now i understand why cynthia and ariana act like that in all their interviews 😭

When big stories reach their final stretch, there’s always that shared expectation that everything will finally fall into place, emotionally, rhythmically, thematically. “Wicked: For Good” meets that expectation by closing, in grand and devastating fashion, the journey Jon M. Chu started a year earlier, fixing the second-act stumbles of the stage musical: rhythm, coherence, emotional depth. What feels annoyingly rushed onstage gains real breath here, with Chu fully embracing the dramatic weight without abandoning the magic of Oz, crafting a darker and more cohesive film. John Powell’s score signals this shift right from the beginning, wiping out any remaining trace of lightness as the story crosses the point of no return, this time, without bumps. And even with the heavier tone, the film keeps its visual awe: Nathan Crowley’s production design and Paul Tazewell’s costumes turn every set into a living painting, and every look Glinda wears into an extension of the persona Ariana Grande plays with so much spark. But the core of “Wicked: For Good” is, without a shred of doubt, the relationship between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda, and that’s exactly where the film hits its absolute peak. Erivo and Grande take their characters to a level of complexity the musical never really got to explore. The dynamic between them, built so tenderly in the first film, here breaks in the most painful way, and it’s impossible not to feel the shock of that rupture. When Elphaba sings “No Good Deed,” Erivo delivers not just the best vocal performance of the franchise, but an emotional eruption that reshapes her whole trajectory. And “For Good,” the duet that closes their arc, is the kind of scene that wrecks you without asking permission: intimate, honest, and filmed with stunning sensitivity. The way Chu frames them, letting the world around them fade, gives the moment a kind of mystical force. Even so, the narrative structure isn’t perfect, and its flaws sit exactly in the elements borrowed from “The Wizard of Oz” – and from this point on, I’ll be discussing some spoilers, so proceed at your own risk. Although the tie-in with the 1939 classic is visually elegant and conceptually well-stitched, the development of iconic characters is, at best, frustrating. Boq (Ethan Slater) as the Tin Man shows up and disappears at a pace that borders on careless, and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) as the Scarecrow suffers from the same issue: the transformation is mentioned, but not lived, not felt. For anyone watching the film as a standalone work (which it absolutely needs to function as), the lack of development weakens the sense of completion. It’s not about wanting “Wicked” to rewrite the classic’s mythology: it’s about asking the narrative to reach a full, earned climax. Dorothy’s (Bethany Weaver) confrontation with Elphaba, for example, is so schematic and so altered from the original that it feels like it exists only because it “has” to, not because the story we’re watching organically demands it. Musically, “Wicked: For Good” also has its highs and lows. The new songs, especially the originals written for Elphaba and Glinda, simply don’t have the same sparkle or staying power as the classic numbers from the first film. They lack punch, they lack a memorable melody, they lack that feeling that we’re hearing something worthy of these larger-than-life characters. Still, when the film does need to deliver a real musical moment (like “No Good Deed” and “For Good,” which I’ve already talked about), it doesn’t just deliver: it knocks it out of the park. These numbers justify the entire existence of the project and individually surpass even some Broadway moments. But the overall impression remains: the second film is musically weaker, though dramatically stronger. Technically, though, “Wicked: For Good” stays breathtaking. Jon M. Chu understands scale like very few musical directors working today: from the construction of the Yellow Brick Road to the aerial sequences of Glinda floating in her bubble, everything breathes grandeur without losing texture or detail. Alice Brooks, the cinematographer, shoots the musical numbers with fluidity and intention, understanding that a musical isn’t just “showing people singing,” but shaping the camera around the emotion of the moment. Even when the narrative stumbles, the aesthetic remains immaculate. Overall, “Wicked: For Good” is a sequel that corrects the musical’s flaws, expands the universe with confidence, and grounds itself in a genuine, beating emotional core that’s impossible to ignore. It’s a film that may slip in specific areas, mainly in the underdevelopment of iconic characters, but triumphs in what really matters: telling, with truth and real sensitivity, the story of a friendship broken by the world and mended by love. It’s moving. It’s beautiful. And despite its imperfections, it closes the saga with the strength and tenderness Elphaba and Glinda always deserved.

_Wicked: For Good_ is a strong and enjoyable continuation of the story, but it never reaches the magic of the first film. I gave the original a 10, and this one simply falls short. The acting from the leads is weaker overall, and the soundtrack does not carry the same weight. It takes until “No Good Deed” for the movie to deliver a truly standout number. That song is fantastic, but still sits behind the best of the first film. A major issue for me came from Michelle Yeoh’s performance as Madam Morrible. Her singing is so noticeably off that it pulled me out of the film every time she appeared. In a movie filled with powerhouse vocalists giving polished, emotional performances, her vocals sounded out of place and distracting. It felt less like a creative choice and more like stunt casting, and it undercut the impact of the film’s opening stretch. A major shift is in the focus of the story. The first film centered Elphaba in a rich and compelling way, while this entry places Glinda firmly in the spotlight. Sometimes that works, especially in how their friendship deepens and becomes more emotionally resonant. But it also creates problems. Boq and Fiyero barely register, kept hidden to engineer big reveals instead of being developed naturally. It makes parts of the narrative feel like they exist because they have to, not because they add anything meaningful. The production values are impressive, though. The costumes look excellent and the world remains vibrant and full of personality. Jeff Goldblum is great as the Wizard of Oz, bringing a fun and charismatic energy to every scene he is in. His performance is easily one of the film’s highlights, and the song “Wonderful” is a welcome burst of charm. Ariana showed some great comedic chops in this performance, while at the same time struggling with some deliveries (especially more serious tones). Wicked: For Good is a worthy sequel, but not a transcendent one. It has heart, it has moments, but it lacks the musical and emotional electricity that made the first film unforgettable. 8/10.

Not as good as the first one but as the two friends I saw it with said, “It was a fever dream”. (They gave it a 7 and an 8.) The acting was good. Ariana and Cynthia’s chemistry was so genuine and appealing that you couldn’t help but being moved when they sang FOR GOOD, towards the end, and what can we say about their vocal ranges - WOW. The production numbers were everything you might hope for. What made it less, for me, was the lack of other show stopping songs. If they hadn’t revived FOR GOOD in the closing scenes they would have only had tunes that were conversations that were sung, nothing rising to the level of DEFYING GRAVITY or UNLIMITED. I’m glad I saw it in the theater and would encourage others to do so, as well.

3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Wicked: For Good’: 1. The first film felt perfectly curated, from start to finish. The songs were stronger. I mean, nothing can beat that Defying Gravity finale. And that’s where this film is gonna find the negative… in comparison. The plot points here felt a little more scattered and the emotional weight didn’t feel as heavy. 2. It all still remains a spectacle. It’s a beautiful film to look at. And it’s still a great time at the theater. Cynthia and Ariana continue to shine so bright in their roles. And Jonathan continues to make me swoon. 3. Glinda mocking Elphaba’s laugh gave me life. Ariana still surprises me with her comedic ability.