Lately I have been feeling very reflective. And just thinking about everything. Thinking about my life. Thinking about the characters in the Wicked Movies. And how the two things intertwine. Which is really strange to write. I always saw movies/music/media as pure entertainment. It wasn't until I saw Wicked for Good that I was able to pull so many life lessons from it along with so many parallels to my own life that has really shaken up my world.
Everyday I come across video clips, pictures, or just random conversations on the internet about Elphaba and Fiyero's relationship. It is something we have not seen in film in a long time or maybe ever.
Here we are 2 months after the movie was released in theatre's and people are still talking about it and making videos and all the things.
And here I am still thinking about them on a daily basis. I think about how much I was treated like Elphie when I was growing up. How I never had any romantic love in my life until my late 20s. I didn't think I would ever find love and often didn't even think about as it wasn't even on my radar. I also had very few friends. *sigh* it just makes me sad for her and all the Elphie's in the world like me and many others.
When Fiyero tells Elphie she is beautiful and she thinks he is lying that is just so relatable. Even though we are all yelling at the screen like girl he left his wedding to go with you obviously he loves you and isn't lying.
There are many times people including my husband tell me I am beautiful and I do not believe them at all. Especially b/c many times my hair is a mess, I am wearing lounge clothes, and I do not feel beautiful at all. But like Fiyero others are looking at us a different way. Not the way we see ourselves but the way they do.
We all deserve to be with someone that looks at us with love. That makes us smile and makes us the happiest we have ever been. Life is too short to be sad and miserable all the time.
Elphie is on cloud 9 in this picture. She doesn't care about anything or anyone else other than Fiyero. Heck she is not even really listening to a word he is saying. 🥰🫠😍
Everyone deserves someone that will pursue them and grab them by the waist to be closer to them and dance with you even if there is no music playing. And to giggle with you after you kiss for the first time like it was the best part of your day.
I turn 40 next month and I have been dreading it since last year. I always thought by now my life would just look so different. I'd be way more advanced in my career, have a big family, and a house that I love. But sadly a lot of those things haven't come true for me. And as I approach 40 I realize that half of my life is behind me and I have only 40 or so more years left on this earth (god willing).
If anything over the last 2 months I have done a lot of soul searching and just thinking about where my life is and where it is going and what I want it to look like. I want to be happy in my life and not sad and miserable all the time just going through the motions to get to the next day. I want my life to have purpose and meaning and fun. I have a lot of big decisions to make over the next few months and praying Fiyeraba can be my guide and I can get through it.
And if you are still reading this thank you for reading. When I started writing this I had no idea what was going to come out. I may not know who you are but I'm glad to have this corner of the internet to be able to release my thoughts into the world and I hope I can help someone else along the way.
"The only downside of Act II is that Elphaba runs away with Fiyero instead of Glinda."
One thing that Gelphies don't seem to realise is that Glinda WOULDN'T run away with Elphaba. She could ask Elphaba to give up her plans and stay with her (and Elphaba would, if that didn't mean giving up her morals and becoming passive to oppression), but Glinda would not give up her life style for Elphaba, or anyone for that matter.
Like, did you guys not watch it? Glinda had the opportunity to run away with Elphaba several times, but she never did. Elphaba asked her to come with her during Defying Gravity, Fiyero asked her to run away with him so that they could look for Elphaba together and be with her during Thank Goodness, and the way they're talking to each other implies that that wasn't the first time they had this conversation and it also wasn't the first time she chose a lie over the people she loved.
Also, Elphaba and Fiyero were more useful to the Animal cause dead than alive, that's the conclusion they come to at the end, that's why Elphaba makes Glinda promise not to clear her name, because Glinda was the only one who had the power to do something, the biggest power of all: popularity (I've already talked about how every single word Glinda sings in Popular is true). People love Glinda, but they hate Elphaba too much to keep loving her if she associated with her, like they loved Fiyero and now hate him because he chose to love Elphaba. But people could love the Animals if Glinda told them to, so riddle me this: if Glinda left with Elphaba, who would save the Animals? Who would do good? Who would change things?
Elphaba and Fiyero left, not only to be together and in love in peace, but also because they were doing more harm than good by staying. Glinda is the rising Sun of a new Oz. Staying alone and having time to be just by herself and reflect on her actions and finally being Glinda, the Good for real by being a benevolent leader, who stops the Animal genocide and brings Oz back together is her redemption arc. It might not be the happiest ending, but it is the best possible ending for her!
I’m thinking about Wicked tonight, specifically why Elphaba ends up with Fiyero instead of Glinda in the musical despite Elphaba and Glinda having the more well-rounded relationship.
You could chalk it up to the writers wanting a heteronormative ending (and I’m certain that’s part of it) or the fact that Elphaba and Fiyero had a love affair in the book. But I think there’s a bit more nuance to it.
The whole point of Glinda’s character is that she upholds the status quo of Oz. No matter how much she loves Elphaba or sympathizes with the plight of the Animals, she will always align herself with the current system and those in power. And as long as that remains the case, a relationship between her and Elphaba is futile because Elphaba will not give up her cause.
Elphaba and Glinda represent to different ends of a spectrum. Elphaba resists the oppressive forces in Oz, while Glinda upholds them. But Fiyero is somewhere in the middle. He starts out privileged and carefree like Glinda, but quickly turns to Elphaba’s side. He does become Captain of the Guard, but only to find Elphaba and help her evade arrest.
And therein lies the difference between Glinda and Fiyero as love interests to Elphaba. Glinda would never sacrifice her title as “the Good Witch” and all her power granted from the Wizard, even if it meant helping Elphaba. Fiyero, on the other hand, does give up his privilege, his title, and even his human form for Elphaba. Glinda clings to what the status quo gives her, while Fiyero ultimately rejects it.
Yes, the writing around Elphaba and Fiyero’s romance is a bit rushed and doesn’t have the same gradual development that Elphaba and Glinda have. And yes, I have no doubt heteronormativity played a role in giving Elphaba a male love interest in the end. But I see a lot of people write off Fiyero and his relationship with Elphaba and I just don’t agree.
Why does Elphaba end up with Fiyero instead of Glinda? Because Fiyero makes the sacrifices that Glinda wasn’t willing to.
"I really love Fiyero and Elphaba together. They’re so made for each other and not at the same time, which is what makes them have this sort of frenetic, electric energy." - Cynthia Erivo
I want to believe. Elphaba took her sex cardigan with her on her journey out of Oz. It’s stuffed in Fiyero’s little backpack. The costume designer even said Elphaba made that cardigan herself when she was living in the woods it’s soooo precious to me. I know it’s mostly just there for the PG rating but still. We love a woman feeling comfortable and cozy before she has sex with her boyfriend instead of feeling the need to put on a performance for him!!!!
i LOVE the sex cardigan - she's HERSELF AND SHE'S COMFORTABLE AND WARM DAMNIT
never underestimate the power of a cozy jacket fr
i'll add that to my version of canon in my head, elphaba deserves nice things! even though i doubt it would fit in the backpack alongside actual necessities.
(deadass they were walking into a desert with like, two dinky satchels WHAT. my bf and i carry a gallon of water EACH on day-hikes we go on to train for backpacking HELLO - the real post canon is that they die of thirst inside a week wtf ,,,,,, just kidding tho ik they needed that clear shot)
The fact so many people are comparing Glinda's "You're beautiful" to Fiyero's, IN FAVOR of Glinda has me steaming. Saying because Elphaba didn't accuse Glinda of "lying" means she believed and accepted her compliment and doubts Fiyero's intentions.
Glinda: Waited until AFTER basically overhauling everything that made Elphaba herself, telling her the only way she can be "popular" is by becoming different, dressing differently, speaking differently. Only calling her beautiful after making her up in her own image. She isn't calling Elphaba beautiful, she is calling herself beautiful. And Elphaba doesn't accept the compliment. She immediately leaves because she feels overwhelmed by what she sees in the mirror and the 180 that was Glinda's attitude.
Fiyero: People forget that Fiyero was meant to be Glinda's foil. It's why they share so many of the same lines and situations but make vastly different decisions. He tells her she is beautiful AFTER she basically becomes her natural self. Removed her 'work' clothes, pulled her hair back, gets comfortable in her own skin and home. That is when he says she is beautiful. When she becomes her most soft. Because he loves her at her lowest and he doesn't want her to have to wear her amour. The same can be said after the makeover in Shiz. He tells her she doesn't need everything that Glinda needs to be memorable and attractive to anyone (especially him). "Looking at things another way" is him saying you are beautiful on the outside but more importantly on the inside. That he's looking past the shallow definition of beauty (Glinda when he calls her perfect), and seeing what truly makes someone beautiful and attractive. And Elphaba does accept it almost immediately. Sure she has doubts, but as soon as he explains what his means she melts (pun intended) immediately and gives him literally EVERYTHING.
Elphaba bonus: Tells him he is beautiful, not in a physical sense but what him being in front of her represents. Life after she though she lost him. Hope she feels for their future when she hadn't allowed herself to believe she wouldn't not be alone. Her love for him and his for her is what is beautiful.
“You’re beautiful” isn’t about looks. It’s about expressing your love for the recipient. Fiyeraba for each other and Glinda for herself
One thing I appreciate about Wicked: For Good is how important and savvy Chistery was.
In the No Place Like Home scene he kept the other monkeys from reacting.
When they were freed he was the one who confirmed it and then showed Elphaba where the other animals were imprisoned.
He led the monkeys when they teamed up with Fiyero in the woods.
He helped Fiyero rescue Elphaba from Munchkin land and Fiyero trusted him to get her to safety. I assume Chistery was the one that knew how to lead Elphaba to Kiamo Ko.
He delivered Fiyercrow's note to Elphaba and then he and Elphaba exchanged a look and a nod showing he was in on the plan.
He showed Glinda the bottle and gave her a look showing he knew who originally owned that bottle.
they both do it, throwing harsh, untrue words to guarantee each other's safety above all.
and they get the classic villain spills relationship revelations for the main couple treatment...
...except MLC doesn't cheapen out and rely on it solely to do the work for the main couple: fanghua has known that relationship truth long ago.
the heart li lianhua and fang duobing have for each other transcends ego. as long as the other can escape danger, they'll say it.
(similarly, as long as xiaobao can live carefree without knowing that xiangyi, the one he admired as a kid, and lianhua, his very best friend, have terminal illness, then xiaohua would keep it a secret for as long as possible.)
i always find it fascinating that the back-and-forth between them is so reflecting of the work one does in strong, for the long term relationships. it's not the absence of roadblocks, but how they do struggle in them and emerge hearing each other's voice in every action.
(while it's thank goodness that secrets find their way out in the show version so that no regret wins, the very act of keeping secrets has always been rooted in tremendous heart for fanghua. this is an act that, through the relationship process, becomes understood by each other as such. hence why xiaohua's very last lie is met with xiaobao saying i'll save you anyway. and, it's something xiaohua accepts with a smile before he loses consciousness because that's what they do: with their all, lie to save your life and you'll save mine.)
listen, i love the "li lianhua has no medical skills and just drains his remaining yangzhouman to heal patients" detail which i believe is true in the novel, but unfortunately when it comes to the drama i'm more intrigued by the implications of this chart from mlc promo material:
it tracks how severe the bicha poison was in li lianhua's body at different significant story beats. and according to the timeline, the poison stayed controlled at 20% for 9 years. it probably means he wasn't drawing upon yangzhouman unnecessarily, using it to protect himself instead, so the idea of him using it to heal people is less likely and our guy does, in fact, actually know some medicine (this isn't that much of a stretch, as far as i can tell they gave li lianhua more forensic knowledge in mlc as well).
what IS making me lose my mind, however, is that the percentage starts increasing when li lianhua heals fang duobing from the gang qi in episode 13. he probably knew exactly how much using yangzhouman there was going to take from him, and he did it without hesitating.
#the thing that kills me about this#is that llh handed it over#knowing full well that if fdb opened it#if he looked inside#he would know what it was#and he would know what it meant#and he wouldn't let llh leave his sight#so llh hands it over trusting—knowing—that fdb was already set on one thing#and he wouldn't be able to see anything else#but do you think there was part of llh that hoped#just a tiny bit#that fdb would open the book and realise what it was#what it meant?#the kind of quiet bargain you make with yourself when you know it'll never happen#but just in case—#if he looks—if he knows—you'll stay#you'll *have* to stay#and he doesn't look and you knew he wouldn't look and you know it means you have to leave#(you've always known you'd have to leave)#but for a moment you'd let yourself hope (selfishly) for different ending#anyhow i feel normal and this scene doesn't make me cry
ok it's just that look. this is one of the very few times that fang duobing doesn't let li lianhua manipulate him. he knows that li lianhua is trying to distract him, and he says absolutely not, not this time.
and it's a transparent attempt—it's so casual, it's so offhanded, it's so inappropriately timed—and fang duobing assumes that he knows what's happening. and he's already seen the solution, he already knows what he has to do next. so he brushes off li lianhua's request—the last thing that his friend will ever ask of him—and he runs off, hoping against hope that he can get help, that he can still fix this.
it's only when he comes back when he realises that he was being given, and what it meant. it's only after that that he realises that if he'd been a little less solutions focused, just this once, if he'd let li lianhua distract him just one more time, he would have known.
and i assume that he spends many nights turning that thought over in his head: if i'd looked. if i'd known. if i'd paid more attention...would it have been enough to make him stay?
this is probably the most absurd official artwork ever. sebastian trembling and weeping at ciel's wedding is completely ooc and absolutely hilarious. i can’t help but feel the urge to make it even worse
and then sebastian would say "I have gone through a lot of pain raising you......"
on twitter here and here, forayuarchive has been talking about how LLH & FDB really act like an old married couple, and i couldn't stop thinking about it too. as a native chinese speaker, the level of informality, familiarity and bickering, in how FDB and LLH speak to one another (especially in the later episodes) are reminiscent of how bickering old married chinese couples are often depicted.
when FDB is angry/upset at LLH, he calls him "死莲花" - "Damn Lotus/Damn Lianhua". the way FDB says it is in a manner where you might imagine old spouses scolding one another when nagging/bickering (to clarify, it's not romantic per se, but it's extremely informal & familiar).
for example, in ep 35, FDB calls him Damn Lotus in the note he left LLH when he went to look for the styx flower. CN fanghua fans on weibo managed to painstakingly transcribe the note (see forayuarchive's tweet about it here with the eng translation) - it's extremely informal and reads like a short note a spouse/partner would write when leaving their shared home in a hurry.
i also still can't believe LLH calls FDB "xiaobao", it speaks for itself. 小宝 Xiao Bao (literal meaning is "little treasure") is usually something you call literal babies/children AND is FDB's family nickname for him so if you're calling a grown man that in front of his parents and his colleagues and strangers and literally everyone, then he's either your biological family or he's your bf/partner. (it's a level of intimacy that would make me feel embarrassed as a third party hearing LLH call FDB that in front of everyone😭)
and not to mention the deleted line of FDB calling a sick/unconscious LLH "xiaohua'er". (see video & meta of the deleted line by forayuarchive here, translation of the deleted line by ttiesanjiao here). xiaohua'er is so intimate, definitely something one might call a lover 😭
(*for more name meta, see forayuarchive's twitter thread meta about all the names that FDB and LLH call one another, and in what situations each particular name is used)
in any case these are NOT what a disciple calls his shifu or a son calls his dad. these nicknames are far too informal and familiar - no son talks to his father like that and no disciple talks to his shifu like that. (now, an angry spouse however...)
(there's also the fact that FDB explicitly rejects their relationship as being anything other than that between 2 adult equals - when LLH jokes that FDB should bow to him as disciple, FDB immediately rejects the idea, saying that he was only joking about wanting to be LLH's disciple, that FDB is too old now. he firmly sees himself as an adult equal to LLH.)
tl;dr within months of knowing each other, LLH & FDB act as familiar as an old couple 10 years married, skipping the entire courtship stage 😭
dededos
kianamaiart
turnnoffyourmind
prguitarman
annaxmalina
