Why “Wicked” Might Be the Most Underrated Friendship Story Ever Told

Confession time: I’m not a big bandwagon person. If something is wildly popular, I tend to quietly hang back and wait for the noise to settle before deciding if it’s actually worth my time. (Call it cautious curiosity… or mild rebellion.)

So yes, I just watched Wicked for the first time last week. And oh. my. goodness. Consider me completely, utterly, joyfully converted.

As a therapist (and lifelong student of human behavior), I couldn’t help but watch it through the lens of relationship dynamics. And friends… this movie might just be one of the best depictions of real friendship I’ve seen in years.

Let’s talk about why:

1. It’s Not a “Perfect Friendship” — It’s a Real One

Elphaba and Glinda start off with that painfully relatable mix of jealousy, misunderstanding, and ego. They don’t click right away. They’re opposites. And yet, underneath the awkwardness and judgment, something deeper begins to form — respect.

That’s how many strong friendships actually start: two people brave enough to look past differences and see each other’s hearts.

2. It Shows the Messy Middle

So many stories glamorize the “we’re best friends forever” phase, but Wicked gives us the middle chapters too: the tension, the distance, the heartbreak. As a therapist, I love how it captures the truth that even healthy relationships have ruptures — and that repair is what makes them real.

Glinda and Elphaba challenge, disappoint, and grow each other. Destroying dysfunction; that's depth!

3. It’s About Being Seen for Who You Really Are

When Elphaba sings “I’m through accepting limits ‘cause someone says they’re so…” it’s not just a power ballad, it’s the anthem of anyone who’s ever felt misunderstood, underestimated, or judged for being different.

And what does Glinda do, ultimately? She sees her. That moment of recognition, of choosing to understand rather than fix. That is therapy in motion and so magic!

4. The Ending Is Bittersweet… and Beautiful

Without spoiling it for the other latecomers like me, the ending is the kind of emotional gut punch that lingers. But it’s also hopeful. Because that’s what true friendship does: it changes us in ways that last far beyond goodbye.

5. It’s a Mirror for Us All

We all have a “Glinda” or an “Elphaba” chapter; the moments we tried too hard to be liked, or the times we were unfairly judged for standing in our truth. Wicked reminds us that both roles belong in the story and that compassion bridges them.

So, here I am: officially late to the Wicked party, fangirling like a teenager, and so grateful I got to see Wicked 2 with my mom and daughter (in 3D....which is not my first choice).

We all left humming a little louder, feeling a little braver… and telling each other,

“You’ve changed me for good.” 💚✨