After a year of waiting, the conclusion to Wicked (2024) is finally here in the form of Wicked: For Good (2025). Given how the first film ended with several major revelations that set up most of its cast to be in conflict with one another at the start of the sequel, it wasn’t easy for John Chu to craft an ending that felt justified and earned. Thankfully, the ending wraps up most major character arcs, although there’s definitely room for interpretation about what may come in the future for our hero, Elphaba.
While certain elements of the film’s ending are pretty cut and dry, some parts reference century-old lore from L. Frank Baum’s original series of books, which even diehard Oz fans may find perplexing and worth debating over. If you’re at all curious about what exactly these references mean for Elphaba and the film’s ending, or you just finished rewatching the original film on Prime Video and don’t care about spoilers, then read on for our analysis of the ending of Wicked: For Good.
How Does 'Wicked: For Good’' End?
The entirety of Wicked: For Good builds up the conflict between Elphaba, now known as the Wicked Witch of the West, and the Wizard’s regime. The Wizard, Madame Morrible, and even Glinda, to an extent, have all engaged in propaganda to discredit Elphaba and portray her as a threat to Oz. Their efforts prove successful, as they manipulate enough people to take action against her. In particular, Dorothy Gale, a young girl summoned to Oz by Madame Morrible, is tasked with killing Elphaba and enlists the help of the Tin Man, a transformed Boq Woodsman, the Cowardly Lion, who was traumatized by Elphaba in the original film, and the Scarecrow, to do so.
While it appears that Elphaba dies and the events of Wicked: For Good’s ending mirror those of The Wizard of Oz (1939), the reality is that she survives her encounter with Dorothy. The idea that she’ll melt if she touches water was a myth crafted by the Wizard to make her seem inhumane, so Elphaba uses that lie to fake her own death. Shortly after, the Scarecrow, who is revealed to be a transformed Fiyero, returns to the site of her “death” and discovers her hideaway. With the two lovers reunited, they venture far away from Oz to live a peaceful life, with the final shot showcasing them crossing the Deadly Desert.
What Is The Deadly Desert In 'Wicked: For Good'?
The inclusion of the Deadly Desert in Wicked: For Good is an addition to the film that is both rooted in early stories set in the Lands of Oz and even briefly featured in Return to Oz (1985). The desert is described as a still place that’s inhospitable to life, and that description is pretty apt.
The Deadly Desert is the land that surrounds Oz and isolates it from the rest of the world. Multiple novels by L. Frank Baum confirm that other countries and worlds exist beyond Oz, but the Deadly Desert is a natural border that prevents all outsiders from entering Oz and all inhabitants from leaving. It’s also been described as being “uncrossable,” and anyone who would even try to set foot in the Deadly Desert would die instantly. Crossing the desert is a fool’s task, but in the books, it has been done before. Dorothy crossed the desert via a tornado, and the Wizard flew over it in a hot air balloon. Magic users have also come up with creative ways to cross it, like creating an infinitely rolling carpet to allow people to walk over it and not be instantly killed by touching the scorching sands.
In Wicked: For Good, we know that the animals that still retained their intelligence attempted to cross it and returned, proving that it won’t instantly kill anyone who touches it. We also know that worlds exist beyond the Land of Oz, since if there weren’t any, where would Dorothy and the Wizard come from? But the exact size and scale of the desert is hard to pin down, so it’s also very likely that those who wander the desert may never be able to escape it, and those animals only got lucky with their return.
Does Elphaba Get A Happy Ending?
With Fiyero and Elphaba venturing into the Deadly Desert together, it’s fair to question whether Elphaba actually got a happy ending or not. Given the desert’s harsh reputation, it’s very possible that Elphaba could die along the way. The only person that we know who can survive the desert is Fiyero. After all, by becoming the Scarecrow, he can’t feel any pain, and he can’t die. He can wander the desert for years, eventually cross it, and he won’t be any worse for wear. Elphaba, despite all of her magical power, is still mortal. She needs to eat and drink, and since it didn’t look like she or Fiyero were carrying a lot of supplies with them, there’s a very good chance Elphaba may not be able to cross the desert solely because her body may not survive the journey.
Elphaba’s ending is undeniably a poetic one, with her leaving a kingdom that has persecuted her for years to get a fresh start. However, given how perilous the journey is, one would think that living in hiding in the Land of Oz may have been the better option. Still, maybe that’s the point. She’d rather take her chances in the Deadly Desert then stay in the place that ruined her life and reputation.
