5 Ways Wicked Stays True to The Wizard of Oz & 5 Ways It's a Totally Different Story
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the ways “Wicked” follows the Yellow Brick Road set by “The Wizard of Oz,” and how it veers off the beaten track. If you’re yet to see part one or you haven’t seen the show, begone before someone drops some spoilers on you — we’re kidding, of course, but this is your spoiler warning for BOTH Part 1 and Part 2 of “Wicked.”
#5: Stays True: Costume Design
Creating costumes for a movie as big as Wicked meant honoring “The Wizard of Oz,” nodding to Broadway, and still surprising fans—and Paul Tazewell’s team delivered. The Wicked Witch of the West is that witch in pop culture, so keeping her iconic silhouette just made sense, though they gave her style some modern updates. As for Glinda, while Broadway’s bubble dress is blue, Billie Burke’s bubble entrance is an unforgettable image that served as inspiration here. It’s also why the movie’s Galinda practically lives in pink. You’ll also spot the return of the original silver slippers, although there’s a nod to the ruby pair, too! Also, Nessarose’s shoes feature tornado-shaped heels, foreshadowing her fate.
#5: Totally Different: The Focus of the Story
While “The Wizard of Oz” focuses on Dorothy’s adventures in Oz, she’s essentially just a footnote in “Wicked.” In fact, she only appears momentarily. Gregory Maguire, who wrote the source novel, was inspired by events in the 90s and the power the media has to shape public opinion. He considered how the most famous fictional “wicked” character is only known by that label without further exploring her story. He took the fantastical world of Oz and grounded it in reality, dealing with issues like friendships, power struggles, love, and how society rejects those seen as different. The musical explores identity, injustice, and how perceptions are formed, leading to Elphaba’s fate and Glinda’s rise as the “Good Witch.”
#4: Stays True: “Follow the Yellow Brick Road”
Perhaps one of the most frustratingly catchy numbers in “The Wizard of Oz” is “Follow the Yellow Brick Road...” Yet, it’s a key part of Dorothy’s journey, helping her meet new friends and leading her to the Wizard. On Broadway, the Yellow Brick Road doesn’t play as big of a role, though the Wizard explains to Elphaba why he built it, and that melody even appears in “Defying Gravity.” In the film, The Wizard unveils his grand plan for an Oz where all paths lead to him (we’re surprised he even needed a hot air balloon with such an inflated ego). All that’s missing is the perfect color—and that’s where Elphaba and Glinda leave their first mark on Oz.
#4: Totally Different: “The ‘Merry’ Old Land of Oz”
In L. Frank Baum’s book, anyone entering the Emerald City has to wear emerald-tinted glasses. They’re told it’s because the city’s “brightness and glory” would be too much for their eyes, but really, it’s just to uphold the Wizard’s illusion. The 1939 film takes a different approach, convincing everyone that the Emerald City is a “jolly old town,” which Dorothy and her friends accept no questions asked. Elphaba and Glinda are initially dazzled by the city’s grandeur, too. But after meeting the Wizard, Elphaba starts to spot the cracks in the façade. She takes off her metaphorical glasses and pulls back the curtain, revealing a regime built on the very prejudices she’s been fighting.
#3: Stays True: Origin Stories for Characters
If you have no idea what’s coming up in part two, you may want to skip ahead. All clear? Okay, let’s talk about how “Wicked” gives Dorothy’s companions their origin stories, starting with the Scarecrow. In “Dancing Through Life,” Fiyero sings, “Life is painless for the brainless”—an ode to living “the unexamined life.” See where we’re going with this? Now for Boq! His storyline shows how he loses his heart to Galinda, but when she doesn’t feel the same, he settles for Nessarose. By Act 2, he literally becomes “heartless.” Sound familiar? Finally, there’s the trembling caged lion cub Elphaba and Fiyero rescue. Elphaba gets blamed for his nervous disposition rather than those who caged him, which brings us to our next point.
#3: Totally Different: Justice for Animals!
In “The Wizard of Oz,” we see the horse of a different color and the flying monkeys, both serving human masters. The Cowardly Lion is the only speaking animal, and he has hope for his future in Oz. In “Wicked,” Animals represent marginalized and oppressed groups, showing the prejudice and injustice of being treated as “other.” Once, Animals and humans lived in peace, but after a severe drought, people needed someone to blame. The Wizard took advantage of this, promising a better future if people followed his lead. Soon, Animals were cast out, losing the qualities that once made them equals. This serves as a chilling reflection of social injustices in history and even today.
#2: Stays True: The Wizard Is a Fraud
Toward the end of “The Wizard of Oz,” Toto pulls back the curtain on The Wizard to reveal a man with little more than a knack for showmanship. Dorothy calls him a “bad man,” but he’s quick to explain that he’s not bad—he’s just not the leader everyone expects him to be. In both versions, he also explains how he ended up in this position of power. In “Wicked,” Elphaba catches on to the Wizard’s scam pretty quickly. The most “magical” thing he does in the film is pull a coin from behind her ear, and she spots a poster from his circus days. This Wizard also tries to convince Elphaba he’s not so bad, and it almost works... almost.
#2: Totally Different: The Ending
Dorothy goes on this epic adventure in Oz, culminating with her melting the Wicked Witch and clicking her heels together, only to find out it was all a dream. “Wicked” may not be a literal prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” but if it was, Dorothy sure has a powerful subconscious to dream up a backstory for everyone she meets! “Wicked” ends with Elphaba and Glinda parting ways for what seems like the very last time, leading up to that famous melting scene. But without giving too much away, unlike the Wicked Witch, Elphaba’s story doesn’t end there. Who can say if “Wicked’s” ending was changed for the better, but one thing’s for sure—it’s stayed with us “For Good.”
#1: Stays True: The Power of Friendship
“The Wizard of Oz” is all about self-discovery, inner strength, and realizing that home isn’t just a place but a feeling of love and belonging. Friendship plays a huge role, teaching the value of trust and support on life’s big journey. In “Wicked,” Elphaba and Glinda’s bond shapes their lives and the choices they make, too. Despite their differences, they form an unlikely friendship that helps them grow. Their relationship faces challenges—misunderstandings, jealousy, and conflicting beliefs—but proves that true friendship can survive it all. As they deal with power, identity, and societal pressure, their friendship remains a constant source of strength. It provides emotional support in a world that often tries to pull them apart.
#1: Totally Different: “Are People Born Wicked…”
In “The Wizard of Oz,” we’re told that the very objective scale of attractiveness is enough to determine whether someone is good or bad. Yep, that’s all it takes. But “Wicked” flips that tired trope on its head in its opening number, asking, “Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them.” Take Elphaba; she’s got a huge heart, but most people can’t see beyond her skin color, making her feel like a perpetual outsider. Then there’s Galinda (or Glinda), who might seem like your textbook mean Queen Bee but actually shows a lot of goodness, too. Meanwhile, the Wizard beloved by Oz is nothing but a self-serving charlatan hiding behind smoke and mirrors. So, how did Elphaba end up as the “Wicked” one?
Did we miss any similarities or differences that should have hit us like a house falling from the sky? Let us know in the comments.
