How 'Wicked: For Good' Uses Politics and Privilege to Flip Oz Upside Down

How ‘Wicked: For Good’ Uses Real-World Politics to Flip Oz Upside Down Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda while in a meadow looking towards the horizon in Wicked: For Good.Image via Universal Pictures By  Mauricio Cueto Published 13 minutes ago Mauricio is a Mexican guy who gets attached to cancelled TV shows, likes to read Marvel comics about underdog teams, and has been told one-too-many times he looks like Penn Badgley, specifically in his stalker-y roles. He discovered his passion for pop culture with Power Rangers and the Star Wars Special Edition re-releases. Professionally, he's got a degree in International Finance and has been in the real estate business for almost 10 years now (yikes!). Magically, he's 83% Ravenclaw and 17% Slytherin. Musically, he thinks Jack Antonoff is a multiversal being with the key to create bop after bop. He specializes in over-analyzing his favorite shows like Glee, Lost, Community, Ugly Betty, and Grey's Anatomy; as well as his favorite actors' performances, like Olivia Colman, Olivia Colman, and Olivia Colman. Just kidding, other faves include Anna Kendrick, Rachel Bloom, Lee Pace, Maggie Smith, Elizabeth Olsen, and Olivia Colman. Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

The Wicked franchise has literally changed lives for good. Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel imbued the Land of Oz with new life by reimagining L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the stories of its inhabitants. In 2003, Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s adaptation of the book into a Broadway musical launched Wicked to new heights, making it a top reference for theatre kids around the world.

Now, following the two-part big screen experience that director Jon M. Chu concocted, Wicked has become a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. And while the central message of friendship overcoming all is the heart of the films, the underlying themes of political manipulation and beauty-based privilege are the most important lessons to come out of them. Thus, the Wicked pair of movies stands out not only by being a groundbreaking musical about the reciprocity of friendship – but as a reflection of the flawed society we live in as well.

‘Wicked: For Good’ Emphasizes the Political Use of Propaganda

Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible surrounded by flying monkeys in Wicked.Image via Universal

The plot of Wicked: For Good keeps transforming in its two-plus hour runtime. But there’s a constant that remains for the film’s entirety – the eternal demonization and consequential persecution of Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba. Following up on the first film’s finale, Elphaba is turned into Oz’s number one public enemy. Throughout fearsome posters and news pieces, history is twisted to put her in the spotlight as having committed two heinous crimes – stealing the Grimmerie and torturing the monkeys by making them grow wings.

After showing her true colors in the final moments of Wicked, Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) doubles down on her antagonism throughout Wicked: For Good. Leaving Shiz behind to become press secretary for the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), she is in charge of spreading the lies that build Elphaba’s reputation as the Wicked Witch of the West. At some point, her constant blabbering – besides annoying – becomes silly. But that’s the true power of propaganda, as it relies on repetition to be spread and believed, regardless of how ludicrous it might be.

Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba Struggles To Start a Revolution in ‘Wicked: For Good’

The Wizard and his minions achieve power by putting the population of Oz in a constant state of fear. An enlightened Elphaba tries to ignite a revolution that will keep animals free in the Land of Oz, while exposing the lies of the Wizard and his lack of real magic. Due to many circumstances – like Madame Morrible’s scheming and the animals’ hopelessness – her attempts go unsuccessful. But a key reason is that Elphaba looks different from everybody else, not fitting into their perceived standards of beauty.

As seen in Wicked’s flashbacks, the Ozians have discriminated against Elphaba ever since she was young. Thus, after the Emerald City debacle, they believe the lies that are told about her, even throwing in some inventions of their own. This makes it only more jarring to see Elphaba struggling to make humans and animals join her fight. She belts it out while singing the first lines of “No Place Like Home.”

Why do I love this place that’s never loved me?

Thus, before Wicked: For Good’s climax, Elphaba finally caves in and decides to show her darkest side. The ambivalence displayed by the character and Erivo truly show a desperate being that becomes a victim of her circumstances. This is why she decides to relay the burden onto her best friend – the one who has the platform to fulfill her mission.

Related 18 Years Before The Movie, ‘Wicked’ Was A Major Theme Park Attraction

“So if you care to find me, look to Universal Studios!”

Posts By  Logan Kelly Aug 23, 2025

In the End, Ariana Grande’s Glinda Uses Her Privilege To Change Oz for Good

Glinda (Ariana Grande) putting her crown on her head in 'Wicked: For Good'Image via Universal Pictures

The most interesting aspect of the underlying themes in Wicked: For Good comes in the film’s final moments. After singing their heartfelt departing duet – “For Good” – an empowered Glinda (Ariana Grande) takes it upon herself to carry out Elphaba’s mission to unite Oz. It might be reductive to say this, but she achieves this based mainly on the position she earned thanks to her privilege and her hegemonic appearance. With her fitting into societal beauty standards, she has a platform of privilege that she puts to good use – but it exposes how flawed Oz still is.

The two parts of Wicked clearly show Glinda as the girl in the bubble – one who lived within the reality and the boundaries of her social class. She was never in contact with the problematics of the outside world. That was, until she became a public figure. Witnessing the degradation of Oz through the vilification and persecution of her best friend opens Glinda’s eyes to the reality of this seemingly-perfect land.

It's a little bit ironic that Wicked: For Good ends with Glinda becoming the face of the revolutionary movement in Oz. A woman who rarely made the defense of animals – or anything that wasn’t her own ambition – her passion, becomes the poster girl of change in Oz. The bright side is that Glinda plays her cards well enough by knowing who to ally herself with, earning her a position of power that eventually allows her to act effectively. So, in the end, Elphaba indeed changes Glinda for good. But the whole ordeal speaks volumes about society and our perception of the beautiful and the ugly and, consequentially, the good and the bad.

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Wicked: For Good

Like Follow Followed PG Drama Fantasy Romance Release Date November 21, 2025 Runtime 137 Minutes Director Jon M. Chu Writers Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, Gregory Maguire Producers Marc Platt, David Stone 11 Images Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) with a thoughtful frown in Wicked: For GoodGlinda (Ariana Grande) smiling in Wicked: For GoodGlinda (Ariana Grande) putting on her crown in Wicked: For GoodFiyero (Jonathan Bailey) playing in a marching band in Wicked: For GoodGlinda (Ariana Grande) walking down the aisle surrounded by yellow butterflies in Wicked: For GoodFiyero (Jonathan Bailey) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) staring into each other’s eyes up close in Wicked: For GoodElphaba (Cynthia Erivo) flying on her broom in Wicked: For GoodWicked For Good Teaser ThumbnailGlinda (Ariana Grande) clutching a book to her chest in Wicked: For GoodGlinda (Ariana Grande) floating inside a shimmering bubble in Wicked: For GoodGlinda (Ariana Grande) looking thoughtful in Wicked: For GoodClose

Cast

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• Cynthia Erivo Elphaba
• Ariana Grande Glinda

Prequel(s) Wicked Genres Drama, Fantasy, Romance Powered by Expand Collapse

• Movie Features
• Wicked: For Good
• Jon M. Chu

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