It’s been one year since “Wicked” hit theaters and subsequently took over pop culture with waves of pink and green and now the fervor is about to get ramped up again thanks to its forthcoming sequel: “Wicked: For Good.” But be forewarned: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will more than likely have you in the theater bawling once again!
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But why, exactly, does seeing those two in this film invoke such strong physical reaction from folks? Let’s break it down some. In the first film,the Ozdust Ballroom dancing scene brought us all to tears. You know, the one where Erivo’s Elphaba is made to look like a fool in front of the rest of her schoolmates? But then, instead of dancing alone in the center of the room, Grande’s Galinda joins her for an awkward albeit extremely touching moment.
During that scene, the message that was being tacitly translated was that despite their differences and her initially bad intentions, Galinda did not want Elphaba feeling ridiculed and alone. She wanted to show that she’d seen how wrong she was and that she was seen in that moment.
In an attempt to salvage their budding friendship, Galinda was willing to risk her “popular” status to align herself with “Elphie.” For Black women viewers specifically–even though we know Elphaba is green in this movie–knowing that she’s being played by a Black woman and the historical otherness we’ve experienced in society and worldwide, this scene struck a deeper chord.
To go from being invisible and outcast to finally being accepted was, as TikTok user SaraChi explains, a display of finally being seen and loved.
“All it takes is for one person to see you, to really see you. And when Galinda saw her for who she really was? Yeah, the emotions. She probably felt ‘finally.’ This is for anybody out there that feels like Elphaba. They feel left out, they feel like the odd one out, they feel like they’re not seen. You’re seen, don’t worry,” she said.
This unselfish friendship, and the lengths Elphaba and Galinda go to maintain it, is the cornerstone of this two-part film. While we’re used to stories building to a “happily ever after,” the women’s relationship is paramount. The friendship between women often serves as a lifeline and brings immense value—a safe space, a healing balm, and a place to be unapologetically themselves (which is exactly what we’ve seen in the film and through the real-life connection between Erivo and Grande.)
And just as people got emotional watching the ballroom scene, you can expect an equally heart-tugging scene in “Wicked: For Good” that will surely bring about the waterworks. This is thanks largely to the penultimate song “For Good.” Both Erivo and Grande gave us a glimpse at how moving the song was during their performance of it during “Wicked: One Wonderful Night” that aired on NBC and Peacock recently. But trust me, once you see this song within the context.
Without getting into spoiler territory, “Wicked: For Good” (which I was privileged to see five days before the film’s official release) quadruples down on the bond between Elphaba and Galinda and how the two women’s life paths have played out in the aftermath of the first film’s ending. It does so in a way that will have you grasping for Kleenexes and in a way that’ll make you extremely grateful for the friend circle you currently have.
And while you’re trying to get yourself emotionally ready for this epic conclusion, it should be stated that there’s a few twists that you may not expect which only adds to the amazing storytelling. So grab your tissues and prepare to be changed for the better (or for good) and buckle up for this unexpected and beautiful ride.
“Wicked: For Good” hits theaters Nov. 21.
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