From its more restrained opening verses to that heated mirror shot, to that cardigan, Wicked: For Good‘s rendition of “As Long As You’re Mine” definitely has sparked plenty of discussion. As a certified Wicked girlie, I found myself poring over every detail of Elphaba and Fiyero’s love duet. It may look a little different than stage-show fans are used to, but in my opinion? It’s every bit as romantic, thanks to some smart staging and the sheer talents of Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey.
Before the song properly starts, we get a glimpse of what happens when the adrenaline wears off. In the stage version, Elphaba and Fiyero run away from the Emerald City, and when we next see them, they’re falling into a fierce embrace to sing their duet. There’s no time for the rush to slow down, no time for doubts to creep in.
Wicked: For Good, however, reminds us — heartbreakingly — that both of them are understandably uncertain. No one has ever expressed a real desire for Elphaba; quite the contrary, she surrounds herself with propaganda demonizing her. And no one has ever seen Fiyero, not the real him.
Let’s be honest: one of the sexiest moments happens before the song even starts. Fiyero comes up behind Elphaba, and as they lock gazes in her mirror, he gently takes her cape off her. Bridgerton mirror-scene parallels aside, it’s a tentative check-in, a confirmation for them both that this is real and happening.
A Slower Start with Powerful Payoff
Elphaba’s first verse of “As Long As You’re Mine” plays out with physical distance between the lovers. It’s sung almost as a tentative request, not a description of what’s already happening. Erivo described Elphaba in this moment as “someone vulnerable, soft, sometimes awkward and anxious. Someone who doesn’t [always] necessarily believe in herself.” Of course, she’s not jumping straight in — this is new to her, and she can hardly believe it’s real.
Meanwhile, Fiyero likewise strips off his armor, removing his guardsman coat and suspenders as he looks around Elphaba’s home. Smartly, Wicked: For Good moves Fiyero’s “You’re beautiful” dialogue before his verse instead of after the song. He’s in uncharted territory, too. He feels real, deep feelings, not the “brainless” and “shallow” life he has clung to for so long.
Bailey is king of the yearning expressions, as usual. Fiyero’s “under your spell” is deliciously playful, and it marks the turning point in their duet. That’s the moment where the doubts go away, where the line is crossed, and where Elphaba takes the lead. She pulls up this literal prince kneeling before her and tugs him deeper into her lair. Finally, finally they let themselves touch and explore with growing boldness. It’s all the more effective for the slower buildup; we get to go on the journey with them.
“As Long As You’re Mine” Doesn’t Hide From Itself
The standard argument is that Wicked: For Good does “As Long As You’re Mine” less sexily than the stage version. I would argue it’s not less sexy, just different. The final verse, where Elphaba levitates herself and Fiyero — tightly entwined and surrounded by fireflies — is absolutely enchanting (pun intended). I love how they smile into their first kiss, letting themselves let go and be happy. I love that their final pose, kneeling and kissing on Elphaba’s bed, is a visual homage to the classic Broadway staging.
Despite starting out with less physicality, this “As Long As You’re Mine” is one that doesn’t shy away from anything. When we rejoin Elphaba and Fiyero a scene later, they’re cuddled up under the covers and visibly undressed. It’s important not just for the romance of it all, but for the vulnerability. For very different reasons, neither of these characters is all that familiar with vulnerability. Only Glinda ever gave Elphaba a safe place to be herself; for Fiyero, he’s never truly been seen, except by Elphaba.
That’s why the joy of it is as important as the sexiness. Elphaba and Fiyero both are almost giggly with wonder during the “for the first time, I feel wicked” line. They’re happy and playful together, light and free in a way they don’t get to be. Sure, it’s just for a brief moment — and that moment is even shorter than they could have thought — but it matters.
A Marriage of True Minds
In that brief pillow-talk scene, Fiyero walks a perfect line between showing his concern and respecting Elphaba’s strength. Although he’s worried for her, he never pushes her or tries to “protect” her in a macho way. It’s always centered on how he can help her, and that’s quite frankly refreshing.
Over the course of the “As Long As You’re Mine” sequence, Fiyero offers Elphaba his help, his heart, his body, and even his home (one of them, at least!). In a way, it could be read like a symbolic marriage — one that’s real but not formal and public, in contrast with his very public but inauthentic near-marriage with Glinda. When he promises Elphaba that they’ll be together always, it feels like a vow. Wicked: For Good may have given us a less frantic, more yearning “As Long As You’re Mine,” but it’s every bit as meaningful and memorable as we could ever ask for.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Universal Pictures