The Poppy Scene in Wicked: A Hint at Fiyero’s Fate?
Despite his limited screen time in the first part of Wicked, Fiyero’s storyline has left audiences eagerly awaiting the sequel. The character’s strong characterization and chemistry with Elphaba have made his love story all the more excruciating. While Easter eggs in the movie focus on Elphaba and Glinda’s narratives, a subtle hint to Fiyero’s storyline remains, pointing to his future transformation as the Scarecrow.
In a pivotal scene, Elphaba uses magic poppies to put the class to sleep, allowing her to rescue a lion cub, implying the child version of the Cowardly Lion. Interestingly, Fiyero remains unaffected by the spell, enabling him to help Elphaba free the cub and ultimately leading to their romantic moments in the woods. This moment could be a subtle reference to Fiyero’s invulnerability, a characteristic of the Scarecrow.
Many have theorized that Fiyero’s resistance to Elphaba’s magic is due to her love for him, potentially subconsciously influencing the spell to exclude him. However, the poppy scene may also hint at Fiyero’s transformation, as he becomes the Scarecrow, invulnerable to harm, both magical and otherwise.
The poppy scene is not the only reference to Fiyero’s storyline. His song “Dancing Through Life” and his loose dance style extensively hint at his ultimate transformation. Moreover, his resistance to Elphaba’s magic suggests that he may have been immune to harm since the beginning.
The Wicked movie, directed by Jon M. Chu, has made changes to the poppy scene, supporting the theory that Fiyero will become the Scarecrow. In the stage adaptation, Elphaba frees the lion cub using an explosion, blinding everyone except Fiyero, who escapes unscathed due to his proximity to Elphaba. This adaptation highlights Elphaba’s desire to protect Fiyero from her magic and adds a sweet, tender undertone to their love story.
The changes made to the poppy scene not only expand on Fiyero’s storyline but also add to the main love story, referencing a small detail from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. As Wicked: Part 2 unfolds, fans can expect more significant shifts in Fiyero’s arc, ultimately leading to his transformation as the Scarecrow.