Honestly, the first time I watched this movie I felt that their relationship was rushed and the connection was unbelievable. However, I don't ship Elphaba and Glinda (I do believe that Glinda does have romantic feelings for Elphaba ngl), soulmates can be platonic.

So it just really got me thinking why fiyero as the love interest? What makes them fall in love with each other? Then it hit me. They see their own vulnerability in one another and going in depth with this makes me realize "Wicked" is well-written and more complicated.

Let's start at their first encounter. Fiyero was surprised that Elphaba was green but that was a short-lived moment, and there isn't any indication that he's repulsed by her appearance (opposite of the scene when Elphaba first arrives at Shiz). Fiyero is more surprised by the fact that she seems to resent him. His charm isn't working on her, which is entirely new to him because as soon as he arrives at Shiz everyone is fawning over him. He is used to that attention and adoration, not the disinterest found in Elphaba. Therefore, due to his egotistical nature, he tries to get Elphaba's attention because he's intrigued by her (he hasn't fallen yet, I'll get to it). This can be seen when he enters the library, he waves at Elphaba but she rolls her eyes at him. Someone made a great analysis of "Dancing through life" as a "peacock" dance for Elphaba in this sub reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/wicked/s/tCe67rO8ad). I'll talk more about the significance of this song later, specifically the lyrics and how Elphaba emphasizes with it. My main point in this is that Fiyero never made fun of Elphaba, while everyone in her life did (even Glinda at the beginning on the movie). Yes, I know this is bare minimum, so onto the juicy stuff.

I believe Fiyero fell for Elphaba at the Ozdust dance because that's when he saw her vulnerability and strength--a mirror of who Fiyero is and who he wants to be. What I mean by this is that this scene highlights how Elphaba feels isolated; no one will ever dare to get close enough to her, so she will never be known. No one will see her for who she is... but at that moment, Fiyero does. Now, maybe some of you think that's bs. He tells Glinda that Elphaba doesn't care what anyone thinks, and Glinda responds to him that she does; she is just good at hiding it. Therefore, he didn't really understand her; that's what I thought too. However, I realized that comment made me realize that he saw Elphaba for her courage. Yes, she cares what people think, but she still had the courage to be in the center of all of that insecurity. To be in the spotlight of embarrassment, yet there she stood. She could've ran away, but she didn't. I believe the depth of Fiyero saying that Elphaba doesn't care what people think is a reflection of what he wants to have: courage (ironic since we have the cowardly lion but doesn't make it less true). Fiyero wants to have the courage to show who he truly is and stop hiding, stop running away. He realizes that once he looks at Elphaba, being strong and vulnerable. It is now HIM who is in admiration instead of the other way around. Furthermore, Elphaba reflects who he is. As Glinda says Elphaba does care what people think, she's only good at hiding it. This was like a punch in the face to fiyero (from his expression in this scene) because he relates to that so much. He cares what people think because if he didn't, then he wouldn't pretend to be someone he isn't.

Jump to the lion cub scene. Elphaba clocks Fiyero telling him that he's just pretending to be self-absorbed and deeply shallow (proof that he is pretending to be someone he isnt). Then Fiyero gets all of defensive, yet Elphaba clocks him again, saying he's clearly unhappy. He looks at her stunned. Initially, I was confused. How does elphaba come to all of these conclusions and why is fiyero so defensive? Remember "dancing through life" and the lyrics? This song is clearly saying that life is meaningless. "Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. It's just life..." Okay, what's the big deal? It's in the damn lyrics, everyone heard it... well, idk about you but the first time I didn't even notice it. This is because no one else in the movie (other than the subtle comment of Elphaba) mentioned it. It makes sense because DTL is an upbeat song, meant to distract you from what he's actually saying. It shows how Fiyero is pretending to be a stereotypical prince. He's life of the party as everyone is dancing and smiling with him. However, under the whole facade he's actually unhappy; no one notices except for Elphaba.

It's interesting how he truly SEES her and she truly HEARS him (this is what basically sold me on their ship).

But why only Elphaba hears his cries for unhappiness? Well, like I said, they see their reflection in each other. It isn't a far off idea to also think that Elphaba is unhappy. Yes, at this point of the movie her and Glinda are friends and people at Shiz no longer make fun of her, but that doesn't hide who she is. She's still and will always be the green girl. On top of feeling isolated, animals are losing their rights, which she is openly against. Therefore, what is there to really be happy about? Does anything really matter? Does she even matter? While this argument makes sense, it isn't that strong.

To make this argument that Elphaba and Fiyero have emotionally a lot in common, I need to explain them individually (yeah, like I said this movie is actually complicated). Firstly, why does Fiyero feel like nothing matters? It's quite simple. The world of "Wicked" is based off of superficiality. Who is the best at being fake? Pretending to be someone you're not to gain admiration, power, and control. It's the whole message of "Wicked": we should look out for the people who say they are good, not the ones that are viewed as wicked. This can be seen through Glinda, the Wizard, and Madame Morrible.

The point is Fiyero sees the world for what it is: superficial and filled with greed for more. It makes sense for his character because he's a prince. He was most likely raised to embrace people's affection but what is the value because they don't know him? What is the point, if everything is presented to him on a silver platter because of status? Therefore, nothing really matters, so he pretends to be a stereotypical shallow prince because the world calls him to. There is no point on trying to be who he really is or think deeper than superficiality.

How does this connect to Elphaba? Well, she understands how the superficial world works too, and the world is no place for a girl like her. To put it shortly they see that there are roles people need to play, even if it isn't their true selves (Elphaba playing the role as the wicked witch)... but that's just life, so they keep dancing through ;) I think it is romantic and kind of a soul connection when you meet someone that sees the same world as you. It makes characters like fiyero and elphaba feel seen and validated. They realize that there is nothing wrong with themselves, they don't need to change in order to be understood and loved. Actually the scene where fiyero tells Elphaba she doesn't need to act like Glinda after popular speaks volumes to how he saw her for who she is.

Back to lion cub scene. When Elphaba tells fiyero she knows he's unhappy, he looks at her in disbelief and a type of sadness... I bet this is the first time someone has ever saw his vulnerability and called him out on it. Because this has never happened to him, he feels exposed and mocked, so he turns away. But elphaba grabs his hand to show she needs his help and she isn't mocking him.

And my favorite moment has to be when they look down at their intertwined hands because of the significance of the skin to skin contact. Their hands are different by color but are the same by the value in which they hold.

What I mean by this is their shared worldview and how they both were quick to rescue the lion cub. (Also, i do believe the reason why fiyero wasn't affected by the poppies is because Elphaba subconsciously remembered him talking to his horse, so she assumed that he cared about animals.)

This whole scene, to me, was beautifully done, and shows you elphaba and fiyero falling for each other just as they are. The way they look into each other's eyes, and elphaba gently caressing his face PLEASE. It got me thinking how they most definitely have never felt this way before. They have never met someone so like them, yet they are so different in the way they were brought up and how people view them. But they still want each other and they understand each other. Since it is both their first times falling in love elphaba touches fiyero with such tender and care because she's treating him the way she always wanted. Also, she just doesn't want to hurt anyone like how people have hurt her. And fiyero has never hurt her and never would. I bet that fiyero has never been treated with such tender and care either. It overwhelmed him so much he fr needed to GET UP AND RUN AWAY. Elphaba is THAT girl (more irony lmfao). Oh, don't get me started on THAT song. The way she doesn't believe that they'll never get together... babes there is a whole song about him being yours.

If you made it this far, thank you. I basically just word vomited because once I started thinking about them, I couldnt stop. Please let me know your own thoughts and opinions! I'm so hyped for wicked: for good because as long as your mine, no good deed, for good. I CANT BELIEVE ITS ALL ON SOME DAMN LAPTOP.