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Warning: This article contains spoilers for Wicked (movie/musical version).The musical phenomenon Wicked includes many twists and turns to get the classic characters to where they need to be for The Wizard of Oz, including Dorothy's beloved Scarecrow. Wicked depicts Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West, attending Shiz University, where she meets and is forced to room with Galinda (Ariana Grande), to become Glinda the Good. The Wicked cast features many other colorful characters who affect Elphaba and Glinda's lives at Shiz and beyond, such as the powerful headmistress Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and fellow student Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey).
Fiyero, a rogue prince who got kicked out of several schools before coming to Shiz, turns things upside down for the student body and prompts both Elphaba and Glinda to reevaluate their desires and priorities. Arguably, Bailey's Wicked character is a carbon copy of Anthony Bridgerton, but he serves an important narrative role by showing the profound effect Elphaba has on people who listen and raising tensions between her and Glinda. Furthermore, like nearly all the characters in Wicked, Fiyero's story comes back to Dorothy, albeit completely changing his Wizard of Oz counterpart.
Elphaba's Spell Transforms Fiyero Into Scarecrow In Wicked
Elphaba Accidentally Turns Fiyero Into A Scarecrow, Trying To Save Him During The Song "No Good Deed"
Late in Wicked's timeline, Fiyero threatens Glinda to force the Wizard's (Jeff Goldblum) guards to release Elphaba, allowing her to evade capture again. Fiyero is subsequently captured and dragged out to the fields near Munchkinland to be interrogated about Elphaba's whereabouts. Elsewhere, Elphaba starts desperately trying to accomplish a spell that will protect Fiyero from pain and death, making up part of the dark song "No Good Deed." Alongside chanting a spell in the language of the Grimmerie spellbook, Elphaba says:
"Let his flesh not be torn
Let his blood leave no stain
Though they beat him
Let him feel no pain
Let his bones never break
And however they try to destroy him
Let him never die [...]"
Elphaba technically accomplishes all this, with the side effect of Fiyero becoming the Scarecrow.
It's established that magic is unreliable in Wicked, and Elphaba has had similar trouble with spells before. For instance, before stealing the Grimmerie from the Wizard and performing "Defying Gravity," she tries to levitate his monkey servant and mistakenly gives him physical wings. After this incident, she accomplishes the spell as intended with her signature broomstick. Multiple Wizard of Oz characters who appear in Wicked have somewhat bizarre origin stories like this, demonstrating the unpredictability of magic and making for an interesting facet of the discourses on power in this world.
Elphaba's Relationship With Fiyero & Scarecrow Explained
Elphaba & Fiyero Fall In Love While He Is In A Relationship With Glinda
Elphaba and Fiyero meet at Shiz, before Elphaba and Glinda become friends and Elphaba is still treated poorly by most of the other students. Fiyero is a prince from Winkie Country, whose family history is not fully explored nor particularly relevant to the main plot in Wicked. He immediately falls in with Glinda, the two becoming the ringleaders of the popular crowd and inviting everyone to come to a party with them. Fiyero and Glinda also begin a relationship, acting as though it is a given because they are both "perfect."
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However, Fiyero and Elphaba develop an undeniable connection after they both play a role in the Cowardly Lion's Wicked origin story. She inspires him to be more thoughtful but expresses in the song "Not That Girl" that she believes nothing will ever happen between them when he has chosen Glinda, her polar opposite. However, some time later after they have all left school and Elphaba is on the run, Fiyero is much less willing to stand by, as everyone villainizes Elphaba, than Glinda.
Elphaba and Fiyero then flee together, leaving Glinda angry and devastated, and creating resulting consequences for them all to deal with.
There is, of course, the added tension that both Elphaba and Fiyero have at least some loyalty and affection for Glinda, and know that their feelings for each other would break her heart. However, things culminate when Elphaba returns to the Emerald City and Fiyero openly declares his dedication to her. Elphaba and Fiyero then flee together, leaving Glinda angry and devastated, and creating many consequences for them all to deal with.
What Happens To Fiyero After He Becomes The Scarecrow
Fiyero Is Found By Dorothy As A Scarecrow Before Reuniting With Elphaba
Presumably, after Fiyero suddenly becomes a Scarecrow, the guards torturing him are completely bewildered and conclude that they won't get any information from him and leave him pinned up in the cornfield. They might have also left before his transformation, believing he was dead. Dorothy then shows up only a short time later, as Elphaba's sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode), the Wicked Witch of the East, is already dead during the confrontation between Fieryo, Elphaba, Glinda, and the guards.
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Most would then assume that Fiyero plays out the Wizard of Oz plot, during which he becomes especially cherished by Dorothy. After this adventure and meeting with the Wizard, Fiyero returns to the site of Elphaba's "death" and discovers that she staged her demise. The two decide to leave Oz together; Fiyero in particular stresses that they cannot tell Glinda of their survival to protect themselves. Wicked ends on a bittersweet note, as Elphaba never accomplishes her political agenda and parts ways with her best friend, but gets to be with the love of her life.
How Wicked's Scarecrow Origin Changes Wizard Of Oz
The Scarecrow's Motivations Are Especially Intriguing In Light Of His Wicked Backstory
Fiyero/the Scarecrow's arc in Wicked is very confusing where the events of The Wizard of Oz are concerned. At least with the Tin Man's Wicked origin story, it's plausible that Boq (Ethan Slater) does want a heart after allegedly being done wrong by Elphaba. However, Fiyero's motivations for accompanying Dorothy as depicted in The Wizard of Oz are supposedly more complicated. For instance, Fiyero knows the Wizard on a personal level, as he served as the Captain of the Guard in the Emerald City while he was with Glinda.
Wicked is a complex narrative from start to finish, demanding that fans dissect the characters' motivations at every turn.
Maybe Fiyero thought traveling with Dorothy was the most discreet way to get across Oz, as he is now a known associate of the Wicked Witch of the West. Maybe asking the Wizard for a brain was an outlandish plan to force him into admitting he has no magical ability. Maybe Fiyero, characterized as a good person, was genuinely concerned about a young girl wandering through Oz by herself. Yet whatever affection he has for Dorothy is complicated by Elphaba imprisoning and terrorizing the girl later on.
"Dancing Through Life" | Glinda, Boq, Nessarose, & Wicked Ensemble | Fiyero arrives at Shiz and encourages everyone to be more carefree and go out that night. |
"Thank Goodness" (speaking part only) | Glinda, Madame Morrible, & Wicked Ensemble | While rumors are flying about Elphaba's terrifying power, Glinda tries to distract everyone with the good news of her and Fiyero's engagement. |
"As Long As Your Mine" | Elphaba | After Fiyero and Elphaba leave the Emerald City together, they have a romantic night in the woods. |
However, Wicked is a complex narrative from start to finish, demanding that fans dissect the characters' motivations at every turn. Fiyero's characterization is initially defined by superficiality and wanting the same things as Glinda: to maintain his reputation and have a good time. Glinda's arc is about how her love of being adored by the public and connecting with people clashes with loyalty to her friend and doing what is right. Similarly, Fiyero is forever changed by Elphaba, becoming someone who is seemingly fine with being a Scarecrow.
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Director Jon M. Chu
Release Date November 22, 2024
Studio(s) Marc Platt Productions
Distributor(s) Universal Pictures
Writers Gregory Maguire , Winnie Holzman , Dana Fox , L. Frank Baum
Character(s) Elphaba Thropp , Glinda Upland , Madame Morrible , The Wizard , Fiyero Tigelaar , Boq , Nessarose Thropp , Pfannee , ShenShen , Miss Coddle , Doctor Dillamond (voice) , Avaric Tenmeadows , Gilligan , Professor Nikidik , Glinda's Father , Governor Frexspar Thropp , Melena Thropp , The Midwife
Runtime 160 Minutes
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English (US) ·