ninaslittlewickedplace - A Little Corner For My Film Obsessions

ninaslittlewickedplace

A Little Corner For My Film Obsessions

22 | 📍Winkie Country | fanfics and headcanons | asks encouraged

24 posts

Latest Posts by ninaslittlewickedplace

ninaslittlewickedplace
1 month ago

not the fandoms colliding đŸ€ŁđŸ˜­

Oscar: I happen to be genuinely self absorbed, and deeply shallow.

ninaslittlewickedplace
3 months ago

I headcanon that in Winkie Country, all royal family members are assigned a Steed to acompany them wherever they go when they leave the castle or attend formal events. It’s indicative of their (in my headcanon) respect and bond with Animals and Horses hold a high position in society and court. They’re assigned to their master/mistress when they are preteen-ish, so Fiyero was assigned Feldspur when he was maybe 12 or 13 and Feldspur was a yearling. The two bonded instantly and the rest is history 😝

I don't know if the movie is even thinking this deep but, hey, everyone, what are our headcanons/theories on who Feldspur is to Fiyero?

My thoughts are that he's probably Fiyero's valet or something similar, and they're genuine friends beyond that.


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ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

Feldspur watching Fiyero on his first day of school prancing around and singing to impress his new classmates:

Feldspur Watching Fiyero On His First Day Of School Prancing Around And Singing To Impress His New Classmates:
ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

Fiyero: He is not just an Animal, he’s intelligent, he’s brave, he has heart- he’s my best friend! I’d die without him! Feldspur is just as, or even more, important to me than anyone!!

Feldspur: Fiyero is my pet.

ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

This 100000%

(possibly) new Fiyero headcanon, is it about Feldspar and Fiyero YES why wouldn't it be, but like headcanon that Feldspar and Fiyero grew up together. In my mind, Feldspar's dad or whatever worked for Fiyero's family so they like grew up together as boys cause I'm assuming Fiyero being a prince didn't get out much. And then when Feldspar was old enough he naturally became Fiyeros ride cause why wouldn't he be they are best buds, your honour.

I firmly believe Fiyero has spent the night in the stables with Feldspar at least a few times. Like when they were younger just for fun, and then when Fiyero got older, crashing there after a long night out. Like drunk off his ass stumbling in at 2 am, and Feldspar just points to a pile of straw in the corner (or if this is a frequent occurrence a cot or something).

I'm sorry I keep writing about Feldspar and Fiyero but I love them, your honour. I genuinely hope you guys see the vision I was trying to accomplish with this cause it's very near and dear to my heart that they are friends. Also, Lmk if someone else has already talked about this cause I wanna see it if they have.

ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

Fiyero and Elphaba come from a ruling class in families I assume have held power for generations , so they’re both old money. Glinda is the poster child of new money.

Fiyero is old money rich while Glinda is new money rich.

Idk why but I feel this in my gut.


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ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

Musings on Part 2 Promo....

I know we have such a long wait until we have wicked round 2, but at least we'll have promo to hold us over and I am practically DYING to see more of Jonathan/Fiyero in his cunty lil captains costume.

Universal, please feed us well with posters and promo vids đŸ„čđŸ„čđŸ„č

Musings On Part 2 Promo....
Musings On Part 2 Promo....

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ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

Please steal the friend montage while you’re at it đŸ€—

ninaslittlewickedplace - A Little Corner For My Film Obsessions
ninaslittlewickedplace - A Little Corner For My Film Obsessions

Found this scene as a cut-away moment in a Cynthia Erivo interview, and I haven't seen it before. One of these days I will have to respectfully steal Jon Chu's computer and get all of these scenes.

ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago
Elphaba And Fiyero In The Forest WICKED: PART I (2024) - Deleted Scene
Elphaba And Fiyero In The Forest WICKED: PART I (2024) - Deleted Scene
Elphaba And Fiyero In The Forest WICKED: PART I (2024) - Deleted Scene
Elphaba And Fiyero In The Forest WICKED: PART I (2024) - Deleted Scene
Elphaba And Fiyero In The Forest WICKED: PART I (2024) - Deleted Scene

Elphaba and Fiyero in the Forest WICKED: PART I (2024) - Deleted Scene


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ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

Exactly, like I’ve played around in my head, but I’m just gonna lay low with taking the movie/musical canon. It makes more sense to me at least and the book is as you said completely different and I don’t feel comfortable overlapping the two anyways. The only thing I’m really taking from them is Ozian history/lore and names but that’s pretty much it 😅

I think that Fiyero uses “Winkie” in the movie because he wants to adapt better in the environment, he is clearly not who he lets everyone see, the only one that knows him is Fae

Exactly, he knows it’s the term that they use, and if he started saying he was a Vinkun prince they’d be like ??

He’s a chameleon he knows how to adapt and change to fit in the environment he’s in. He doesn’t want to stick out in a way like Elphaba does. He blends in but also has eyes on him because he’s handsome and smooth.

ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

I headcanon that! I’ve decided that musical/movie canon is different from the book like entirely so this seems to track as well. Good that someone else noticed! I was gonna say something but I wasn’t sure if I should in case I upset the book fans ahaha

I think that Fiyero uses “Winkie” in the movie because he wants to adapt better in the environment, he is clearly not who he lets everyone see, the only one that knows him is Fae

Exactly, he knows it’s the term that they use, and if he started saying he was a Vinkun prince they’d be like ??

He’s a chameleon he knows how to adapt and change to fit in the environment he’s in. He doesn’t want to stick out in a way like Elphaba does. He blends in but also has eyes on him because he’s handsome and smooth.

ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

I’ve been seeing some people talk (saw a comment somewhere by @feldspursfiyero ) about Fiyero’s behavior and choices, in particular how his depression and love for animals tie into one another and what his potential backstory is. I have a few things in mind that I’ll jot down here since I haven’t seen too many posts out there about Fiyero’s life before Wicked.

To start, it is obvious that Fiyero is a prince and the heir to the throne. From what we know in real life, being the Crown Prince was never an easy role. Though, I do find it interesting that Fiyero’s choice to act out is more along the lines of the behavior of a modern spare (Margaret, Harry etc) whose life feels directionless in the shadow of their older sibling’s glory. Historically and realistically, the heirs have been relatively good at containing their feelings and attitudes towards their position, but for Fiyero I think there are more layers to why he, the eldest child and the heir, has the personality traits that he has.

More under the cut because I don’t wanna clog the feed. This became longer than I thought 🙃

I do believe there was a time where Fiyero was able to be himself and allow himself to be loved and seen. Being a Prince, his life was dictated by strict protocol and rules by default, but there was once a time where he could breathe and let loose. That’s why he still has the innate ability to know and feel himself deep down, but events in his life have taught him to hide them.

From the Shiz Gazette online (and the books), we know his parents are Baxiana of Upper Fanarra and Marilott, Chieftan of the Arjikis. In my headcanon, his mother is the queen regent, the royal one and his father is the Ozian equivalent of a nobleman. He has a younger sister four years his junior named Arrietta with whom he is very close (she’s my OC).

Having not been raised in the rigid royal structure, Marilott taught his children that there was more to life than rules and appearances. Even if he couldn’t shelter them from their position, he made sure that they got to experience a taste of more “normal” things. Even if Baxiana saw them as her successors, Marilott saw them as his children. Most, if not all, of Fiyero’s happiest memories involved his father.

His death hit Fiyero very hard and is the main catalyst to his evolution into the man we see in Wicked. With him died the carefree boy Fiyero once was. Being fourteen, it came right around the time where he was expected to formally begin to prepare for royal duties and his mother was very strict with him. She had no patience with his slower progression in his studies (which I headcanon to be a combo of dyslexia and adhd) and implemented a stricter study regime, which inadvertently made it worse. He began to develop feelings of inadequacy and low self esteem about his abilities to be a ruler and began to yearn for his mother’s approval. Even if there were times where she was satisfied, she didn’t outwardly show it. Why would she, when royals weren’t expected to show emotion? Every social interaction was a transaction, one where nobody cared about anything but a satisfying end result.

Feeling trapped by his mother, his destiny, and his internal turmoil, Fiyero began to act out. Having partaken in an increasing amount of public events, he became aware that his people were enamored by him. Everytime he ventured beyond the castle walls, he would find crowds of people his age following his every step, listening to his every word. If he could garner attention simply by existing, maybe he could gain their respect by giving something to admire. After all, who could resist being royalty AND being cool?

The Winkie Prince was seen at almost every night club in Winkie Country and Oz, dancing the night away in the middle of the dance floor, winning the heart of every lucky Ozian to be graced by his presence. Every time he was expelled from university, angry students would petition the board to revoke their decision. When they didn’t, his classmates would gather and bide him tearful farewells. The expulsions didn’t both him one bit because wherever he went and wherever he would end up next, he would have an admiring crowd that he could entertain with abandon. That is, until he meets a special girl at Shiz


Now here is where the real Fiyero fits in as well as the Animals. Yes, things may have been bleak for him, but there were only two places he felt the most safe: Arrietta and the Animal staff at the castle.

Despite his facade being so convincing that even Fiyero himself forgot it wasn’t real, there were times where his old emotions would bubble to the surface. When he was younger, he would burst into tears and as he grew, he would sulk in his hiding spots throughout the castle. Of course, his sister would find him and the two would often sit together, some times in silence and other times, listening to eachother’s woes. She was the only human after their father’s death who loved him for who he was and she was the only person he could be himself with. She had similar worries, but instead of acting out, she turned inward and grew to be an intelligent but shy young woman. She never told him this to make Fiyero more worried than he already was, but she secretly wanted her “old” brother back. The carefree boy who would tease her until she cried, joked until she laughed, and tell stories until she fell asleep.

His other source of comfort, the Animals, are the reason many years later, Fiyero stands up to the injustice against them. The Winkies were known for their deeper connection with nature and Animals, which is why they are so prominent in culture, politics, and trade in their country. The royal family was no different and many of the staff at the castle were Animals, including Fiyero’s governess, tutors, and personal guard. He was most fond of his governess, a kind panda named Palina who stayed with the royal children until Fiyero left for his first university. Even in retirement, she would write letters to her former charges, who never failed to write back. While he was away, she was his safe space, her warm and fuzzy hugs replaced with warm and encouraging words of ink. His tutors, despite instructions from Baxiana to be more strict with his curriculum, had empathy for the prince’s learning struggles and would try various methods to help him learn. They also understood the importance and value of encouragement and would give him small praises and rewards for completing tasks on time or correctly. Fiyero never understood why humans couldn’t be as good teachers as animals and attributed the former’s lack of empathy for their spartan methods.

Finally, Fiyero met Feldspur completely by accident! He had been hiding in one of his hiding spots in the royal stables (which were more like suites for the Horses) when one of the mares found him in the corner of her suite. She knew him and he knew her, so it hadn’t been awkward but she thought she would cheer the teen up by introducing her colt Feldspur to him. At first, the two didn’t see eye to eye, as Feldspur didn’t know why a prince would be unhappy and Fiyero didn’t know why the young horse asked so many questions, but the two eventually warmed to eachother when Fiyero realized that Feldspur actually listened to him. Even if he wasn’t human and wasn’t Fiyero’s age (in animal years haha), he listened intently and the questions that bothered him were asked with curiosity and care, not mocking or ignorance. Fiyero had eventually forgotten why he had been in the stables in the first place, having made a new friend that was on the same level as him. The two quite literally grew up together (and ate grass together in the process) and share a deep friendship that goes beyond a prince and his noble steed.

Phew, that was a lot IM SO SORRY HAHAHA. At that I’m gonna log out and explore this more in fics and drabbles in the future. If you made it this far, THANK YOU and I promise future posts will be shorter đŸ€—


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ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

She was STUNNING with this look

CYNTHIA ERIVO As ELPHABA THROPP WICKED (2024) Dir. JON M. CHU
CYNTHIA ERIVO As ELPHABA THROPP WICKED (2024) Dir. JON M. CHU
CYNTHIA ERIVO As ELPHABA THROPP WICKED (2024) Dir. JON M. CHU

CYNTHIA ERIVO as ELPHABA THROPP WICKED (2024) dir. JON M. CHU


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ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

🚹 ‌ EXCUSE ME MR JON M CHU STOP TEASING US WITH BTS AND SHOW US THE FINAL PRODUCT IN ITS FULL GLORY PRETTY PLEASE WINKIE PROMISE đŸ„șđŸ„șđŸ„șđŸ„ș


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ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

"PRINCE FIYERO IS THE OZLANDS HOMEGROWN HUNKTHROB"

"PRINCE FIYERO IS THE OZLANDS HOMEGROWN HUNKTHROB"
ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

Happy digital release everyone! Didn’t expect to get my heartstrings torn by some of those deleted scenes but here I am:

The train station scene where Elphaba’s father sends her off is so damn sad. The way he was like “I wouldn’t miss a chance to see my special daughter” and places his hand blatantly obviously on Nessa’s shoulder. The sadness and emotion in Elphaba’s face when she realizes that despite her chance to prove herself, her father is the only one who isn’t celebrating. Even Madame Morrible see through his shit and is like “I’m sure you’re happy to see your OTHER daughter do something great” (paraphrasing but the point remains the same) and Glinda and her friends come to the rescue but man. That man. I need to go analyze every second of their relationship now and write a fic that will explore them because her childhood must have been an absolute hell 😱😱. My poor Elphie 💚

Happy Digital Release Everyone! Didn’t Expect To Get My Heartstrings Torn By Some Of Those Deleted

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ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

omg feldspar seeing fiyero at the end of wicked part 2 is gonna be like us seeing a giant animated french fry

ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

When the movie is released tonight on streaming I’m gonna inspect all the scenes where food is present because I need to confirm my hc that Oz is vegan

in the herbivorous world of Wicked you know that man's favorite food is beets. you know it's all doug funny up in there


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ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

I’m working on one rn but it’s still being brainstormed ahaha

i need more fics talking abt fiyero’s existential crisis/depression bcz im so madddd it isn’t talked about enough (he is me)


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ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

Forgive me if I missed this, but I couldn’t find anything anywhere so ima ask here:

Is “Winkie” considered bad in the musical/movie verse as it is in the books? From what I’ve heard and read in the musical, script, and movie I don’t think anyone actually uses the word “Vinkus” and fiyero has said “winkie” himself as few times, seemingly without shame. And it also seems kinda weird that if Winkies were looked down upon, the shiz gazette (shiz website has a lot of zoom ins of pamphlets and such) and the students wouldn’t be fawning over him and his people as much as they do?


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ninaslittlewickedplace
4 months ago

I think what really fucking gets me how is how a lot of yall don’t even TRY to consider who Elphaba is outside of her relationship to Glinda.

Because like. You don’t have to ship fiyeraba. But to not even consider how important he is to Elphaba, what he means to her and how important it is that he loves her and she loves him. To bemoan how Elphaba and glinda don’t end up together while somehow not getting that glinda treated Elphaba like garbage so of course she wasn’t going to end up with her. Note how Fiyero and elphaba are the only couple in the show to not be saying they “deserve each other” because they’re the only ones that actually DO. You’re allowed to have preferences but to say that Fiyero is irrelevant and to deny his love for elphaba is just. Wrong. Fiyero drives a lot of act two and for a good reason. Fiyero is a foil to glinda because he was willing to do for Elphaba what she wasn’t, and she suffers for that forever.

Obviously he’s not perfect in this situation. But what he did to glinda did not warrant the disgusting response she gave, to try to help them kidnap Elphaba by hitting her where it hurts. Glinda signed nessas death warrant and she signed fiyeros and Elphaba’s too, and she knows it. She knows that it’s all her fault, and that’s why she can’t end up with elphaba. Because she has to fix the mess she aided and abetted, and the only thing that would motivate her to do that was the deaths of the two people she loves the most. She didn’t intend for any of this. But actions matter. And that’s the tragedy of it all and that’s what makes her such a well written character, that’s what makes all of them so well written. Fiyero does suffer from the breakneck pace of the musical, but the substance of him is there. I think it does a disservice to glindas character to rob her of her autonomy and try to eliminate everyone else important to elphabas significance in the story, particularly Fiyeros. This is elphabas story. Fiyero is there for a reason, because she needs something good. She needs someone who is willing to give up everything for her the way she is willing to give up everything for everyone.

ninaslittlewickedplace
5 months ago

An in depth study of the Lion Cub Scene in the Wicked Movie

Elphaba and Fiyero's meeting

Dancing Through Life

Sorry it’s taken a little longer than I expected to come out with this essay, I’ve been busy general pre-Christmas stuff and then recreating the entirety of Heather the Musical with Funko pops – you know, the usual. In any case, in a way I’m glad that it’s taken slightly longer as it’s meant that the movie screenplay has come out in the meantime so I can make the odd reference to that.

[Elphaba practices her ‘toss, toss,’ Fiyero notices.]

“You’ve been Galindafied.” [smiles at her fondly,] “you don’t need to do that, you know. Come on, let’s get to class.”

This is essentially the same line as in the musical (though my best friend was quick to point out removed Fiyero imitating the ‘toss toss’ and I’m pretty sure she nearly walked out of the cinema in outrage), and I think it serves the same purpose. The idea that Galinda is indeed continuing on her mission to make Elphaba popular and Elphaba is somewhat receptive to it. Fiyero, though fondly, kind of thinks the whole thing is a little ridiculous and finds Elphaba fine the way she is.

This scene is actually the one most impacted by what was cut from the screenplay. In the screenplay version we do not have the “Let’s get to class” line as it’s actually set a considerable amount of time (potentially a few months) before the Lion Cub. I go into much more detail here but basically there is a montage between the “toss toss” scene and the Lion Cub scene that shows time passing and  Elphaba, Galinda, Fiyero, Nessa and Boq becoming friends.

Elphaba is wearing different clothes when she enters Dillamond’s classroom than in the “toss toss” scene, so I am going to take this as canon that there is still the same time jump, as it makes a lot more narrative sense (otherwise there’s very little time before Elphaba goes to the Emerald City for anyone to become friends). Therefore, by the scene in Dillamond’s classroom we are to assume a few months have passed, and Elphaba regards Fiyero as somewhat of a friend that she’s comfortable enough being around, if in a bit of a superficial “my best friend’s boyfriend” sort of way.

The scene continues mostly as it does in the musical, Doctor Dillamond tells the class he’s no longer permitted to teach, Elphaba is cross and tries to stop it, Doctor Dillamond is taken away. All this is expected and as expected of Elphaba’s character considering her previous scenes.

What is new is Fiyero’s reaction to Doctor Dillamond being taken away, he also stands up and shouts “hey!” he’s clearly not the only student distressed, but aside from Elphaba he appears the most distressed. It’s immediately clear that “Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters” is not as true as he makes it out to be. In my opinion, this is a very good change from the musical, as it sets up his actions later in the scene, he’s on Elphaba and the Animals’ side, he’s always been on their side.

Fiyero, however, does not react like Elphaba. After the initial outburst, he is silenced and sits down like the rest of the class (albeit he is one of the last to do so) and does not respond to her challenge to the class of “Are we all just going to sit here in silence?”  

Elphaba, never one for staying silent, like her musical counterpart, continues to challenge the teacher and get increasingly distressed through seeing the Cub in the cage (the premonition of seeing Dillamond in a cage here is, obviously, new to the movie and I think mostly serves to show how distressed she is – I don’t think she’s really realised what she’s seeing is the future, but it may haunt her later).

“Can you imagine a world where Animals are kept in cages and never learn to speak. This Lion Cub seems so frightened. What are we going to do?”

“I’m sorry, we?”

And here we see the dichotomy between Elphaba and Fiyero, both care, both are upset, but Fiyero is not one to spring to action in this situation without outside provocation – again, he’s sung an entire song about how he’ll get less hurt if he pretends not to care. While Elphaba wants to do something no matter what the cost, Fiyero is stuck on the practicalities of the situation: they are powerless students, they will immediately be stopped so, at least for now, he does not try.

“Well someone’s got to do something,” [Elphaba slams her hand on the desk, causing poppies to float in the air, putting everyone to sleep]

[Fiyero, stares around, not falling asleep but somewhat bewildered, Galinda falls asleep on his shoulder] “hey, hey, c’mere,” [lays Galinda’s head on the desk].

The spell going from making everyone crazy dance, to poppies putting everyone to sleep is a change for the movie, and I think a good one. I don’t think the crazy dance would have worked as well in film format, and the poppies is obviously a lovely reference to the Wizard of Oz – ultimately though, I don’t think it changes much about the narrative.

What I do find really interesting about this scene is the inclusion of Galinda and Nessa. In the musical, neither are in the class, so the casting of Elphaba’s spell seemed to imply that she didn’t magic Fiyero because he was the one person she liked. In here, the two of them are present, and are spelled too, so Fiyero being left out has got to be for a different reason – I read somewhere on Tumblr that apparently they’ve said this will be explored in part 2 and I hope so, because my reading is that it’s another sign that Fiyero alone cares as much about this as Elphaba.

“What is happening?”

“I don’t know, I got mad and...” [Elphaba notices that Fiyero has already got up and is heading towards the Lion Cub] “Fiyero, what are you doing?”

[Fiyero, having already got the Lion Cub out of the cage like the amazing, kitty saving, hero that he is]

“Well, are you coming?”

I love this. I love this so much. Script wise this is not very much of a change from the musical, in fact only one line of Fiyero’s is cut, “Alright just don't move! And don't get mad at me!” but the fact he moves the beat before, that the moment he realises there now is something they can do, which won’t get them stopped or in more trouble than the good they can do, he springs into action – does so much for his characterisation. It’s so very clear from this that he’s doing this because he cares about the Cub too, he’s doing because he wants to himself rather than to help Elphaba, I also like that the removal of this line takes away any idea of blame or frustration at Elphaba’s powers – Jonathan’s Fiyero never really judges her for being unusual.

This scene, both in show and film, is always excellent at showing why Fiyeraba suit each other. Elphaba is all passion and fire, she cares and will fight, but will also go in headfirst without thinking of the consequences. Fiyero, meanwhile, needs the spark of passion and push to act, but when he does act he is careful and tactical, he gets what he wants but in a way that smoothes the consequences of Elphaba’s rash actions and gets at least the majority of them out safely (see also: Throne Room Scene, Corn Field Scene).

There’s nothing particular to note in the bike scene, but I appreciate the cute reference to Mrs Gulch and Toto in the Wizard of Oz (that reference alone made me pleased I watched WOO a few days before I saw Wicked).

[Madame Morrible enters the classroom and sees everyone asleep] “What in the name of Oz?” [immediately writes a letter to the Wizard]

Not Fiyeraba related but I think it’s important to note what’s going on here. Madame Morrible has seen not only that Elphaba has cast a spell, but what she has cast the spell to do (to free an Animal). She’s not writing to the Wizard because she sees Elphaba is already talented enough to see the Wizard (as a first time viewer is led to believe), she’s speeding up the process so Elphaba is safely at the Wizard’s side before she can become any more pro Animal rights. It’s another great addition to canon, showing how much Morrible is in control even in act 1.

Also, Fiyero, who is also not in class, is completely overlooked, because being seen as a himbo often puts him beyond suspicion (she probably assumed he was just skiving off).

We have a few lines cut from the show here:

Elphaba: Careful! Don't shake him!

Fiyero: I'm not!

Elphaba: We can't just let him loose anywhere, you know. We have to find someplace safe...

Fiyero: Don't you think that I realize that? You must think I'm really stupid or something!

Elphaba: No, not really stupid.

These lines are in the screenplay so they’re a recent cut, but I think it’s still important to see the impacts of them being taken to. Again, we see the Fiyeraba relationship being a little less antagonistic than in the show. They still wind each other up a bit, because they defend themselves from the world in such radically different ways that they don’t quite understand the other at times (which we’ll see later in this scene), but they’re not actively sniping at each other in the movie. It’s times like this where we see their similarities, they are supporting the same cause, they have the same end goal in mind and, when they are both sure what they’re doing is right, they’re both very focused on getting it done.

It’s probably important to note that from here on out the musical and movie script is almost identical, so this becomes more of an analysis of the scene in both works, though I will point out where I think the movie particularly differs.

[Elphaba puts Lion Cub down so he can drink water] “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Why is it you’re always causing some sort of commotion?”

“I don’t cause commotions, I am one.”

“Yeah, well that’s for sure.”

Now the Lion Cub is somewhat safe, and resting Elphaba and Fiyero are finally given some time to think and interact.

These are musical lines, but again they hit differently with the meeting scene in the movie. Fiyero constantly uses derogatory humour about himself/his persona, so offhandedly that I’m not sure he even realises he’s doing it anymore. So it’s natural for him to think that Elphaba’s response is the same semi-joke at her own expense as he so frequently does to himself, so he plays into it.

“So you think I should just keep my mouth shut, is that what you’re saying?”

Elphaba, however, does not share quite the same self derogatory humour, any time she insults herself she truly means it. While Fiyero is desperate for people to see him for who he pretends to be, Elphaba wants people to like her for whom she really is. So she doesn’t see Fiyero’s reaction as him laughing at her joke, but instead as him also insulting her and, again, she goes on the defensive.

I get a feeling this also harks back to Elphaba’s relationship with her father, and the general reaction whenever she talked back or accidently did magic. Elphaba is used to being told to shut up, used to be seen as lesser and it’s just happened again with a boy she’s beginning to like and trust.

“What? No, no, I’m saying-”

And, again, Fiyero answers back, because he didn’t mean that – Elphaba puts him on the back foot once again when interacting with her – for all his smooth talking and easy charm Elphaba cuts right through it, because she simply will not let him act like that with her. If she is to trust him she needs to see his true feelings.

“Do you think I want to be this way?”

“I th-”

 “Do you think I want to care this much?”

“I mean-”

“I know that my life would be much easier if I-”

There’s so much self loathing in Elphaba’s feelings about herself, so much of an assumption that everything she does is the wrong thing, that she could be better. Fiyero has basically said nothing against her, even less than in the show. This is all her criticising herself.

But it’s interesting what she says. It’s not the usual “no your opinions on why I am green are stupid” stuff, it’s vulnerable stuff. It’s her admitting that all the things people say to her, and the way she’s treated hurt, that she would dearly like to just be normal. Without really realising it, she’s allowing Fiyero to see a lot more of herself that she usually lets on.

“Do you ever let anyone else talk?”

This is a mask slip for Fiyero. Not in a big way, but it’s him suddenly having to be direct and real with her. Elphaba makes Fiyero have to express real feelings and emotions (even if at the moment it’s mostly frustration).

“Sorry.”

Fiyero letting his mask slip breaks Elphaba out of her rant. Again, it’s the same in the musical, but I do think there’s an added part in the movie where it references Fiyero calling out her defensiveness in the first scene. It gives Elphaba a second to reassess and realise it wasn’t an attack. She apologises, she’s also out of her natural comfort zone of unrelenting defensiveness.

“I just-”

“But can I just say one more thing?”

[Fiyero motions for her to go ahead]

“You could have walked away back there”

The realisation the Fiyero isn’t attacking her has allowed Elphaba to rethink, and for it to sink in what Fiyero has actually done, that he didn’t just freak out and run away, that he cared, that he helped her. And I think this sobers her up a little, to question and to see Fiyero in a new light.

[Fiyero shrugs] “So?”

I always find this line so interesting, because Fiyero hasn’t noticed yet that his mask has slipped. He acted on instinct to help Elphaba, to save the Cub, we see here that Fiyero’s natural instinct to care about things has never been very well hidden (which is why the mask is completely off by the time we hit Act 2).

“So, no matter how shallow and self absorbed you pretend to be.”

“Um, excuse me, there is no pretence here, I happen to be genuinely self absorbed and deeply shallow.”

I love this line. Obviously I love this line. I’ve loved it for 15 years. Have you seen my username?

But anyway, now he’s been made aware of what he’s been called out for Fiyero pulls himself back, tries to put his walls up again.

It’s interesting, because this line is obviously an old one, but it fits very well with Jonathan’s movie Fiyero persona, it’s more self derogatory humour, it’s more deflection, but it’s also something so dumb that someone genuinely dumb probably wouldn’t say it. It’s not really up to his usual standards of charm, Elphaba has, once again, put Fiyero on the back foot.

“Oh please. No you’re not, otherwise you wouldn’t be so unhappy.”

[awkward silence as they stare each other down]

Elphaba is not buying Fiyero’s words. She tells him straight out that he’s more than that, completely rejecting his happy, carefree, persona. She’s seen that he wants more out of life than this.

Again, such interesting parallels to Fiyero calling out Elphaba’s defensiveness in their movie meeting.

“Fine, if you don’t want my help.”

Fiyero is scared. And for the first time we see him react in anger. His normal act of charm and stupidity has not worked at all, so he falls back to having to try and push her away without this.

“No, I do.” [Elphaba grabs Fiyero’s hand]

I mean obviously there’s supposed to be some kind of electricity here, but I think it’s more than that. I think it’s Fiyero and Elphaba having realised they’ve found a kindred spirit. That both of them have suddenly found themselves vulnerable, without masks, and really seeing each other for the first time. They have let each other into more of their feelings than they expected to and it’s both elating and terrifying.

[Back in the classroom Galinda wakes up, notices both Fiyero and Elphaba are gone]

I feel like this is supposed to be the first niggling hint Galinda gets that there are feelings between Elphaba and Fiyero, especially because the “I’m not that girl” chords in the background start here rather than in the background of Fiyero and Elphaba’s scene. Like nothing right now enough to truly alarm her, but something she’ll look back on and realise this was the start.

“What did you mean to do back there? And why was I the only one you didn’t do it to?”

[long silence]

“You’re bleeding.”

Suddenly Fiyero is the one challenging Elphaba, asking her questions she’s scared of answering. And she, like Fiyero, isn’t quite ready to face what it means, so she changes the topic.

“Mhmm” [Elphaba reaches out to touch Fiyero’s scratch, at first Fiyero flinches, but then lets her], “there. It must have scratched you.”

“Yeah, or maybe it scratched me or something.”

This change of topic does not work at all, just ends up bringing them closer. Although, I must say, I miss how much it was an almost kiss in the musical. I feel like this version had a bit less chemistry, which was a shame. Still, it is the pinnacle of the sexual tension, where something more could happen and they both know and want it.

 [Fiyero retreats] “I’d better get to safety, the Cub.”

With this line and the last we see Fiyero go back to full on saying dumb shit when Elphaba flusters him (we saw it when he first met her, and will see it again in the throne room). Fiyero is often very smooth with words so it’s always telling when she renders him unable to use this.

“Of course.”

“Get the Cub to safety.” [Fiyero grabs the Cub and runs away]

[Elphaba gets up and shouts after him] “Fiyero!”

Fiyero chickens out, scared by his feelings. Elphaba calls out after him. Both of them are changed by the day and the challenge to their personas but both end up, in their own ways, talking themselves back into them. Fiyero goes back to Galinda, who loves him for his dumb playboy persona, while Elphaba sings a song essentially saying she’s not good enough for him because of who she is and how he’ll like Galinda better. But we know for the future that it is obviously something that sticks with them and will alter their actions and perceptions of each other going forward.

Fiyero and Elphaba have always been a story of two people afraid to show the world who they really are, who dislike the other’s persona but who discover that they both love the other for the traits they hide from the world. While this scene isn’t necessarily that different from its musical counterpart (which is also excellent), I do think the softening of Fiyero and some of the antagonism from Elphaba, puts a little bit of a different spin on things. It makes it very clear that they are two people that share ideals and, while they hide from the world, both, when push comes to shove, will do anything to make it a better place. I think the movie does an excellent job to show why they suit and are attracted to each other, and also a good job of foreshadowing that neither of them will ultimately shy away from giving up everything to do what is right.

ninaslittlewickedplace
5 months ago

Reblog cuz I headcanon that she turns him back human eventually and it gives me comfort that this can be canonically possible :)

Why Boq's situation proves Morrible is wrong

Morrible was lying about spells from the Grimmeire being permanent. Or just mistaken. And I know this because of Boq.

You might not be able to cancel a spell once it has been casted, and the spells themselves might not stop, but you could always cast another spell to cause a different effect.

Such as Boq in act 2, Nessa's spell to take his heart was going to kill him. The spells effect was going to kill him, so Elphaba, not having much time, used a different spell to turn him into something that could survive not having a heart.

So Fiyero was turned into a Scarecrow, that doesn't mean that Elphaba couldn't find a different spell to change him back into a human.


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ninaslittlewickedplace
5 months ago

This is so spooky that you posted this cuz I was literally thinking about this on my way home! I headcanon (and might do a post later this week after my exams HAHAHA) that he grew up with a lot of animals because his lands and people were known for their respect and reverence for animals, and the royal family was no different. Half their staff were animals and they played a huge role in fiyero’s upbringing. His nanny was a bear (I headcanon that bears were the most common nannies in oz) and his tutors were a monkey, a crow, and a cat.

As for the grass eating, it was a secret between him and feldspar for the longest time until his younger sister caught them and told others. They didn’t mind though. They thought it was hilarious. Everyone did. Especially feldspar, who still makes fun of fiyero about it into adulthood.

Fiyero said he ate grass as a child because his friend is a Horse!

Can't you just see little Fiyero copying his friend?! đŸ€Ł

That just occurred to me đŸ€Šâ€â™€ïž


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