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Wicked's Glinda: A Hero's Dark Journey
20 Feb
Summary
- Glinda grapples with denial and performance, feeling empty despite achievements.
- Her choices lead to betrayal, despair, and using Nessa Rose as bait.
- Makeup and costumes show Glinda's visible aging and transformation.
The film "Wicked: For Good" delves into Glinda's character, expanding her story beyond the musical. Director Jon M. Chu aimed to explore Glinda's hesitations and her worthiness of magic, with Ariana Grande embodying the role. The narrative tests Elphaba and Glinda's friendship, examining the consequences of their actions in Oz.
Glinda, initially appearing happy and popular with fiancé Fiyero, grapples with inner emptiness and denial. Her journey involves choices and consequences, moving from a desire for power to a true want for magic and goodness. Grande collaborated closely with Chu to ensure Glinda’s arc showcased her internal conflict and growth.
A pivotal moment involves Glinda's decision to use Elphaba's sister, Nessa Rose, as bait, a choice driven by deep despair and a broken state. Cinematographer Alice Brooks captured this with a tight close-up, emphasizing Glinda’s internal struggle. Makeup and costume design further trace her transformation, with subtle changes reflecting her aging and immersion in the Wizard's world.
Glinda's turning point occurs when she confronts her isolation and self-deception, symbolized by the musical number "The Girl in the Bubble." This ballad marks her shedding artifice and realizing the need for change. Despite her complex choices, Glinda ultimately becomes instrumental in saving Oz, driven by a goodness that perseveres.
