Wicked Ending Explained: For Good’s Hidden Meaning and Elphaba’s True Fate
Curious how Wicked: For Good wraps up? Jon M. Chu’s return to Oz finds Elphaba in hiding and Glinda basking in Emerald City glory—until an angry mob sparks a final reckoning that rewrites their fates and reveals what truly becomes of Elphaba.
So here’s the deal with the ending of Jon M. Chu’s musical fantasy 'Wicked: For Good': it’s less about melting and more about misdirection. If you’ve been wondering who makes it out, who steps up, and who bails in a balloon, here’s the clean version.
Where we’re at when things kick off
Elphaba, the so-called Wicked Witch of the West, has pulled back from the chaos and is living off the grid in the Ozian forest. Glinda, meanwhile, is riding high in the Emerald City palace, popular and very publicly at peace. That balance doesn’t last: an angry mob zeroes in on Elphaba, which brings the two former besties back into each other’s orbit one more time.
The water, the trap door, and the getaway
When the showdown comes, Dorothy throws water on Elphaba because, yes, there’s that long-circulating rumor that water can melt the Wicked Witch of the West. In this story, that’s not what happens. The water doesn’t faze her. Instead, Elphaba uses a trap door to disappear, letting everyone think she’s gone for good. It’s a fake-out, not a fatality.
On the other side of that vanishing act is Fiyero. He’s already done the recon, waited out the immediate danger, and then reunites with Elphaba once the coast is clear. The two of them leave the Land of Oz behind and head off to start a new chapter somewhere else, away from the mob, the palace, and the politics.
Glinda’s next move (and what it means for the friendship)
With Elphaba out of sight, Glinda steps into leadership, taking responsibility for the Emerald City and the wider Oz, aiming to steer it toward something brighter. Important nuance: even though Glinda once pictured herself marrying Fiyero, she isn’t bitter about him and Elphaba choosing each other and running. Their friendship survives the mess, even as they choose very different paths.
Loose ends tied up
- Elphaba: Alive, not melted. She fakes her death with a trap door and leaves Oz with Fiyero to start fresh.
- Fiyero: Makes sure the danger has passed, reunites with Elphaba, and escapes with her.
- Glinda: Takes charge of ruling Oz and commits to guiding it into a better future, no grudges.
- The Wizard: Dodges a coup and peaces out of the city in a hot air balloon. Subtle, right?
- Madame Morrible: Ends up in prison.
- Dorothy: Tries the water move based on the old rumor, but it doesn’t actually do the melting trick here.
The simple answer to the big question
Does Elphaba die? No. She survives, lets Oz believe she didn’t, and leaves with Fiyero. That’s the ending. And honestly, it fits: the legend gets its dramatic punctuation, but the woman at the center of it finally gets to live on her own terms.