These are what we call the 'YMMV items.' Things that some people find in this work. We call them 'your mileage might vary' because not everyone sees these things in the same way. This starts discussions in the trope lists, a thing we don't want. Please use the discussion page if you'd like to discuss any of these items.
Prepare to have your conceptions of every character turned on its head.
The musical has alternate interpretations of the book characters
Big Lipped Alligator Moment: To this day, Gregory Maguire's message board is filled with people trying to understand just what the hell was up with the philosophy club scene.
Nearly everyone is Out of Character, and the timeline is tied in knots— but those who never cared for the original books consider this in a improvement. In the end, Your Mileage May Vary.
The books should be considered be considered an Alternate Universe to both the source books and the 'main' movie. Likewise with the musical is AU to those materials plus the Wicked book.
Fan Dumb: Some people actually consider Wicked canon with the original Oz books/movie.
Les Yay: Fairly prevalent in the book, particularly on Galinda's side. Note the part where she catches her breath as she realises how beautiful Elphaba is, and that their relationship seems to have been the most meaningful one in Galinda's life. Arguable interpretation. Although she does dwell on how nervous Elphie makes her feel, and remembers sharing a bed with her. It should be noted that the only thing Glinda could remember about the Emerald City trip was that they shared a bed.
Plus they have that incredibly emotional goodbye at the train station where they actually DO kiss - twice! - and where Elphaba's parting words to Glinda are "Hold out my sweet...Hold out if you can." And that part in the epilogue where Glinda literally feels Elphaba's death (despite not knowing exactly why she is suddenly so upset).
And let's not forget the understated sequence where Glinda literally swoons into Elphaba's arms and Glinda thinks that Elphaba being so close makes her want to purr (seriously). At which point Elphaba tells her to resist followed by "Not here," and "I love you too much." Is that even subtext anymore, or have we hit text?
The Les Yay carries over into Son of a Witch, when Glinda flips out when she sees Liir has Elphaba's cape and refers to her as 'My Elphie.'
Elphaba's granddaughter gets in on it too, when her semi-romantic interest Tip is revealed to be Ozma Tipperarius.
Nightmare Fuel - The people having their faces scrapped off...
Actor Shipping: Thanks to the high amount of Les Yay in the script, supplemented by their professed adoration of each other in interviews, many fans have shipped original Elphie and Glinda actress Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. Ironically, these rumours probably are matched only by the rumours that the two hated each other.
The latter are Jossed and largely never heard of anymore. Both have confirmed they are friends. Very nice friends.
Adaptation Displacement: Part of why fans of the book are so nervous about a movie version of the musical being made is that it will further cement into peoples minds that this is the official Wicked story, and people will continue to forget about and ignore the books.
Alternate Character Interpretation: Once you take in the Word Of God that Glinda was in love with Elphaba, it puts quite a few scenes in a new light. Likewise with the books, but more so with the musical where everything is not nearly as explicit (yet probably more so in a way) and is more covered up.
Big Lipped Alligator Moment: More like Big Lipped Alligator Object. The Clock of the Time Dragon, which played an important role in the book, is completely cut from The Musical with the exception of its unexplained presence above the stage. All it does is look scary while audiences try to figure out what the hell it's supposed to be, then freak them out by coming to life at seemingly random intervals.
Galinda tries to teach Elphaba that "it's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed".
Whole songs in this musical could be considered this: 'Popular' is about how appearances often matter more than intelligence or integrity. 'No Good Deed' exemplifies how some people will never find acceptance no matter how hard they try. 'Wonderful' describes how ambiguous history really is compared to the way people prefer to remember it. Overall, Wicked by itself is one long Family Unfriendly Aesop!
Jerkass Woobie: Nessarose until Elphaba finally casts a spell allowing her to walk again, when she becomes an outright Ungrateful Bastard
The Wizard's contraption thing could count. That giant robotic face with the moving mouth, his booming voice...*shudder*
The Time Dragon Clock set-piece coming to life, for some. Also, some of the latter half of "No Good Deed" is decidedly unnerving in the hands of a talented enough actress (and singer). Kerry Ellis delivers "I'm Wicked through and through" about three minutes in like the powers of hell just came out of her larynx.
The scene where Nessarose completely loses her temper after Boq tells her that he's in love with Glinda, and the result of her Magic Misfire.
One True Threesome: Elphaba/Glinda/Fyiero would solve many problems in the musical.
For a small but very vocal portion of the fanbase, Idina Menzel is the only Elphaba. The rest of us understand the need for replacements, due to the fact that the show's been running for 7 years and counting as of this entry, and Idina's career is expanding.
Made especially ironic when a Carrie Underwood clip show was put on YouTube...set to Idina Menzel's studio recording of "Defying Gravity." The comments page exploded with Idina fans' rage that a pop singer was covering the song. As with all musicals, everyone will have their favorite portrayal of a given character. Some of Idina Menzel's successors in the role have their rabid, overly-defensive fans as well.
Ship-to-Ship Combat: It exists within the book fandom but its most common in the musical fandom. Gelphie (Glinda/Elphaba) vs Fiyeraba (Fiyero/Elphaba) is the most common by far.
"For Good". "No Good Deed" certainly counts, too. "I'm Not That Girl" is definitely a sad moment.
"As Long As You're Mine", especially considering what happens immediately after.
Pretty much everything in the finale qualifies: "For Good", the melting scene, Chistery's first line, the Wizard finding out he was Elphaba's father, and the ending.
Kristin Chenoweth's last "For Good" is even sadder than most — she authentically breaks down. Her entire last performance basically consists of her voice breaking with every line.
Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: Elphaba. You wanted to give her a big hug by the end of the play. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.
Writer Cop Out: Somewhat. In the book, as in the original movie, Elphaba dies after Dorothy throws water on her. Apparently wanting a more family-friendly ending for the musical, she's revived. However, as mentioned on the main page, it's still a Bittersweet Ending in that she and Fiyero can never return to Oz nor tell Glinda that they're alive and well.
