Wicked Part Two is what happens when the glitter fades, the truth surfaces, and people begin to realize the path they are on may not be the one they are meant to follow anymore. That realization sounds strikingly similar to what we see when someone comes to terms with the fact that their marriage is no longer the life they imagined or can continue.
Whether you relate more to Elphaba or Glinda or are simply trying to get through custody decisions one breath at a time, the second act of Wicked offers a reminder many family law clients need. When a story splits, it does not mean the narrative is lost. It means the characters and their lives are evolving.
Divorce does not usually come with flying monkeys or spells, but it does arrive with plenty of plot twists. Relationships shift. Allegiances change. The person you once planned a future with is now someone you are emailing through your lawyer about winter break drop offs. It is rarely what anyone pictured, but like Wicked, it is complex, deeply human, and often messier than expected.
One of the most powerful takeaways from Wicked is the idea that the story is not always what it seems. The Wicked Witch might just be the one standing up for what is right, while the most polished character may be hiding the most. The same is often true in family law. The story presented in pleadings or court filings is rarely the full story. The person spinning the better narrative does not always have the stronger case, but perception can influence outcomes, and the truth usually lives somewhere between what is filed and what is felt.
Wicked also focuses on personal choices. Divorce is full of them, even when they do not feel like choices at all. Whether you are deciding what truly matters to you, how to divide your time with your kids, or how not to respond to that 11 p.m. text about a forgotten lunchbox, you are choosing. You and your former spouse get to influence the kind of divorce story your kids go through and how their divorced parents show up for them and each other after their divorce. You alone get to choose how to respond, what kind of co-parent you are going to be, and what version of your post-divorce life you are writing.
What Wicked does well, and what we all must try to do in this process, is hold space for contradiction. You can grieve the family you thought you would have while fiercely protecting the peace you never imagined you would need. You can miss parts of your ex and still know you cannot be married to them. You can feel like the system is deeply flawed and still find a path through it that honors your child’s best interests and your own growth.
Whether you are in the thick of it mediating, litigating, or parallel parenting with someone you can barely text, remember this. Just because the story splits does not mean it is over. It means a new chapter is being written. One where you get to be the main character again. And maybe, just maybe, one where your kids see you as someone who stood in the storm, did not become the storm, and chose something better.
And if your former spouse insists on painting you green in their version of events, so be it. At least you are not pretending to be someone you are not. If you need support in shaping your next chapter, we are here to help: 402-548-5418.
About the Author
This article was written by Jodie McGill, Managing Partner and family law attorney at McGill Law. Jodie works closely with individuals and families navigating divorce, custody, and major life transitions, with a focus on thoughtful decision making, dignity, and long term well being.