After watching Wicked, watch this hugely underrated Wizard of Oz-inspired series starring Zooey Deschanel and Alan Cumming

This article contains spoilers for Evil (2024).

After seeing Evilthe underrated Syfy Tin Man is the perfect miniseries to watch another interpretation of The Wizard of Oz. There are many Wizard of Oz films that reinvent L. Frank Baum's classic children's book. There are even TV shows that created their own version The Wizard of Ozincluding Zelena in Once upon a time and NBC Emerald City. Popular programs like That's so Raven, Sesame Streetand Supernatural had their own segments in relation The Wizard of Oz. There is no shortage of interpretations of this beloved story.

Tin Man is not a particularly popular adaptation of Frank Baum's book The Wonderful Wizard of Ozbut it is worthy. Tin Man stars Zooey Deschanel and Adam Cumming in a three-part miniseries that aired on Syfy in 2007. The show is a science fiction interpretation of the tale, which makes it a little strange and even somewhat subpar compared to other adaptations. However, it is the perfect Wizard of Oz adaptation to watch after seeing Evil, despite its obvious differences and more extensive world-building with Oz story in Evil.

The 2007 miniseries Tin Man also reimagines The Wizard of Oz – what this show is about

Tin Man is a science fiction version of the Wizard of Oz

Syfy Tin Man is a science fiction adaptation by L. Frank Baum The Wonderful Wizard of Ozwith a star-studded cast that includes Alan Cumming, Zooey Deschanel and Richard Dreyfuss. It revolves around DG, a typical protagonist who yearns for adventure and life beyond the small town she grew up in. She also has vivid dreams about a woman with lilac eyes warning her of an approaching storm. DG lands in OZ after the Wicked Witch's men create a tornado that wipes out DG and her home.

In OZ, DG befriends Glitch, a man from whom Azkadellia (the Wicked Witch) stole half of his brain; Wyatt Cain, a former police officer or “Tin Man”, trapped in an iron suit; and Raw, a “bystander,” a part-lion species that communicates telepathically with their hearts. DG and his new friends travel to find the Emerald before Azkadellia can engulf OZ in permanent darkness. Other Wizard of Oz characters in Tin Man include Glinda as the Queen of OZ, Toto as DG's shapeshifting magical tutor, and the Wizard as the Mystic Man, the ruler of Central City.

DG's journey to defeat Azkadellia involves rediscovering his past and embracing his present to fight for his future in OZ. Tin Man covers themes such as oppression, family, individuality and the balance between good and evil. As DG delves deeper into her search for Esmeralda, she discovers more facts about her and OZ that revolutionize the way she sees the world. Although Tin Man is ultimately a retelling of The Wizard of Ozit still brings something new that previous adaptations didn't – a sci-fi version of this classic fantasy tale.

The Tin Man's quirky fantasy and story are off-beat but satisfying

Tin Man is a strange concept, but it works very well

Tin Man It's been mostly forgotten, but it's understandable. Mixing science fiction and fantasy is not an easy task and although Tin Man does an adequate job, There are moments when the narrative forgets that it's supposed to be fantasy and Science fictionnot just one or the other. Tin ManThe versions of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion seem strange and even a little forced. Azkadellia's flying monkeys are totally bizarre because she holds them like tattoos on her chest and only releases them when necessary.

Despite the eccentric qualities of Tin Man, the miniseries is still a lot of fun with excellent performances. It's a fun adaptation to watch, especially once you get past its creepiness factor. Azkadellia may not be as powerful as EvilElphaba or The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West, but it holds its own and is a unique interpretation of the classic character. Glinda's role may be significantly downplayed, but her presence is essential all the same. As Tin Man progresses, the narrative becomes more fun, making it easier to get lost in the playful adaptation.

How the Tin Man compares to the Wicked One

Tin Man and Wicked have a lot in common

Evil and Tin Man They couldn't look more different from each other. Tin Man clearly follows the original story of The Wizard of Oz with a touch of science fiction, while Evil is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. Evil is a fantasy musical with plays and choreographed dance numbers, while Tin Man it appeals more to audiences who don't particularly care for musicals. Tin Man has a science fiction touch to it The Wizard of Ozwhile Evil is more charming and fantastic than the original story.

However, Tin Man is the perfect Wizard of Oz adaptation to watch after seeing Evil because once you scratch the surface, both adaptations have a lot in common. Evil and Tin Man cover topics such as propaganda, purpose, tyranny and power. Madame Morrible and the Wizard twist the narrative to make it seem like Elphaba is Oz's biggest threat to hide the fact that they are oppressing the animals. In Tin ManAzkadellia has an orchestrated system that allows him to control the operation of the OZ. If she says DG and his friends are criminals, then they are.

The Wizard's regime in Evil and the reign of Azkadellia in Tin Man also share similarities. The Wizard and Madame Morrible will do anything to silence dissent against the system they have built, while Azkadellia goes as far as ripping out people's brains so they will forget what they know. Elphaba shows resistance, and as a result, the Wizard and Madame Morrible label her as an enemy. Azkadellia punishes the people who fight against his reign of terror in the OZ. Although the villains are different in The Wicked and the Tin Mantheir insidious tactics are similar.

Resistance is also present in both Evil and Tin Manbut they illustrate this theme in different ways. In EvilElphaba is the resistance, and although the first Evil the film does not portray its violence, Perverse Part 2 go. In Tin ManThe resistance against Azkadellia's reign is not afraid to use violent tactics against Azkadellia's soldiers to get what they want. However, Elphaba is firmly against harming innocent civilians, and the OZ's resistance does not demonstrate violence against anyone not connected to Azkadellia.

Tin Man can follow the original story much more closely than Evil does, but both adaptations convey similar messages. Evil explores these themes more deeply, but this is because the narrative in Evil is significantly different from The Wizard of Oz. Evil adds a layer of depth to the characters that Tin Man no, but Tin ManThe interpretation of is still unique, from Scarecrow's reason for lacking a brain to a “bystander” becoming the Cowardly Lion. Tin Man and EvilThe similarities and differences of are fascinating to explore, so Tin Man definitely worth watching after seeing Evil.