Honestly, considering this is all taking place in a place that's supposed to be full of magic and fantasy, I like how *Wicked* taps into abusive relationships.

What Boq did to Nessa by lying and settling for her was awful. It was so unfair to date her to impress Galinda just to stay because she's there. He should have taken the out at the Ozdust when Nessa offered it, but he didn't, and that's a shame.

However, I hate how Nessa kept him as a prisoner when he wanted and openly expressed leaving. That's just emotional abuse and entrapment. I could relate to Nessa as a disabled person who wants real relationships, but I hate her in act 2/WFG. She should have let him go. But it does show obsession and how just one choice can affect your life.

I could also relate to Boq because I was in a relationship a little over a year ago, back in late 2024, and there was trust broken, and it got worse when my ex was mad because I was hurt and could not trust or see him the same way. I didn't date him out of pity or because he was the only option. I really liked him, but his true colors had shown, trust was broken, and he punished me emotionally for being upset. But when I was first ready to leave, he lost a loved one, so I stayed, not wanting to hurt him more than he was already hurting. But it was hard, and I felt trapped. I realize now that wasn't a good reason to stay, but I still cared about him despite my hurt feelings, and I stayed with him till about a month later when he again hurt me, broke even more trust, and lied.

But *Wicked* is not only about love and friendship and sisterhood and being brave. It's also about hurt and pain and how choices can and will change you forever, either for good or for the worst. And I find Boq and Nessa to be complex despite me not really liking either one of them. They are both victims and yet villains in each other's stories, and Boq really changed for the worst. Not only was he the Tin Man, but I feel as though his humanity was gone, and Nessa's humanity died at the train station when she noticed how Boq looked at Glinda. In her final scene in the film, you see her staring straight ahead, full of anger and hate. There was no more warmth. Any of it that she had died at that train station. Boq killed any shred of warmth she had with a glance, and she destroyed his heart later on. They destroyed each other.

But Nessa is worse because at least he tried to be honest and leave, but she can't take rejection.

Honestly Wicked did such a good job here