Why didn't Glinda get on the broom? (a Wicked character analysis)

[@brekkenator]

As someone who also had their brain chemistry fundamentally altered by seeing Wicked live as a teenager, THANK YOU. For years it has driven me nuts when folks only see Glinda how she presents herself at the surface level. The core differences between Elphaba and Glinda in how they experience and approach the world but still recognize each other is one of the things that makes Wicked so compelling.

[@5x5Takes]

BC THEYRE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN!!!! THEYRE SO SIMILAR AND THATS WHY THEYRE SO MAGNETICALLY DRAWN TO EACH OTHER

[@birdbird8364]

Glinda has been one of my all time favourite characters for many years now, i love how complicated and flawed she is. It is tragically uncommon for a female character to be allowed to so clearly make mistakes and be in the wrong, while still being deeply sympathetic

[@jamiegdubois]

Yes! Yes! Yes! I could not agree more!

[@mithramusic5909]

And Wicked gives us not just one, but two, because that applies to Elphaba too!

[@nickioleary8577]

5:50 There’s actually a deleted scene after the lion cub scene where Glinda is practicing her magic but is really struggling, and Elphaba tells her it could be because she’s so used to things coming easy to her. Kind of wish the scene had been kept, the rest of the scene with Elphaba promising to rely on Glinda if she needs help is sweet and this little moment gives even more concrete insight into her decision to stay during Defying Gravity

[@5x5Takes]

i almost included talking about that! but i didn’t want to derail the video too much. but absolutely on both counts. great scene

[@chanterellecryptid]

Gosh, I wish they'd kept that. I understand they were looking for anything that could be cut, but all else aside the way the back half of the movie is paced it feels like they go from enemies to BFFs in, like, a week. It would have benefited from a bit more breathing room.

[@oh.sorry.dont.mind.meeeee]

do you mean the one where Galinda says "if you needed someone, you could've picked me?" I actually like that later half of the scene but I dislike the part you discussed at the beginning where Elphaba says that maybe she doesn't have powers since she doesn't need them because she's had it so easy all her life. it was way too heavy-handed, on the nose, and clunky. it sounded silly. that may be true but there's a better way to put it in the story than literally just saying it, I hate that dialogue so I'm glad it was cut. I wish the balloon scene had been cut, I hate it, it has no reason for being there and makes it worse. But I do wish we'd gotten a tiny more of the deleted scenes, like the interaction between glinda and Elphaba's dad and maybe a tiny bit of boq and Elphaba's scene, and the friends hanging out scene. but I'd need to rewatch them and see the second part. I absolutely loved the movie but there are some choices I don't understand AT ALL.

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

Glinda is a very complicated character and I seriously wish people would understand that. People argue that she danced with Elphaba because Elphaba got her in Madame Morrible's class, but she empathizes so much with Elphaba. Personally, my theory is that Glinda decides to stay in the hopes of maybe changing things on the inside at best, but she's gonna become a bird in a gilded cage.

[@5x5Takes]

absolutely. purposefully obtuse, bad faith takes get us nowhere. they disconnect us from stories, and ourselves

[@viceroy_musings]

@@5x5Takesthey aren’t “bad faith” takes, they are just different.

[@gaymerjerry]

Tbf the madame morrible thing was a factor. She felt guilty giving her the hat in the first place but when Elphaba did a genuinely kind thing for her that guilt compounded. She felt the only way to fix this situation she caused was to sacrifice part of her own dignity.

[@flaggerify]

Nessa didn't dance with her sister. No one is going after her.

[@5x5Takes]

@gaymerjerry no absolutely!

[@andrewevans4724]

[Part 2 spoilers] I think one of the great failures of Wicked is that it lets most of the Animal rights activism happen offscreen in the second act and never fully explores what precisely is happening with the Animals. Elphaba is framed as “helping” in some nebulous and poorly defined way, but we never find out how the Animals feel about it or how the Wizard’s policies change in response to what Elphaba is doing. Hell, I don’t think a single Animal has any spoken lines in the second act of the musical. Glinda is one of the worst casualties of this, because we ultimately never get any indication of what she’s doing behind the scenes. Is she actively helping the Wizard’s agenda? Passively going along with it? Subtly undermining him? The second act focuses so much on the personal and romantic relationships between the core human cast, so much so that you have to fill in a lot of the gaps of the politics yourself. Glinda is a character who needs to be better fleshed out in terms of her impact on the broader political landscape of Oz. She’s a complex and fascinating character in terms of what she says about performative activism and the perils of privilege, and that side of her is a lot more interesting than whatever goes on between her, Elphaba, and Fiyero romantically. I really hope that the movie improves upon this. There were some changes to flesh out the Animals in Part 1. Doctor Dillamund meeting with the other Animals rather than Elphaba for most of “Something Bad” was a positive change, and I hope we see much more of that energy in Part 2, when the cracks in that plotline really start to show. We already know that there will be new songs, which I see as a good sign.

[@5x5Takes]

no like literally WHAT EXACTLY IS ELPHABA DOING IN ACT 2??? nebulous is right. it's literally nuts they just have elphaba's entire thing in act 2 being. fiyero. like that is great and fun but everything else falls by the wayside of the romantic subplot. also because the text shows us glinda being essentially powerless despite her status when she tries to get the guards to not hurt fiyero and they physically pick her up and take her away, and then by the end the guards obey her when she tells them to arrest morrible. so. when did this change of authority happen? etc etc etc the stage show asks us to extrapolate which is perfectly fine, i think we can reasonably add nuance and fill in blanks. but a longer film can flesh this all out nicely

[@andrewevans4724]

@ It’s disappointingly liberal. Very 2000s Broadway, interested in the aesthetics of “fighting the system” without actually grappling with what meaningful resistance looks like once you get down to the nitty gritty. I think that’s why the first half is so much more on point with its political commentary than the second. Act I is about identifying the problem and making the decision whether or not to make a stand, which is fairly palatable to producers/paying audiences, but then Act II has to pull back rather than go to far with what Act I set up.

[@andrewevans4724]

@@5x5Takes My best take on why the guards listen to Glinda is that Morrible leaned too hard into being the power behind the Wizard’s charisma, to the point where the guards were never fully clear on what her role or level of authority were. The guards are “people,” and once the Wizard is gone, Glinda’s “people person” skillset trumps Morrible’s magic within the Emerald City. But then again Morrible is literally the press secretary, so she’s not nearly as hopeless with people as Elphaba is, so… I don’t know. Make it make sense.

[@5x5Takes]

@ that’s why i excitedly look forward to part 2 of the film. lots more time, new elphaba and new glinda song, lots to expand on

[@andrewevans4724]

@ Here here! Just the fact that Part 1 acknowledged that the Animals are already organizing and doing demonstrations independent of Elphaba gives me hope that Part 2 will stick the landing. Just as long as Glinda’s new song is about her role in the Wizard’s administration rather than just being about the love triangle.

[@OGseoulite]

I think one of THE BIGGEST talking points for Glinda’s character that keeps getting swept over AND under the rug is how big of a people pleaser she really is. This video explains perfectly how and why which is why I find it interesting her people pleasing tendencies & how she internally challenges them weren’t brought up at all.

[@fizzychizzy]

I often find that people, in their treaties about Glinda, sometimes dismiss Elphaba as someone that was just impulsive and couldn't think long term. But, truthfully, Elphaba has seen people's cruelty LONG TERM. And she would be able to realize that changing systems from within would not necessarily work because THE PEOPLE she has encountered were not really up for the task of doing that work. She knows how fickle people are. She would have seen it during that same school year. Those kids HATED her before Galinda stepped in. She just wouldn't have that great a view of people's motivations and actions. We understand that Elphaba is coming with the baggage of her lived experience. Elphaba likely has TRIED to do things to get people to like her her entire life. Maybe she thought being studious would get her father's approval? Or that being EXTRA kind to Munchkins would get them to look past her appearance? This is the behavior of a lot of POCs when they face discrimination. They lean on respectability politics to get others to accept them. How can you dislike me for my skin tone when I am SO GOOD, SO SMART, etc.? This is why Morrible's point that, IF she meets these certain expectations, she would be able to have an in with the Wizard. And when the Wizard meets her, he will see all the wonderful things she is and can look past the skin. So all she needs to do is be perfect in those other aspects. Imagine her having that same sort of inner voice and approach for years and then learning that, not only does it not work that way, but the person you were hoping to be your vehicle to acceptance is a fraud. As long as the system is built and propagated by people, she knows that it can't be trusted. But this is why, her conclusion at the end of the play is interesting. The only person she ever trusted was Galinda. And so, I think she can leave happy knowing that while other people can not be trusted to exact change, Galinda will. I would also point out that, essentially, Elphaba is a walking weapon. She hurt those monkeys without meaning to because she was manipulated. That she doesn't truly understand her full power. Being left around as a tool at the Wizard and Morrible's disposal is far too harmful in the end. She is the weapon. She is the physical manifestation of magical power that would have ultimately given the Wizard and Morrible what they wanted to achieve so easily. And because of that, she needed to be removed from the situation. She is also TOO YOUNG to know how to control these other people around her that had basically been manipulating her for the entire school year (Ms. Morrible). So she needed to be removed from the situation for the sake of the Animals and the other potentially innocent people that she would have been used as a weapon against. The situation is untenable. Elphaba could not stay and it is more than just because of the morals and convictions. She can not stay BECAUSE of the type of power she possess.

[@lilysflower9685]

Everything you said I agree with. Ppl being Glinda apologizers and putting Elphaba down as impulsive and stupid for even thinking about fighting for her cause outside the system is a very weird take I’ve been seeing, like we know Elphabas back story and it makes sense why she’s responding the way she is and yet ppl are being weird abt it…

[@Thesilentvoice...]

Agreed. Galinda’s method of changing the system wouldn’t have worked since the people running it (the wizard) are truly bad and won’t change long term. Elephaba would know this due to how she’s seen how people can be bad in the long term I’m not sure why Galinda would believe the wizard would change?

[@themusicalhallway3422]

I have already seen videos that defend Glinda, but this is the only one I’ve seen that goes all the way to the ending to show how they’ve grown. I never thought about how Glinda eventually wishes to make the other choice or that Elphaba chooses the other choice as well. I didn’t think about the character arc by the end of the entire story. Great job on putting this together!

[@5x5Takes]

thanks for watching and so glad you enjoyed! it’s less “defend” because, yk, this is a fictional character. more so, it’s worth engaging in good faith with the ideas and emotions in a story. like i said, one of the greatest things about stories is how they can allow us to practice empathy towards ourselves and a hypothetical other person. we are all capable of being deeply sincere and loving and kind AND of reiterating lifelong patterns, fears, self interest, myopia, etc. characters, like us, are rarely all-or-nothing :-) also this is a piece of extra dramatic media aka musical theatre, so everyone makes extreme choices because. that’s how the medium goes. that’s what makes it intense and heightened and fun!

[@Zapporah85]

Code Geass is also basically this conversation: Do you destroy the system or work within it to change it, even if it means you are complicit in harm. It's one of my favorite tropes.

[@Karlwasright]

Interesting observation.

[@melissamerkel7750]

I haven't seen the whole musical, but it'll be interesting to see whose strategy, Elphaba's or Glinda's, ultimately works.

[@magicwandstudio3141]

same goes with Tales of Vesperia

[@beltingtokra]

The best glinda analysis I've ever heard. She is so complex, nuances that are tricky to convey onstage, no one mourns the wicked made me bawl in the cinema.

[@Cancus746]

Oh my god. I had thought about many of these things but not the fact that she thought Elphie would leave alone “where are your wings” MY HEART?!?!? Ahhhhhhh😭

[@tiamanaanderson2288]

Glinda in my brain is like an Effie Trinket type character. Fashion aside, both characters mean the best through their actions, but recognize their limits so they allow the system to be convinced that they are one of them when they not only despise the system they’ve grown up in, but they attempt to work from the inside to dismantle it. This is most evident in Mokingjay/the last few scenes of wicked. They work with what they know best. They play a social game rather than straight up vocal activism.

[@ZZ-qy5mv]

Let's be real, most people thinking Glinda is bad actually do the same. Look at all the atrocities happening now. Resistance is dangerous and it's perfectly human and normal to be afraid. We're afraid we'll fail if we resist and die or lose everything with nothing to show for it. Unlike Elphaba, Glinda had no power. She went the way where she did have some power, and she was right in that she gained enough political power to save the animals. They both went the ways they were more used to. Neither choice is "wrong." They both did their best with what they could at the time. That's what makes this story so good and honest. Glinda is a honest reflection of people who try to be good but don't have the capacity to be perfect. Not with our fears and preconceptions. What we need is grace for these characters and grace for each other.

[@bellalovesarianagrande]

Beautifully said!!!

[@katmhcharis1236]

As someone who’s a old Wicked fan who had it reignited by the movie, I adore this analysis. I always related to Elphaba because she’s an obvious allegory for any ‘outsider’ but as I’ve gotten older Glinda’s outlook has become a lot more understandable as a chronic people pleaser. Being likable and getting along with people is *power* but it’s a double edged sword. Sometimes when you have a moment to yourself you realize you don’t know what you want because you’ve given so much of yourself to others. Having Glinda being someone who *knows* that this is her power and trying to do her best to use it without bringing Elphie down shows how she’s clever and observant in a way that I’ve very rarely seen in media, finished with a sparkly pink candy coating. I just love her, she was born to be a hype woman/PR girlie and both her and Elphaba deserved a better world

[@hfg4906]

Consider my to socks to have been blown off, because this video was simply great. Good to see you finally managed to defeat the copyright strikes/claims, too. This was an incredible analysis that pretty much sums up some of the most interesting aspects of Wicked for me, and even if you didn't outright say you love the show, it's very clear when looking at the way you talk about the story and the characters.

[@5x5Takes]

i did not defeat the claim yet! it just gets unblocked after 48 hours and i published it and then immediately took it back bc it’s still demonetized and they might reinstate it, so i’m waiting until the dispute expires in 5 days to make it public :( but u lucky few nabbed it before i shut it down and i can’t fault u for that heehee also-thank u so much. i worked very hard on this so that’s awesome to hear. and yes, if the 9 stage show viewings were not clear: i adore the show. it’s very special to me. glad it shows 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻💖💖💖

[@OGseoulite]

She’s said in the video she’s seen the show 8 times…. I think saying she loves it is a bit of an understatement lmao (like for most in this fandom lol)

[@nephtys369]

Glinda knew they needed someone on the inside. Vapid. Vain. Conditioned. Yes. But above everything I do believe she is a good person. She does eventually become a freedom fighter.

[@ribon-ichigo]

I've always understood Glinda's staying back to work for Elphaba from the inside. I'm hoping Part 2 further emphasizes this, as I think the play wasn't clear as to whether Glinda worked with Elphaba in the end.

[@ribon-ichigo]

36:35 adding as a comment . . . I read the book ages ago and completely forget if this maybe was a plot point in the book, but I have better memory of the play and I always believed that Glinda KNEW and helped Elphaba facilitate the fake death. I've seen the play so many times and always left with this feeling that Glinda knew Elphaba and Fiyero escaped and ran away together.

[@5x5Takes]

in the book, elphaba actually dies. in the show, glinda is not aware and it ends with elphaba asking if they can tell glinda she's alive, and fiyero saying no, not if we want to be safe. they leave oz and glinda stays, believing them both dead, to carry on elphaba's mission

[@noctap0d]

21:16 A Wicked video essay with a Buffyverse tangent? Are you kidding me? Just when I thought I couldn't love this channel more ❤

[@5x5Takes]

i was writing about the ~ethical quandary~ and then was like. wait. this is literally angel season 5. how could i resist

[@emmarie2930]

I love your love for the Buffyverse 🖤 ​@@5x5Takes

[@lovecraftianwalrus4490]

I need more wicked video essays in my life

[@lorencarpenter8374]

Wow, you did an outstanding job explaining the complexities of these two characters. I love it! Your passion for understanding storytelling is beautiful to witness 🥹

[@5x5Takes]

that’s very kind of you, thank you 💖

[@katinasoleil]

thank you for ACTUALLY having a real spoiler alert for Act 2. you wouldn’t believe how many content creators just reveal so many plot points without any warning

[@5x5Takes]

the film is getting released in two parts! so i’m aware many people are seeing this for the first time in this particular way (two films a year apart). i think it’s worth it to go in knowing the full story, but for those who would rather wait, i would take no joy in spoiling :)

[@ohwowcoolvideoz]

I really love this take! my 6 year old daughter asked me (during our second watch through of wicked) why glinda isn't going with elphie. i couldn't really put it into words. well done!

[@Yourhighnessnona]

I am crying so hard. 05:50 this hit home so deeply within. I am the youngest, always catered to and cared for by my family, protected by my father, brothers, uncles, and cheered on and celebrated by my mother, sisters and aunts. Then, I went to school and I never knew what bullying or being bullied was until much later because my brain saw the world in this INSANE light where everyone was just "friends" with each other, especially me. Then I met my boyfriend at the age of 16 and he always protected me. My family didn't care if I studied or not, made a career or whatever. I was like my mother, a sweet girl and a mother to be. Then that boyfriend at 21 turned abusive and I sought safety in my friends, new boyfriends, my family. I am NOT strong. I wish I was an Elphaba but a big voice who says: If I fly solo, at least I'm flying free. I am no one without other people and I have to work on that.

[@amelianguyen-f4r]

I was amazed by how detailed and sophisticated this character analysis was. I’m so glad I came across this video.

[@HakureiRyuu]

okay but comparing glinda to zuko is a MASTERSTROKE actually, holy shit

[@DeadDancers]

I like the idea of it being ‘don’t like the system, working within it vs working without - and the risks of failure that both carry’. If it weren’t a musical I’d watch it.

[@RuneyDude84]

This video is excellent, and I also really love how you compared Glinda to Peeta - they really are quite similar/play some similar roles in their stories. Also, I’m super crazy excited to see Ariana’s version of thank goodness. It’s one of my favorites from the musical, and I know she’s gonna do it justice as the #1 Glinda Stan. I’m also crazy hyped to learn more about the new song she’s gonna sing.

[@itsasecret9333]

The Wicked analysis was so good, I forgot what channel I was watching for a second, and then you pulled out the Angel season 5 parallel. Great character analysis all around!

[@karlholde6901]

I think the entire movie (I haven't seen the play) is about superfical appeal vs substantive character. Elphaba either sees theses as oppossed or at the very least she sees them as unrelated, she has only ever been objectified negatively so she only wants to consider herself as a subject that chooses and takes actions, knows her competence and sees herself as better than her peers in this frame, but secretly she desperatly wants to be accepted, even if she cannot admit this is important to her. (Until she is later given an option to enjoy acceptance through Galinda, before finally choosing to give this up as the integrity of her character still is more important to her) The prince is the mirror opposite of Elphaba, he is rich, hot, and has sociatal status in spades. He is completely aware that how people view him has nothing to do with the quality of him as a person. So he loudly denounces substance in favor of the easy consequence free life where he can do whatever he pleases. Secretly though, he finds this empty and meaningless, and he actually wants to be a good person. Galinda however, seems initially to see these as one and the same thing. Everyone says she is good so she must be, this means that everyone also likes her because she is good, and she should therefor proclaim her goodness loudly to everyone so that people will like her for it, and as long as people like the things she does, she need not worry if she doing anything bad. This circular logic propably requries a decent bit of self deception, but it is also convienient enough to be worth that. Then during the ball she breaks this pattern by taking a stand and affecting what is considered to be good by sheer force of her appeal. This shows that what people like isn't necessarily the same as what is good, but it also reinforces that her appeal is a tool that she can utilize to do good with. I really loved watching this movie, all of it was such a fun good time, not just for the character arcs, but also for the excitement of hearing these songs for the first time, for being brought into the emotion through the dance choreography and also just because how good looking all the set, and all the costumes where. For a movie about the tension between form and substance, it really had its style down well.

[@lauraduarte712]

I’m glad NBC Universal finally saw sense and withdrew the copyright claim!

[@5x5Takes]

they did not! I posted it for a second and then made it unlisted again. they haven't withdrawn it, it's just unblocked 48 hours after you appeal. but it's still demonetized so I'm going to wait to publish until the claim is withdrawn

[@lauraduarte712]

Oh, I spoke too soon. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they do withdraw the claim.

[@luzq6430]

THIS was the wicked video i was waiting for. you had some amazing takes and really provided the reminder that true things can be true at once, and how truly nuanced these characters are. fantastic work!!!

[@ym_yongmai]

This video is very well written and structured. I understood every point of your analysis. I haven’t looked at this from your perspective before and I never understood why Glinda didn’t leave with Elphaba. So, this is great!

[@moxamoon5791]

Thank you so much for giving Glinda justice in an accurate, emotional and concisely articulated character study. Congratulotions on an exceedingly job well done.

[@orfeassiozos1575]

Oof sorry for the following essay but your video inspired me to put into writing some thoughts I've had for a while hahah. Enjoy! So I can imagine this being a very unpopular opinion (and I hope I'm wrong), but other than exploring further what Glinda and Elphaba are doing behind the scenes in Act 2 regarding animal activism and dismantling the wizard's hold on society as another commenter pointed out, one major change that I actually wouldn't mind seeing is an open end where Glinda realises or gets to know that Elphaba and Fiyero are alive and only has to keep up the lie because it supports their cause. Although I do realise that this is partly me simply wishing a happier ending for two characters I've grown fond of, I do believe that we've reached a saturation point in media where we've started to glorify sacrifice as the ultimate heroic thing to do and the only resolution a complex character can reach (which also gives added points for drama). I love the way the Wicked characters' arcs play out, but I can also see an ending that is exactly the same to the original with an added detail that allows Glinda to suspect that her best friend is alive (like Elphaba sending her a green vial, since that was her "secret" in the scene before Popular). I am extremely cautious of narratives that (consciously or not) imply that you can only find joy after suffering or giving away part of yourself (as Elphaba gives up Glinda to find peace and have a life with Fiyero) and from a literary analysis pov I think an ending like that would allow Glinda some grace could still retain the same intent that Wicked has to highlight the intricacies of existing within and outside of systems of power while also painting both protagonists as capable figures with strength of character to keep up the necessary appearances. It may be a bit less tragic than believing your best friend and another person you cared about are dead partly because of you, but I don't think that it completely removes the tragic element from the ending, which imo is more the fact that they had to reach that point in the first place and that in the end they are at the mercy of the society they are trying to change, which would still be applicable.

[@racheldoesfandom]

This breakdown had me completely engrossed 💚💖

[@5x5Takes]

rachel!!! thank you for your support throughout this ordeal and :) im so freaking glad you enjoyed this. this show is my blorbo i could talk about it forever. appreciate you

[@Smk42217]

This is one of the better KZbin essays I have seen in a long time

[@lizzbelle3003]

This is a beautiful video essay on such a complex, well-written, misunderstood, and tragically beautiful character.

[@Bend818]

Love the countless over analyses we’re seeing now for plot beats of a musical that’s been around for 20+ years

[@5x5Takes]

it’s a dream come true for me

[@auric180]

Agree in all and also I believe it’s a good thing she didn’t. This is not like a bike or a car. “Do you even know how to ride that?” A common question for vehicle scenes in other stories for someone who has never drove said vehicle before. If Glinda joined her, they’d be falling and panicking. Would Elphaba have enough time to catch her once she got the broom 🧹 back?

[@LAURAENGLAND-d4b]

Very, very well done. You hit the nail on the head so many times regarding the similarities and differences between these two main characters. I stand applauding!

[@bellalovesarianagrande]

I really love your commentary on this. A lot of people have been lacking nuance when it comes to understanding why Glinda does the things she does, even seen a video calling her "The Villian" which I can't even understand how someone comes to that conclusion.

[@jovindsouza3407]

About Ozdust - the youtuber Banned From Theatres described the scene as "Glinda's Defying Gravity" and I 100% agree. This was the true beginning of her redemption, she risked EVERYTHING she held valuable to reach out to Elphaba and recognised the true worth of the person she had been mistreating all that time. It's so good.

[@laikadeservedbetter4635]

Absolutely worth the wait. Thank you for the video and for fighting for us to get to watch it.

[@_petrichora_]

You are my favorite video essay channel! THANK YOU for adding CC, I am Deaf and always appreciate when creators add them. ❤

[@cyncerepreston4066]

“Fiction is an exercise in empathy and critical thought” WOW what a QUOTE 🎉

[@Skyliav]

What a fantastic video. I was thinking something along those lines after I watched the movie, but so see it laid out with tons of other ideas, nuance and depth added really drove the conflict Glinda was facing home. Also I think it's funny that Avatar sneaks into so, so many media analyses that I watch. Certainly going to check out some of your other videos as well!

[@gracekim1998]

I'm excited for this. I saw the play in 2019, saw the movie back in November. Glinda is a interesting character

[@strawbsshortcakee]

"because while this is the glinda that might've gone, it's also the elphaba that might've considered staying." sobbing

[@PWaves]

Never thought of Glinda in this way. Very interesting

[@martinhowden]

This just has to be said! It is a F'ing joy listening to you speak. Hearing your views and thoughts on these kinds of things be it Wicked or anything else. You're awesome! You're so smart and thorough with your reasonings. It's so nice to listen to you hearing your points and things I'm feeling a bit clueless about at times but I'm so with you as you tell your story! Thanks for your hard work! This was a joy 😊 Can't wait to see the 2nd movie and maybe if you make another addition to it.

[@leakingamps2050]

You’re making me cry over a media I’ve not even seen. Well done :) Always appreciate seeing your dissections of stories and how they connect to us as people :)

[@frayberry344]

ive watched wicked for the first time like last week and fell in love with it!! thank you for your analysis

[@sock_dawg1066]

The question that is posed in Wicked is one of the most interesting and hits very close to home great analysis!

[@silviamayo2993]

Oh my god…No One Mourns the Wicked isn’t about Elphaba, it’s about Glinda. She has to live with the decisions she’s made, reaping what she’s sowed. And she’s the one experiencing the loneliness they keep saying the wicked deserve because of their actions.

[@rmsgrey]

It's about her having to deny her friend, and watch as everyone celebrates her friend's murder. Glinda doesn't - daren't - mourn her friend. No One (publicly) Mourns the Wicked for fear of being turned on by the mob...

[@justinsantos8189]

@@rmsgrey her lines talks about her rather than elphie "goodness knows the wicked lives are lonely" no matter how much she is "loved" by the public without those she truly cared for it wouldnt matter and that she is alone

[@thow4613]

I wanna say thank you for typing out the subs because having the correct grammar and punctuation is a really nice change from autosubs

[@marocat4749]

Glinda seems justified in yeah she does eventually slow, but its also naive, both are pretty naive and have a point, and play to their strenghs? And its not faitr and messy but, its life

[@teacupterrors3467]

this is one of the best videos about wicked that I have ever seen, instantly subscribed

[@BrokenDarkFire]

So glad I finally got to see this analysis after it’s been released from copyright strike hell! What a smart insightful and generous analysis of Glinda. I love her character so much. She’s so flawed but that’s why I love her. She’s real the way real people are, and tragic too.

[@CzarsSalad]

I wish the filmmakers would fix both Elphaba's and Glinda's characters in Part 2. Act 2 of the show was a letdown in terms of character development in both the lead characters. We went from having our main characters finding their real purpose in Act 1 and both of them just became (sort of) damsels in distress in Act 2. That was my criticism of the show. I won't mind if the filmmakers do some major re-writes of Part 2.

[@bradleybobbs]

Brilliant analysis -- I love it!

[@StarJester]

glinda's struggles are my struggles, almost exactly

[@fritzyfritzyfritzyfritzy]

commenting because this needs to be on more people’s recommended

[@StoryMing]

I don’t think it was exactly selfishness or naïveté. It would have been an awfully big step; one she was just not prepared to take. Call it cowardice, if you will; but, for someone who has always had everything to give it all up, at a moment’s notice- over issues she is only barely just beginning to understand- is a pretty tall ask.

[@5x5Takes]

oh absolutely. that is an incredibly difficult choice, for anyone, and especially for someone who has learned their whole life to value being liked above all else. i do think there are multiple forces and motivations going on-that’s what makes it such an engaging dramatic scene. i’m specifically extrapolating (as we must, esp in musical theatre) from the lines “you’ve hurt your cause forever” “this is so much bigger than us” and “let’s just have a word w them.” glinda is being pulled by a variety of forces in a high stakes, fast paced environment-that’s what’s so interesting AND so devastating

[@StoryMing]

@ For me, it’s the opening scene. Watching Glinda’s performance at the beginning, _in light of the ending,_ is where my fascination with her character is hooked.

[@froggiefaerie]

wasn't expecting to be so touched by this!!

[@Mallowolf]

I don’t even go here, but I love your character analyses so much I still get a lot from watching them

[@ElkeAlexia]

INCREDIBLE analysis! I am so tempted to keep watching till the end but i dont want to spoil act 2 for myself haha Thank you for this video!

[@veronicawashington9579]

It is actually one of my favorite past times to discuss the complexities of Ms.Galinda.

[@bissa6889]

This is really thoughtful and convincing character analysis thank you

[@vanderrwaals]

THANK GOODNESS

[@AngelLopez00]

this is exactly the way i want to explain how i see glindas character. woah.

[@Epuertasr]

But at the end she did... Probably not the Munchkins but WE the audience, have empathy for not only Elphaba, but for Glinda too... UGH the layers, brb I'm cryne.

[@elitettelbach4247]

Really awesome video essay!!

[@babu4391]

Absolutely amazing video!

[@tangotangoh]

Glinda depends on externality. She goes after Fiyero because he's a prince, they flirt as she's pretty and their relationship is shallow. Over time, Fiyero realises that and finds himself falling for Elphaba as he sees Elphaba with different eyes.

[@ToliBera]

Glinda staying in the system also allows her to be a subversive element to assist Elphaba in her own ways.

[@saxpoobielex7769]

Also, Elphaba doesnt even know if she can fly. So not getting on the broom also was a smart move. Great vodeo! Actually perfect video. Also,(Spoilish!!!!!!!!!!) yes, Glinda never is able to do magic. Her talent is only social.

[@MajorCLJ]

Awesome analysis 🎉

[@hatsunemikusleftnostril]

you really ought to do a full episode on angel season 5 at some point!

[@5x5Takes]

mayhaps mayhaps! what an interesting season

[@IsiahTomas]

Yeah, sure, why not. I came into She-Ra perplexed, but your videos unearthed the layers of storytelling I've appreciated over the years.

[@charlottepeony4083]

such a beautiful video, fantastic job! I understand so much more now!

[@Cleverstryke]

WE HERE BROOO

[@5x5Takes]

I HOPE THE ACCIDENTAL PUBLISH FOR 10 SECONDS DIDNT MAKE THIS FLOP FOREVER IM SO SCARED

[@Cleverstryke]

@@5x5Takes NAH BRO TRUST ITS GONNA GO CRAZYYY

[@siimakyaks]

Amazing analysis!

[@sixfoursoul2538]

She didn’t get on the broom because she’d be public enemy number 2 if she did!

[@melissamerkel7750]

I generally relate more to Elphaba as someone who never was very interested in being the popular girl. That being said, watching the movie as an adult, I see Elphaba's actions as being more naiive. She hasn't really figured out how to use her powers yet and doesn't have a plan for how she's going to take down an entire government and its army. I am admittedly risk adverse and try hard not to be impulsive, so I tend to think that Glinda's decision to wait it out makes more sense, at least until they can make a better plan.

[@jaxbraithwaite1819]

the way this vid has me crying i am gonna be SLAIN by part 2

[@AHartley]

Thank you for making this video. Because I think you nail the explanation of Glinda's POV. But I have one critique, that is the same critique I have of the "Glinda is Wicked" arguments: How do we know that Glinda has never experienced conflict in her life? And why - does everyone ignore Elphaba's privilege? Elphaba is a munchkin, a noble munchkin (where "Munchkin is a citizen of Munchkinland"). She is the daughter of the Governor - which is Oz is a hereditary position. By abandoning it, a dictator rises to power and oppresses the Munchkins. If she had stayed, she could have protected her people. People forget that Elphaba is wealthy. Poor children do not have the benefit of a Nanny. And while I see her father as abusive, and her family as dysfunctional... people contrast this with Glinda's assumed perfect family. For all we know, Glinda's mother is an alcoholic who torments her daughter when no one is looking, and the reason Glinda acts so perfect is so no one finds out - protecting the family secret. When that fails, she uses humor to distract. Glinda brings a lot of belongings with her, so we assume she's rich - but again - is she really wealthy or living above her means and her family is deep in dept, and she needs to marry well to save them? This assumption that Glinda has never experienced any conflict in her life is based on the idea that she is privileged - but the truth is - Elphaba is also privileged, she is a higher class than Glinda. Elphaba doesn't care about her class, but Glinda - being lower class then Elphaba - cares about it a lot. It's quite possible she is at Shiz to get a "MRS" degree, that is, to marry well. That's the plight of many wealthy women, and one of the reasons why certain college degrees are male-dominated, and degrees that seem... well, less likely to lead to a career have more women in them. When people "assume" Glinda has a perfect privileged life, I see them as people who believe prejudice is acceptable, as long as the target fits into an "acceptable to demonize" box. Which is... exactly what the Civil Rights movement was fighting against.

[@shinnie489]

Glinda has alcoholic mom? Are you talking about book Elphaba's mom - Melena?

[@audreyanh9034]

This is genuinely the main reasons why I wish they didn't take away any deleted scenes that focuses on Glinda and Elphaba's relationship/friendship. I feel like their care for each other not being as expanded as everything else really made people not realize Glinda's growth and genuine care for Elphaba to allow them that obvious nuance

[@5x5Takes]

theatre often asks us to extrapolate and be able to fill in the blanks ourselves because they can’t show us everything which is FINE and i’m happy to do so, but i’m also with you, because not everyone is willing to do that, and also YOU HAD THE SCENES ALREADY SHOT and often edited. so why aren’t they there. mr chu when i catch you. literally the “i would’ve helped you,” glinda seething at elphaba’s dad, them dicking around on the train, and the poppy field montage would’ve verbalized that connective tissue. anyway. glinda adores that girl. if ariana acting her face off did not convey that already. there is so much love. that's part of the tragedy

[@audreyanh9034]

@5x5Takes i agree! honestly i think the issue lies so heavily on the fact that everything else got extra scenes (fiyero meeting elphaba prior, the animals and elphaba's friendship with dillamond, elphaba's childhood abuse, glinda's sidekicks) that i would understand why an audience wouldnt extrapolate and analyze further on their relationship, (even though ariana's acting was amazing and obvious) because half of the movie is longer than the entire musical. It also annoyed me because there was someone who said that the extra scenes are just fan service and it's like.... no I think if you are going to add more to prove points relating to elphaba's relationship with everyone else, it makes sense for her relationship with her best friend to be expanded on too

[@mikloskeninger6434]

Her story is somewhat tragic, having to live a life of sadness. But I can see why she decided to stay even if that meant to be unhappy in the longron and honestly nowing myself, in her place I think would have stayed too, not taking the risk...

[@gustavom9518]

Bravo. Ty for this. Well said. Here here. ❤

[@nickdudesville5154]

Why would Elphaba have to be complicit in harm? She had leverage. She could have negotiated what she wanted while helping the Wizard get what he wanted. They could have figured something out.

[@Rmg321]

Wonderful video!

[@TheNerdWithASuit]

Victory my fellow artist. Victory. Also, thank you for pointing out the cruel irony of Glinda pointing out that a lot well to-do people in power were simply popular and already viewed in a good light as opposed to actually being intelligent and well-meaning. She may seem a bit like the usual silly blonde...but by God is she right!!!

[@theforgetfulalchemist]

And if you care to find me look to the Western Sky as someone told me lately everyone deserves a chance to fly

[@ladyofthedrgns]

I read both Wicked and Son of a Witch. I admit I didn't like Glenda at the end of the first book because of her choices. My mind was changed in the second book when she took responsibility for her choices to protect Elphaba. I really hope they do the second book as well. It tells Elphaba's story and legacy so well. I do recommend them as a read if you loved the films.

[@Jazzinthedark84]

Don't feel bad about seeing Wicked 9 times. I saw the Lee Mead production of Joseph in the West End 9 times and I've since seen it once more on a travelling production

[@5x5Takes]

oh i don’t feel bad, i just think it’s very funny. one of those times i got up mid family dinner during thanksgiving break at a restaurant. my food didn’t even arrive. i sprinted on an empty stomach to a theatre i’d never been to to see wicked. got there about 90 seconds before doors closed. sweaty. heart beating in my head. a sippy cup beer in hand

[@Averagewannabe94]

Wow. Beautiful job

[@flaggerify]

Because she was seized by the guards.

[@norberto05121964]

wicked 2 is gonna kill me.

[@5x5Takes]

me and you both

[@takke9830]

I do get the choice as well. Especially since Glinda wasn't used to othering or abandonment like Elpheba was. And it also kinda reflects the political sentiment that resistance is strongest among ppl of a fascist state when they have nothing more to lose if they fight the system. Glinda's side is the side of compfort and privilige. As well as the side of fear. Here it is also more nunaced with glinda trying to change the system by playing by the rules, perhaps a reflection of neoliberalism since the book was inspired by the bush era and how political parties can crush people's spirit and terrify them. As well as Elpheba being inspired by a feminist back in the day who critisized the statue of liberty famously. All of it makes sense when you know what inspired this. It's so real because it shows 2 types of people. Those that have nothing to lose, and those that have everything to lose. And I also think that Glinda's efforts to keep Elpheba with her in the school is so clearly also because she loves her. That is why she is so desperate to convince her to stay. And it ofc makes it all the more tragic. but you know, in the end it was Fiero who risked his life for Elpheba. Becoming her partner instead wich also makes sense. I mean especially in the books it is such a mature story because of how real it is. being told not only in a crass explicit manner, but also having this fairy tale shattered by the reality of their situation. And in the end everything turns out different. for the better or worse.

[@zekejanczewski7275]

I've never seen the show or read the book. On my first viewing, I really saw Glinda as a subtle antagonist. Because it's a reoccurring theme that she trades in token martyrdom. When someone tries to steal her dance partner, she tries to guilt them into taking someone without a partner in exchange for her respect. As someone with nerodivergance, it's really difficult for me to make friends. And oftentimes, what would happen is people would be friends with me because an adult told them I looked lonely, or their friends wanted me to feel included. A little bit of this is fine, and I'm not saying you shouldn't reach out to people who look like they are struggling. But a lot of the time, it was frustrating for me to keep things going with them.They would sit next to me, ask me what I was eating, what my favorite color was, and then the conversation would taper out from there. Befriending me wasn't at least from my perspective means to an end to get the approval of other people's friendship that were deemed more important. Nobody was actually intrested in getting to know me, set up hobbies, and And after these awful big brother programs where you would get assigned a student that was supposed to be your friend and mentor. Institutionalized companionship. Its just as awkward and overbearing as you'd imagine. that's what I thought friendship was, because I rarely experienced anything else. It gave me a very cynical view of socializing as completely transactional because that's sort of the only friendship I got. I never really knew hot to put it into words at the time. But it's why I put very little value on it at the time. Luckily, I now have a small group of friends that genuinely care about me in college, but it took a lot of work to get there. When I watched Wicked, what really got me was that every action Glinda took seemed to be the extreme of what I find disgusting about scocial settings. Behind the fluffwork, everything she does is completely transactional. She's a merchant who trades in token martyrdom and never does anything at an actual personal expense to herself. When Elphiba started to do the dance, it was right after she gained the spot in Miss Morribles class. I interpreted it as she finally took Glidas advice and was intentionally embarrassing herself to have Glinda vouch and show public support for her. Galinda never compromised anything of real value before, and when she stayed behind, I thought that was just par for the course, because I thought she never REALLY carred. But I never even considered that that's kind of her strength as a vector of change. If I were in her shoes, I would probably act like she does. This video is a great interpretation, and I think I will look out for those signs on a second viewing.