In the 2024 movie musicalWicked, Glinda and Elphaba get to choose the color of the Wizard’s iconic Yellow Brick Road, yet the scene implies that one color would have been way better than yellow. It is no secret by now thatWickedoffers an interesting mix of prequel and spinofffrom the legendary 1939 movie,The Wizard of Oz.As much as audiences are following the new story of Elphaba and Glinda’s budding friendship, they also see how Oz became the city that Dorothy fell into. Yet,Wickedhas a funny way of twisting Oz’s history.
One perfect example of howWickedandThe Wizard of Ozmerge is the Wizard himself. InThe Wizard of Oz,Dorothy discovers that the Great and Powerful Oz is nothing more than a con artist.Wickeddoes not change this concept, and goes even further.Elphaba and Glinda learn that the Wizard is not only trying to profit off of Ozbut he is also hurting innocent people in the process. Elphaba and Glinda’s confrontation with the Wizard offers quite a lot of meaning that audiences can analyze before the release ofWicked: For Good.
A particularly meaningful scene inWickedis whenthe Wizard allows Elphaba and Glinda to pick the color of the Yellow Brick Road. Before Elphaba learns of the Wizard’s schemes, he impresses her with his plans for Oz. He shows her the road on a 3-D map of Oz, and instructs her to pick what color it should be. The Wizard sifts through several colors, while Elphaba and Glinda deliberate. They eventually settle on yellow, courtesy of Glinda, who clearly has an eye for color and style.
Of course, the road seems to represent a newfound sense of community in Oz, connecting all the different lands, but in reality, the Wizard is using it more as a means of control.
AllowingElphaba and Glindato pick the brick road’s color is incredibly meaningful, not just for audiences who recognize the road, but for the characters themselves.Elphaba’s goal throughoutWickedis to make a difference in Oz, and though this is just one small decision, the Wizard gives her a glimpse at the power she has always craved. Of course, the road seems to represent a newfound sense of community in Oz, connecting all the different lands, but in reality, the Wizard is using it more as a means of control. Thus, the Yellow Brick Road earns a darker meaning.
Although Glinda ends up picking yellow for the color of the brick road,Wickedhints at a different fate for the iconic landmark. Earlier in the movie,Glinda explains how pink and green go very well together.In context, she is talking about herself and Elphaba, but this does not mean that her point is wrong. Pink and green do mesh well together, which means that making the Emerald City’s main road pink would be a strong aesthetic choice. Plus, Glinda’s favorite color is pink, so it’s shocking she doesn’t pick it simply for that reason.
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Of course, Glinda does not pick pink for the brick road’s color, and though it defies some logic, it also makes sense for the story. If the brick road were pink, then it would point towardsElphaba and Glinda’s friendshipseeping into the world of Oz, making it better. But of course, the end ofWickedshows that their bond does not change the Wizard’s plans. In this way,yellow is a better representation ofWickedbecause it symbolizes the Wizard’s greed.The Emerald City is green like money, while the brick road is yellow, like gold.
The Wizard Of Oz Made It Impossible For Wicked To Change The Brick Road
Wicked’s Future Is Defined By The Wizard Of Oz
Symbolism aside,Wickedcould not have changedthe color of the Yellow Brick Road, even if it wanted to. BecauseWickedexists within the world ofThe Wizard of Oz,there are certain rules that the story must follow. Dorothy will come to Oz, Glinda will become the good witch, and the brick road will be yellow. In this way,Wicked’sbrick road scene hints at a different conclusion, but ultimately moves forward with what was already writtenby L. Frank Baum and portrayed inThe Wizard of Ozmovie. This is a somewhat disappointing limitation, but it keeps both stories uniform.
The Yellow Brick Road is not the only barrier present inWicked.Although the tale is able to make Elphaba and Glinda friends and rewrite the stories of well-known characters,The Wizard of Ozis still part of the canon. In this way, theend ofWickedshould come as no big surprise to viewers. Just as the Wicked Witch of the West is melted by Dorothy’s bucket of water, Elphaba will melt away by the end ofWicked.
Wicked
Cast
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
