At the end of Wicked is a half-spinoff, half-prequel to The Wizard of Oz, and follows Elphaba Thropp, a young woman with incredible power who begins attending magic school, alongside the iconic pink witch, Galinda. Although Wicked is being split into two parts, audiences should not underestimate the power of Wicked: Part One's ending.

One interesting aspect of Wicked's ending is the fact that many of Wicked's characters end up in completely different places by the end of the film. The most obvious examples are Elphaba and Glinda. Both women start off as enemies as Shiz, unable to see past their differences. However, by the film's finale, they share a tender friendship in the Emerald City, and Elphaba is in the midst of a massive transformation. Of course, Elphaba isn't the only character to be changed by the end of Wicked, and one big change comes from her own family.

Governor Thropp Dies In The Background Of Wicked's Ending As Nessarose Hears About Elphaba

Why Does Governor Thropp Die?

Another major character transformation that occurs at the end of Wicked is the death of Elphaba's father, Governor Thropp. At the start of the film, Thropp is introduced as Elphaba's cold and uncaring father, who openly disdains her because of her green skin. Although Thropp doesn't play a big role in the movie itself, it is clear that his cruelty affected Elphaba throughout her childhood, and she remains connected to him through Nessarose. However, as all of Oz hears about Elphaba's rise as the Wicked Witch, Wicked shows Nessa's shocked reaction and Thropp's sudden death.

Wicked doesn't provide any obvious answers about how Thropp dies, but the best theory is that he died of a sudden heart attack.

Wicked doesn't provide any obvious answers about how Thropp dies, but the best theory is that he died of a sudden heart attack. This would make sense considering that he had just heard the news that his daughter was a wanted criminal. Presumably, Wicked: Part Two will offer up some clearer answers about the incident. As it turns out, even this brief look at Thropp's death is much more than the Wicked musical offers audiences. On-stage, Thropp is simply acknowledged to be dead without any explanation. Thus, 2024's Wicked showcases a bit more detail about this situation.

Governor Thropp's Death Is Important For Nessarose's Wicked 2 Story

How Nessarose Changes From Wicked 1 To Wicked 2

Notably, Thropp's sudden death is not just a random occurrence, but actually signals a big change coming to Wicked's story. Namely, the death of Thropp means that Nessarose takes his place as the governor of Munchkinland. This is what occurs in the original Wicked book and the musical, and clearly, Wicked: Part One has already planted the seed for this Wicked: Part Two. Nessa's ascension as governor will not only change the fabric of Munchkinland, but will also usher in a new era for Nessa that is quite disturbing.

In Wicked: Part One, audiences quickly learn that Nessa is a kind and sensitive soul. Due to her disability, she often feels overlooked, overpowered, and underappreciated. This comes out through her relationship with Boq, who clearly has more feelings for Glinda than he does for Nessa. When Nessa becomes governor, her personality takes a sharp turn. In Wicked: Part Two, viewers will discover just how wicked Nessa can be once she finally has some power for herself, and this will not only hurt her peers, but the Munchkins who she rules over.

Elphaba Has A Harsh Reaction To Governor Thropp's Death In The Musical

What Thropp's Death Means For Elphaba

When it comes to Elphaba, Thropp's death creates quite a different reaction. While Nessa gets a new position of power, Elphaba gets nothing, which isn't much different from her entire childhood with Thropp. As a result, in the musical, Elphaba proclaims that life "is better" without her father and that she is "glad" he's gone. This reaction may seem harsh, especially since Elphaba is saying these things to Nessa, but her feelings are valid. Thropp never truly loved Elphaba, so it would make sense for her to resent him, even in death.

Wicked: Part Two is slated for release on November 21, 2024.

Elphaba does not hold any love for Thropp, and in fact, his death does not change much for her. As proven by the end of Wicked: Part One, the second movie will see Elphaba on the run from the authorities, determined to save Oz from the evils of the Wizard and Morrible. However, one change is that Elphaba may begin to wonder who her real father was, i.e. the man who turned her green. All in all, Thropp's death in Wicked is seemingly small, but creates some important shockwaves for the second movie.