WICKED: FOR GOOD (2025) Movie Reaction! | First Time Watch! | Cynthia Erivo | Ariana Grande

The hosts observe that 'Wicked: For Good' adopts a significantly darker, more somber, and serious tone compared to the first film. This shift is evident in the music and narrative, moving away from the 'all smiles' feeling of the first movie to a more 'bummed out' emotional experience for the audience.

The tone of the music in the first one compared to the tone of the music in the second one was very different. It was more somber in the second one, was a little more at stake in the second one. We didn't have a scene like the first one, my favorite singing and dancing was the library. We didn't really have a scene like that in this one. It was just didn't fit. No, but I feel like the first one I was all smiles. This one I was more like bummed out, you know what I mean?

The movie provides new, often tragic, backstories for iconic characters from 'The Wizard of Oz,' fundamentally altering the perception of the original tale. Boq becomes the Tin Man due to Nessa's misguided magic, Fiyero is transformed into the Scarecrow to save his life, and the Cowardly Lion's origin is tied to Alphaba's past actions, albeit in a way one host found 'iffy'.

Does he become the tin man? Oh, that's... Are we getting our people? If I only had a heart. Now, you're right. Maybe. If I've only had a heart. They're taking it away. Like it's shrinking. Oh, the spell from the glory can never be reversed. It can never be reversed. No. I have to find another spell. It's the only thing that might work. Go now. Go. Oh, man. This girl. Oh, she just called herself wicked witch of the east. Okay. Yeah, she's got some issues. Well, there's good news and bad news. Yeah. Which one would you like first? He's sleeping now. What about his heart? It's all right. He won't need one now. Oh. Oh, boy. The wedding.

Glinda's character is portrayed with significant moral complexity. Her actions, such as orchestrating the cyclone that leads to Nessa's death and giving away Nessa's ruby slippers, are driven by a desire to maintain her public image and secure her position, even at the expense of others. This challenges the traditional 'good' perception of her character.

I didn't really like how Glenda sets up the like sets things up and technically it's her fault that Alphaba's sister's sister died and Alphaba didn't seem as upset as I would have liked her to be about her sister's death and a little bit more distraught and then that fight happened and then it was like, 'Oh, we're besties again.' Like, I didn't like that. I didn't like that part because if somebody killed my sister, whether I was like super tight or not with my sister, I'd be livid.

Despite Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Alphaba being the central and star performance of the film, the hosts observe that media attention and public discourse often disproportionately focus on Ariana Grande (Glinda). They attribute this to Grande's existing large fanbase but emphasize that Erivo's role is the true 'star of the show' and deserves more recognition.

In the interviews on social media, Glenda is seen as the star. Like Ariana Grande, I feel like they kind of give her a little bit more attention. And I was thinking about that while I was watching this because it just hit me and I'm like, Cynthia is the main star, right? Right. But a lot of the times when you see these interviews, people are focusing on Arian Grande and I'm like, she her role is great, but Cynthia should be the main, you know, the main face. And that's all I was thinking. I just throwing it out there. I don't know if anybody else noticed that or if that's just me. I personally think Cynthia has been overshadow shadowed by Ariana Grande. And Cynthia is the star of the show. and I think she hasn't gotten the recognition that she's deserved for this film.

The film receives high praise for its overall visual production, including gorgeous sets, intricate costumes, and effective special effects. Specific elements highlighted include the detailed set design, the appearance of the Scarecrow, and a particularly well-executed mirror shot that pays homage to classic filmmaking techniques.

These sets are like so great. They really are. The flowers on top of the roofs. I would have had fun creating the set. Yeah. Yeah. Prince Fierro, newly appointed captain of the Gale Force. Oh. By the wizard himself to capture the women. Yeah, good luck with that. Tell us, Captain. Yeah, right. How she has real magic. Frustrating. Yeah, indeed.