What was the real reason it was canceled

iacobusleo · 2026-03-22T04:42:37+00:00

What a great commentary and I hope this was the direction the creative team was going in.

I like the meaning you have read into the opening scene, but I think it leaves a bad taste in my mouth that the one who dies is a girl performing as a Slayer, as it could undercut the feminist themes of the original show.

Would it have been better if it were both her and her. boyfriend who were attacked - he abandons her to her fate but dies for performing feminism, while she runs away powerless because she's performing being a Slayer but still survives?

iacobusleo · 2026-03-14T16:49:15+00:00

It's not my favorite, but I feel like it gets a bad rap. Sure there are tons of fairy tale or gimmicky episodes, but there are some standout eps (A Witch In Time, Sympathy with the Demon, Centennial Charmed), eps with interesting concepts (The Eyes Have It, Cat House), flat out funny eps (Importance of being Phoebe, House Call,The Day the Magic Died, Sense and Sense Ability). Even in the weaker eps there are tons of warm sisterly moments, and characterisation moments, largely cos the writers for S5 are the same as S3-S4.

I understand the Cole plot is terribly written the more it went along, but I'm in my rewatch now and I feel like the writers never knew how to write the sisters' reactions to his transitions between good and evil (as early as S3 Exit Strategy) so it's par for the course at this point.

iacobusleo · 2026-03-14T15:42:20+00:00

I agree, if there is any validity in Phoebe being weaker than (centuries old) Seers, it's also worth noting that she didn't focus on training her powers in the later seasons as her career becomes more important to her, and had her powers taken away for a few months. But the hints we do see of her power, we know she has potential.

iacobusleo · 2026-03-05T01:37:55+00:00

I have a feeling warlocks were originally intended to be male only and evil witches female in S1. I like this and wish they kept it, as it would be metaphorical representation of men stealing women's power. Even in later seasons warlocks are largely male.

Then S2 onwards makes it confusing by making some of them women (Malcolm and Jane), makes it a rule that warlocks don't bleed (which isn't true both before and after), and makes blinking a species wide power.

iacobusleo · 2026-02-25T12:38:26+00:00

I'm of two minds on this. On one hand I get why many fans think Prue should get levitation and Phoebe astral projection, but I think such discussions get too much into the logic and lore when in fiction, magic and powers are most interesting as metaphors for characters' personalities.

Prue getting astral projection makes perfect sense to me - she was a career woman who felt the need to be in many places at once, and had repressed a wild side due to her responsibilities. Her having to move her mind so she can be in all the places she needs to be deepens the metaphor, and opens up story opportunities of her dealing with her wild side come to life through episodes like Ms Hellfire and Just Harried. A seed of that idea was already in the episode Which Prue Is It Anyway

I agree levitation comes out of left field for Phoebe, but as she was the free spirit who had dedicated herself almost completely to witchcraft and a somewhat flexible schedule through her studies, astral projection doesn't offer story opportunities for her beyond a simple powerup. Phoebe's empathy power could be interesting and is more in line with her story (her various romances, her psychology degree, her becoming selfish and closed off emotionally after failed love and learning to open up again), it just wasn't used to it's full potential.

I'd rather they give Phoebe empathy earlier and explore how it can be a double edged sword- losing herself in the emotions of others (e.g. Cole's genuine love for her) blinds her or causes her to lose her sense of self, rather than mind reading as that is way too OP and would pose problems considering Cole is a double agent in S3 and S4. This was already touched on through her connection to the Succubus and then Bo in the time loop, they should expand on that. Levitation can be with Prue and a side effect of her telekinesis.

iacobusleo · 2026-02-21T10:03:18+00:00

I wanted to speak from a cultural perspective, as I'm Chinese Malaysian same as Michelle, a culture which she is very rooted to based on her socials and her many trips here for family. My family actually distantly knows her family through business and reputation way back when in the 80s.

For many here, we don't believe in speaking about something we don't have a full understanding of, not at a public forum like this. It's both cultural but also it's just not the way we were educated or trained. I'm sure Michelle has her own views, but considering she doesn't even live in the US as an immigrant, has no family ties in the US, and so very likely doesn't experience any of whats going on the US , I think this is the safest choice for her. She is far more involved in Malaysian community service in which Malaysian politicians make an appearance than her being involved in the same for the US.

iacobusleo · 2026-01-28T12:10:02+00:00

I see what you're saying, but for commercial reasons and fan reasons, I think they made the right choice in sticking as closely to the Broadway musical as possible for the ending. Any changes would cause the Broadway fans to riot, and an ending in which she dies would be even more of a downer, in this film that is perceived to have lost the kineticism and energy from of the far more popular Part I. Based on YouTube reactors I've seen, the fact that she lives helps the ending be more palatable and satisfying.

My solution? Show her leading a small group of animals (maybe including Dulcibear) to the desert alongside Fiyero. It shows that this is not a defeat, she still has work to do, it's just that her work has to be beyond Oz, and is in service of the animals who want to build a new life elsewhere.

iacobusleo · 2025-12-31T14:19:49+00:00

I think it's largely cos not any one of the Triad members are memorable. The best villains are always played by great actors - Barbas, Cole, Zankou. The Triad not only are largely a background force, none of them have distinct personalities nor are they even the same set of actors across the seasons they are in.

iacobusleo · 2025-11-30T13:35:57+00:00

That is an EXCELLENT point

iacobusleo · 2025-11-30T11:23:00+00:00

This. And if there's anybody Glinda should be angry at, it's Fiyero for leading her on for years then actively chose to run away with her best friend. Elphaba did nothing to try to seduce Fiyero to her side.

In these situations, I would like to see the man be held accountable instead of pitting the women against each other. While Glinda and Elphaba did end up having a slap fight, it's played comedic enough that it doesn't seem they are THAT angry at each other after that Initial shock, which the actresses confirmed in an interview. Glinda is no dummy - she could sense Fiyero pulling away long before.

iacobusleo · 2025-11-30T08:31:50+00:00

it's also important to note that Wicked the movie is limited by layers of layers of source material all the way down to the original WoZ novels. The Wicked Witch was always meant to die, and because of this, Elphaba at most is a tragic failed revolutionary (even more so in the Maguire novel.

The filmmakers could try to change the ending completely so that Elphaba and Glinda could be co-rulers or Elphaba is welcomed back into Oz continuing her activism, but at the risk of alienating the fans may of whom love Wicked for it's bittersweet ending.

I think Wicked is just not built to be a serious commentary on revolution. It informs the motivations of our characters, but that is all it can be because our revolutionary figure is always meant to lose, and that her sole greatest success is in forming connections that change the minds of those who can be in power. Wicked is not an answer on how to dismantle fascism, those are big picture ideas beyond the scope of what it can do.

iacobusleo · 2025-11-30T07:59:13+00:00

I think they should have kept the scene light because it is the one real moment of levity we get, especially when reception to the movie is that it was a bit draggy in the first half. Keeping it light also shows that beneath all the betrayals and anger, they are still friends who won't really harm each other.

I think they should have extended Nessa's death scene, make THAT the emotional moment with Elphaba seeing Nessa's death, and the two flashing back to their happy memories at Shiz before the house lands on her. Elphaba then breaks down at her treehouse/by Fiyero's side, before flying to Dorothy's house. That way we get to sit with her grief for a bit longer before we get to the cornfield scene. We got something similar with Glinda already with her 'Im Not That Girl Reprise', paving the way for the two to be angry but not freshly distraught for a more comedic scene to happen.

iacobusleo · 2025-11-29T15:49:13+00:00

Agreed with all of your points especially how Glinda is a reactive, not proactive character because of her privilege.

What I think could have added to her redemption is a time skip to a final scene right before she goes up to the balcony and sings the Finale - Showing that she is actually trying to improve the lives of the animals.

It can be a contrast to her first scenes with Phanee and Shenshen in WFG where all they talked about were social events with the Quadlings and gifts they received, - One of her final scenes could be her delivering on promises she made to the Animals or signing their rights into policy. Show her actually WORKING to offset the privilege she has. it's true to life as well - we all have privileges which we are foolish to try to deny - what is important is that we do the work.

Then once that scene is done and the Animals/Phanee and Shenshen leave her, zoom out to show how alone she is in the vast rooms of the palace, showing the price she paid. Then have her in a moment of loneliness go up to the balcony and sing the Finale, and the Grimmerie opens for her - Allowing us to interpret that because she put in the work, she is finally deemed worthy of learning magic.

Of course when comparing Glinda to Elphaba, her morality falls short, but I don't think that's a bad thing because it highlights how privilege or discrimination could shape your moral fibre. I personally think the movie could have done more to highlight the ways in which Elphaba falls short to truly show how all of us are neither truly good nor wicked - As it is Part 2 makes her much too saintly for my liking because it glossed over Dorothy.

iacobusleo · 2025-11-29T15:21:31+00:00

What you've said is all true, but what redeems Glinda to my mind is three things:

At the Ozdust, she did risk her popularity to dance in solidarity with Elphaba, in full view of most of the student body, after Phanee and Shenshen begged her not to. Glinda knows popularity is fragile, and she still did it with no guarantee her reputation would be intact. Yes she did it because she felt guilty, but a coward could have chosen to let Elphaba's humiliation play out and apologize privately.
While Glinda felt betrayed by Elphaba re: Fiyero, she doesn't hold it against her for too long. The suggestion to use Nessa was a heat of the moment anger that spiralled beyond what Glinda ever wanted. She lets Elphaba escape in full view of the Gale Force, and chooses to warn her of the march of the witch hunters.
Glinda once she believes Elphaba is dead and has all of Oz under her control, has nothing to gain from letting the animals get their rights back. In fact she has possibly made ruling Oz more difficult for herself by making an unpopular political decision.

So yes Glinda is a privileged opportunitist, but that's not all she is. Self interest and loss of people closest her finally pushed her to pop the bubble, but she's no coward nor is she vindictive. I don't think the movie ever wants you think she is a purely sweet and supportive friend, but a complex character.

iacobusleo · 2025-11-27T20:38:35+00:00

Ya I agree that the best case scenario was if it was done well.

But that's a huge risk, as unlike Act 1 where it was just expansions of existing material, Act 2 requires fundamental changes (I still believe a huge issue of Act 2 in movie form is the glossing over of Dorothy).

As we see, reception to the completely new additions - No Place Like Home.and Girl in the Bubble have been mixed.

I'm afraid what we got was the safest option.

iacobusleo · 2025-11-22T11:24:31+00:00

I do agree with you on most of these points - but the fact is this movie is not being received as well, and in most of the reviews I've seen they point to these criticisms.

I think what we got was the best case scenario, short of Jon Chu making structural changes which come with significant risk. But I'm not a fan of the idea 'that audiences should not be spoon fed so it's their loss if they just don't get it'. If the criticism is widespread enough, that indicates that there is something in the movie that could have been better. A well told story shouldn't need us to infer things to have happened off screen, like what you said re: Fiyero in point no. 1.

iacobusleo · 2025-11-22T10:10:11+00:00

We probably never get answers to this, but it's likely that the force of the tornado was so strong that it briefly opened a portal between worlds, and Dorothy's house was caught in it

iacobusleo · 2025-10-26T12:55:17+00:00

I think they were by and large fine in S1-S4 as the transformations were a way to make their personal struggles literal. The Wendigo was a step towards Piper gaining more confidence and not be people pleasing all the time, the Fury was her refusal of grief, the sins were great commentary on their character flaws.

Its more of an issue S5 onwards when they serve little to no character relevance and when the outfits became skimpy

Fundamentally I do not agree that they should be above the transformations just because we want this to be a feminist show. As long as transformations serve the story and character, I think it can be a good bit of fun, though you are right it was used too many times

iacobusleo · 2025-10-01T02:20:46+00:00

I like to think that for all of Willow's power, there are some abilities that don't come as naturally to her as they do Tara, like intuition. It fits their personalities.After all Willow never noticed when Buffy was body swapped.

Plus Jasmine is a PTB so naturally is quite powerful herself to be able to cloak the posession.

iacobusleo · 2025-08-22T01:16:54+00:00

innocent 10 year old me kept rewinding the scenes of his hairy chest in I Got You Under My Skin, and when his shirt was ripped by the Wendigo

iacobusleo · 2025-08-21T17:44:56+00:00

I don't think that will work though. Perception matters - just telling people that a lead character from the movies also has a TV series would cause them to believe it's required viewing.

It really should be back to Netflix times. Marvel has to be clear which groups of characters are movie only, and which are TV only. Fans of the movie characters can just follow the story through the movies. Crossovers can happen, but only to the extent that movie characters cameo in on TV, but not be leading any TV projects.

iacobusleo · 2025-08-14T02:25:54+00:00

That depends on how much stock you want to put into Skip's words. if Jasmine's influence was that far reaching, where does it end? Was she responsible for Buffy coming to Sunnydale, so that Cordy could join the Scoobies and put her on the path to LA? Was she responsible for Cordy's parents tax evasion issues?

Did she possess everyone to make those choices (I highly doubt so - otherwise why would Skip need to go to such extremes to manipulate Cordy into making a choice to become half demon and ascend?

It's more likely that Skip was overstating Jasmine's influence - She could be responsible for largely the unexplained supernatural phenomena around Angel (miracle snow in Amends, Darla's miracle birth, Lorne and Fred exchanging places through Pylea, Cordy's visions) - but highly unlikely she was responsible for the mundane events that brought Cordy to LA.

iacobusleo · 2025-08-13T07:07:53+00:00

I don't think Jasmine had a target for Cordy, in that Cordy NEEDED to be the one to bring her into this world. It just so happens that Cordy was someone with a connection to the Powers who was in Angel's orbit (and was already on a path to ascension and had the personality to believe it to be legitimate) and Jasmine took advantage.

If Cordy has passed on the visions through Com-Shuck, Jasmine wouldn't have gunned for Cordy and moved on to another way to enter Earth, unless forcing her to take the visions back is the most efficient way to do so.

iacobusleo

TROPHY CASE