[Vanessa20]

I’m starting another poll to follow up the one on subtext that I started a while back. How many people here identify with Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship?

Do any of you have a best friend who you loathed at first? A best friend who’s your polar opposite? One whose political beliefs/ideals were painfully different from yours? One whose boyfriend you liked or vice-versa, and/or who left her for you or vice-versa? One whom you’ve had a major falling-out with, or even a catfight, but then eventually made up with? One whom you feel has changed you for good and made you a better person? One who you’ve possibly had slashy feelings for, even though you’re “officially” straight, if you buy into that? All of the above?

I’m curious to know, because I’ve heard people say that “For Good” reminds them of their own friendships. Does that mean that the two characters’ whole relationship reminds them of their own? This probably makes me sound like an idiot or a cave person, but the thing is that I don’t have any friendships as close as Elphaba and Glinda’s. I’m a real loner. I’m also interested in psychology and why these shows appeal to people. I know that people identify with Elphaba’s fish-out-of-water status: I’d like to know if a totally unlikely and turbulent yet ultimately life-changing friendship like hers and Glinda’s is something that people identify with too?

[hyperactress23]

The Elphie/G[a]linda relationship actually kind of reminds me of the relationship between my sister and I, minus the loathing part.

My sister and I are polar opposites. She's very into being pink and glittery and doing what's considered in style so she can be "popular". I'm more into doing my own thing and not relying on others. While we have our spats, for the most part we get along really well. She's definitely made my life different. (Although that's kind of obvious, since we were born sisters.)

Oddly enough, when we saw Wicked, she got the Popular shirt while I got the Defying Gravity, but when we listen to the cast recording, I sing G[a]linda's parts while she sings Elphaba's.

[kiwiholly]

I don't know - I think so. In fact maybe even two different relationships of mine, at least in part. Wow. That makes zero sense, hahah!

[ActingDude17]

The Elphaba/Glinda friendship doesn't mirror any of my friendships at all. It seems to have a very female dynamic. But hey, that's what's made the show so successful. The creators were smart.

[broadway_bound92]

I can definately relate to the Elphie/Galinda friendship. Most of my close friends are very different than me.

My best friend during elementary and middle school probably is the most similar to Galinda and Elphaba's friendship. She was very artistic and didn't really care about clothes, or parties, or what people thought of her, while Ive always been very girly, and love clothes and parties, and care about how I present myself. We really had nothing in common and I don't know how we became friends, although I'm glad we did.

We went to different schools (she moved an hour away in after second grade) and didnt see each other often, and I don't know if we would have been friends as long as we were if she hadn't moved, because we were so different. We had a "falling-out" after 8th grade and don't talk very often now, but I do think that she made an impact on my life and that reminds me of For Good.