition of a wedding scene for Glinda and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), which is practically guaranteed to go disastrously wrong. However, what is particularly intriguing and possibly concerning is how Glinda has seemingly been inserted into a preexisting musical number between Elphaba and the Wizard.
Wicked: For Good’s Trailer Makes It Look Like Glinda Is A Part Of “Wonderful”
“Wonderful” Is Just Elphaba & The Wizard’s Song On Stage
In the Broadway show, Elphaba returns to the Emerald City undercover to free the monkeys she accidentally gave wings to in the first act, but she is caught by the Wizard. However, rather than immediately raising the alarm, the Wizard expresses sympathy towards Elphaba and tries once again to convince her to become his right-hand woman, allowing her to redeem her public image. Through the subsequent song “Wonderful,” the Wizard defends his actions, argues that “good” and “evil” are just differences in perception, and offers Elphaba fame and adoration.
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However, in the Wicked: For Good trailer, Elphaba, the Wizard, and Glinda are all briefly seen dancing together in his “throne room.” Elphaba and Glinda also appear sitting side by side on a makeshift swing made from Elphaba’s broom, surrounded by lights, where Glinda appears to be wearing the same dress. There aren’t any other songs that would logically happen in the Wizard’s auditorium, or where he and Elphaba would be amicably interacting with each other. So, it would seem that Glinda has been added to this number in the new movie.
How Glinda Being There Changes “Wonderful”
Glinda Probably Wants Elphaba To Reconcile With The Wizard Too
The segue would work if Glinda finds Elphaba first and then the Wizard finds them (or vice versa). “Wonderful” is an odd moment of peace between Elphaba and the Wizard, but it is also inherently manipulative, as he tries to convince her that he is doing no real harm and that she would be able to accomplish more by his side. She almost accepts, but flees again when she is reminded of his oppression of Oz’s animal population. However, Glinda, with her sociability, likely does genuinely believe that she could help Elphaba and they could get more done this way.
It could further underscore the tragedy of how Elphaba and Glinda were always pitted against each other when they could have won together.
Glinda may also try to convince Elphaba to become a part of the official regime, representing a more emotional temptation for Elphaba to change her approach because it would mean being around her best friend again. Supposing the starry setting is a continuation of “Wonderful,” it could be another optical illusion created by the Wizard to impress the witches, while he gives them a moment alone to discuss the offer. The characters’ motivations make sense, and it could further underscore the tragedy of how Elphaba and Glinda were always pitted against each other when they could have won together.
I Actually Think “Wonderful” Should Just Be Elphaba & The Wizard
This Is When The Wizard & Elphaba Properly Confront Each Other
However, while Glinda’s reasoning for wanting Elphaba to leave behind being the Wicked Witch comes from a better place, I’m not a huge fan of the idea that she is also trying to manipulate Elphaba here, very overtly, if she is going along with exactly what the Wizard is saying. Additionally, having this number with Elphaba and the Wizard alone provides the striking visual of them dancing together in harmony and a direct, useful contrast between their personal philosophies.
We already see how Elphaba and Glinda’s worldviews oppose each other in several scenes; this one is about Elphaba and the Wizard. He also has some very interesting, if disturbing, things to say, claiming that all history is a matter of “which label is able to persist,” citing examples including traitor v liberator, thief v philanthropist, and crusader v invader. It’s an accurate summation of some of Wicked‘s core themes, set against Elphaba’s straightforward nobility and honesty.
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Glinda & Fiyero’s Wedding In Wicked: For Good Trailer Looks Like A Copycat Of $239M Rom-Com
Glinda and Fiyero’s doomed wedding ceremony looks strikingly similar to a scene in one of director Jon M. Chu’s other major blockbuster films.
What would perhaps be even better for this scene is if Glinda came to Elphaba’s defense, saying that while she has agreed to be the Good Witch, the Wizard has definitely gone too far with his smear campaign. Following this, his spiel could be directed at both of them, demonstrating another way that the Wizard of Oz attempts to sway the country’s witches, but ultimately loses both of them. Wicked: For Good‘s decision to bring Glinda into “Wonderful” has me a tad worried, but I am still interested to see how it plays out.