Why the Wicked movie is doomed to fail us.

The Wicked movie is almost upon us; but how does the musical measure up to Gregory Maguire's original book? What did we lose? And might we claw some of it back in this new adaptation?

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[BirdiNerdi]

Please excuse the ramble, but as soon as you said the phrase "The Matilda Effect" my immediate thought was "That's not what the Matilda Effect is." And then I realized you were talking about the fictional character Matilda, and not Matilda Joslyn Gage, who was a hugely influential suffragist in the USA for whom the Matilda Effect is named - ""The Matilda effect is the bias against recognizing the contributions of female scientists and the tendency to attribute their work to men." AND AND AND Matilda Joslyn Gage was the mother-in-law of L. FRANK BAUM.🤯

Sorry I just needed someone to go on that journey with me 😆

[everythingbylau]

so much tragedy in Wicked but the real tragedy in this video is the 3.04PM sunset 😭

[Hillary]

Has the time finally come where you release your Wicked dissertation for all of us to read?!? 🙏 ✨

[christinecorpse]

I've never seen the musical nor have I read the book, but last night I watched the movie and thought it was wonderful. I really liked this video for explaining the differences in the book vs the musical and the importance of those changes. I'm very interested in reading the book now, thank you!

[TKZells]

I remember reading the book at 14, also because i was obsessed with the musical.
I forgot about 90% of the book in the 14 years since ive read it.
I think the only think that stuck with me was the Elphaba and Fiero love scene, where its described as diamonds over a green field.

[aylahuseyinoglu]

You've fully made me need to read this book again. I read it as a young teenager (maybe 15 years ago) and full on Wicked musical stan but didn't really understand it, as I think perhaps I was looking for the plot of the musical which clearly did nOT exist. But now, right up my street, will be buying.

[Amara.Jordan]

I was sad about the green change as well. It fundamentally changes the character because it conveys a longing to not be different, to fit in, to go with the flow and not cause a disturbance by existing as she is. How she feels about herself and her place in the world are not small things to change in her motivation.

I read the book in about a week when I was dealing with light sensitivity and a migraine kept coming on and off. It was snowing so I couldn’t go anywhere the snow glare could get to me, curled up with a stack of Mr. Goodbars I got for Christmas. Anytime I reread, I have a few Mr. Goodbars as I go. I was a little 12yo budding dissident. 🥰

[marialutz]

UGH you make me feel so seen for this💚💚💚💚

[desireecrossing]

Saw the movie last night and loved it! The cinema was buzzing at the end. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

[KathyTrithardt]

So, I remember loving the soundtrack in high school (total theatre department kid, always have been, always will be), read the 1st book when I was still in high school (actually sat in the aisle of a local book merchant and just read for like a half hour before getting up and purchasing the book, and feel like I read at least the 2nd, possibly the 3rd? but it is news to me when I Googled it just now to be accurate that there are 7 books in the series?!), and eventually saw the show on the West End (twice) in my early 20's (which is only impressive if you take into account that I am Canadian and was living in Edinburgh at the time). Although I have been waiting for this adaptation for 20 years or so, the material isn't super fresh in my head because I'm now 38. I also remember a decent amount of the political points in the book going right over my head, and was only reminded that Nessa gets magically abled in the second act of the musical while I was reading a kids book earlier this year that centres around a kids' production of the show (high recommend _The Chance to Fly_ by Ali Stoker and Stacy Davidowitz, as the protagonist is a theatre loving pre-teen who uses a wheelchair, an experience Ali Stoker shares as she is an actress who uses a chair as well).

Long story short, I think I'll need to do a reread after both parts of the movie are out (do we know when part two is happening?). I'm still not the most intelligent person when it comes to politcal theory but feel like I might understand the books even more in my middle age (although, obviously, even teen me could grasp "fascism bad").

Also, since I have come this far, fun fact: I had to crawl out of a bathtub in Japan to write this message, as leaning over the edge of the tub was simply not comfortable but I wanted to throw in my (understandably measly) two cents. I'm excited to see the 1st movie when I get back to Canada. I'm also interested to see what the balance will be in the film with the two leads, as all the adverts I have seen have been G(a)linda heavy, and it is simply not her story.

[TheSoundOfGeorgia]

I reread the books at the beginning of the year. The musical is still my favourite by a long way, but there is a lot I enjoy about the book. Even if it’s so dang confusing at times.

And yes, the musical being like Disney while the book’s like Grimm Brothers is exactly how I’d describe it. Some of my strongest thoughts as I read the book were: “I cannot see how they got the musical out of this” and simultaneously “I can absolutely see how they got the musical out of this.” (If that makes any sense.)

[silliepixie]

I am currently re-reading the book Wicked. I have also read some of the Oz books. It seems like something always gets lost when a movie adaptation happens.

[zofiabochenska]

I think it is high time for me to re-read the book. I do remember many of the changes you talk about, but not all of them.
Or, maybe I will wait untill post-movie, to enjoy the colorfull silliness first, and THEN dive deep into gaslighting magical fasist resistance and the unhinged events of the second half of the book.

[flackstar]

From the description of the book vs the musical version and the movie I feel the musical/movie was far better in terms of how the story progressed.

Though I do get how people who identify with Glinda would be upset if the story is not about her as the main focus.

In a way it's kinda brilliant as the direction helps highlight how society is "unified" though division and even when it's more subtle it remains the end goal of those who wish to remain in power.

[TY_gggh]

So I’m still waiting for the wicked to fail us now and it’s been out for two weeks

[Dunybrook]

As a fan of this book and the whole series it does become very awkward to defend it sometimes considering how X-rated it can get which I kind of think it could have done without but maybe not.

In defense of book Glinda I think she does eventually come around to opposing the Wizard and the other fascist leaders in Oz and promoting Animal rights.

[claudiajade]

YES. I have to say, after Loving the Wicked book I was also low key abit disappointed by the musical. I mean, it was amazing, the costumes and the singing and the songs were Great of course. But, after the complexities and layers in the book I found several aspects of the world building and characterisation a lot more simplistic and lacking. And like..aspects of the plot were stretching and didn't make as much sense? (Wrote before watching. So in post, Yes again lol)

[Miss_Lexisaurus]

I've only read the book (because you raved about it so much!) and I absolutely loved it and I'm really concerned to see the film or musical now because the reason I loved the book was how radical it was, how focused it was on politics and fighting for change, and being an activist of sorts.
I'm still umming and ahhing about whether to see it because I don't want to see it and come out of it angry that it's not the story I loved. Which will be made worse because my local cinemas aren't showing it in their Autism friendly viewings.

[arc]

Fiyero in the musical/movie is just the character Avaric. And for a story where prejudice is such a central theme, with skin colour certainly being involved, it boggles the mind as to why the whitewashed Fiyero as a dignified, dark-skinned man into obnoxious, hedonistic Avaric.

Miriam Margolyes as Nanny would have been exceptional! I cannot unsee it now.

[lalaoneil]

Can I preorder the book in the US? Sorry if answered already. ♥