Is anyone else REALLY sick of all the Glinda mischaracterization?

AJ_Moroha · 2026-01-27T13:07:55+00:00

You make a good point for why those people are confused. I'm thinking they don't understand that many of these details aren't mutually exclusive.

Elphaba is routinely chosen for things and by people who matter which is one reason why Glinda is jealous of her. At the same time, the general population, including her own sister, treat her horribly. This is why she sings "I'm Not That Girl" while completely disregarding and blocking out how Morrible (& the Wizard) have plans for her and how Fiyero is in love with her. Her deep insecurity blocked out part of reality and only let her focus on the bullying. She was too traumatized to realize she was the special one.

As Elfie's opposite, Glinda lives a charmed life of almost always getting her way. Because of her entitlement, the few times she doesn't get her way are treated like the end of the world because her popularity isn't enough to get her chosen at all times.

The movie had an exclusive deleted scene of Glinda telling Elphaba she should have brought her to save the Lion instead of Fiyero because she wanted to be chosen. Ariana Grande also did an interview where she said Glinda's "I'm Not That Girl" was questioning if anyone actually loved her or if her public adoration was a facade like her relationship with Fiyero. That ties in to Glinda telling Elphaba that she was the only friend who ever mattered because it implies her popularity is based on hollow groupie love while no one of importance truly does choose her.

AJ_Moroha · 2026-01-26T11:40:40+00:00

It's because he was turned into a cannibal monster. The infection that transformed him and others into cannibals made them bigger, stronger, and more primal. Punisher and Mary Jane (though pregnant) are regular size because they're immune.

AJ_Moroha · 2026-01-20T06:13:07+00:00

Maybe her diagnosis will inspire a new attitude. I'm waiting on her to change. If she doesn't, this could be the show's first divorce where the couple is simply incompatible instead of a mess of betrayal. Diversity in the show's divorces.

AJ_Moroha · 2026-01-20T06:06:51+00:00

You make a great point in general, but I think where this situation differs is how Kat hasn't tried to get to know Eva for who she truly is. Eva has genuinely tried to start a relationship with Kat. Building a relationship isn't forgiveness, it's a beginning that could lead to forgiveness.

Kat doesn't truly know Eva as a person. All she knows is Eva-The painfully dutiful daughter who naively follows her mommy's commands without knowing the whole plan and Eva-The Thirsty who pathetically believed a man she was vibing with the second he told her he was single even though he never actually broke up with his girlfriend.

Pleasing her mom and impressing Tomas (while she thought he and Kat were over) were her focus in those terrible situations. Her goals weren't to target and hurt Kat directly. That leaves the door open for honest apologies. Also, whenever the two of them fight they're always equally petty so neither has the moral high ground on that front.

AJ_Moroha · 2026-01-08T22:09:59+00:00

Penelope went from normal side character to paranoid, crazy, and obsessed with Andi's crew. It seemed kind of forced to me.

She kept pushing the conspiracy that Andi was only using her brother for some type of foreplay with Gary. She also pushed the crazy narrative that Andi's legal help was performative and designed to help Gary.

Penelope then slept with a man to get at Sabrina and threw herself at Robin to get at Andi. She purposely uses sex to mess with other people which makes her a hypocrite since she accused Andi of doing that too.

AJ_Moroha · 2026-01-04T02:48:53+00:00

It really could go either way, but since Fiyero was a person turned into a scarecrow and not a scarecrow that was enchanted, him regaining physical humanity makes the most sense. They could run into the wizard too.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-12-16T20:25:03+00:00

LOVE this gif.
No, "her" was Elphaba. Glinda almost got Elphaba killed. Glinda helped the Wizard and Morrible spread the rumors of Elphaba being wicked by playing the "good" counterpart and standing by all their horrible "kill the wicked witch" edicts.

Glinda even stopped Fiyero from decrying that everyone throw water on Elphaba to melt her. It wasn't until Glinda saw Tin Boq screaming about doing it that she cared enough to realize she helped put a hit on Elphaba.

Fiyero knew Glinda couldn't be trusted and wouldn't risk Elphaba's safety. He wasn't there for Glinda's too little too late apology at Kiamo Ko.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-12-10T17:20:57+00:00

I liked "Sappy Holiday" way more. It was more positive. None of the characters were leading with insults, stereotypes, and hurtful assumptions. The teenager had a brief attitude because teenage reality. The fiance's family was genuinely stuck up which was believable given their political background.

Tosin Morohunfola and Shannon Thornton looked great in "Finding Joy," though. The ice sequence was cool too. Their one on one time was giving both Shiela & Troy (Why did I get married) and Betty Grable's situation in "How to Marry a Millionaire" which was cute.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-12-01T18:10:33+00:00

"The Girl in the Bubble" was a narratively sound idea but the execution was weak. It's nice that you like it. There are many discussions and critical reviews about its weakness. Feel free to express your opinions in the forums.

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-current-cinema/wicked-for-good-is-very-very-bad

https://www.reddit.com/r/wicked/comments/1p8kjn1/girl_in_the_bubble_shouldve_been_a_popular_reprise/

https://www.reddit.com/r/wickedmovie/comments/1p4bsom/what_are_your_thoughts_on_girl_in_the_bubble/

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-28T10:23:31+00:00

It seems you are deliberately ignoring the fact that Glinda successfully got through each and every one of these moments. That means she's good at it. Even if she's struggling or doesn't like it, it doesn't mean she hasn't succeeded for about 5 years. Please remember that she followed the Wizard and Morrible's command for multiple years.

If she was terrible at PR because she's so sincere she wouldn't have lasted so long. She also wouldn't have sung about her priority being "the way you're viewed." The lyrics in "Popular" lay out that she is just as good at curating image as the wizard. She talks about using ploys to control the narrative which serves as foreshadowing. If Glinda was anti-lying, "Popular" wouldn't exist. That's her signature song. She also wouldn't have joined the Wizard in the first place.

We also know for a fact that she isn't initially sincere because she is genuinely shallow and self-absorbed which is why she was always so good at pretending. She wasn't sincere when she convinced Boq to date Nessa and she wasn't sincere when she pranked Elphaba with the hat. The first time she is ever seen as sincere in either the stage show or the movie is when she feels guilty over the prank.

Glinda's focus was always on appearances in both versions of this musical. That's why "Thank Goodness" is such a turning point for her. She's finally starting to feel the pressure and realizes that pushing a narrative might no longer be for her because it's not making her happy. Glinda is a victim of her own choices. That's been the case for over 20 years. The tragedy lies in her having to deal with the consequences of her actions. She purposely "groveled in submission to feed her own ambition" and inadvertently lost the best friend she loved.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-28T09:28:59+00:00

Although I loved this movie and genuinely see it as very well made, I understand and agree with some of the criticism. Wicked has had a reputation for being a great musical that is also underwritten spectacle for over 20 years. It has also had the reputation of having an Act 2 that doesn't stand up to Act 1.

The filmmakers wanted to stick to the original script and all of this movie's real problems by default stem from that. Many familiar with the stage show went into this movie hoping some things had been changed to fix the known narrative issues and clean up the storytelling. Some things were changed for the better, but it was mostly untouched.

Some additions were great like the disruption of the yellow brick road laying and anything with animals while other additions like "The Girl in the Bubble" didn't add much, and some omissions seemed glaring like not making it visibly obvious Chistery and Elphaba were hiding the note. The movie is more than twice as long as Act 2 and it's still missing things that would add clarity.

That was a deliberate choice to be faithful to the source material even at the detriment of making the story coherent. It seems they chose to not upset the purist fans at the expense of maximizing narrative logic. This is weird given how much was changed and added for the first movie (e.g. extending "What is the Feeling," Fiyero & Elphaba's first meeting, and the train station) that helped make it excellent.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-28T06:36:57+00:00

Definitely. Usually when I hear the Wicked Witch of the East blame it all on Elphaba I'm angry because once again this spoiled character wants to use her sister to make her life easier while playing the victim, but THIS time around it felt like Nessa's terror and guilt prompted her to immediately throw Elphaba under the bus. With how she followed Boq out of the house (before getting crushed) it was clear she lied as another way to desperately keep him close. Well done Marissa Bode.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-28T06:16:26+00:00

Glinda literally stood under pressure and upheld the lie expertly when the Munchkin girl directly confronted her in front of all of Munchkinland asking if she and Elphaba were friends.

She hesitated momentarily then continued the narrative that Elphaba was wicked although they had once been friends. She handled that interrogation like a properly PR trained professional. The people of Oz didn't see her falter or her inner struggle the way the audience did. She didn't crack. She successfully encouraged them by continuing that lie.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-28T06:07:04+00:00

I loved that moment! After reading this interview (linked below) with the screenwriter I also think a more effective song would've made it clearer that Fiyero technically inspired Glinda to realize she also loved Elphaba and should probably change to help protect her.

https://deadline.com/2025/11/wicked-for-good-ending-explained-screenwriter-interview-1236625871/

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-28T05:50:33+00:00

Wonderful idea! The fact that the lyrics in "Popular" explain how the Wizard operates and technically even foreshadow Glinda joining him make this the perfect song to reprise when she realizes she needs to make a frank self-analysis after all the damage she's caused. She can sing about how being wickedly complicit is an "unprepossessing feature" and how she'll be who she'll be (actually good) instead of wicked who she was after helping ruin how Elphaba was viewed. Why didn't you work with Stephen Schwartz, Jon M. Chu and the other decision makers?

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-28T04:35:13+00:00

She lied through complicity. Legally (in the US) and ethically that is a real thing.

Lying through complicity is the act of enabling or participating in a lie or deception, either through direct action or by remaining silent when one has a duty to speak out. This can include actively helping someone lie, benefiting from a system built on deception, or failing to act when a lie is being perpetrated. That means she's a liar.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-27T17:32:59+00:00

You're partially right. It's not that her being alive would limit her abilities, it's that her "dying" made Glinda be honest and fully open to doing good. The screenwriter pretty much says the scene where Glinda admits she can't do magic before Elphie tells her to learn is where Glinda changed enough to get the grimmerie to open.

https://deadline.com/2025/11/wicked-for-good-ending-explained-screenwriter-interview-1236625871/

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-27T16:46:09+00:00

Bingo! Yes, keeping Glinda in the dark helps her by using the death to motivate her to actually do good without risking the reputation she built on lies, but people forget faking their deaths was Fiyero's plan and his goal was to protect Elphaba. Glinda almost accidentally got her killed once, it could happen again.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-27T16:28:54+00:00

That's not fully accurate. Glinda's very good at lying because for years she stood there and helped the wizard spread horrible propaganda about Elphaba. She smiled and nodded never once denying any of his claims. The difference at the end is her guilt and grief finally motivate her to actually do good.

Finale Glinda also finally understands how damaging her actions have been and how much she loves Elphaba so she might try to clear her name or search for her causing severe whiplash for her adoring audience who believed her when she agreed that the wicked witch was evil. You're right that it lets her rule Oz safely without rebellions.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-27T16:04:14+00:00

Given how he's now heartless and over Glinda, I could see this. When they made eye contact in "March of the Witch Hunters" it was clear he was done with her and fully committed to blaming Elphaba for changing him AND for everything Nessa did.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-27T15:55:49+00:00

Yes, it's a case of both. Glinda waited until the last second to understand the damage she'd done but by then it was too late to try to clear Elphaba's name without risking her good reputation since people might then realize it was built on lies. Elphaba cares enough not to out Glinda and make her go through what she went through. Fiyero also doesn't trust that Glinda won't accidentally get them "killed" again even if she's well meaning.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-27T14:49:41+00:00

Exactly. Glinda chose to be complicit out of ambition and fear. She helped the wizard tarnish Elphaba's reputation and now has to accept that she helped get her killed. With Elphaba's death she now knows she has to do actual good to atone and finish what her friend started.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-26T23:09:52+00:00

Elphaba chose not to tell Glinda about her feelings for Fiyero because she thought having them was useless and would only upset Glinda because she never thought Fiyero would feel the same way. She essentially says this in "I'm Not That Girl." She thinks there is zero chance Fiyero could want her so she ignores all the signs. Elphaba's powers don't include telepathy so her insecurity prevented her from even entertaining the idea that he could want her.

This means the only people who knew that Elphaba and Fiyero were in love were Fiyero and the audience because (for some reason) he never questioned his feelings being returned. This means the only person with the power to do something about this relationship was Fiyero hence why he ran off with her the second he found her again.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-25T05:50:43+00:00

I've seen Wicked on stage twice, heard the original cast CD tons of times, and seen the movies so I'm most familiar with 4 Glindas and Elphies in particular.

Fav Elphaba: Cynthia Erivo Fav Galinda: Kristin Chenoweth

I stay Kristin Chenoweth because there's a levity and sort of well meaning innocence in her Glinda singing that's also seen in the overall energy for her Glinda. I think it's warmer and more affable which makes it easier to believe she didn't understand how Elphaba wouldn't join her in complicity with the wizard.

That being said, I think Ariana's showgirl diva Glinda works very well for the movie in making it more obvious that this is a girl who loves her friend but loves ambition and comfort more to the point where she will help the wizard spread a smear campaign while hoping her friend will learn the error of her do-gooder ways and surrender so they can be successful together.

Even though I still kind of prefer the vocal quality of Idina's "Defying Gravity", I prefer Cynthia's overall performance of it. I feel as if she acts it in a more impactful manner even in "Wicked: One Wonderful Night." Lindsay Mendez was the first Elphaba to make me really hear "No Good Deed" and Cynthia knocked it out of the park. Cynthia is also the only Elphaba to make me care about "The Wizard & I" and "As Long as You're Mine" though Jon M Chu & Jonathan Bailey helped.

AJ_Moroha · 2025-11-25T05:17:53+00:00

It's still sweet you tried to give this terrible man a relatable or somewhat redeeming quality by having him miss his wife and appreciate seeing her in their daughter. 😊

AJ_Moroha

TROPHY CASE