Rating (Anticipated): 4.5/5 Stars (A Triumphant, Emotionally Charged Finale)
Director: Jon M. Chu
Starring: Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), Ariana Grande (Glinda), Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero)
Genre: Musical Fantasy / Origin Story / Political Drama
Setting: Oz, several years after the events of the second film, during a harsh winter.
WICKED 3: CHRISTMAS AT SHIZ is a powerful, visually stunning conclusion that goes beyond the stage show’s ending to explore the fragile peace achieved in Oz. The film uses the bleak atmosphere of a mid-winter Oz to explore the enduring cost of truth and the power of love to reshape a prejudiced world.
1. The Core Premise: The Legacy of the Lie
The film opens several years after Elphaba’s presumed death and subsequent reunion with Fiyero. Glinda is now the powerful and immensely popular “Good Witch of the North,” but she rules over a weary Oz that is struggling with economic hardship and the lingering suspicion of the Wizard’s old, fear-mongering regime.
- The Stagnation: Glinda discovers that her carefully managed, polished image as the Good Witch—a necessary lie to maintain order—is preventing her from implementing real, necessary reforms to help the oppressed Munchkins and Animals.
- Elphaba’s Return: Elphaba (The Wicked Witch) and Fiyero have been living in quiet exile, raising a family. They are forced to return to Oz when a harsh winter threatens the lives of the Animal population, revealing that the suppression of magic and truth by the previous regime caused lasting environmental damage. Elphaba must risk exposure to save Oz, leading her back into Glinda’s life.
2. The Conflicts and New Musical Numbers
The central conflict is between Glinda’s need for order and Elphaba’s demand for justice, culminating in their final, necessary collaboration.
- The Shiz Reunion: The climax is set during a somber, mandatory winter gathering at Shiz University (the “Christmas at Shiz” element), where Glinda is attempting to rally the wealthy Ozian elite. Elphaba and Fiyero arrive, causing immediate chaos. New musical numbers would focus on the emotional reckoning:
- “The Cost of Goodness”: A reflective, powerful solo for Glinda, examining the emotional toll of maintaining her public facade.
- “Warming the World”: A duet between Elphaba and Fiyero, sung as they use their rediscovered magic to counteract the environmental damage, showcasing the beauty of true, uninhibited magic.
- The Antagonist: The new antagonist is a remaining Wizard loyalist who attempts to exploit the tension between Glinda and Elphaba, using Glinda’s public approval ratings against her to seize power and reignite the fear campaign against magic and Animals.
3. Conclusion: The True Emerald City
The film culminates with Elphaba and Glinda performing a powerful, public act that simultaneously exposes the Wizard’s final lies and saves the Animal population.
The finale sees Glinda finally choosing truth over popularity. She uses her political power to dismantle the last vestiges of the Wizard’s regime and fully embraces Elphaba’s commitment to social justice. The final shot is the Emerald City being truly transformed—not by superficial green paint, but by the acceptance of all citizens and the necessary coexistence of both light (Glinda) and shadow (Elphaba), confirming that the greatest power in Oz is the strength of their enduring friendship.
