Wicked: For Good Review- Ariana & Cynthia deliver power & heart in Oz that soars & stumbles in equal measure

Wicked: For Good doesn’t waste a second easing you back into Oz. Jon M. Chu picks up the narrative right where the first film stopped, but this time he brings a sharper pulse and far greater urgency. If Wicked (2024) often felt like a long first act waiting for ignition, Part Two strikes the match. The sequel moves with more purpose, the conflicts sharpen, and the emotional weight finally lands with the force longtime fans always hoped for.

The world-building done in the first installment pays off almost immediately. With the history already set, the sequel steps aside from introductions and dives straight into the fractures between truth and power, friendship and performance, myth and manipulation. And with that shift, the film opens its arms wider, to the political undertones, the iconic Oz imagery, and the deeper, more aching journeys of Elphaba and Glinda.

A Darker Shade of Oz: Power, Propaganda, and the Price of Belief

The sequel embraces shadows in ways the first film hesitated to. Oz here is not a whimsical playground but a land twisting under propaganda. Soldiers clad in perfect Emerald City green march through crowds. Animals are stripped of their voices. Magical symbols become state-approved branding. Madame Morrible’s advice to Glinda, “let them assume…the wand really sells it”, rings through the entire film. Performance becomes the currency of survival, and the script leans into how power structures turn symbols into shields and people into puppets. The Wizard’s regime echoes striking parallels to real-world political manipulation: creating fear, manufacturing enemies, and weaponising charm.

Glinda’s Reckoning and Elphaba’s Resolve

Where Elphaba’s arc in the first film was about rising into her power, Wicked: For Good pushes her into a moral crossroads. Cynthia Erivo delivers another fierce, aching performance. Her Elphaba is fully committed to fighting the Wizard’s tyranny, and in moments where she sweeps across the Yellow Brick Road or frees conscripted Animals, you feel that righteous fire.

But the standout this time, undeniably, is Ariana Grande. Her Glinda is not just the sparkling figure we met earlier. Now the polish cracks. Behind the perfect gowns and perfect wandwork is the constant tremor of doubt. Her new original number, “The Girl in the Bubble,” captures that internal tug of war with surprising tenderness. Grande brings both vulnerability and steel, showing how a girl raised on applause learns to make choices that cost her far more than popularity.

Together, Grande and Erivo create the emotional heartbeat of the film. Their chemistry has deepened; their scenes crackle with affection, resentment, and unspoken history. When the story finally leads them to “For Good,” the duet lands exactly with the emotional sweep it deserves.

When the Story Soars… and When It Trips

Some parts of the sequel feel wonderfully elevated compared to Part One. The pacing is noticeably tighter, especially in the early stretch where Elphaba’s missions bring a welcome burst of energy. The script also gives Glinda and Elphaba more scenes together, addressing one of the stage musical’s most common criticisms: that their friendship gets overshadowed by plot mechanics.

But the film still carries over several issues from its predecessor. Some sequences feel oddly staged, with scenes set in sweeping locations but shot in ways that obscure the grandness. A few emotional beats, especially involving Fiyero, feel rushed or strangely distant, as if the camera stayed a mile away during moments that needed closeness. The romance between Elphaba and Fiyero remains the film’s weakest thread, never finding the same spark or emotional clarity as the central friendship.

The Music: Familiar Heights and New Notes

Stephen Schwartz’s beloved songs continue to be the glue that holds this world together. While nothing in Part Two reaches the soaring spectacle of “Defying Gravity,” the musical numbers still carry emotional resonance. Grande’s new track adds gentleness to Glinda’s arc, and Erivo’s “No Place Like Home” brings a fresh twist to Dorothy’s iconic sentiment.

The big ensemble pieces, especially “March of the Witch Hunters,” carry a more forceful tone, though the staging occasionally hides more than it reveals.

A Sequel That Works Best When It Trusts Its Heart

In its strongest scenes, Wicked: For Good becomes a moving tale about friendship outlasting fear. It explores what it means to rewrite your place in the world, how power bends truth, and how two young women break free from stories assigned to them. In its weaker moments, the film gets tangled in its own size, stretching scenes that don’t need it while skimming over the ones that do. But even with its flaws, there’s something undeniably stirring about watching Glinda and Elphaba reclaim themselves. The film’s emotional core shines bright enough to lift the weaker pieces around it.

Final Verdict

Wicked: For Good is uneven but undeniably heartfelt. It’s darker, bolder, and more emotionally charged than Part One, even if the execution doesn’t always hit its marks. The magic may flicker at times, but when it shines, it shines for good.