Wicked Dialog for Good

Okay, I'll admit it: I'm about to search for communication patterns in a movie about singing witches. Not your thing? I totally get it. But here's the bottom line—whether you're counting down the days until Wicked: For Good, or thinking "But there are witches," the movie sings out about how we talk to each other.

Stop! If you don't want spoilers, come back after you go see the movie Wicket.

You can get a peek at For Good in the official trailer.

And if you catch the NBC special on November 6th, you'll see even more of what makes this friendship so captivating (and so complicated).

The Story in 30 Seconds

Even if you haven't seen Wicked Part 1, here's what you need to know: Elphaba and Glinda start as impossible roommates. That flips. Chaos hits when they discover the Wizard of Oz is not wonderful.

It's a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, but really it's about two people who can't figure out how to communicate when it matters most, how to repair in returning to trust after rupture.

Sound familiar?

The Dance Floor: When Communication Works

One of the most powerful moments in the film happens almost entirely without words.

Elphaba shows up to a school dance wearing a pointy black hat. Everyone laughs. Elphaba starts dancing anyway—defiant, alone.

Then Glinda does something unexpected: she steps onto the dance floor and joins her.

No apology. No explanation. Just presence and solidarity.

This is communication gold. Sometimes the best dialogue isn't dialogue at all—it's showing up. It's sitting with someone in their pain. It's matching their energy when words would only make things worse. Through this non-verbal attunement, a connection is made, there is a peek into the other's world, one is vulnerable.

Reaching out when it means being vulnerable.
Courage when stepping beyond the pain.
Speaking when we can't speak.

Then they open up using words.

Manipulation

Wicked illustrates manipulation.

The Wizard's Enemy Creation Strategy

This is the classic "scapegoat" device as seen throughout history, as studied by psychologists. It's everywhere The creation of an enemy shouts:

It is never my fault.
That enemy did it!
Never listen to
the lying words
of the enemy.
Silence the ENEMY!

Understanding this is complicated; I'll move on.

Madame Morrible's Grooming of Elphaba

This is a known pattern:

• False mentorship and flattery.
• Deception disguised as opportunity.
• Propaganda and rumor-spreading as the target escapes.

Madame Morrible Tricks Elphaba

The tactic: Reframing harmful actions as helpful, getting consent through deception.

The Rare Mediation

The dance floor scene shows Glinda stepping in between Elphaba and the mocking crowd. On the other hand, the false mediation by Madame Morrible is manipulative and selfish.

Yet, this is wonderful: In For Good, Glinda is added to an extended "Wonderful" scene where she tries to facilitate a truce between Elphaba and the Wizard.

The Interrupt-a-Thon: When Communication Fails

Fiyero is trying to have a conversation with Elphaba, but...

"Why is it you're always causing—"
"I don't cause commotions, I am one."
"Yeah, well, that's—"
"So you think I should just keep my mouth shut?"
"What? No, I'm—"
"You think I want to be this way?"
"I—"
"You think I want to care this much?"

That beautiful dialogue tells us a lot.

We've all been that person, right? We want to cut in immediately. We have seen this attempt to communicate among others leading to no communication at all. 😢

Some communication experts call this defensive listening, but let's just call it what it is: not listening at all.

What might be our first steps in countering this? Upon reflection, I am thinking this: 1. Listen. 2. Listen. 3. Listen.

Can we view that another way. What is the interrupter saying? What within that person is trying to call out?

What to Watch For in For Good

When the second film releases on November 21st, here's what we can be watching for:

Can each actually listen under pressure?

Will each interrupt less?

Will each understand better the world the other lives in?

What does "for good" really mean?

What is the repair conversation?

Can they handle disruption?
"There's the house...and it's flying through the sky."

NBC Special

If you watch the NBC special on November 6th, watch for communication failures.

This is available for those in America. You can watch over the air, 8PM ET/PT. Set up that antenna or stream it the next day on Peacock.

The Bottom Line (For Now)

Here's what Wicked gets brilliantly right: communication isn't just about the words we say. It's about presence, listening, timing, and trust building.

The real question for For Good: Have Elphaba and Glinda learned this lesson? Or will their bond crumble when it's tested by propaganda, betrayal, and beliefs about doing good?

See the the hope in the Final Trailer.

And beyond all this brainy stuff, Wicked is great fun and wonderfully entertaining! I expect For Good to be also.

I'll be watching Wicked: for Good. Many of you can get the jump on me and watch in theaters on November 21st. Maybe you will get a chance to see a premiere

What do you think?