This Is Why “Dancing Through Life” In “Wicked” Has Way More Meaning Than You Might Think

Stephanie Soteriou
·4-min read

Warning: Minor Wicked: Part Two spoilers ahead!

Jon M. Chu’s movie adaptation of Wicked has been in theaters for almost two weeks now, so you are probably already aware that it is jam-packed with clever Easter eggs and details that reference what fans can expect in part two of the movie.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked

And it is in this second act that a whole bunch of important plot points that tie Wicked and The Wizard of Oz together come to light, including who the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion really are in the latter.

Four characters—Scarecrow, Tin Man, Dorothy, and Cowardly Lion—walk on a yellow brick road in an open field

Spoiler alert: They are characters that we have already met in part one.

MGM via Everett Collection

This article will focus on the Scarecrow, with Act 2 of the stage production showing Elphaba use her magic to transform her love interest, Fiyero, into a scarecrow in a bid to protect him after he is captured by the Wizard’s guards.

Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero in a ornate outfit looks back, surrounded by people in school uniforms, with arches and greenery in the background

While this isn’t explicitly referenced in the movie that came out last month, there are several clues and Easter eggs that foreshadow Fiyero’s fate — here is a full breakdown of them.

© Universal Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

In case you have forgotten, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow early on in The Wizard of Oz, and his whole story revolves around wanting a brain. He even sings a whole musical number about it, entitled: “If I Only Had a Brain.”

Actor dressed as a scarecrow with a floppy hat and straw accents, in a classic movie scene

Elsewhere in the song, Fiyero sings: “Dancing through life / Swaying and sweeping,” which is an obvious reference to the swaying of a scarecrow in a corn field, and the fact that they are typically made out of old broomsticks.

Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero energetically poses in a futuristic, circular set with several people in matching outfits in the background

In addition to the lyrics of this already-established song, Chu included some more onscreen nods to Fiyero’s fate in the movie.

© Universal Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

Jonathan Bailey plays Fiyero in this adaptation, and just before “Dancing Through Life,” he is shown holding a copy of a book called Forbidden Corn. During his performance, he is then shown dancing past corn insignias — with both being apparent hints to what’s in store.

A young woman in a dress helps a scarecrow in a field as he sits with one leg stretched out, depicting a scene from a classic film

At the end of the song, Bailey, as Fiyero, strikes a pose with his arms extended out wide and his legs crossed, which is an obvious homage to Ray Bolger’s Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.

MGM via Everett Collection

Another clue is the fact that Fiyero is the only person unaffected by Elphaba’s magic spell involving poppy flowers at Shiz University, which sends everybody else to sleep. If you need reminding, in The Wizard of Oz, the Scarecrow is unaffected by the Wicked Witch of the West’s sleep-inducing spell.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba with green face and glasses wears a black outfit, standing in front of a group of people in blue uniforms holding red flags

Unfortunately, we have to wait for Wicked: Part Two to see how Fiyero’s transformation manifests on screen, but if part one is anything to go by, we are all certainly in for a treat!

© Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

Did you pick up on these clues? Let me know in the comments!

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