Like most people, I watched Wicked over Thanksgiving break. The Wizard of Oz has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My grandfather was a professor at Columbia University, and he often used The Wizard of Oz and “Ozian” references in his lectures. He passed away shortly after Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were cast as Elphaba and Galinda, but I remember that his excitement was palpable—for a man as stoic and professorial, so-to-speak, as he was, unconcealable emotions were profound and precious.

Walking into the AMC on opening night, I wished my grandfather was standing beside me. He is responsible for my love of the Ozian universe. Still, I know that he was with me in spirit, and I am certain that he would have loved the final product. As we mentioned in class, there have been a ton of jokes about the Wicked press campaign (here is one example: https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2024/11/26/wicked-ariana-grande-and-cynthia-erivos-holding-space-meme-explained/). While I am always game for playfully poking fun at celebrities, I genuinely understand the emotional attachment Erivo and Grande have to this film. Erivo has been a major player in the Broadway world since her Tony Award-winning debut in The Color Purple, whereas Grande has famously detailed the story of her, at age ten, meeting Kristen Chenoweth backstage after watching Wicked on Broadway. “I want to play Galinda,” she said. Cut to two decades later, and that dream has come true. If the nostalgia that I felt in the theater was what these women experienced on set every day, I, frankly, do not think enough tears have been shed.

While some of my favorite scenes/numbers from Wicked occur during the second act, I thought that Grande’s performance of “No One Mourns The Wicked,” the entire nine minute sequence of “Dancing Through Life”—which highlights Shiz’s architectural mystery and is just visually enamoring—and, obviously, “Defying Gravity” stood out. From an acting perspective (I was already familiar with Grande’s vocal agility going into this), the latter did a masterful job of balancing Galinda’s grieving existence with her responsibility to upkeep a happy facade for the people of Munchkinland. Since I am imploring those reading to watch Wicked, I will not explain what she is grieving or why she has to hide it, but just know that the twitches in her face throughout this scene speak volumes more than her whistle notes do.

It goes without being said, but “Defying Gravity” was one of the most explosive, edge-of-my-seat finales I have seen in years…and I already knew what was coming! With awards season on the horizon, I really hope critics do not overlook Erivo’s performance. Yes, Grande has been receiving more attention—she is, essentially, a co-lead competing in the supporting categories—but Erivo deserves praise as well. I do not think she will nag the Oscar, but I am crossing my fingers and toes that the Golden Globes’ “Musical or Comedy” categories will enable her to walk away with gold.

I cannot recommend Wicked enough. Seriously.