Podcast Summary: Fr. Mike Schmitz Reviews "Wicked"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
• Host: Ascension
• Episode: Fr. Mike Schmitz Reviews "Wicked"
• Release Date: January 30, 2025
• Description: Faith, pop culture, and headline reflections from Fr. Mike Schmitz.

Introduction to "Wicked"

Fr. Mike Schmitz opens the episode by addressing the popularity of the musical "Wicked," acknowledging its widespread acclaim. He anticipates that some listeners might be surprised by his venture into movie reviews but assures them of his genuine interest.

"Wicked. Very popular musical. Insanely popular musical. You're gonna say, like, wait, why are you doing movie reviews now?"
[00:00]

Connection to L. Frank Baum’s "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"

Fr. Mike expresses his deep appreciation for L. Frank Baum's original work, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." He highlights his fascination with the origin stories within Baum's narrative, particularly the transformation of the Tin Woodman from a regular woodcutter into his iconic form due to a curse.

"I love how he wrote about how the tin woodsman to be the tin woodsman. He actually was originally a normal man, a woodcutter, and he was in love with a munchkin maiden. And this witch cursed his axe, and he just. This whole story, it's always moves me, touches my heart in a deep way."
[00:30]

Overview of "Wicked"

Fr. Mike provides a synopsis of "Wicked," explaining that it serves as a retelling of the origins of two pivotal characters from "The Wizard of Oz": Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch. He appreciates the musical for offering a different perspective on these characters' backstories.

"Wicked is basically a retelling of the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the west and of the good Witch Glinda, and basically goes back and says, here's the real story of Glinda. Here's the real story of the Wicked Witch of the west, who was named Elphaba in the book Wicked."
[01:15]

Appreciation for the Musical’s Artistic Elements

Fr. Mike praises various aspects of the musical, including its music, clever lyrics, vocal performances by the actresses, and visual presentation. He commends the production quality and the talent involved.

"What I like about the musical? I really like the music. If you go see the movie, I think the music is great. Some of the lyrics are very, very clever and really creative. I. I loved it. The voices of the singers of the actresses, especially in the musical, are insane. The visualization, awesome."
[02:00]

Critical Analysis: Understanding Elphaba

Delving deeper, Fr. Mike discusses Elphaba's character arc, emphasizing that she is portrayed not as inherently wicked but as a misunderstood individual shaped by experiences of rejection and witnessing oppression. He highlights the complexity of her character and the sympathetic portrayal offered by "Wicked."

"So Elphaba is not really wicked. She just has experienced a life of rejection. And not only that, but she's seeing oppression and she's seeing injustice. And because she wants to do something about oppression, because she wants to do something about injustice, she's being pushed to the margins more and more and more. And so she's not actually wicked. She's just misunderstood."
[03:20]

Fr. Mike connects this narrative to broader life lessons about maturity, empathy, and the importance of understanding others' journeys.

"It's a sign of maturity to recognize that everyone's on their journey. It's a sign of maturity to recognize that everyone has a story and to be curious and kind about that story is. Is so, so very good."
[04:10]

Balancing Understanding and Accountability

While appreciating the nuanced portrayal of characters, Fr. Mike addresses a critical distinction between understanding someone's background and excusing behavior. He cautions against using personal histories solely as justifications for actions without accountability.

"There's a difference between explaining and explaining away. ... But there's also things that are like, oh, these are my excuses. There's such a thing as, wow, I really have a short temper. And I have it for these reasons. ... One is a reason, and I understand that I can maybe actually get better. The other is an excuse that means I don't have to get better."
[05:45]

Critical Perspective on "Wicked"’s Moral Ambiguity

Fr. Mike critiques "Wicked" for blurring the lines between good and evil. He argues that by suggesting all characters' actions are merely products of perspective, the musical undermines the clear moral distinctions present in the original "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

"They're telling a story where we're erasing the difference between good and evil and saying it's all a matter of perspective. Bad is just actually misunderstood and. And good is just popular. Then you realize that there's no good and no evil."
[07:10]

He contrasts this with Baum's original narrative, which maintains clear definitions of virtue and vice, and expresses discomfort with "Wicked's" redefinition.

"I think is wrong. But maybe one of the things that just bothers me the most about the whole. The whole thing. ... It's because of a thing called retconning. ... That's wrong."
[08:00]

Issue with Retconning and Story Integrity

Fr. Mike elaborates on his main grievance with "Wicked": the practice of retconning—altering established narratives to serve new interpretations. He believes that while creative reinterpretation is acceptable with original characters, it becomes problematic when applied to existing stories without honoring their foundational elements.

"You take these characters where the wonderful wizard of Oz, the wizard himself, isn't a tyrant. ... Wicked is. But what if he is?"
[09:00]

He emphasizes the importance of maintaining the integrity of original stories and characters, arguing that "Wicked" misappropriates and distorts Baum's creations for its own narrative purposes.

"You take someone else's characters, someone else's story, and say, what if I think it's unjust because now people say, no, no, this is actually Elphaba's backstory. No, no, it's not Elphaba's backstory. Some other person stole someone else's idea and put their own twist on it. That's wrong."
[10:20]

Engagement with the Audience

Fr. Mike concludes his review by inviting listeners to share their thoughts and engage in respectful dialogue, acknowledging that opinions may vary. He reinforces the distinction between discussing a musical and discussing life-and-death matters, encouraging constructive conversations.

"I gotta tell you, this is what's on my heart, on my mind. What do you think? Put it down in the comments below. If you disagree with me, that's completely fine. Because we're just talking about a story. We're just talking about a musical. It's not life and death."
[11:00]

Final Thoughts

While expressing his critiques, Fr. Mike reaffirms his respect for the musical's artistic achievements, balancing his disappointment with an appreciation for the elements he found commendable.

"But at the same time, I don't like erasing good and evil for just misunderstood or popular. I think there's something we lose when we do that."
[12:00]

He wraps up by encouraging listener interaction and expressing his readiness to engage in discussions with an open heart.

Key Takeaways:

• Appreciation for Artistic Elements: Fr. Mike values the music, lyrics, vocal performances, and visual aspects of "Wicked."
• Character Depth: He acknowledges the nuanced portrayal of Elphaba as a misunderstood figure confronting injustice.
• Moral Clarity Concerns: Fr. Mike is critical of "Wicked" for blurring the lines between good and evil, fearing it diminishes clear moral distinctions.
• Retconning Critique: He objects to the rewriting of established stories and characters, emphasizing the importance of maintaining narrative integrity.
• Balanced Perspective: While appreciative, he maintains a critical stance, inviting dialogue and diverse opinions from listeners.

Notable Quotes:

• "It's a sign of maturity to recognize that everyone's on their journey."
  [04:10]

• "There's a difference between explaining and explaining away."
  [05:45]

• "They're telling a story where we're erasing the difference between good and evil and saying it's all a matter of perspective."
  [07:10]

• "Some other person stole someone else's idea and put their own twist on it. That's wrong."
  [10:20]

Conclusion

Fr. Mike Schmitz offers a thoughtful review of "Wicked," blending appreciation for its artistic merits with a critical examination of its narrative choices. His insights encourage listeners to reflect on the portrayal of good and evil, the integrity of storytelling, and the balance between understanding and accountability.