Wicked got rid of a Glinda scene that changed a key relationship in the film. Jon M. Chu’s movie now has a digital release, meaning that audiences can expect far more glimpses behind the scenes, but more importantly, see a number of deleted ones that have become available. Wicked became the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation swiftly after its release and is arguably the most popular blockbuster of 2024. The project later went on to win a Golden Globe Award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, consolidating its legacy in Hollywood and to the wider audience.

Alongside the outstanding performance from Cynthia Erivo and the rest of the cast, Wicked has a phenomenal soundtrack and is a visual delight. However, Ariana Grande’s performance as Glinda is one of the biggest highlights throughout Wicked‘s two-hour and 40-minute runtime. Glinda’s relationship with Elphaba is crucial to the narrative, as are her friendships with the other students at Shizz University. With that in mind, Wicked‘s new deleted scenes call attention to how Grande’s character has been unfairly portrayed, as it is obvious that many core moments in Glinda’s development have been cut.

Glinda Doesn’t Immediately Recognize Who Pfannee & ShenShen Are In A Wicked Deleted Scene

Glinda Briefly Forgets Who Pfannee & ShenShen Are When She Arrives At Shizz University

Glinda is almost always accompanied by her peers in Wicked, and initially, it seems that her best friends are Pfannee and ShenShen. They closely follows behind Glinda for the majority of the movie’s length, where their friendship feels tantamount to the traditional measures of popularity in school. From the perspective of this deleted scene, the trio’s first meeting after their arrival at Shizz indicates that they all somewhat knew each other before their enrollment. It appears that they previously danced academy together.

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The exchange sees Glinda’s over-theatrical concern for the pair whom she previously did not recognize, asking “How are you? Truthfully,” to which Pfannee immediately replies, “I’ve been through, I’ve been through.” The scene is amusing, particularly considering their ongoing devotion to Glinda throughout the rest of the movie, regardless of their clumsy first interaction. In terms of the broader narrative, though, the scene could have provided some necessary context for their friendship.

This Wicked Deleted Scene Reveals Pfannee & ShenShen Aren’t That Close Of Friends With Glinda

It Feels As Though The Trio Have Been Close Friends For Years In Wicked

While watching Wicked, audiences would quite easily get the impression that the trio had been friends for several years before reuniting at Shizz University. Grande’s character is by far the most popular individual on campus, but Glinda’s friendship with Pfannee and ShenShen is likely to be based on their immediate flattery towards her. This highlights how Pfannee and ShenShen’s friendship is more superficial rather than based on any kind of true bond.

It is important to note that Pfannee and ShenShen’s characters are not in The Wizard of Oz, but their introduction into the Wicked franchise is indispensable. While they have a history with the immensely popular figure, it doesn’t seem like Glinda would consider them to be her best friends. Overall, it seems purely coincidental that Pfannee and ShenShen have returned to Glinda’s life after a period of being apart. It’s also worth noting that while the pair is Glinda’s biggest supporters, they are not always a good influence on her.