Wicked inevitability frames Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba and Ariana Grande's Glinda in opposition to each other, asking audiences which one they prefer and who they view as the MVP of the story. Wicked is truly a narrative with two main characters, as how Elphaba and Glinda compare and contrast plays into the themes of maintaining public appearances and how these young women have different approaches to navigating Oz's fraught socio-political landscape. This premise is made even more captivating because of their dedication to each other; as best friends, they ire and respect each other's differences (but occasionally drive the other one crazy).

By Wicked makes many changes from the original book, the second half is likely to closely follow the Broadway musical's version of events, which means circumstances will drive a wedge between Elphaba and Glinda. Yet if one thing is certain, it is that Erivo and Grande will continue to be the invaluable, driving forces behind this new era of Wicked.

Cynthia Erivo vs Ariana Grande: Who Gives The Better Wicked Performance

Ariana Grande *Barely* Gives The Better Performance In Wicked Part One

Grande seems to have attracted more attention for her performance in Wicked due to being the more surprising casting choice (Erivo is an experienced stage and screen singer-actress) and having the more complicated character. Erivo makes Elphaba very layered; Elphaba actually acts very steely and reserved for most of the movie, leaving it up to Erivo to convey undertones of affection, amusement, heartbreak, and anger (which she does). Yet her louder moments are also organic and completely believable for the character. There is substantial buzz about her chances at the Oscars, and winning an Oscar for Wicked would earn Erivo an EGOT.

However, Grande amazingly makes Glinda bubbly, hilarious, but deeply caring.

Glinda, on the other hand, is a more contradictory character. The script sets her up to be a Regina George-style queen bee (maybe less overtly vicious), then flips it with her becoming Elphaba's friend. Glinda reconciling with Elphaba could also come across as selfish, only happening because Elphaba got Glinda into sorcery class. However, Grande amazingly makes Glinda bubbly, hilarious, but deeply caring. While Elphaba is a whirlwind of repressed emotions and burgeoning convictions that is riveting to watch, there is a duality to Glinda's character that is very tricky to play — but Grande absolutely nails it.

Cynthia Erivo vs Ariana Grande: Whose Songs Are Better In Wicked

Elphaba's Songs Have Always Been The Most Epic Moments Of Wicked

Yet Elphaba's power ballads are undeniably the most breathtaking moments of Wicked. Soon after her first appearance as an adult, Elphaba delivers The Wizard and I," a song with a dreamy but still surprisingly forceful effect. Glinda, of course, has her famous number "Popular" about halfway through the movie, which is epic in a perfectly Glinda way. Grande refused to change Wicked's "Popular" from its musical version and performs it perfectly; it is the biggest display of everything that makes Glinda who she is, with glamour, perfectly timed comedy, but an underlying maniacal brilliance in how she goes through life.

However, "Defying Gravity" is then the true showstopper of Wicked, and arguably the single most epic moment ever seen on a Broadway stage. Erivo pulls off the notes that Idina Menzel once performed, which transcend all words. The lyrics of "Defying Gravity" are some of the most skillful work by Stephen Schwartz, conveying Elphaba's realization that she is better than the game she has been playing. Additionally, while "Defying Gravity" is Elphaba's song, it is carried further by the fact that Glinda sings one verse of it — and for a moment, there is truly nothing these two cannot do.

Ariana Grande's Glinda Is Funnier Than Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba

Grande's Comedic Talents Mixed With The Ability To Make Glinda Sympathic Is Crucial To Wicked

Glinda is evidently the comedic backbone of Wicked; Elphaba has some humorous moments that are softly inspired by Margaret Hamilton's performance in 1939's The Wizard of Oz, such as scaring Glinda and then cackling. Her first scene with Jonathan Bailey's Fiyero is also amusing, but mostly because of the way he deflects her. However, Glinda is hilarious throughout Wicked by being unapologetically herself. Glinda says a lot of things that should make her unlikably self-centered — from "They're gonna miss me" to "I didn't get my way" — but Grande knows how the theatrics of Glinda's character work.

Every over-the-top comment Glinda delivers balances out an inherently dark story, which allows the "wonderful" in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to still come through. Grande puts her own spin on iconic quotes and interactions that have gone through many iterations, accomplishing a delicate balancing act of Glinda always being the funniest person in the room but also intelligent — in a way that is still funny. Her pauses for effect, physicality, and now-viral exclamation of "Right!" prove that Grande is one of the underrated comedy talents of a generation, and Glinda is the role she was born to play.

Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba Is The Emotional Backbone Of Wicked

Elphaba Having Complexity While Pursuing Relatively Straightforward Goals Makes The Story Compelling

Meanwhile, Elphaba is the emotional and moral core of the story. The Wicked Witch of the West is a figure most people know as irredeemably evil and extremely spiteful, but Wicked makes The Wizard of Oz a tragedy by showing how Elphaba never wanted to hurt anyone. The world was cruel to her from the beginning, and no matter what she did to help, it backfired on her. Erivo is off to a strong start with Elphaba's story by showing how there is an underlying frustration within her, and how big things like Glinda befriending her are in her life.

Erivo accomplishes some very subtle expressions that show the character's complex feelings about what is ultimately a forgone conclusion.

Elphaba's character arc shows the heartbreak of having been alone for most of her life, her only respite being in Glinda and Fiyero. Elphaba's goals are actually relatively straightforward: to study sorcery and use this to help the animals, adapting this plan as she learns the truth about Oz's regime. Erivo accomplishes some very subtle expressions that show the character's complex feelings about what is ultimately a forgone conclusion. However, Elphaba's most powerful moments are still "The Wizard and I" and "Defying Gravity," which is largely the result of composition work rather than acting.

Ariana Grande Is The Real MVP Of Wicked

But Cynthia Erivo May Become Bigger In Wicked Part Two

Ariana Grande narrowly emerges as the bigger star of Wicked, when this first movie has her convincingly delivering the glitz of Popular" while also pulling off the heartbreak and healing (and operatic vocals) of "No One Mourns the Wicked," as well as Glinda and Elphaba's dance scene. It is doubtful that anyone truly expected Grande to be as good as she is in Wicked; when she is perfectly portraying a finely nuanced character who carries so much thematic weight, she comes out on top. However, Erivo may yet sur her as Elphaba.

The next half of the story could be Erivo's time to truly shine, as it demands she accomplish the desperation and terrifying nature of "No Good Deed," while also believably being enchanted by her enemy's vision during "Wonderful." The first half of the story sees Elphaba mostly going through the motions she thinks will lead to real change, up until "Defying Gravity." However, when Elphaba is continuously challenged by her situation in the second half, calling for more inner conflict in Erivo's performance, she could be the MVP of the next Wicked, while Grande remains so for the first.