Evil is the newest hit musical adaptation that is breaking box office records and making waves in the media. The film, which premiered on November 22, 2024, quickly became a classic for fans of the stage musical and new viewers alike, setting an all-time record for box office sales in its second weekend. The immediate success and popularity of Jon M. Chu's film is no surprise, considering the equally exciting reception it received as a stage musical when it debuted in 2003.
It's hard not to fall in love with the familiar world of Oz and its magical qualities – from talking animals to the charming Munchkinland location. However, what it does Evil Standing the test of time is its message about friendship and acceptance told by its two protagonists: Glinda and Elphaba. In the recent film, Glinda (Ariana Grande-Butera) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) share many powerful moments that demonstrate the importance of female friendship.
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Glinda cries for Elphaba in “No One Mourns The Wicked”
Glinda feels guilty
The first scene in Evil which hints at Elphaba and Glinda's iconic friendship features the musical's opening song, “No One Mourns the Wicked”, sung by Glinda and the Munchkin ensemble. Although Elphaba is not physically included in this number, her presence is felt strongly. As the Munchkins celebrate the disappearance of the “Wicked Witch of the West,” Elphaba's infamous nickname, Glinda sings alongside them.
However, it's clear that something haunts Glinda as she struggles to hide what's bothering her. It later becomes clear that this is due to her complicated friendship with Elphaba: she is mourning their relationship while feeling guilty about participating in the celebration of her death. In fact, in the song, Glinda recounts the difficult childhood her friend had as an outcast, reminding the Munchkin set to have a little grace for her and that “It couldn't have been easy.”
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Glinda joins Elphaba at the ball
Glinda chooses Elphaba over the image
Although both leads got off to a rocky start after becoming roommates in EvilAt Shiz University, their enemies' dynamic turns into friendship at the Ozdust Ballroom. When Elphaba appears with the witch's hat given to her by Glinda as a joke, she is ridiculed by other students. However, Glinda makes up for her mistake by joining Elphaba's solo dance and encouraging the others to do the same.
Elphaba and Glinda's dance is one of the most touching displays of the pair's friendship in the film. In addition to remedying her ill intentions, Glinda's decision to participate in the dance is significant for Elphaba because she, until now, has been alone and isolated. From there, the two women decide “work together,“each supporting the other in front of their peers. In fact, Glinda chooses to participate in the strange dance despite threats from her popular group of Pfannee (Bowen Yang) and Sheshen (Bronwyn James).
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Elphaba includes Glinda in her classes with Madame Morrible
Elphaba supports Glinda's passions
At the same time as Glinda orchestrates her cruel prank on Elphaba, Elphaba makes a surprising decision to plead Glinda's case to her magical mentor, Michelle Yeoh's Madame Morrible, who doesn't want to teach Glinda magic. Elphaba not only insists that Glinda be included in her magic seminar, but also threatens to quit if Madame Morrible does not comply with her wishes.
This is one of Elphaba's most sincere examples of altruism in Evilespecially when Glinda actively participated in the bullying that Elphaba suffers in Shiz. She could revel in Madame Morrible's singular attention to her talents, but Elphaba chooses to give Glinda a chance to fulfill her dream of studying magic, setting aside her own ego. This olive branch eventually begins Glinda's story of becoming a witch through the events of the original. Wizard of Oz, when Glinda was previously unable to perform magic.
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Glinda and Elphaba's first heart-to-heart
Glinda teaches Elphaba that it's okay to be vulnerable
Another significant moment of friendship in Evil is the first heart-to-heart that Elphaba and Glinda share after the emotional events at Ozdust. As they settle into the dormitory that night, Glinda asks Elphaba to tell her something she has never told anyone before, as one of the first acts of their newfound friendship.
Although Glinda can sometimes be superficial, her performance in this scene demonstrates that she has a good heart. When Elphaba confides that she is to blame for her mother's death and her sister Nessarose's (Marissa Bode) disability, Glinda assures her that this is not the case; Your mother's medicinal choices in her second pregnancy are to blame. This is also significant for Elphaba, who avoided emotional vulnerability and intimacy. In turn, Glinda learns to take a genuine interest in others and break out of her charmed life.
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Glinda gives Elphaba a makeover in “Popular”
Glinda helps Elphaba recognize her natural beauty
After opening up, Elphaba and Glinda have a joyful time during EvilThe famous hit song, “Popular”. In true Glinda fashion, she decides to help her new friend find confidence the only way she knows how: a makeover. There are many reasons why this number stands out in Evilincluding Glinda's eye-catching costume, lively choreography and several comedic moments.
However, the chemistry between Glinda and Elphaba is a joy to watch on screen, as the two women have a brief moment of fun during the transformation. Furthermore, Glinda helps Elphaba appreciate and recognize her friend's natural beauty, which doesn't need extra makeup or new fashion to show off. Elphaba is perfect as she is and, from this point on in the film, demonstrates a greater sense of confidence.
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Glinda's ticket to Elphaba on her trip to the Emerald City
Glinda shows genuine happiness for Elphaba
In many moments of EvilGlinda's jealousy of Elphaba's powers and close relationship with Madame Morrible are apparent. However, when Elphaba receives an invitation to visit the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), Glinda chooses to be happy for her friend's opportunity and writes her a heartfelt message on a card as she departs on the train to Emerald City.
On the back of the Emerald City pamphlet that Glinda gives you are the words: “I hope you get your heart's desire,“something Elphaba has been working towards since arriving at Shiz. This is a turning point for Glinda, representing that her love for Elphaba is genuine, as is her message of well-being. Compared to the previous scenes where she waits “follow her path,” that Evil The scene shows how Elphaba taught Glinda about the importance of altruism in friendship.
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Elphaba invites Glinda to the Emerald City
Elphaba shares her success
When Elphaba is invited to a meeting with the Wizard in the Emerald City, she chooses once again to extend a helping hand to Glinda. After reading Glinda's thoughtful note, Elphaba encourages her to board the train leaving for the Emerald City, and after an amusing conversation, Glinda enthusiastically accepts the offer and moves on. In this brief but important scene from Wicked, Elphaba once again demonstrates her selfless side.
Furthermore, Glinda's eventual introduction to the Wizard changes the course of her destiny to her earning the title of “Glinda the Good Witch”. Even though Elphaba is on her own journey, she chooses again to recognize Glinda's interest in meeting the Wizard and helps her do so by insisting that she join her. Ultimately, Elphaba would rather rise to the top with Glinda by her side than enjoy her new power alone, because her newfound friendship is the most important thing to her.
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Glinda encourages Elphaba when she is nervous about meeting Oz
Glinda is a valuable emotional support for Elphaba
Jon M. Chu Evil is full of small touching moments of friendship between the two protagonists, which reinforce the show's story. One is how Glinda empowers Elphaba when she is nervous about meeting Oz upon arriving in the Emerald City. Although Elphaba tries to return several times, Glinda clings to her friend, ensuring that she fulfills her dream of meeting the Wizard, who then turns out to be a villain.
However, this earlier moment is especially significant because it is one of the few times Elphaba has demonstrated insecurity about her magical powers, which she usually appears to be confident in. Instead of letting her friend continue to have doubts, Glinda gives Elphaba a moving speech about how much she believes in her, repeatedly reassuring her that she is ready for her challenge. Here, Glinda demonstrates the importance of counting on friends in times of need and being someone's strength when they feel weak or insecure.
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Glinda and Elphaba agree to disagree in “Defying Gravity”
The two women decide to respect their different desires
Few moments in Evil are as powerful as Elphaba's song “Defying Gravity.” The powerful ballad includes a brief duet between the two young witches, before becoming Elphaba's breathtaking solo about her newfound independence and vow to stop the Wizard with her powers. Although Glinda and Elphaba go their separate ways at the end of the song, they continue to support each other, understanding that they both have different ways of solving problems and standing up for what is right.
“I hope you are happy,“, say Glinda and Elphaba throughout the scene, sincerely wishing the best for their friend. It is clear to the audience that this friendship has not yet been broken because of Elphaba's decision to escape and Glinda's decision to conform. Instead, they can understand and respect the other individual's wishes in this complicated situation. Although she chooses to stay behind, Glinda knows the importance of Elphaba's decision.
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Glinda gives Elphaba a cloak before leaving
Glinda wants to protect Elphaba
In one of his last moments, during EvilIn “Defying Gravity”, Glinda and Elphaba realize that they will have to go their separate ways from this point on. For Glinda, this means allowing Elphaba to escape the Emerald City with the Grimmerie. One of Glinda's last acts of affection for Elphaba occurs at the end of the song, when she notices her friend shaking with nervousness at what she is about to do.
Glinda quickly grabs a cape and wraps Elphaba in it, which ironically becomes the last piece of Elphaba's famous Wicked Witch of the West outfit. This small gesture of affection shows that Glinda cares about her friend's safety and health, wanting to protect her as much as possible in light of Elphaba's choice to inevitably leave Oz. Her wish is granted, and Elphaba immediately glows with confidence in her now complete wardrobe, before flying off on her broomstick in the epic finale of Evil.