What Is This Feeling: the Wicked movie is better (and gayer) than I could have imagined

[@lavendermaja]

Did you catch any other gelphie moments in Wicked? Let me know your favorite scenes or if you think I missed anything in the comments! If you enjoyed this, subscribing really helps me grow my channel and bring you more deep dives into queer media and pop culture! Love youuuseee 💖💚

[@tiff.k.]

18:07 "okay so now i'm going to go through every single scene and talk about how gay it all is" - oh thank goodness, this is exactly what i needed!

[@lavendermaja]

@@tiff.k. hahahha come join me, the water's fine! (And gay) Thanks so much for watching! 💕

[@PraiseAra]

In What Is This Feeling, the phrase “while I do admit it came on fast, still I do believe that it can last” is very telling! That is typically something said about romantic relationships

[@lavendermaja]

@@PraiseAra exactlyyyy I love that phrase!! 💖💚

[@CatalinaLinal7710]

I also love that in the German version the "just two friends. Two good friends. Two best friends" Was deadass just translated with "hand in hand. Arm in arm. Heart to heart." Like, yeah, getting the "friends" lyrics in would have been more difficult in plural because of the syllables and rhythm, but a closer variation to that was definitely possible. They just didn't do it xD Same as in Popular where the lines "... a sister and advisor, there's nobody wiser" Were translated with "without experience in the art of mating" (on stage accompanied by Glinda getting a bit.. touchy xD) which kinda leaves you no real choice but asking 'Glinda.. are you saying you're gonna help her get experience in the arts of mating? Cause that's kinda what you just said 😏" I just love how gay German Wicked is 😂

[@lavendermaja]

Omg whattttt I love that!! ❤ Thanks so much for watching!

[@split776]

I'm taking German at university and practice between classes by listening to musical cast recordings and can I just say the translation to German is amazing (and makes me so happy when I understand the words! Like I'm on the bus with headphones on and going "this is Dativ! That is Genetiv!"

[@MIssAlexandraBaxter]

I’m not sick of talking about wickedddddddddd

[@lavendermaja]

@@MIssAlexandraBaxter oh thank god, cos Sunday I was planning on going through this video with you frame by frame hahhaha

[@ErieMaxwell]

I read the book in elementary school and I think Glinda's sad little soliloquy at the end of it is the first time I was really confronted with the concept of comphet, so I had absolutely no chance of ever seeing her as anything but closeted by the time the musical came around 😂 It's so good to be able to see so many people addressing it now; like a genuine gift

[@lavendermaja]

Omg going to find my beaten up old copy and read that again with this in mind 🥹 so cute! Thanks so much for watching! I hope you stick around and subscribe, loads more like this to come! 💖

[@backboobsmakemesmile]

Elementary school? Are you okay????

[@CatalinaLinal7710]

Gotta be honest, I would prefer to see the platonic love development between Glinda and Fiyero. Its clear that they do genuinely like each other, but they are so caught in that popular bubble that they dont know what to do when there is something about the other one they just dont vibe with or cant understand. They cant communicate that normally to each other to solve the problem the way they can with Elphaba which is what eventually creates the distance in the Glinda and Fiyero dynamic. Thats the bond I would genuinely prefer to be explored PLATONICALLY because that suits their character arcs.

[@lavendermaja]

Yes you GET IT

[@suezcontours6653]

@@lavendermaja THE ONLY reason I accept this is because Ariana Grande is Italian so she's technically not a white woman but I definitely DON'T like it when they push white/black lesbian couples. Black women as a whole don't trust white women. You want to sell a sapphic romance to minorities, make sure the women couple are both minorities. White women can just stick to each other or date other white adjacent people

[@glindaupnasty]

oh my god i've always said i'd prefer if they were ALL just friends without their shitty love triangle, all 3 would have been happier if fiyero were just their guy best friend/third wheel in a platonic trio they deserve. Story would have been nicer if fiyero was just a wingman for the girls and just played matchmaker. In my head they all left Oz to live in fiyeros castle or something. They would have been THE trio ever without the random hots fiyero got for elphie, i just need a happy ending for all of them

[@lupeylycan]

as a lesbian i had always heard of the sapphic subtext in the original materials and i like, knew it was there to some degree, but i was STILL really surprised at how engaging that part of the movie was for me. these girls are so messy and obsessed with each other. the "kiss me goodbye" in defying gravity cast rabies on my brain

[@lavendermaja]

Hahahah I so feel you on the brain rabies (gaybies? Sorry, I'll see myself out) I'm so obsessed with these lesbians! Thanks so much for watching, hope you'll stick around and subscribe 💕

[@dragonsnouts]

Amazing video!! One thing I noticed that you didn't mention is that, during the train scene before One Short Day, when Glinda notices that Elphaba and Fiyero are acting way more intimate with each other than they used to be, she gets between the both of them but her body language is clearly possessive towards ELPHABA, not Fiyero. She blocks Fiyero's access to Elphaba and not the other way around! I've only watched one bootleg of Wicked before, and years ago, but I also saw the movie twice because I think they did such a wonderful job with like. Everything? And Gelphie's relationship in the movie just feels so much more tangible. You can really feel their mutual attraction towards each other, even when they were "enemies." Just such fantastic acting and fantastic direction and cinematography all around!!

[@lavendermaja]

Oh that is interestinggggg 👀 I have to go again and watch out for that (I went to see it for the third time last night lmao) Yesss they just genuinely felt like they were comfortable with each other; you could tell Cynthia and Ariana really love each other. Thank you so much for watching! I've got more videos like this on the way, hope you'll stick around and subscribe! 💕

[@chashanae]

I’ve heard this all before except the fact that the flower Galinda gives Elphie is the same that Fiyero gives her!!! 4 times watching the movie, and I never connected the dots! Gelphie for life. Great video

[@lavendermaja]

Ayyy thankyou!! So glad you enjoyed it! Stick around and sub for more like it, I'll be making a new video soon 😊💕

[@mx.confused]

1:21:37 I mean there are quite a few things that Gregory Maquire has said that have made me think he very much knew what he was writing between Elphaba and Glinda. I mean in the recent Them article (which I’m assuming you've read?), when asked if the “sapphic tension” between them was intentional he said, “That was intentional, and it was modest and restrained and refined in such a way that one could imagine that one of those two young women had felt more than the other and had not wanted to say it.” … which like, yeah, “[O]ne of those two young women had felt more than the other and had not wanted to say it” … Glinda. Literally Glinda. Also, on a side note, intentional queer-coding aside, taking into account the book, musical, and film, so many queer people have been instrumentally involved in giving us this film that I see no way in which it could not in some way be at least subconsciously queer coded by some or all of them. (And on that note, I absolutely love the fact that so many of the of the main cast is queer. Like, I don't know, but it brings me joy.) Combine all of that with the inherently queer history of the Wizard of Oz itself and, honestly, of course this story (and film) resonates with queer people. _[Personally, from a narrative perspective I’m not all that attached to Gelphie as a couple. I can appreciate their bond equally in the romantic and platonic light of it. But the individual queerness of these characters (which, of course, is in part realized by the queerness of them together) is very important to me.]_

[@lavendermaja]

@@mx.confused ooh I actually hadn't read that article, thankyou!! That's soooo Glinda 🥹 And such a great point about how queer people working on a project is always going to infuse something queer into it! I think that's one of the reasons I find queer coding so fascinating - we know media (art in general) has a higher percentage of queer creators than some other fields which makes sense-art and storytelling have always been spaces where marginalised people could explore identity and expression. Ahh thankyou for watching and for your great comment!

[@mx.confused]

@ yeah, for real! like this film was always going to be kinda queer, we’re not crazy for reading into anything 😂

[@lcdexofi]

a one hour video on gelphie? i am SEATED!

[@lavendermaja]

@@lcdexofi yay! I hope you enjoyed! 💕

[@도토리-b5f]

I literally saw the trailer of the wicked movie for the first time and asked my friend if it was gay. Something about how specifically Glinda looks at Elphaba just felt like how someone would look at their lover. I watched the movie and it just affirmed my suspicions even more. I know I’m not the only one who noticed how Arianna was acting with her eyes during the movie, just little bits of details and emotions with her eyes and every time after the ballroom scene, she looks at Elphaba with this deep fondness and love. Maybe it *is* platonic, but as an aromantic person, I’d argue that a friendship with love that deep is somewhat queer in a society that values a heterosexual romance over any sort of bond between two woman, romantic or platonic

[@lavendermaja]

RIGHT?? 💚💖 ugh I agreeeee. And such a good point about the inherent queerness of non heteronormative relationships, platonic or otherwise. Thank you so much for watching! I've got more videos like this on the way, hope you'll stick around and subscribe! 💕

[@도토리-b5f]

@@lavendermaja I'm definitely sticking around!! Also, I've been thinking, but... usually, when people say two people kissed, it's implied that it's on the lips *unless specified otherwise* . I feel like the only reason people are even arguing about where the kiss was is because it's two woman. Like, if either Glinda or Elphaba was a guy, even if the book *said* Elphaba kissed Glinda on the cheek, people would be shipping the two 😭

[@lavendermaja]

@@도토리-b5f yay! So excited to build a little queer community! 👀POINT! And 10000000000% that's why I find it so frustrating when people are like oh you have to make everything gay--if this was a man and a woman you wouldn't even question it!!

[@keshiaanders6452]

"Wicked" was a original a fanfic turned into book & Broadway show, and the author is gay himself so some of his fantasies were written there.

[@lavendermaja]

So true!!

[@griffinkimball2454]

I personally don't like the interpretation of What is This Feeling as a love song. Not because of it being 2 girls or anything, but because I genuinely like the plot more if they don't like eachother at first. Imo, it makes Galinda's realization of her awfulness in the Ozdust ballroom that much better. For the record, I still ship the 2

[@lavendermaja]

That's a really interesting point! I do love a good enemies to lovers to be fair! 💕

[@singingwithbecca]

As someone who also has adhd I personally love the side-tracking cuz i do it every day too and it makes so much sense in my head

[@lavendermaja]

@singingwithbecca hahahaha thankyou for seeing me, I see you!

[@rosieruby2]

gelphie is real 🙌🏻💖💚

[@topherbee6788]

loved this so much! also don't feel bad about going into rants and side stories, i honestly love it so stay being you !!!

[@lavendermaja]

@@topherbee6788 aw thank you so much!! 💕 So glad you enjoyed it!

[@hannahbrown5465]

Thank you for making this long form video. Amazing content.

[@lavendermaja]

Thank YOU for watching and commenting! I really appreciate it 🦋 hope you stick around and subscribe for more like it 💕

[@neji0byakugan360]

Apologies if this comment touches on something that has already been discussed in the comments or in the video though it is about the sections on "what is this feeling" and "dancing through life" and i didn't hear it being addressed so here it goes: Loathing When i first became obsessed with this musical, way back when, I was hardcore Elphaba biased (still am but now with a bit more understanding for Glinda). As such, i used to listen to "what is this feeling" on its own (and later a specific lyric in for good) and wonder why Galinda and Elphaba were placed on equal terms in regards to why they hated / what they wanted from the other. To me, it was clear back then that this thing was one side, as in Glinda didn't get the sorcery seminar and so her strong... attraction to despise Elphaba. But something i realized after obsessing over the soundtrack as a whole and getting through countless analysis is that Elphaba's strong "loathing" for glinda isn't as superficial as popular mean girl. Elphaba also wants something from Glinda. And she admits as much in The Wizard and I. Even as much as almost getting persuaded later on in *spoiler alert* the song Wonderful. "And all of Oz has to love you, when by the wizard you're acclaimed", "They'll call you wonderful, It does sound wonderful". She wants to be loved, so bad. She hasn't been loved at all, her whole life that of course her initial desires are wanting to be loved and admired. And they remain throughout the play if somewhat second planed by the more altruistic desires of helping the animals after meeting Dillamond. Im not that girl and again that one part in wonderful show as much. Her side of enemies to lovers can be seen heavily rooted in that feeling. In a way Glinda does have a power. And Elphaba state it basically during the unlimited portion of Defying Gravity and later on, For Good. Glinda's power is persuasion and public opinion. She's basically the wizard. A politician. Her power is basically all of popular. (Later in wonderful, which i hate so much, the wizars describes how the power in history lies in "what label is able to persist"). Something Elphaba knew she would never have. This hat and you, you're both so... smart. Now one thing i do see people doing a lot, in all the comments regarding Nessa, Glinda and Elphaba during Dancing through life, is attributing Elphaba's gesture with Glinda and the sorcery seminar to Glinda having done this "nice" thing for Nessa. And while it could be read as such, i believe they're missing one specific momenr. A moment, in my opinion, that holds more importance than boq and nessa. When Elphaba goes to confront Glinda on the nessa thing we dont get to know the nature of that conversation. So we dont know if Elphaba meant to confront glinda on messing with her sister or thank her for what they thought to be a kind gesture. We dont know because Glinda interrupts Elphaba to present her the hat along with the invitation to the party. Now, we know Glinda's intention about boq and Nessa and we know her intentions with the hat. But Elphaba doesnt. Elphaba, a girl who's been chastised since birth, blamed for her mother's misdeeds and death, tasked with taking care of her sister (the daughter who receives all the love and attention ahe craves), who we can assume hasn't experienced a kind gesture in her life. She is given a gift and an invitation to belong by this girl who also set her sister up. The gift part is also important cause remember her father gave Nessa the mother's shoes while emphazising Elphaba gets nothing but reprimands. It was the hat that changed Elphaba's course of action towards Glinda. Its the hat that symbolizes the shift between the girls interaction. Its after the hat (not Nessa) that Elphaba rushes to Madame Morrible to demand Glinda's admission to the sorcery seminar. Recieving a gift and that invitation to belong is what changes everything for this girl, which is why is so emotional because we know the hat is a prank. Glinda knows it is a prank. But to Elphaba it might as well be the first nice gesture she ever got from someone. In turn it is what changes Glinda's perspective during the ozdust duet. Im losing my trail right about now cause ozdust duet is just so damn emotionally personal for me... so in conclusion The true villain here is all of the people of Oz, the wizard and specially Boq and Nessa. They do deserve each other.

[@lavendermaja]

Can I please be your friend, this is AMAZING. I touched on the bit about how much Elphaba wants to be loved and that that's what Glinda has a little, but your note about how important the invitation and the gift are to Elphaba is genuinely going to have me up all night. You're fantastic. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! 💕

[@singingwithbecca]

THIS VIDEO IS EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN SAYING ANF MORE!! I LOVE IT

[@lavendermaja]

@singingwithbecca ayyy love that!! Thanks so much for watching! 💕

[@TheOwlQueen]

I'm so glad you pointed out how they go back to the "what am I feeling?" part of that song. I know I know song structure whatever whatever but if you've already identified the feeling, there's no need to go back to asking what it is, is there? Unless it's not actually loathing.

[@lavendermaja]

MmHHMMM! Thanks so much for watching! 💕

[@rabiahboxill869]

Girl, your take on the ‘Wicked’ movie was the hilarious deep dive I didn’t know I needed! Your humor and insights had me cracking up and totally rethinking the film. Thanks for making me see it in a whole new (and gayer) light! 🩷💚🩷💚🩷💚

[@lavendermaja]

@@rabiahboxill869 aww thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! Hope you stick around for the next one! 💕

[@katleeberg8373]

What’s Now Scooby Doo episodes side High Tech House of Horrors, there is a Daphne and Velma moment in that episode that really has the same vibe as Popular. I think any one who watches it may be pleasantly surprised.

[@lavendermaja]

Ooh I love Daphne and Velma, maybe I'll do a reaction vid! Thanks for the recommendation ❤

[@neji0byakugan360]

Oh another less serious comment: the movie had me crying ever since the "is it true you were her friend?!" Because, and this happens a lot throughout GlindaxElphaba moments, you can here the first notes (motif?) of "For Good" when Glinda's face changes before replying. Those notes. Add that to the gay reading of these 2 witches. Those notes had me in tears

[@lavendermaja]

AHHHH IM GOING TO CRY I hadn't picked up on that!! 😭 For Good kills me every time, too 🥹💕

[@Lovinglexiekent]

Makes me wanna go actually watch the movie 🤪

[@lavendermaja]

Haha you absolutely should!!

[@rebellius_9190]

yesss

[@echo58067]

❤❤❤

[@WhiteCresentKnight]

its nice to see subtle love stories between two bisexual women

[@lavendermaja]

@@WhiteCresentKnight agreeeee 💕

[@amberthomas4839]

What’s interesting is that they do have an enemy to at least best friend trope if not an enemy to lovers and Jonathan Bailey had an enemy to lovers trope when he played Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton. Jmo

[@lavendermaja]

Oh that's a good point!! Maybe he's the new enemies to lovers guy haha

[@Kowawadaddy]

All art is subjective and open to interpretation and whatever you personally see in the characters and how you choose to think of them I don’t have any problem with. The problem I have is the need that younger members of the queer community have to label everything as gay. I am old enough (52) to have lived through the time where we had to fight to be seen as normal like everyone else and not live in a constant state of fear. I therefore feel like we’re not helping anyone by going back to giving us back the label of being different again. Representation is of course vital especially in the media or the cycle of oppression that we have suffered through will just continue. Queer Coding is not the answer to the problem but neither is trying to force people into accepting that Wicked is gay it doesn’t help. Whatever you personally believe and get from the movie is your own interpretation but trying to make others think the same as you is not right. I find your analysis quite well balanced and if your own view helps you to appreciate it in a different context then I think that it’s important to express that and you did give me some perspective I hadn’t really considered. I have my own opinions about the characters and their relationships and they are just as valid as your own arguments. Congratulations on the video though you obviously put a lot of work into it and I really appreciate the effort you’ve put into it I just don’t agree with you.

[@taoraymond]

Your analysis, though enthusiastic, strikes me as somewhat confusing and disjointed. While I appreciate your passion, I believe it's unnecessary to overemphasize the queer aspects of every character. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I respectfully disagree with your interpretation. Rather than simply praising Wicked as a superb film, you seem compelled to force every gay character into your narrative framework. The author never mentioned any intention to portray Elphaba as a closeted lesbian; this interpretation seems to stem from your own perspective. If you have the time and inclination, perhaps you could consider writing your own books. I would likely enjoy your movie reviews, but your forceful interpretation was off-putting.

[@thedudeabides2531]

Stop trying to make gay happen when it comes to the film. 😂. It’s sad in a way that people have to misinterpret the film to fit their agenda.

[@mochalotte4702]

There is no ONE single interpretation. People can take away whatever they want from it. Can’t gate-keep that. That’s the whole point of art dude. Even the Bible is open to thousands of different interpretations, there’s no one way to do it. Thinking that there is and only you know it is super arrogant, close minded and self centered. You don’t know everything so don’t act like you do. This musical has been prized and loved by the lgbt community and now it’s become more mainstream so casual straight audiences have hopped on the wicked craze and want to dictate what interpretation is true or not? Y’all just got here. Why are you trying to gatekeep something you thought was lame and gay for years. Just let people be. If right wingers want to think that dune is a positive movie about male empowerment, religious heroism, and family values, then gay people have every ounce of freedom to think that wicked is secretly gay. Not everything is for a secret agenda. Sometimes it’s just escapism and trying to find characters that are “different” that we can relate to because everything in life has been a constant bombardment of straight stuff. A lot of musical fans are gay, let’s be real here. So it’s important for them to be able to see hints of that in the plays for representation. And you should be grateful they’re not outright declaring them gay in the movie and causing a ruckus for all the propaganda fear mongers, it’s just subtle and playful hinting, so straight people can equally enjoy it thinking it’s about two good friends and gay people can enjoy it thinking it’s about two friends who secretly have feelings for each other. No need to be tyrannical about how things should all be the way you want it so you can continue hating on a group of people and not give them an ounce of representation or a voice. If you don’t understand how this is hypocritical, you weren’t paying attention to the messages of the movie. It’s about people like you creating propaganda to erase voices and rights all so things can be “peaceful” in a way that suits them. You can’t justify morality or humanity in that. If you really care about your own freedom and your rights then let other people say and believe what they want too and chill out.

[@thedudeabides2531]

@@mochalotte4702I’m just keeping it real. If this were really about two lesbian witches, it wouldn’t appeal to as broad a market as it has. Just look at the film ‘Queer’ this year. It doesn’t have nearly the impact at the box office and has a very limited release. If Wicked were about two lesbians, it would appeal to a much smaller audience.. guaranteed. All this talk about the film being gay is nothing more than projection by the lgbt+ community on a mainstream film about two straight women who are just close friends.

[@thedudeabides2531]

This is not ‘Queer’ for women. If it were about lesbianism, it wouldn’t have nearly the broad reach that it has at the box office. It would be a very niche film in limited release similar to the film ‘Queer’.