Top 10 Things That Make No Sense About Wicked to The Wizard of Oz Fans
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the times “Wicked” doesn’t just stray off the Yellow Brick Road laid down by “The Wizard of Oz” but practically creates its own off-road path (and yes, we are aware “Wicked” isn’t L. Frank Baum canon). Also, since some of these points address plots that should take place in part two, this is your spoiler warning.
#10: What Is the Deal with Those Winged Monkeys?
We don’t think we’ll ever outgrow the terror of those winged beasts haunting our nightmares. Yet “Wicked” gives them a new backstory that could certainly conjure up some sympathy from the audience. In “Wicked,” we learn how they got their wings and allied with Elphaba.—a.k.a. the Wicked Witch. L. Frank Baum’s books also enrich their tale, giving them the power of speech and explaining how they’re controlled by a magical hat. But sticking with the 1939 film for a moment, after Dorothy melts the witch, one monkey seems especially overjoyed by this turn of events. If Elphaba treated them as kindly as “Wicked” implies, surely this wouldn’t be a moment of celebration?
#9: How Can the Witch Be an Animal Advocate After What She Tried to Do to Toto?
A major theme in “Wicked” is Elphaba’s devotion to Animalkind and their rights. She sacrifices nearly everything to stand up for them. Yet in “The Wizard of Oz,” one of her most famous and often parodied lines is, “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog too!” Now granted, that’s quite vague and more about punishing Dorothy than sweet little Toto. Yet, later on, after she’s captured Dorothy, the Witch threatens to drown the pup unless Dorothy gives up those slippers. You could argue it’s just a scare tactic, and she never truly intended to harm the dog. Even so, she takes quite a few dangerous risks for someone supposedly committed to animal welfare.#8: So the Lion Isn’t the Only Animal Who Talks?
While talking animals in Baum’s books are nothing out of the ordinary, in the 1939 movie, the only creature we see with the ability to speak is the Cowardly Lion. Other animals appear, of course, but they silently serve their human masters. If you haven’t read Baum’s books, it might’ve surprised you to think that this one character inspired an entire oppressed culture in “Wicked.” The musical also tries to explain why the Lion is cowardly, though the reasoning feels a little confusing. Still, there’s nothing in the story that makes him seem like he’s in more danger than his friends. That said, given what we now know, bringing him straight to the Wizard doesn’t seem like the smartest move.
#7: Why Does Glinda Send Dorothy to the Emerald City?
We all know how Glinda let Dorothy take the scenic route home instead of just telling her to click her heels there and then in Munchkinland. Dorothy’s role in “Wicked” is significantly smaller, yet Glinda still sends her off to see the Wizard. Why? She was there when Elphaba exposed him as a fraud! What good did she think that would do? Was she just trying to get Dorothy out of the way? If only there were magical shoes to send her home instantly. In Baum’s books, Glinda is actually the good witch of the South and isn’t even involved in this part of the story. It’s all just very confusifying!
#6: Dorothy’s Companions Don’t Seem to Have a Prior Beef with the Witch…
We have so many questions about how Dorothy’s companions connect to “Wicked,” but let’s start with the obvious. If the Tin Man or Lion had past run-ins with the witch that made them hate her, wouldn’t that be a great icebreaker with Dorothy? Like, “Oh, she’s after your shoes? Yeah, she turned me into tin—what a witch, right?” It’s as the Wizard says in the 2024 movie, “The best way to bring folks together is to give them a real good enemy.” Instead, their main issues seem to be a) she’s after their friend who they just met and b) she’s a witch. The Tin Man also mentions being rusted “for the longest time,” which makes us question the entire timeline where these two stories overlap.
#5: But the Wicked Witch Is Well… Wicked!?
One of the most beautiful things about Maguire’s novel and, subsequently, the musical is how it challenges our perceptions of good and evil. Still, no matter how you spin it, in “The Wizard of Oz,” the witch does some pretty awful stuff. In Baum’s books, she wants the shoes to gain more power and rule Oz. While the movie isn’t that dark, she’s still pretty cruel, especially with her repeated threats to Dorothy.. Even her guards seem happy to be rid of her, which says a lot. “Wicked” does a great job of making her actions more understandable, which we love. Still, some of her behavior in the original feels a bit, well... wicked.
#4: Isn’t Oz Meant to Be a Figment of Dorothy’s Subconscious?
If you’ve read the books, you already know the answer, but let’s focus on the 1939 movie this time. At the end, Dorothy wakes up in Kansas, and it seems like her time in Oz was just a vivid dream while all the characters she met were stand-ins for people from her real life. Factoring in “Wicked” would mean Dorothy must have one powerful subconscious to create backstories for all these Ozians—and also invent an entire prequel, too. So, we’re curious: what happens to Dorothy after Glinda sends her home in “Wicked’s” version of events? Is it still just a dream? And do the people she met still resemble people she actually knows?
#3: Why Would Glinda Give Away Those Shoes?
It’s already strange how, in “The Wizard of Oz,” Glinda takes it upon herself to give away someone else’s shoes. But hey, better on Dorothy’s feet than on someone known as “wicked,” right? Things get even weirder when you consider the relationship between the witches in the musical. As we know, Elphaba and Glinda were once friends, and Glinda also knew Nessarose, the previous owner of the magical footwear. So, why would she be so happy to see her former friend’s sister crushed? But back to the shoes—taking Elphaba’s last keepsake of her sister and giving them to Dorothy, whose house just killed her, isn’t exactly giving “Glinda the Good” if you ask us.
#2: The Scarecrow and the Witch Are What Now!?
There are certainly flames between the Witch and the Scarecrow throughout “The Wizard of Oz.” Only they tend to be actual fire—the kind the Witch uses to threaten the Scarecrow or actually set him on fire. We were surprised to learn from the musical not just how the Scarecrow came to be but also about a different kind of spark between him and the Wicked Witch. Now, every encounter in “The Wizard of Oz” just seems… baffling. Plus, why is the Scarecrow hanging around Dorothy? She just seems to be trouble for his beloved. The musical doesn't clear any of this up, and we're left pulling at straws, trying to figure it all out.
#1: How Do the Shoes Become Dorothy’s Ticket Home?
So this is something you’ll only know if you’re aware of what happens in Act Two of the musical. Nessa’s mad at Elphaba for never using her magic to help her, so Elphie enchants her slippers so she can walk. Yet, the 1939 movie never tells us what’s so special about those shoes. In the books, we learn that the Wicked Witch wants them to make her more powerful and that they offer an instant teleportation service. Again, though, if we set Baum book lore aside, did Glinda just decide to throw in a portal function as a surprise bonus? That’s quite the upgrade! Well, you know what they say… if the shoe fits, start clickin’!
Is there anything about “Wicked” that is a head-scratcher after watching “The Wizard of Oz?” There’s no place like the comment section to share your thoughts!
