Tin Man, Dorothy, Cowardly Lion, and Scarecrow in Wicked: For Good
The following contains spoilers for Wicked: For GoodWicked: For Good has some big references to 1937's The Wizard of Oz, but that includes one change that speaks to a fundamental misreading of one of the film's most famous dynamics.
Dorothy is the hero of The Wizard of Oz, but is purposefully kept to the sidelines of the Wicked story to keep the spotlight on Elphaba and Glinda. The film contains a lot of references to the history of Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz in mass media, including an appearance of her perpetually loyal dog Toto. However, there's one aspect of Toto's appearance in Wicked: For Good that doesn't make any sense, given the history of the character in film. Why Does Dorothy Have Toto On A Leash In Wicked: For Good? It's a minor moment, but the shot of Dorothy walking away from the Munchkins with Toto on a leash seems to have forgotten a key element of Dorothy and Toto from The Wizard of Oz. As in the musical that Wicked and Wicked: For Good are based on, Dorothy only appears briefly. Even then, Dorothy has no clear involvement in the plot. However, audiences did get a chance to see the new Toto, who is briefly seen walking alongside Dorothy after she lands in Oz. However, it's strange that, given the iconic imagery of The Wizard of Oz that Wicked is specifically referencing, they have Toto on a leash. In The Wizard of Oz, Toto wasn't on a leash. In fact, this is partly what allows Toto to get loose and bite Miss Gulch, giving her reason to want the dog put down . It was a telling detail for Dorothy and Toto that he wasn't on a leash. Toto in the original film is quick to bark at potential enemies and has to be held back. It's a small touch to have Toto be off a leash, but it adds a bit of personality to Dorothy and Toto's uniqueness in the world of Oz. Wicked: For Good doesn't spend any actual on-screen time with Dorothy, reflecting her purposefully small role in the original musical. That makes what small scenes we do get with her all the more impactful and stand out for their divergence from the history of the series. Why Toto Being On A Leash Is So Strange In Wicked Dorothy's cameos in Wicked: For Good are a mix of different parts of the franchise lore. She has the dress that Judy Garland made famous, but Dorothy also wears silver slippers that reflect their book design rather than the ruby red of the MGM film. Toto being on a leash is a minor one, but one that really stands out. It's possible that Toto being on a leash is to adhere to a more modern perspective on having animals restrained, or it could have simply been a way to keep the dog on-set from running around too quickly. However, it's also just odd to see, after plenty of references to Oz lore, to see Toto on a leash. It also inherently feels weird to see a leashed animal when so much of the film is rooted in Elphaba's quest to liberate the animals of Oz. If it had been addressed, it could have been a slyly silly reason why Elphaba saw Dorothy as so offensive to her. It could have even underscored how the pair are unlikely foils, Dorothy becoming the unwitting pawn Morrible sought to make Elphaba into. However, that would have also required leaning into Dorothy's place in the story, something the film clearly didn't want to do. It's just a minor element, but it stood out instantly. The original Wizard of Oz gets a lot of personality out Toto being off the leash, and Wicked undid it. It's a minor element, but it speaks to how disconnected Wicked: For Good ended up being from The Wizard of Oz. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review Your comment has not been saved Like Follow Followed Wicked: For Good PG Drama Fantasy Romance 8/10 8.3/10 Release Date November 21, 2025 Runtime 137 Minutes Director Jon M. Chu Writers Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, Gregory Maguire Cast See All
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