i understand why some people are so hesitant about glinda getting more scenes and more focus in wicked: for good, especially given that we're getting our first widespread black elphaba with cynthia erivo and there's the added dynamic of ariana grande being a mega pop star. and im not gonna tell anyone who feels a certain way about that or has criticisms of how the fandom at large maybe sometimes focuses attention disproportionately on glinda that they're wrong for feeling that way cuz that's definitely not my place and i think those conversations deserve to be had. i can, however, argue for why glinda getting a more flushed out arc is good and necessary for the story
first, glinda is the co-protagonist of wicked. it's still elphaba's story, but glinda essentially plays the part of romantic lead. she's the second main character, but she's a supporting character in the sense that all of her growth and development is tied to elphaba first, and the world at large second. her arc in the most literal sense is her realizing how to be a good friend and ally to elphaba, which allows her to fully step into her role as glinda the good and carry on elphaba's cause. i feel like this is a fairly easy concept to understand, and people would get this more if she was a man and this was a traditional heterosexual love story, but oh well
anyway, because the culmination of glinda's arc is her choosing to become fully good and carry on elphaba's cause, she needs to have a fully fleshed-out arc. this is important for elphaba's character, too, because the audience won't be able to fully feel and understand her choice to give glinda the grimmerie and the sacrifice she's making ("they need someone to be wicked so you can be good") if glinda's not given adequate build up to her ultimately choosing goodness. the through line of wicked is elphaba and glinda's relationship and love for each other, and glinda growing into the person elphie needs her to be so elphie can escape and move on and both she and oz can have another chance. glinda's growth is integral to the conclusion of the play and elphaba's journey at large, which is why she's getting more in-depth scenes in the movie
