Ariana Grande Explains Wicked's Ending & Glinda's Final Decision: “She Knows What Is Important To Her” (2025)

This article contains SPOILERS for the ending of Wicked.Ariana Grande-Butera explains the Wicked ending and what it means. Set in the universe of The Wizard of Oz, the Broadway musical adaptation was released on November 22. Wicked received positive reviews and an impressive box office haul during its opening weekend, becoming the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation of all time. Wicked features a talented leading cast including Grande-Butera, Cynthia Erivo, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Bowen Yang. It is the first installment of a two-part musical, the second of which will be released in 2025.

In an interview with iHeartRadio, Grande-Butera reveals her thoughts on the Wicked ending. Responding to the interview's analysis of Glinda's emotions in the ending, Grande-Butera makes an argument that the character is not simply "not strong enough to go" with Elphaba, but rather "strong enough to know that she will never choose" rebellion and revolt in the way that Elphaba can. Instead, Glinda is "not ready to do that." Grande-Butera compares Glinda and Elphaba's separation to the process of growing apart and taking a different path from someone one loves. Check out the full quote from Grande-Butera below:

There's a different version of that which is that she is strong enough to know that she will never choose that [rebellion]. Because she can't. She doesn't have the tools. And she knows what is important to her. And it's like, it's not that she's not ready to do that. It's just that she's not a person who's gonna do that. And having the strength to know that [...]

It really felt so real. And it feels how it feels in real life when you really love someone but the paths that you need to take for your own truth and life and who you are, it's like you can't actually, you can't actually continue growing together, you're growing apart, and you can still love that person so much and acknowledge that that's going to be best for them. But it's not going to be best for me. So I do have to not self abandon in this moment, and I have to stay where I am. And I want you to go there, but I can't join you. So I think it's certainty. I think she's really sure in that moment. And I think that that's strength. I don't think that it's that she's not strong enough to go, I think it's that she's strong enough to not go.

What This Means For The Wicked Ending

This Reveals Fundamental Truths Of Glinda's Character

In her explanation, Grande-Butera is referring to Wicked's cliffhanger ending. After the Wizard and Madame Morrible trick Elphaba and realizes their secret plot that will assist in oppressing the animals, she decides to flee Oz. Glinda has to make a tough choice: leave with Elphaba to help her in her rebellion against the Emerald City or stay and hope that Oz has mercy on her when it comes to her association with Elphaba. She chooses the latter, leaving Elphaba to fly off towards the Western Sky alone to the tune of "Defying Gravity."

Grande-Butera's interpretation of the ending casts the character of Glinda in a very particular light. If Glinda knows that "she's not a person" who has it in her to go on a revolt against Oz, that says a lot about the fundamental morality of her character. Throughout Wicked, Glinda is seen as a follower and not a leader when it comes to speaking up against injustice, as evidenced by her motivations to "change" her name in solidarity with Dr. Dillamond. Glinda does not go along with Elphaba in this ending, but rather chooses not to join her revolution.

Our Take On Glinda In Wicked's Ending

Her Actions Speak To Wicked's Themes

Using Grande-Butera's interpretation of Glinda's Wicked ending is a fascinating way to extrapolate what the film is trying to do at a thematic level. Glinda's refusal to leave with Elphaba is a testament to how different people react to situations of injustice and protest. Some say nothing, and some stay strong and fight. Glinda may possess strength in knowing what she is capable of in this resolution, but the answer is one that speaks to how society tends to choose inaction in such situations.

Source: iHeartRadio/YouTube

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8.7/10

Wicked

PG

Adventure

Fantasy

Musical

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

Cast

Cynthia Erivo , Ariana Grande , Michelle Yeoh , Jeff Goldblum , Jonathan Bailey , Ethan Slater , Marissa Bode , Bowen Yang , Bronwyn James , Keala Settle , Peter Dinklage , Aaron Teoh , Grecia De la Paz , Colin Michael Carmichael , Adam James , Andy Nyman , Courtney Mae-Briggs , Sharon D. Clarke , Jenna Boyd

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

Main Genre

Musical