It’s time to try defying gravity. Or at the very least, it’s time to try watching Wicked on Peacock. Cynthia Erivo stars as Elphaba, the green girl with strange powers who would go on to become the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. When Elphaba goes off to Shiz University and is made to room with the spoiled, popular Galinda (Ariana Grande), the two girls find an unexpected kinship that changes their lives forever.
Erivo and Grande’s Oscar-nominated performances are delightful, showcasing both of their phenomenal singing and acting chops. Jonathan Bailey (of Bridgerton fame) is particularly dreamy as devil-may-care Prince Fiyero, and it’s easy to see why both Elphaba and Galinda find themselves harboring feelings for him.
The sets, which were built mostly using practical effects, are stunning. (Director Jon M. Chu says the production actually planted nine million tulips to create the colorful landscape of Munchkinland.) But despite the silly-sounding names and the magical setting, Wicked tells a story of a woman bravely standing up for what is right at the cost of her own reputation and happiness. Though Wicked looks like a sugary dessert of a film, it provides plenty of hearty food for thought.
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