The Wicked Witch of the West is gone, and everyone in Oz is all about celebrating. Even Glinda, who’s known as the Good Witch, gets involved in a rather flashy way. But hey, there was a time when she and this wicked witch were actually super tight friends.

It all started back at the University of Shiz. Glinda—she went by Galinda back then—was hoping to learn from Madame Morrible, who ran the witchcraft classes. But Madame had her eye on Elphaba instead. Yep, that’s our green-skinned loner who had amazing powers she couldn’t really control yet.

This movie’s full of color and excitement, keeping you guessing about what’s gonna happen next.

Why does evil exist? That’s what a little Munchkin girl asks as we dive into Elphaba’s story. Born with a good heart but looking different, she’s rejected by her dad and peers alike. Life hits her hard: blamed for her sister’s problems and feeling like an outcast clinging onto her emotions that soon take over.

Meanwhile, there’s Glinda in college—she’s everything Elphaba isn’t: blonde, super confident, show-off nice, and absolutely POPular.
Ever thought about how schools in movies always remind you of the ones we know, like Hogwarts or even that Academy of Good and Evil from Paul Feig’s film? That’s kinda the vibe with Shiz. And then you’ve got elements that feel a bit like the Fantastic Beasts series. In Jon M. Chu’s take on Oz, there’s this creepy group that’s all about shutting down the cool animals in Oz. They’re being plucked out as though they never existed, losing their voices, pushed aside, locked up—it’s a mess. And instead of these amazing creatures sharing their knowledge, you’re left with these bland teachers who basically tell students to forget history so they won’t realize things like witch hunts keep happening and that power loves having someone to blame.

Then there are Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande who totally nail it in their roles. They embody these colors that symbolize two sides of this divided world—a bit like how everything seems split today. Elphaba kind of grows up fast; she chooses her path, stepping away from wanting to fit in and really embracing who she is—it turns into her strength! Meanwhile, Glinda shows us even if you’re sure about all your beliefs at first glance (like her love for pink), second thoughts can creep in when things get real tricky.