The triumphant movie musical Wicked may have set up its most important twist in the opening scene, within a story that includes several surprises regarding the origins of all the characters in The Wizard of Oz. The highly anticipated adaptation started its journey as Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West; it was turned into a massively successful Broadway musical, the version which is the basis for the movie. The musical and movie versions of Wicked made many changes to the book, which is inherently a different story.

Wicked‘s opening musical number remains the same as in the show, depicting Ariana Grande-Butera’s Glinda attending the celebration of the death of the Wicked Witch of the West in Munchkinland. From the undercurrent emotions Glinda visibly displays in this scene to Cynthia Erivo’s showstopping performance as Elphaba singing “Defying Gravity” in Wicked‘s ending, the movie makes it clear it is showcasing a far more complex version of Oz. There are many surprises to come in Wicked Part Two, including how it handles the ultimate downfall of the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked’s Opening Scene Teases How Elphaba Fakes Her Death In Wicked 2

In The Wicked Show, Elphaba Survives by Escaping Through A Trapdoor

The movie’s opening shot, before panning over Oz and landing in Munchkinland, shows the site of Elphaba’s alleged death. In a darkened castle, a puddle covers the floor, with only the iconic pointed witch hat remaining. Here Glinda’s voice-over describes how Dorothy melted Elphaba. However, there are some carved lines visible on the floor, which may indicate a trap door. This alludes to the Broadway show’s final twist, in which Elphaba actually survives her encounter with Dorothy, seemingly by using a spell to melt through the floor and hide beneath the trap door until she can make her escape.

Why Wicked Set Up Elphaba’s Death Twist So Early On

Wicked Is Setting Up Several Plot Twists To Demonstrate A Strong Overall Story

In the show’s ending, Elphaba is found by Fiyero (played by Jonathan Bailey in the movie), and the two flee Oz together without informing Glinda that they are alive. However, bluntly speaking, it is not the show’s strongest plot point; it can be a bit confusing, as Elphaba doesn’t properly explain how she faked her death, leaving the audience to come to their own assumptions. However, setting up this twist from the beginning strengthens it by reaffirming that this is what was supposed to happen all along.

Wicked Part Two may further set this up by having Elphaba mention that she is working on a certain spell that will ultimately save her. Wicked already sets up Fiyero’s twist with the fascinating poppy scene, demonstrating how the filmmakers are using the additional screentime and technology to create an intriguing web of destined conclusions. Understanding the complicated relationship between Wicked and The Wizard of Oz is key to this adaptation, and foreshadowing what the audience knows is going to happen and the secret story behind these events makes it even more effective.