Is it easier for us to find the positives in something we considered bad or to narrow down the positives of something we loved?

I'm Glenn Weldon on the latest pop culture happy hour plus episode, Aish and I discuss the challenges of criticism.

You can listen to all our plus bonus episodes and support our work by signing up for pop culture happy hour plus at plus.npr.org slash happy.

Last year's film adaptation of the musical Wicked, a smash hit that earned 10 Oscar

nominations, was only the first half of the story. Now it's time for the second half with more songs,

more magic, more extravagant production design, and more belting.

Wicked for Good is every bit as splashy as the first installment, but can it match the impact

of its predecessor and live up to the hype? I'm Aisha Harris. And I'm Linda Holmes.

And today we're talking about Wicked for Good on Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR.

Joining us today is Waylon Wong.

She's the co-host of NPR's Daily Economics Podcast, The Indicator from Planet Money.

Hello, Waylon.

Hi, everyone.

Also with us is journalist and host of the

podcast seated Trevelle Anderson. Welcome back, Trevelle. Hello, hello, hello. Hello. So, Wicked for

good picks up the story, which is, as you probably know, a Wizard of Oz prequel, with Elphaba, played by

Cynthia Arrivo, having fled Oz to prepare to fight the wizard and Madame Morrible, who have

cemented their power over Oz. Galinda, on the other hand, played by Ariana Grande, is Living

It Up, now known as Glinda, the Good, floating through life on the arm of Fierro,

played by newly minted sexiest man alive, Jonathan Bailey.

Elphaba now branded The Wicked Witch by those who want everyone to distrust her

is also edging closer and closer to confrontation with a certain young girl from Kansas

...