Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Wicked: Part 1 and Wicked: Part 2!Jon M. Chu’sWickeddoes a spectacular job of setting up Glinda’s part 2 character arc through a minor yet revealing interaction with Madame Morrible. ThoughWicked’s amazing reviewspraise the director’s faithful and affecting adaptation of the Broadway musical, the movie makes several changes to the story that enhance storylines and themes. As part ofWicked’s main cast, Ariana Grande has forever stolen fans' hearts with her unique and incredible performance of Glinda, one of the story’s most complicated and changed characters.
In the overwhelmingWicked’s ending sequence, Glinda makes a major decision that reveals her worst impulses and foreshadows her problematic, though justified, future actions. Additionally, the scene explains the foundations of her alliance with Madame Morrible, and what it’s really about. AsWicked’s villain is able to predict Elphaba’s defiance, she is quick to defame her publicly. However, Madame Morrible adopts a more gentle approach with Glinda, hugging her in an out-of-character moment that hints at her real intentions.
Madame Morrible Initiates The Hug With Glinda To Make Her Feel Wanted
Wicked’s Villain Knows Glinda Craves Attention And Love
Glinda’s desire to be seen and loved is something that informs every action of herWickedjourney. This is why her friendship with Elphaba is such a touching surprise, since Glinda initiates it despite the danger it could pose to her reputation. However, that’s not to say she forgets about what others think, especially Madame Morrible and the Wizard. This is immediately evident toWicked’s true villains, who know that, as long as they give her attention and praise, she will help them in their dishonest practices.
Wicked Subtly Foreshadowed Madame Morrible’s Villain Reveal With This Cool Detail
Madame Morrible’s blue dresses early in Wicked suggest her to be on Elphaba’s side, but her outfit in the Emerald City reveals her true allegiance.
Witnessing how Elphaba has been made into public enemy no. 1, Glinda knows she can’t join her, as she is not brave enough to go against people’s opinions. However, she is still heartbroken and confused, which allows theWickedtwist villainto manipulate her into taking her side. In reality, when Madame Morrible hugs Glinda, she does it knowing that this is what Glinda needs — to be recognized and validated by those who people admire.
Glinda Uses Madame Morrible’s Hug As Comfort After Saying Goodbye To Elphaba
Madame Morrible Rewards Glinda For Betraying Her Friendship With Elphaba
Though Glinda is effectively coerced by Madame Morrible’s sudden affections,she is also conflicted about her decision, and angry at Elphaba for hers. The iconic rendition of “Defying Gravity” is one of thebest songs onWickedfor many reasons, as it perfectly reveals the inner turmoils of the two titular characters. While Elphaba decides to outwardly fight against the Wizard, Glinda opts to try to do a more subtle battle that’s carried from within the system.
Wicked: Part 2is slated for release on August 13, 2025.
The final sequence of Jon M. Chu’s movie is not as clear-cut as it seems. Glinda is torn between what she has always wanted and the invaluable connection she has with Elphaba. Madame Morrible’s hug comes at the right moment, asGlinda mourns having to lose her one loyal friend, but is in exchange rewardedwith the promise of success and power. This effectively sets up the character’s betrayal of her values and relations, asGlinda becomes the Good Witch inWickedby rejecting what really matters.
How Glinda & Madame Morrible’s Hug Sets Up Wicked 2
Glinda’s Complicated Wicked 2 Role Has Her Ally With Morrible In Exchange For Power
Glinda and Madame Morrible’s hug perfectly foreshadowswhat happens next inWicked: Part 2. Assuming Chu continues to follow the book and musical closely, the future installment will see Ariana Grande’s character help Madame Morrible on the witch-hunt after Elphaba. As already seen in the beginning ofWicked,she becomes the idol of Munchkinland, embodying goodness, community, and a rejection of the wicked. Glinda’s future activities provoke conflicts that hurt her close relationships, and ultimately bring her more pain than happiness.
While Glinda starts by accepting small suggestions from Madame Morrible, like her engagement with Fiyero, she ends up performing terrible deeds that cause major suffering.
Glinda’s journey is perhaps more complicated even than Elphaba’s, who is immutable in her values and objectives. While Glinda starts by accepting small suggestions from Madame Morrible, like her engagement with Fiyero, she ends up performing terrible deeds that cause major suffering. However,Wicked: Part 2’s new Glinda songhints the movie might want to further explore her reasoning, which might in turn help redeem her a little. Still, no character inWickedis safe from doing things that harm others, and Glinda’s weakness and descent into evil are an essential part of her affecting and beloved character arc.
Wicked
Cast
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
