Wicked: For Good Parent Guide

“The best way to bring folks together is to give ‘em a real good enemy.” So said the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) in Wicked and now that Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is on the run, she fits the bill. After all, Elphaba’s green-skinned, powerfully magical, and obsessed with ending the Wizard’s persecution of Oz’s talking animals. As long as she’s on the loose, occasionally appearing to warn people of the Wizard’s chicanery, he will continue to issue dark warnings and blame the “Wicked Witch” for the darkness in Oz.

With Elphaba officially seen as a state enemy, her friends are in a tight spot. Her sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode), new governor of the munchkins, is filled with bitterness towards Elphaba. Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), Elphaba’s erstwhile love interest, is a captain of the guard, tasked with hunting her down. And Galinda (Ariana Grande) is now known as Glinda the Good. Floating through Oz in an engineered bubble and waving a fake wand, she is tasked with lifting people’s spirits. Having achieved her dream of spreading happiness, Galinda is unwilling to risk her popularity by looking too closely at the ramifications of her actions…. but eventually she has hard choices to make.

Wicked: For Good is a more melancholy movie than its predecessor, 2024’s rousing Wicked. The first half of the film duology is filled with saturated color, energetic musical numbers, laugh-out-loud moments, and happy stories of young love and new friendships. The second half of the story is darker: it’s a tale of divided loyalties, tested friendships, betrayal, broken hearts, and the ways in which people reject or accommodate tyranny. Once again, Galinda is the most complex character on the screen. Elphaba’s rejection of the Wizard is uncompromising, but Galinda is constantly trying to find ways in which she can have it all: popularity, status, comfort, and Elphaba’s friendship. What she soon learns is the truth of the old saying, “He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.” Every compromise leaves her open to another one, and eventually she joins with the Wizard in trying to persuade Elphaba to unite with them: “The truth is not fact or reason,” he says, “It’s just what everyone agrees on.” That moral vacuum is the deepest danger in the film: it’s embodied by the Wizard, but it taints everyone who comes in his orbit.

Given the serious tone of this film, it’s less enchanting than the first installment, but it’s still worth watching – especially if you want to know what happens. I spent the entire year between films resisting the temptation to go online and read the plot synopsis for the play on which the films are based. I’m glad I held out: it’s much more fun to watch this film on the edge of your seat.

Parents considering this film for family viewing should bear in mind several scenes of violence, including magical conflict. People are beaten, transformed and even killed (although no gory deaths occur on screen). There is also an implied sex scene involving kissing and a moment where the man is seen shirtless and wrapped in a blanket with his partner. This movie comes in on the higher end of the PG rating but it should be suitable for tweens. On the bright side, the story also carries strong messages about integrity, loyalty, courage, love, and friendship. Wicked: For Good might not sparkle like its predecessor, but it still packs a punch.

About author

Kirsten Hawkes

Kirsten Hawkes has a BA in Political Science and English and has worked in international development and medical education and marketing. Kirsten enjoys reading, watching movies, and debating politics with her husband and sometimes unwilling children.