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Ariana Grande’s portrayal of Glinda in ‘Wicked: For Good’ is no longer a mystery thanks to a recent video that highlights the character’s emotional turmoil despite her popularity. The film brings Glinda’s luxurious new life in the Emerald City to the fore but at the same time, it also points to her struggle with her identity. The revealing of Glinda’s character has energized the audience who cannot wait to see the movie.
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The secret is finally out for Glinda, and Ariana Grande is the one taking us to the disclosure. The recent teaser of ‘Wicked: For Good’ features the attractive Good Witch, who is ‘very liked by all and yet very lonely.’ The fresh video features a Glinda who has secured all the good things that the Oz community thinks are desirable—an extravagant palace, a lovely penthouse, and community love. Conversely, the voice-over suggests that this is happening while the person is so far removed from her original self due to the success that has created a fake persona that she is totally disoriented. The brief video shows a transition from a breakthrough to a meltdown where Glinda has to confront reality and pick the kind of person she will be, complete with the moving comment that ‘to really stay in a place of privilege and choose to be vulnerable… that is bravery.’
The audience’s feedback on the character down to the core was both fascinating and very intimate. A viewer pointed out the strong connection between the actress and the character, saying, ‘The cosmic parallels between Ari and Galinda, when you relate to a character that deeply you know it’s going to be phenomenal.’ Another contributor brought out a similar point that, ‘It’s abundantly clear that Ariana really pondered over who Galinda is at her CORE,’ while a further comment said, ‘because she IS glinda. her entire pop career is akin to glinda.’
But, only a few had their emotions ready. One of the members of the audience said, ‘Oh I just know we are going to be crying into our popcorn,’ which sparked a humorous sequence of replies about the state of their movie snacks. Another one just wanted to know, ‘Hey, can I get a “will make you cry” warning next time?? Thanks 😭.’ The enthusiasm was such that one person remarked, ‘Oh shiz it’s happening,’ conveying the sentiment that a long-awaited moment has finally arrived and the feeling of togetherness is coming.
One person’s comment particularly caught attention and it was about an important visual detail from the short film. The individual stated, ‘The fact that she has 4 outfits hung up and they’re all the ones that have a connection with Elphaba… there’s the Oz dust dress, the popular Robe, her shiz university outfit, and then the “what is this feeling” robe.’ This remark indicates that despite Glinda’s having an affluent and glamorous life, she is still cherishing and keeping the memories of her friendship with Elphaba alive, which is a very creative and delicate way of storytelling.’
The excitement was so contagious that even people from abroad joined in the discussion. For example, a user commenting in Portuguese said, ‘ARIANA… nao olha agora….mas tem um oscar na sua bolsa 😭’ which translates to ‘Ariana… don’t look today… but there’s an Oscar in your bag.’ This type of comment was very common, and another user specifically wrote: ‘GIVE THE mami HER OSCAR AHHHHHH!’ These comments and many more similar ones indicate that for a large number of people, Grande’s performance is already in the running for awards just based on these initial glimpses.
On the contrary, there were some mixed reactions that included sympathy along with the joyfulness. ‘Poor Ariana and poor Glinda, the bubble has to pop 😭😭,’ was a comment made by a user acknowledging the tough but unavoidable path the character has to walk. Then someone else gave a tragic foresight of the future by asking, ‘Why am I already crying???? I know the ending already.’
A number of fans feel privileged in the best way by the marketing. ‘This is way more than I ever thought I was going to get,’ one person admitted, saying that the movie is showing a lot about the character’s development generously before the release. This is in contrast to a more pragmatic, Portuguese-language remark that humorously claimed, ‘daqui a pouco o filme sai completo só por aqui no Instagram 😂’—’soon the whole movie will be out just here on Instagram,’ which is a light-hearted taunt of the incessant stream of spoilers.
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No doubt the baby is going to be very exciting because people already see it as funeral to the glamour and the silent, painful upbringing of the beloved character. It extends far beyond the initial joyous sorceress to a much more complicated Glinda, a lady struggling through the cost of her own image. The collective reaction shows that the audience is ready not only for the magic but also for the raw humanness that is at the heart of the story of the bubble bursting. They are emotionally prepared and willing to accompany the journey to the point where the bubble bursts. Her brother, Frankie James Grande, is among her biggest supporters. The film’s marketing has also extended to her R.E.M. beauty brand, which has unveiled a Wicked-inspired collection. Grande recently teased a new plumping lip gloss with a playful warning for fans. Additionally, R.E.M. Beauty has launched a special edition Wicked collection.
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