Wicked Ending Explained & How It Sets Up Wicked Part 2

Warning: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Wicked: Part 1.

Adapting the Tony-winning Broadway musical, Wicked: Part 1 tells an epic journey of magic and morality in the world of Oz, leading up to the climactic ending that will bring audiences back for Wicked: Part 2 in 2025. The movie starts with Glinda the Good announcing to the Munchkins that the Wicked Witch of the West is dead. When they ask about her past relationship with the villain, the movie phases back in time to Glinda (called Galinda in this part of the Wicked movie) and Elphaba arriving at Shiz University.

Glinda and Elphaba are forced to room together after the latter is unexpectedly admitted to the school as a student of sorcery under the guidance of Madame Morrible. Though they start out detesting one another, the roommates develop a friendship. Turmoil grows when the talking animals’ rights are removed, and a lion cub is caged in front of the class, leading to Elphaba and Fiyero taking action. When Elphaba is invited to visit The Emerald City and The Wizard, she brings her friend along. This leads to the action-packed ending, which serves as the midpoint for the two-part Wicked movie.

Why Elphaba Rejected The Wizard’s Offer In Wicked

Elphaba Puts The Talking Animals’ Well-Being Ahead Of Her Own

After The Wizard and Madame Morrible trick Elphaba into giving the monkeys wings, she realizes that he never did it himself because he has no powers. He confirms this fact and offers her a home with him in The Emerald City that would give her safety and power if she only works with him. He even says Glinda can stay with them if it will keep her happy. However, she rejects his offer with righteous indignation, and multiple factors play into this decision.

Firstly, the knowledge that he never had any powers cracks every ounce of respect and admiration she previously had for him. She’s less easy to manipulate now that the reverence she once held for The Wizard is gone. Additionally, she showed earlier, when offered the chance to change her green skin, that she cares more about justice for others than she does herself. Her life experiences grant her empathy for the talking animals, who are deemed “different” just like she is. To accept The Wizard’s offer would be to accept their oppression.

Why Does Elphaba Go To The West?

Elphaba Gains The Title Of “The Wicked Witch Of The West”

At the end of “Defying Gravity,” Elphaba sings the line, “So, if you care to find me, look to the Western sky.” In the Broadway musical, the line is never explained. She doesn’t learn about Kiamo Ko, Fiyero’s castle, until late into the second act, so that can’t explain her decision. The main explanation fans settled on was that Elphaba chose to go in that direction because of the historical, problematic symbolism of manifest destiny and traveling west for a better life. However, the movie hints at an explanation that fits within the narrative instead of relying on real-life knowledge.

During “Something Bad,” Elphaba intrudes on the animal resistance group, which is being held in a room with a map of Oz. This map shows the terrain and roads connecting each area to the Emerald City. The Vinkus, which is in the west, has harsh terrain that seems difficult to navigate, offering Elphaba more protection if she goes in that direction.

Additionally, the western part of Oz seems to have the least connection to The Emerald City, meaning The Wizard might have the least amount of control there. This is later confirmed again during “Sentimental Man,” when the entire model of Oz lights up. The road doesn’t stretch as far west. Ultimately, neither the movie nor the musical provide a concrete answer to this Broadway musical plothole, but the film at least hints at a reasonable explanation.

How Madame Morrible Manipulated Elphaba From The Start

Madame Morrible Is The True Villain Of Wicked

At the end of Wicked: Part 1, Elphaba asks Madame Morrible whether she planned to use Elphaba from the beginning, and the villain’s response inadvertently confirms that she was manipulating the young witch the whole movie. This information retroactively taints all their past interactions, making Madame Morrible’s kindness seem more nefarious.

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The teacher took credit for Elphaba’s outburst not because she was trying to help, but because she wanted to bolster her image as a powerful magician, making it so the students would respect her more because of her powers. She planted the idea early on that Elphaba would need to prove herself to The Wizard so that they could ask her later to do the spell on the monkeys, pointing to Madame Morrible’s calculated nature.

During their sorcery lesson, she talks to Elphaba about Dr. Dillamond for two big reasons. One, she recognizes that emotions are Elphaba’s magical trigger. Two, she’s trying to build a false sense of trust and emotional disclosure so that Elphaba will be less resistant to her manipulation later. Later, she let Glinda into her class because she needed to keep Elphaba happy. Ultimately, every single one of Madame Morrible’s actions in Wicked: Part 1 serves her bigger goal.

Why The Ozians Worship The Wizard

Wicked: Part 1 Adds Background Information About How The Wizard Gained Power

The Wizard of Oz and Wicked (the Broadway Musical) both provide small bits of information about why the Ozians worship and follow the leadership of The Wizard; however, it’s never confirmed how he exactly came to power. Wicked: Part 1 changes “One Short Day” to include Elphaba and Glinda watching a show about the history of The Wizard. The Ozians had previous leaders with magic called “The Wise Ones” who could read The Grimmerie and cast spells.

However, they all died out over time, leaving behind a prophecy. The Wise Ones said a powerful person who could read The Grimmerie would one day arrive in Oz when they needed it most. Since The Wizard arrived during The Great Drought and could read The Grimmerie, Ozians assumed he was the prophesied individual and began worshiping him. In reality, the prophecy could just as easily apply to Elphaba as it could to The Wizard.

Dr. Dillamond’s Firing (& How It Sets Up Elphaba’s To Become The Wicked Witch)

Elphaba Is Dr. Dillamond’s Biggest Defender In Wicked: Part 1

In a slightly less dark version of the Wicked book storyline, Dr. Dillamond is fired from his teaching job at Shiz University because he’s a speaking animal instead of getting murdered. However, his staying alive doesn’t make it any less emotional when he’s forcibly dragged out of the classroom by the horns. While Elphaba already cares about justice, this moment is a turning point that sets her on the path to becoming The Wicked Witch of the West. She can’t stand to watch the teacher she bonded with get treated as lesser.

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From this point forward, her entire arc as Wicked’s main character centers on ensuring the talking animals are given the same rights as the humans. She even sets aside the opportunity to make her life better so that she can ensure Dr. Dillamond and the other talking animals are protected.

Can Elphaba See The Future In Wicked?

Elphaba Sees Flashes That Could Be The Future

Warning: This section has mild spoilers for Wicked Part 2.In the Wicked musical and movie, Elphaba sings about having a vision of Oz having a celebration for her, but it’s implied that she’s speaking figuratively instead of literally. However, the Wicked: Part 1 movie draws into question whether she can actually see the future. A few times in the film, Elphaba sees flashes of different moments. In these moments, she sees Dr. Dillamond in a cage.

This could simply be her imagining a terrible future. However, the second half of the Wicked musical involves The Wizard and Madame Morrible taking away Dr. Dillamond’s voice and keeping him captive. Combined with the lyrics in “The Wizard & I,” these flashes seem to confirm that Elphaba has the ability to see the future, though there’s still ambiguity surrounding the question.

How Elphaba And Glinda’s Friendship Grows Over Time

Glinda’s And Elphaba’s Friendship Is The Lifeblood Of Wicked

In both the Wicked musical and Wicked: Part 1, Elphaba and Glinda go from loathing one another to being best friends within a short span of time. The movie remains pretty loyal to the source material when it comes to Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship. When Glinda gives Elphaba the hat, the latter takes it as a genuine act of kindness and returns the favor by insisting Madame Morrible take Glinda on as a student.

When Glinda finds this out, she realizes that she’s been too cruel to her roommate and publicly engages with her at the party. Little details like Glinda giving Elphaba a guidebook with a sweet message written inside solidify their relationship, making it all the more tragic when they part ways at the end of Wicked: Part 1.

How Wicked’s Ending Sets Up Wicked: Part 2

Wicked: Part 2 Tells The Wizard Of Oz From Elphaba’s Perspective

The Wicked 2-part movie splits at the same point as the Broadway show – after “Defying Gravity.” At this point in the film and musical, Elphaba refuses to work with The Wizard to suppress the talking animals. She decides that if the people in charge won’t help, she will break out on her own to protect the vulnerable community. Meanwhile, Madame Morrible tells all of Oz that Elphaba is evil, hurting the talking animals, and trying to destroy The Wizard.

This sets up a clear pathway for Elphaba in Wicked: Part 2. All of Oz will be hunting for her while she will be taking action to protect the talking animals. Eventually, Dorothy will arrive in Oz because of a twister, setting forth the events of The Wizard of Oz, which play out in the second half of the musical.

The True Meaning Of Wicked: Part 1’s Ending

Elphaba Proves That Villains Are Made Not Born

The core question in the Wicked book, musical, and movie is whether people are born wicked or whether wickedness is created. Across the span of 2 hours and 30 minutes, Wicked: Part 1 solidly answers that villains are made. Elphaba was forced into the role of The Wizard of Oz’s antagonist by the true villains of the story – her father, her bullies, Madame Morrible, and The Wizard. Moreover, Wicked: Part 1 makes it clear that situations aren’t always what they seem at first glance.

Director

Jon M. Chu

Release Date

November 22, 2024

Studio(s)

Marc Platt Productions

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

Writers

Gregory Maguire , Winnie Holzman , Dana Fox , L. Frank Baum

Cast

Cynthia Erivo , Ariana Grande , Michelle Yeoh , Jeff Goldblum , Jonathan Bailey , Ethan Slater , Marissa Bode , Bowen Yang , Bronwyn James , Keala Settle , Peter Dinklage , Aaron Teoh , Grecia De la Paz , Colin Michael Carmichael , Adam James , Andy Nyman , Courtney Mae-Briggs , Sharon D. Clarke , Jenna Boyd

Character(s)

Elphaba Thropp , Glinda Upland , Madame Morrible , The Wizard , Fiyero Tigelaar , Boq , Nessarose Thropp , Pfannee , ShenShen , Miss Coddle , Doctor Dillamond (voice) , Avaric Tenmeadows , Gilligan , Professor Nikidik , Glinda’s Father , Governor Frexspar Thropp , Melena Thropp , The Midwife

Runtime

160 Minutes

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