These relationships work because they are real . They are messy, incomplete, and full of compromise. The romance between Elphaba and Fiyero is about the impossibility of peaceful love during a revolution. The non-romance between Elphaba and Glinda is about the cost of conformity. And the anti-romance with the Wizard is about the trauma of political seduction.
Unlike the musical’s tender "As Long As You're Mine," the novel’s romance is wicked in its realism. Fiyero is distant, intellectual, and often cruel. He loves Elphaba, but he loves his own wife, Sarima, and his children, too. Elphaba becomes a mistress living in a castle of denial. Sexy Wicked Melanie
These are not simple fairy-tale romances. They are wicked in the truest sense: morally complex, psychologically devastating, and hauntingly beautiful. From the tragic idolatry of Fiyero to the toxic paternal bond with the Wizard, and the queer-coded longing for Glinda, Elphaba’s love life is a masterclass in tragic storytelling. The most famous of Elphaba’s romances is, of course, the Winkie Prince, Fiyero. In the musical, this storyline is the quintessential "bad boy falls for the outsider" trope—but with a wicked twist. These relationships work because they are real
The song "Wonderful" is the Wizard’s seduction of Elphaba’s ego. He flatters her, dances with her, and almost convinces her to become complicit in evil. It is an abusive, gaslighting romance. She almost buys it, because the need for a father’s (or a leader’s) love is the oldest drug. Her rejection of him—"You’re the Wicked one"—is the most brutal breakup in the show. 5. The Shadow of the Son: Liir and Avaric In the novel’s sequel ( Son of a Witch ), we see the aftermath of Elphaba’s broken heart through her son, Liir. While not a direct romance, Elphaba’s inability to love Liir creates a wicked cycle. The non-romance between Elphaba and Glinda is about