“Wicked: For Good” Review: A “Wonderful” Expanded Story Of The Original Stage Musical

“I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason.” That reason, apparently, is to make us sob our eyes out. But before we get into that, let’s start with some context. After a year of anticipation, “Wicked: For Good” has finally arrived. The second instalment of this Oscar-winning film has a great deal to live up to, not only following the success of the first film, but also the legacy of the original stage musical.

Although plenty of teasers were shared during interviews throughout the year, nothing could have prepared us for the masterpiece we’ve now seen. For this review, we’re breaking it down into several sections to highlight the aspects of the film we thoroughly enjoyed as well as what could’ve been improved. Without further ado, here are our thoughts on “Wicked: For Good” (Warning: contains major spoilers, so proceed with caution):

The Expanded Storyline 

Similar to the first film, the storyline in the second half has been expanded to give viewers more context and more time to absorb each moment. In the original stage musical, many felt that the second act was rather rushed; however, in “Wicked: For Good”, we were given the space to properly digest what was happening before moving on to the next scene. The two new songs, “No Place Like Home” (sung by Elphaba) and “Girl in the Bubble” (sung by Glinda), beautifully showcase the development of the two main characters as the story progresses.

That said, there were moments that felt like they could have been developed a little further. Certain scenes could have offered more context and carried greater impact if the story had been given more time to unfold. One example is the relationship between Nessa and Boq, and her role as the new Governor of Munchkinland. In the musical, Nessa is known as the Wicked Witch of the East, yet we didn’t see much of her cruelty. It would have been fascinating to explore how she earned that title and the extent to which she wished to distance herself from her sister.

Now, moving on to another highlight. One of our favourite moments actually takes place during the iconic melting scene. In the original stage musical, Elphaba leads Glinda to a hiding spot before she is chased down and “killed” by Dorothy. Glinda watches as the scene unfolds, seeing only the silhouette of her friend as she appears to die. In “Wicked: For Good”, the scene takes its time to really hit us in the gut. After the emotional ballad “For Good”, Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo) leads Glinda (played by Ariana Grande) to what appears to be a closet, reassuring her that everything will be alright. Before parting ways, the two express their love for each other.

Once the door closes, we are confronted with a gut-wrenching moment: Elphaba and Glinda on opposite sides, crying as reality dawns that this may be the last time they see one another. As in the stage musical, Glinda witnesses her friend’s apparent death through her silhouette. Not only do we see it through her eyes, but the close-up of her horrified expression underscores just how heartbroken she must feel watching her dear friend seemingly perish.

The New Original Songs 

As mentioned, “Wicked: For Good” introduced two new original songs, “No Place Like Home” and “Girl in the Bubble”. Both were written and composed by the brilliant Stephen Schwartz, who also worked on the music for the original stage production, so it’s safe to say they felt perfectly in place. “No Place Like Home” occurs earlier in the film, as Elphaba tries to convince the animals to stay in Oz and fight for their home. Despite years of ridicule and ostracism, as well as the accusations she faced after taking the Grimmerie, the talented sorceress still retains hope and love for the land of Oz.

The song reminded us of the optimistic Elphaba we first fell in love with during her introduction in the first film — confident in the positive changes she could bring and imagining the day she would be celebrated for her good deeds. Its significance became even clearer when “No Good Deeds” hit harder, as Elphaba finally embraced the title of the Wicked Witch of the West. This progression beautifully captures her transformation, from the innocent girl striving to prove herself to the “villain” she was accused of being.

“Girl in the Bubble” occurs later in the film, as an angry mob prepares to hunt down Elphaba. Witnessing the chaos, Glinda isolates herself in her room, forced to confront the reality that everything she ever wanted has come at a terrible cost. The song perfectly captures Glinda’s guilt for playing a part in demonising her one true friend. The scenes are beautifully shot, particularly when Glinda faces her reflection in the mirrors of her room, with the camera zooming in and out as if she were entering and escaping her own bubble. We have nothing but praise for Ariana Grande’s performance, as this new song not only demands exceptional vocal control but also requires her to portray Glinda drowning in her emotions, almost choking on her words.

The Surprising Ending 

In both the stage musical and the first film, it is established that Glinda possesses no actual magical abilities. Still, fans were hoping she might unlock her powers in “Wicked: For Good”, though this seemed highly unlikely. In the original stage production, the story ends with Glinda holding the Grimmerie as Elphaba and Fiyero travel to the land beyond Oz. So you can imagine our surprise when, in “Wicked: For Good”, the enchanted book suddenly opens on its own, glowing as if inviting Glinda to read it, much like it did when Elphaba first approached it in the first film.

It can be assumed, then, that Glinda has proved herself worthy to the Grimmerie and will finally be able to learn and practise real magic to help the people of Oz. Personally, we find this ending satisfying, as it gives fans what they wanted without straying too far from the original musical.

Conclusion 

Overall, while not perfect and with moments where the story could have been executed more effectively, “Wicked: For Good” is a film well worth celebrating and well worth the wait. It’s worth noting that not everyone is a fan of Act 2 of the original stage musical, so it’s to be expected that some may feel similarly about this film adaptation. That said, if you enjoy Act 2—or the musical as a whole—you are certain to appreciate this adaptation. Even with its flaws, the efforts to expand and enhance the story make it highly enjoyable, allowing audiences to experience the magic of Oz once more.

There were also some scenes from the trailer that, unfortunately, did not make the final cut, and we would’ve loved to see them played out in the story. Let’s hope that those will be included in an extended digital release. The performances from the cast are truly out of this world and deserving of Academy Award and Grammy Award recognition. If the film or its actors do not receive the nominations and wins they merit, we would be absolutely devastated.

“Wicked: For Good” will be out in cinemas starting 20th November.