Wicked

admonition : This clause contains spoilers for Wicked . Wickedis a masterful picture melodic adjustment that vaunt its own soundtrack of breathtaking Broadway birdsong , but uniquely interacts with one of the most famous songs in cinematic history . Wickedfollows Elphaba ( Cynthia Erivo ) , the future Wicked Witch of the West , who is ab initio a very idealistic person , despite having been treated unkindly her whole aliveness because of her green peel . She wants to be liked by people and do good in the world ; in some ways , her optimism is rewarded by her friendship with Glinda ( Ariana Grande - Butera ) , who is Elphaba ’s first literal friend and believe in her absolutely .

Elphaba ’s worldview and her architectural plan to fight injustice are drastically changedby the inequitable fate of her favorite teacher , Dr. Dillamond ( Peter Dinklage ) , and her finally meeting the Wizard of Oz ( Jeff Goldblum).Wicked ’s endingdemonstrates that Elphaba is still very idealistically - disposed , believing that one should resist their dry land rather than make unethical compromises . However , the second turn of the musical shows how being label as " severe " eventually gets to Elphaba . Furthermore , whileWickedhas many funWizard of OzEaster Eggs , one in peculiar speaks to the taradiddle thematically .

Wicked Alludes To “Over The Rainbow” With Multiple Rainbows

Rainbows Appear In Wicked During “No One Mourns The Wicked” & “The Wizard And I,” As Well As Some Other Places

Judy Garland ’s carrying out of"Over the Rainbow " is easily one of the most iconic parts ofThe Wizard of Oz . Wicked ’s soundtrackand story do n’t allow for blatant callback to the notable strain , but the flick discover way to understatedly allude to it in the visuals . The gap scene showcases the landscape of Oz to reintroduce viewers to the earthly concern , the last stop being Munchkinland . As the tv camera pans over a shelf , a rainbow is see ; the photographic camera literally goes " over the rainbow " before discover the xanthous brick route and the Emerald City .

Additionally , a brace of musical numbers later , Elphaba is meandering through Shiz ’s campus before ending up in a sphere while singing " The Wizard and I. " When she is in the field , multiple rainbow are visible : first , as she run through the skunk , and second , when she is looking at the skyline from the edge of a cliff . When she is break away she magically lifts herself for one leap ; when she land , a sight of bluebirds are startled and vanish up from the pot , continuing towards the second rainbow . This touch to Dorothy singing :

" Somewhere over the rainbow , bluebirds take flight [ … ] If glad little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow , why , oh why ca n’t I ? "

Wicked - Poster

Wicked’s Rainbows Are Strategically Placed

Wicked’s References To “Over The Rainbow” Imply The Sense Of Hope Seen In The Wizard Of Oz

There are some other pocket-size , very brief rainbows in the moving-picture show ( when Glinda pops her house of cards ; through the misting weewee during " One Short Day " ) . However , the two most clearly seeable rainbow during " No One Mourns the Wicked " and " The Wizard and I " are included there for obvious thematic reasons , evoking a gumption of wonder and purity assort with Dorothy . Dorothy sees Oz as a beautiful land of dreams , her envisioned escape from her mundane sprightliness and problem . The rainbow in the scuttle episode serves as part of the re - introduction to the wonderfulLand of Oz , the most hopeful version of it .

The Wicked novel even more explicitly draws connections between Dorothy and the girl Elphaba once was .

Meanwhile , when the viewer first meets Elphaba , she is a shining - eyed optimist who absolutely believes in the Wizard . Cynthia Erivo has a joyful , dreamy demeanor when she delivers her first major outspoken functioning of the movie . TheWickednovel even more explicitly draw and quarter connection between Dorothy and the girl Elphaba once was . When the rainbow and fairy bluebird seem during " The Wizard and I , " it shows how Elphaba is at a point in her life where her vision of Oz aligns with Dorothy’s , despite the rigourousness she in person faces . She still believes Oz is a wonderful place .

Elphaba singing the Wizard and I in Wicked

The Wizard of Oz ’s main character , Dorothy Gale , is not a important presence in Wicked , so is she in Wicked 2 ? Here ’s what is support and known .

In direct contrast , another rainbow appears during the new section of " One Short Day , " but rather than a real rainbow , it is part of the hardening of Wizomania ( seen behind the singers duringKristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel’sWickedcameo ) . It is a cartoonish mental synthesis of a rainbow , propose a counterpoint to the other scenes . InWicked , the Wizard has fabricated a narrative about his arrival in Oz , where he was destined to become a part of the wizardly land . But his condition is as fake as the rainbow .

How Wicked Interacts With The Vision Of Oz Present In The 1939 Film

Wicked Deconstructs The Themes Of The Wizard Of Oz & “Over The Rainbow,” But Still Wishes That They Were True

Yet Elphaba becomes increasingly disillusioned with Oz as she discovers the surly truths behind its government . She is hardly nihilistic , as she continues fighting for what she believe in and the melioration of her country . " Defying Gravity ’s " bright words still make Elphaba out to be a fearless person who is happy with her exemption . Elphaba and Glinda also part on good terms , respecting the other ’s decision to go / stay . Yet as

Elphaba is more sham by everyone seeing her as a colossus , Wickedquietly seems to propose that its protagonist becoming less like Dorothy due to circumstance is a calamity .

Throughout Wicked : Part 1 , there are touch that Elphaba has sure business leader as a beldame , including the power to potentially see into the future .

Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz and Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked

Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

The second half of the musical show that Elphaba ’s fugitive lifestyle takes a toll on her in the long running play , and how being placed on diametrical side of the conflict is destroying the respect she and Glinda have for each other . Gradually , even the noble-mindedness of " Defying Gravity " is challenged ; Elphaba and Glinda ’s eventual rapprochement is bittersweet at skilful , not the straight happy return home Dorothy gets inThe Wizard of Oz ’s termination .

implike deconstruct the imagination of Oz present in The Wizard of Oz , illustrate by " Over the Rainbow , " as a false belief .

Wickeddeconstructs the visual modality of Oz presented in The Wizard of Oz , instance by " Over the Rainbow , " as a fallacy . Behind this façade is putrefaction and cruelness , and the story illustrates the sorrow in this realism . Yetarguably , this was always the item of Oz . The theme song color of the setting have long been associated with metallic gold and green immediate payment . As brilliant as Dorothy finds Oz , it is in the end a irregular escape where she can not stay forever .

imagery-from-Wicked-8

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repelling adapts the Broadway melodious into a two - part pic , following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba , bear with greenish skin , and Glinda , a popular aristocrat , in the Land of Oz . As they navigate their counterpoint paths , they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West .

Headshot Of Cynthia Erivo

Headshot Of Ariana Grande In The 2024 Met Gala

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Wicked