Elphaba, Glinda & Fiyero: A Wicked Love Story

Wicked’s Twisted Love Triangle: Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero

Prepare for a spellbinding adventure into the pre-Dorothy era of Oz. Wicked, hailed as 2024’s best movie and a Golden Globe recipient, explores the intricate dynamics between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), Glinda (Ariana Grande), and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). The film, drawing from the celebrated 2003 Broadway musical and Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, sheds light on Elphaba and Glinda’s university days before their infamous titles as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

At the core, the film unveils the friendships and rivalries shaped during their time at Shiz University. Enter Fiyero, a charismatic figure turning heads and testing bonds. In Wicked: For Good, sequel-bound, his ties to both witches unveil deeper secrets absent in Broadway’s narrative. Yet, it’s Maguire’s original tale that makes these relationships marvelously convoluted.

Fiyero’s Unseen Reality in Maguire’s Novel

In Maguire’s novel, complexities magnify as Fiyero is already tied in matrimony to Sarima. Aged seven, an arranged union binds them. Fast forward, they share three children. Duty complicates love, as Fiyero’s indifferent recounts of Sarima do little to mask his secret affair with Elphaba. Their illicit bond results in a son, Liir. This layered narrative intensifies when Fiyero’s demise brings tragedy, uniting Elphaba and Sarima in grief. Sarima’s kindness shines as she shelters Elphaba and Liir, despite the affair.

Tragedy doesn’t cease, striking when Sarima and her children face death by the Wizard’s orders. These omitted elements reveal a tapestry even Wicked’s musical adaptation deemed too intricate.

Broadway’s Streamlined Stories: Focus on Elphaba and Glinda

Broadway’s Wicked took creative liberties, streamlining the story to captivate theatergoers. Sarima and familial threads vanished, serving to spotlight Elphaba and Glinda’s evolution and Fiyero’s romantic roles. Their adaptational cuts allowed audiences a simpler yet enchanting narrative, balancing Elphaba’s defiant spirit with Fiyero’s shifting affections.

The stage version highlights Fiyero’s initial ties with Glinda and rekindles interest with Elphaba—stealing away to start anew with her. Such changes were essential, according to Stephen Schwartz, to emphasize the burgeoning friendship that anchors the Wicked world.

Will Sarima Appear in Wicked 2?

The movie adaptation follows suit by excluding Sarima entirely. As Fiyero arrives at Shiz University, there’s no hint of his domestic ties. The film concludes with Elphaba embarking on a new frontier, leaving Fiyero to grapple with his destiny.

Teasers from Wicked’s sequel, Wicked: For Good, leave fans speculating. Fiyero’s search for Elphaba is a focal point, with promotional images showing him rising through the Wizard’s ranks. Even with these insights, the sequel has made no promises of introducing Sarima or revisiting Maguire’s darker themes. Instead, the film is expected to carry forth the musical’s narrative, focusing on the intricate triangle without the additional complexities of forgotten vows.

In this enchanting saga where morality wavers, Wicked captivates once more, echoing the timeless message of understanding and acceptance underlying the magic.