Entertainment

For Good’ Is Dividing Audiences, but It Does One Thing Much Better Than the First Movie

Published

2 weeks ago

26 November 2025

For Good' Is Dividing Audiences, but It Does One Thing Much Better Than the First Movie

Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for ‘Wicked: For Good’Wicked provided its sequel with plenty to live up to, and despite the pressure, Wicked: For Good does an impressive job. Not only does the second film wrap up the saga with some of the Broadway musical’s best songs, but it expands the story and even surpasses the first film in one major area: Glinda’s (Ariana Grande) characterization. The Wicked saga primarily follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the tragic figure who, before this story, was best known as the Wicked Witch, but these two films also establish many important characters in Oz, including Glinda the Good, Elphaba’s unlikely friend, who falls in with the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). Much of Wicked and Wicked: For Good‘s story comes from the beloved musical (and, less directly, Gregory Maguire‘s book before that), but in the case of Glinda, the films deviated from the source material, actually improving the story by exploring her character more deeply and making her into the dual protagonist fans have long wanted her to be.

‘Wicked: For Good’ Explores Glinda’s Character

A lot happens in Wicked: For Good, but one of the most interesting storylines is the focus on Glinda’s internal development. The film includes a flashback to her childhood, emphasizing her desire for magic and launching into an emotional arc as she gains authority in Oz. Though she initially seems happy in her role as Glinda the Good, she must face the dissonance in her life as, despite her notoriety, she must follow the Wizard’s lead. Paralleling her childhood attempt to convince her peers that she had magic, Glinda spends much of the film deceiving those around her, forcing her to struggle with her identity.

The 5 Biggest Problems With ‘Wicked: For Good’

‘Wicked: For Good’ fails to defy gravity in this sluggish sequel.

This introspective story makes her character much more interesting, as it shows how she struggles to find her way and pays off in the end when she takes control from the Wizard and Madam Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) to put Oz on a better path and accomplish Elphaba’s goals. Throughout the film, Glinda doubts herself, but when she finally takes action, she becomes a more authentic version of herself, which is exactly who Oz needs, proving that she was always more powerful than she knew.

‘Wicked: For Good’ Changes Glinda’s Trajectory from the First Film

Glinda’s storyline is not only a change from the musical, but it is different than the first film, which is clearly focused on Elphaba. That’s not to say Wicked: For Good isn’t Elphaba’s story. In many ways, it still is, yet Glinda plays a vital role. In the first film, Glinda is a memorable character, but she doesn’t receive much individual focus. Unlike Wicked, Glinda’s arc in the second film develops largely apart from Elphaba, making her more significant. Glinda ends up helping Elphaba, but she has her own storyline, making them dual leads, which is an important distinction.

Wicked showed a superficial and often clueless Glinda, and, while she certainly grew within that story as she accepted Elphaba, she doesn’t seem to have a personal struggle until Wicked: For Good. In fact, in the first film, her story is about Elphaba rather than herself as they develop a friendship. Sure, she has one solo song, “Popular,” but the rest of her notable songs are duets with Elphaba. More to the point, while “Popular” reveals a lot about how Glinda sees the world, it doesn’t show her emotional state. That is what the second film does with Glinda’s arc, making her a complex and dynamic character in a way she isn’t in Wicked.

‘Wicked: For Good’s Glinda Storyline Reinforces the Musical’s Themes

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda in a meadow look at the horizon in Wicked: For Good.

When working with such well-loved source material, changes can be dangerous, but the key to Wicked: For Good‘s added Glinda arc is that it perfectly fits the story’s themes. The additional focus Glinda receives offers another angle on the theme of public perception versus reality. In Wicked, Elphaba is a villain because of how Morrible and the Wizard paint her to the people of Oz, and in the same way, Glinda becomes a hero. Although Glinda’s reputation is glowing, she still must deal with the pressure of expectations and keep up the act, proving that perceived heroism isn’t as glamorous as it seems.

Her struggle with her identity forces Glinda to become a more authentic version of herself as she takes charge of Oz. Ultimately, Glinda becomes as important a character as Elphaba by leading the world to a brighter future as she rids Oz of the Wizard and reintroduces the animals at the end of the film. Wicked: For Good solidifies Glinda as a dual protagonist to Elphaba by giving her the attention and emotional complexity she lacked.

Wicked: For Good is in theaters now.