Ever wondered why the characters in Wicked: For Good are so fond of saying 'clock tick'? It's a seemingly small detail that's got fans buzzing, but there's a fascinating reason behind it. Let's dive in! With a runtime of 2 hours and 17 minutes, the film technically features 8,220 seconds. However, the phrase 'clock tick' is uttered a mere five times. Initially, it's Glinda who utters the phrase, making it sound like another quirky Oz-ism, similar to 'obsessulated' or 'thrillifying'. But then, it starts popping up more frequently. Nessa uses it, and even Elphaba employs it during a pivotal moment, deflating the drama with a casual, 'Now you wait just a clock tick.'
Now, you might think this is a new addition to the Wicked universe, but it's not. Even in the first movie, Dulcibear asks Elphaba to watch her sister for 'just a clock tick.'
But here's where it gets controversial... Why the sudden obsession with 'clock tick'? Was it a deliberate choice, or just a quirky addition? I have a theory, and it might just change the way you see Wicked forever.
To understand this, we need to consider the musical's aesthetic and conceptual roots: steampunk. Think gears, cogs, tiny glasses, and top hats. This theme is present throughout the stage production. The film, too, incorporates these elements, especially through the Wizard and his love for inventions like model trains and wind-up toys.
And this is the part most people miss... In Gregory Maguire's Wicked novel, the source material for the musical, there's a pivotal element: the Time Dragon Clock. This fantastical device travels through Oz, putting on shows with clockwork puppets that act out people's pasts, presents, and futures. Elphaba's own story is even told through these puppets. This explains the giant dragon above the stage in the musical, the clockwork elements flanking the stage, and the clock face backdrop. Even Glinda's bubble resembles a gadget on a clock face.
The idea of the entire story taking place within a clock is more effective in theatre or animation than in a live-action movie. The film doesn't completely abandon this concept. The first movie opens with Glinda saying, 'According to the Time Dragon Clock, the melting occurred at the 13th hour.'
So, why 'clock tick'? Because the Wicked universe exists within a clock. The characters are, in a sense, part of a giant clockwork mechanism.
What do you think? Does this theory resonate with you, or do you have a different interpretation? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
