Tin Man, Dorothy, Cowardly Lion, and Scarecrow in Wicked: For Good
By
Kevin Erdmann
Published 40 minutes ago
Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Wicked: For Good
Elphaba’s conflict with Dorothy Gale in Wicked: For Good goes deeper than the familiar story seen in The Wizard of Oz. While their tension echoes the 1939 film, the movie reframes the rivalry with more emotional context and additional thematic ties. As Wicked: For Good proves, the tension doesn't come from stolen magic shoes alone.
With one subtle change between Wicked: For Good and Dorothy's depiction in The Wizard of Oz, the girl from Kansas becomes a symbol of everything Elphaba has been fighting against since The Wizard turned the people against her at the end of Wicked: Part One.
Dorothy Became Elphaba's Enemy In Wicked: For Good (After Glinda Gave Her Nessa's Slippers)
Elphaba holding her broom posing in front of Dorothy's house in Wicked: For Good
Without a doubt, Glinda the Good giving Nessarose's slippers to Dorothy was a major slight against Elphaba, putting her at odds with the girl from the get-go.
It very much added salt to the wound, considering it was Dorothy's house that killed Elphaba’s sister on impact (via Madame Morrible's cyclone). Glinda gifting Dorothy Nessa’s slippers made the situation 100 times worse, creating an emotional betrayal Elphaba can’t ignore.
From Elphaba’s point of view, Dorothy is literally walking away wearing the only thing she has left to remember her sister by.
However, Wicked: For Good also adds a deeper reason for Elphaba’s resentment and dislike of Dorothy. Unlike the 1939 film, the new sequel subtly shows the often off-screen Dorothy arriving in Oz already aligned with the narrative being pushed by the Wizard, unknowingly reinforcing his corrupt agenda.
Dorothy Also Had Toto On A Leash In Wicked: For Good (A Deliberate Choice)
A small but striking change between Wicked: For Good and The Wizard of Oz is that Dorothy is shown walking down the Yellow Brick Road with Toto on a leash.
The original Wizard of Oz movie never depicted Toto restrained, making the addition feel purposeful. Seeing how both Wicked movies are filled with intentional visual choices and details, the leash stands out immediately as something that must have been a deliberate change.
In that vein, the change with Toto being on a leash does create an additional link to Dorothy and the Wizard’s mistreatment of animals. After all, Elphaba's entire fight is to expose the Wizard and stop the caging, silencing, and persecution of animals.
As such, seeing Toto restrained likely echoed everything she’s trying to undo in Oz. Dorothy doesn’t mean her dog harm, but it couldn't have endeared her to Elphaba by any degree.
All in all, it's a pretty brilliant choice, strengthening the opposition between the two characters without actually vilifying Dorothy. For a story centered on public perceptions becoming reality and misunderstood intentions, the choice is all kinds of perfect, giving Elphaba another emotional reason to oppose Dorothy, even before her attempt to get her sister's slippers truly begins.
Wicked: For Good is now playing in theaters.
16
9.1/10
8/10
Wicked: For Good
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed PG Drama Fantasy Romance Release Date November 21, 2025 Runtime 137 Minutes Director Jon M. Chu Writers Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, Gregory Maguire Producers Marc Platt, David Stone
11 Images
Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) with a thoughtful frown in Wicked: For Good
Glinda (Ariana Grande) smiling in Wicked: For Good
Glinda (Ariana Grande) putting on her crown in Wicked: For Good
Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) playing in a marching band in Wicked: For Good
Glinda (Ariana Grande) walking down the aisle surrounded by yellow butterflies in Wicked: For Good
Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) staring into each other’s eyes up close in Wicked: For Good
Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) flying on her broom in Wicked: For Good
Wicked For Good Teaser Thumbnail
Glinda (Ariana Grande) clutching a book to her chest in Wicked: For Good
Glinda (Ariana Grande) floating inside a shimmering bubble in Wicked: For Good
Glinda (Ariana Grande) looking thoughtful in Wicked: For GoodClose
Cast
See All-
Cynthia Erivo
Elphaba
-
Ariana Grande
Glinda
Expand
Collapse
-
Movies
-
Wicked: For Good
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.Your comment has not been saved
Send confirmation emailThis thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
- Terms
- Privacy
- Feedback
10 hours ago
Every Star Trek Era Ranked, Worst To Best
5 hours ago
Trump Launches New Website To Berate "Biased" Media Coverage
13 hours ago
Pokémon's Perfect Live-Action Adaptation Can Finally Fix Ryan Reynolds's $433 Million Movie
5 hours ago
16 Years Ago, Naruto Debuted the Most Complex Anime Villain of All Time
Trending Now
This Chinese Anime Is the Only Franchise That Can Beat Solo Leveling
This Iconic 2015 Quote Proves 2025’s Worst Anime Is a Tragedy
Zootopia 2 Cut A Four-Minute Silence Of The Lambs Homage
