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LaMelo Ball To Be New MVHS Basketball Head Coach.

Violet Clark
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LaMelo Ball To Be New MVHS Basketball Head Coach.

    Are you thinking of joining the MVHS Basketball team? Well this year is the best year to do it! Our two head coaches Mr. Herbold and Ms. Barber will be dual coaching with the one and only LaMelo Ball. 

     Yes, you’ve read that correctly, our administration has confirmed that NBA star; LaMelo Ball will be joining our basketball program as a co-head coach for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. 

     “I think LaMelo brings a lot to our program.” Coach Herbold told reporters. “His confidence, skill, and stats are all reasons why we need him here.” Ms. Barber agreed adding, “Most teams focus on drills like dribble knockout and five-spot shooting. LaMelo suggested a new drill called, ‘just shoot,’ which involves all of the players to stand around the free-throw line and essentially … .just shoot the ball. It’s unconventional, but we’re excited to see where it goes.”

     Students looking to try out next year seem to be hype about the news. Justin Case says “If LaMelo Ball tells me to shoot the ball, I’m shooting that ball.” Another adds, “At first I thought it was a joke, but after hearing about his new drill, I know we are taking home that CIF title.” 

     All of our staff and faculty are 100% on board with this exciting opportunity and are hopeful that this will inspire MVHS students not just in basketball but in school spirit as well.

     I had the privilege of interviewing LaMelo and asked where his head is at going into this coaching season. In response he said, “Just ball and making sure everybody feels confident, if you think it’s going in…shoot it.” I then asked him what he thought his greatest weakness might be or why he might “fail” as a coach. Ball paused for a moment and replied, “I answered the question, it was that pause, no weaknesses, negative, zero, nada.” That response, that confidence, is why we need him as a coach.

     After talking about his plan for next season, I wrapped up the interview and asked him what the best form of contact would be if players had any questions or concerns. I mentioned that most students usually use email. LaMelo shrugged while saying “Ion run it.” When I asked what they should do instead, he laughed and said, “Just pull up to the gym.”

     Tryouts will begin later this spring, students interested are encouraged to come out and, in LaMelo’s words, “shoot their shot.” Whether you’re a seasoned player, or someone who likes to play a little ball from time to time, this could be a perfect opportunity to join the team and get one-on one coaching from a professional NBA player.

     MVHS basketball is entering a new chapter, and if LaMelo’s philosophy is true, we can expect a whole lot of wins this coming season.

Is the Movie Industry Going Downhill?

Sophie Mclean
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Is the Movie Industry Going Downhill?

     When looking back at my childhood, some of my fondest memories are of my family’s monthly outing to the movies. Routinely, we would drive down to our local theatre in our hoodies and pajamas, engage in the gluttony of buttery popcorn and overly-sweetened Icees, and feel the thrill of seeing a movie on the big screen. The experience of sitting in a theatre with dozens of others watching the same thing was uplifting; it felt human.

     However, the enjoyment of going to watch a movie was soon shattered when that local theatre went out of business last July. I guess I wasn’t completely surprised; the price of movie tickets had skyrocketed, and with the popularity of streaming services, it seemed that no one found it feasible anymore to take a trip to the theatre. Nevertheless, I was upset, and I knew I would mourn the privilege of the theatre now lost in time.

     The downfall of movie theatres isn’t just a local phenomenon; in the past couple of years, the movie industry has seemed to lose its spark. Large companies like Disney have since taken to the policy of quantity over quality, recycling the same stories and themes over and over again with recent projects like Moana 2 and the remake of Lilo and Stitch. In recent news, Netflix has bought Warner Bros. entertainment, making them one of the most powerful entertainment businesses in the industry and directly increasing the power of movie and television streaming.

     To add to this seemingly greedy mess, the complexity of AI has led to movie companies having all the more tools to mass produce films. In recent news, the creation of the AI actress Tilly Northwood sparked online controversy, leaving people to speculate if even human actors could become a thing of the past.

     While the future of the movies seems bleak, there have been glimpses of hope found in latest arthouse projects. Companies like A24 and Neon have been frontrunners in a new era of films with complex cinematography, with movies like Everything Everywhere All At Once and Marty Supreme having success on a global scale. What sets these movies apart from the blockbusters and repetitive sequels is the originality they possess. The companies they are associated with do not limit the directors and screenwriters to making the films a money or Oscar grab. This is especially true for A24, who started out as a distribution company for independent movies with unique creative directions. 

     While we can’t predict if the next blockbuster hits will finally contain coherent storylines, or if that little theatre I knew and loved will ever be restored, one thing we can be clear of is that the age of movies is not coming to an end. However, companies should take into consideration the admiration of fans, especially the next time they try to release another Scream movie.

Review: Don’t Be Dumb, Listen to A$AP Rocky’s Newest Album.

Violet Clark
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Review: Don’t Be Dumb, Listen to A$AP Rocky’s Newest Album.

     Sometimes, A$AP Rocky “might forget what love is” (according to his hit song, Punk Rocky), but after listening to his newest album, Don’t Be Dumb, It’s safe to say he hasn’t forgotten how to write a hit.

     After eight years away from the studio, Rocky has made his way back, producing one of his best albums yet. After 15 days of the album’s release, Don’t Be Dumb hit number one on the Billboard top 200. His return has been one of the most talked about moments in hip-hop this year.

     Jumping into the album’s discography, Don’t Be Dumb starts itself with ‘ORDER OF PROTECTION,’ a very strong opener that ultimately sets the tone for the rest of the album. The opening lyric, “It’s been a lil’ while since I’ve been in the league,” emphasizes how long Rocky has been away from producing. This lyric expresses what the tracks on the album are going to talk about.  

     Some of Rocky’s most popular songs on the album include, HELICOPTER, STOLE YA FLOW, PUNK ROCKY, and STAY HERE 4 LIFE (feat. Brent Faiyaz). All of these singles highlight Rocky’s strong lyricism, and high-energy production. These tracks on the album range from aggressive, lively beats, to a more smooth and reflective rhythm. Making them stand out as some of the most impactful and discussed songs.

     A$AP Rocky had many artists featured on Don’t Be Dumb. The ones that stand out the most consists of, Tyler, The Creator on FISH N STEAK, Doechii’s ROBBERY, and STAY HERE 4 LIFE, with Brent Faiyaz.

      On the topic of features, the Don’t Be Dumb album cover grabbed many fans’ attention thanks to the renowned artist and director, Tim Burton. The distorted imagery, exaggerated shapes, and cartoon-gothic tone reflects the signature style of Burtons. The visual choice pairs perfectly with the album’s tracks.

     Fans have many mixed reactions to A$AP Rocky’s album. One fan wrote on NFR Podcasts Instagram album review post, “Some real standouts but some absolute misses, With more listens of course it’ll be better but disappointed first listen.” While another wrote, “This album was perfect. It had every single genre and beat you can think of and he delivered on every single one. Rocky didn’t disappoint at all with this.”

     Rocky will be taking this album on the road with his well anticipated Don’t Be Dumb tour where he will be touring 43 days throughout North America and Europe. Starting in May and ending in September, fans from all over have the opportunity to experience his new tracks live and celebrate his long awaited return.

     Even after an eight year wait, A$AP Rocky shows fans that he hasn’t lost his ability to release music that’s both memorable and bold. While the album might not land for everyone, its creativity and cultural impact makes a perfect album to have in his discography. 

Was Volume 1 Weird? Yes; But We’ve Seen Stranger Things

Violet Clark
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Was Volume 1 Weird? Yes; But We’ve Seen Stranger Things

     On November 26th, 2025, Netflix released the first four episodes of the hit television series, Stranger Things. So far, it’s been a must watch! Fans from all over the world have tuned in for this grand finale and can’t wait for the rest of the season to air.
     Episode one; The Crawl, takes fans through an emotional rollercoaster starting with a strong opening scene of a flashback to Will in the upside down. The scene is crucial to the rest of the plot. The rest of this episode’s beginning shows what life in Hawkins has been like since the most recent catastrophe in the final episode of season 4. Hawkins is under military confinement and the opening to the upside down is under heavy surveillance. However this doesn’t stop the crew from continuing their hunt for Vecna. So they map out a plan for their next “Crawl” into the upside down, hence the name of the episode.
     In episode two; The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler, Holly Wheeler goes missing after having a brutal visit from the demogorgon at home. Karen Wheeler, is severely injured after an attempt at fending off the monster to save her daughter but ultimately fails. Holly’s disappearance urges the group to track her down. As the hunt for not only Holly but also vecna begins, the group scramble for more clues on why Holly was targeted and if there are others.
     During episode three; The Turnbow Trap, the crew quickly discover parts of Vecna’s plan and who his next victim will be. In which they find out it is Derek Turnbow who is not the next target.With Eleven and Hopper in the upside down trying to find Holly and Vecna, Will, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Robin, Nancy, Joyce, Jonathan, and Steve, attempt to lure part of Vecna’s plan; the demogorgon, into a trap. Which deems unsuccessful as the demogorgon gets away. At the end of the episode, watchers are brought a surprise, in the place Vecna took Holly Wheeler too, Max Mayfeild is seen alive!
     In the fourth and final episode of volume one of season five; Sourcer, many key events took place. Lucas, Mike, Robin, Joyce, and Will create a plan to get kids vulnerable to Venca’s plan out of the military camp. As Hopper and Elven are one step closer into finding where Vecna is hiding, or so they think, they are able to break into the upside down lab. Here, it is not Vecna they find but instead, Eleven’s “sister” Eight. Back in Hawkins, the demogorgons come to attack the military camp. After the brutal attack, Vecna appears and reveals his plan to use the children’s “weak” minds to take over not only Hawkins, but the world. After another one of Will’s visions, it is revealed that he has psychic abilities just like Elven, if not stronger.
     Volume 2; episodes 5-7 will be released on December 24th, 2025 and the finale; episode 8, will be released on January 31st, only on Netflix.
     After four intense episodes of this phenomenal season, the cast members delivered their best performances yet, with Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbor, and Noah Schnapp really standing out from them all. This season has definitely captivated watchers, with the thrilling suspense, major plot twists, and emotional depth, people are eager for more.

D4VD and The Murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez

Benjamin Ackley-Garcia
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D4VD and The Murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez

     D4VD, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is now a major suspect in the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Celeste Rivas Hernandez was a 15-year-old Lake Elsinore native who was found dismembered and decaying in the back of D4VD’s impounded Tesla early this year in September. 

     According to sources online, Celeste ran away with D4VD when she was only 13, leaving her home in Lake Elsinore to go 60 miles to Los Angeles with D4VD. In LA, Celeste was apparently in possession of fake IDs that made her appear to be a 19-year-old USC college student, misleading those around her and D4VD. According to Celeste’s family and friends, she and D4VD met when Celeste was only 12 years old online and D4VD was 17, possibly through gaming platforms like Twitch or Discord. 

     D4VD is a Musician signed to Darkroom and Interscope. He started making music for the video game Fortnite, gradually gaining popularity by blowing up on TikTok with songs like Romantic Homicide, and eventually releasing his first real studio album, Withered. D4VD was on top of the world, with everybody who knew of him waiting with eager ears for his next drop. But then everything came to a violent stop this September, when Celeste Rivas was found dead in the back of his Tesla.

     One of the most important questions the media has about D4VD’s part in this case is his music. A large amount of his music mentions or has themes of death, murder, or heartbreak, with his most popular song, Romantic Homicide, having intensely violent themes. A lot of people in the media in September knew right away that D4VD most definitely committed the crime for a few undeniable reasons.

     The first reason why D4VD is being viewed as a suspect in this case is that Celeste’s family had stated that Celeste was dating a boy named David at the time of the murder. Additonally, friends of D4VD’s had stated that David was “romantically involved” with a girl named Celeste, whom D4VD believed to be a nineteen-year-old instead of a minor. As well, D4VD and Celeste allegedly had matching tattoos.

     D4VD is also being looked at as a suspect because he never reported his Tesla as stolen or missing. The theory that’s going around is that after the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernanadez, D4VD and his accomplices put her body in the trunk of the Tesla and abandoned it in Hollywood in hopes that it wouldn’t be tied back to D4VD himself.

     D4VD also had a song called Celeste that says, “Oh, Celeste, the girl with my name tattooed on her chest.” These lyrics alone can be brought back to when D4VD’s friend stated that D4VD and Celeste had matching tattoos. Furthermore, the song says, “Oh, Celeste, afraid you’ll only love me when undressed.”    

2025: A Year in Review

Jack Dickinson
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2025: A Year in Review

The year 2025 had been a year of change, reflection, and adjustment. People all over the world continued to face the challenges left over from previous years while seeking new opportunities. From technology to the environment, 2025 showed how fast society is changing and how people are learning to keep up.

     Technology has become the main story in 2025. Artificial intelligence has simply become a part of daily life. Many students use tools that utilize AI to help them study or do work, and businesses are raising their productivity with these new tools. Apps that create realistic AI videos have become more prevalent in 2025. One example of this is  Sora Ai, which makes very realistic videos that are completely customizable with just a prompt and making it hard to tell what’s real and what’s fake.

     There were moments of ups and downs in the 2025 economy. Families struggling with the high cost of living, food prices, and gas, many people are worried about how they can continue to balance their budgets. Some teens entering the workforce became more focused on saving and planning for the future after more online videos teaching younger people financial help became more prevalent.

     Climate issues have also been in the headlines in 2025.  Social media has played a huge role in spreading awareness about climate change. This year saw record-breaking natural disasters, with the huge fires in Southern California, with mass destruction and loss of life, along with severe storms and tornadoes in other parts of the US. The Palisade and Eaton fires caused over 100 billion dollars in damage. As 2025 comes to a close, over 18,000 homes and structures have been lost to natural disasters in just 2025.

     Politics and international relationships of different countries were also prominent news headlines, such as with conflicts raging on in Gaza, Ukraine, and now in South Sudan. Nepal tried to ban social media, and the Gen Z population protested and overthrew the government within 48 hours of the ban. Similar news was apparent in Madagascar, with other youth-led protesters making the President flee the country. People need to make sure the news they are seeing is true, as misinformation is at an all-time high across social media and other free posting platforms.

      As 2025 comes to a close, it’s one of those years that tested people in many ways. While there were vast improvements in technology and awareness of global issues, challenges like economic pressure and climate concerns remained. The events this year show just how connected the world is.

MVHS Marching Band and Color Guard wins first place.

Elliot Bello
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MVHS Marching Band and Color Guard wins first place.

Taking first place in the 2A division with a score of 73.82, The MVHS Marching Band and Color Guard was victorious at the Champions of the Coast Tournament at El Camino College. Many awards were received, such as High Effects, High Percussion and High Color Guard. 

     The competition took place on October 25, 2025 at El Camino College in Alondra Park, CA. With all these achievements, The MVHS Marching Band and Color Guard earned the highest 2A score in California. This is one of the biggest achievements in the music program. All those grueling hours of rehearsal surely paid off. 

     Throughout the competition, the pressure was on. MVHS only had one competitor: Carlsbad High School. Both schools had intention of taking the first place trophy home and, thankfully, MVHS was victorious, even with only two-thirds of their show fully completed. 

     Soon, MVHS will take to Trabuco Hills High School for regionals, which will hopefully be their third to last competition if they make the podium in Regionals. After Regionals comes Championships, where the MVHS Marching Band and Color Guard will go up to Fresno to compete with schools across the state for Grand Champion. The pressure rises as the expectation of winning does as well. 

     More and more the band will unite to ensure a successful season and hopefully finish it out with a bang. In past competitions, the band has always placed on the podium and proudly brings home every evidence of success. As the last three competitions approach, the band works harder and harder by the day to ensure MVHS a huge success for 2025. 

     While the band has already won the Grand Champion title 4 times in the past, the program is locking in and pushing towards pushing the number up to 5, calling out “five!” at the end of each rehearsal to hype their spirits even more to prepare them to bring Diablo Spirit across the state. 

     In the past week, Band has learned the final movement of their show, completing the 2025 show by the name of “Spotlight,” ensuring the maximum amount of points can be scored to solidify their chance of winning first place. Winning Grand Champion will give another huge trophy for the Diablo home and also expand the music program as more and more people come together for a chance of success and unity. 

      It is with strong spirit that our Marching Band hopes to conclude the 2025 season. All our hard work will soon pay off, as seen when we won first place at the El Camino College competition. All our staff in Marching Band, along with our boosters and parent helpers, are doing everything possible to not only help Band, but also to motivate us to secure a beautiful show and the Grand Champion trophy. 

MVHS Marching Band and Color Guard Wins Fifth Division Championships

Elliot Bello
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MVHS Marching Band and Color Guard Wins Fifth Division Championships

 

     On November 22, 2025, the Mission Viejo Marching Band and Color Guard took first place in 2A Division Championships for the Western Band Association.  Driving up 5 or 6hours to Derian Koligian Stadium in Fresno for finals with their 2025 program called “Spotlight,” the band was nothing but eager for their finals and the chance to prove themselves even as a smaller band. They did not throw away their shot, and blew away the competition with a roaring score of 84.825 out of a max of one hundred. 

     After working for several, grueling hours rehearsing, the band finally did finish the season with a huge bang. During the competition, the pressure and tension was high. After around 300 hours of work and late nights on the field, they achieved what they couldn’t years ago and returned the hype and spirit to the marching band. They put Diablo spirit all across the state and showed the public what the diablos of Mission Viejo High School are capable of.  

     Of course, Mission’s color guard will not be forgotten in this milestone. Each and every guard member has input nothing but energy and enthusiasm to every toss, spin and catch of their flag, rifle or sabre. Without color guard, the band would not have stood out, so it is with nothing but thankfulness I regard my guard members. 

     Winning first place in division championships won them the opportunity to participate in Grand Champions, which includes the top five bands from each division the very next day. The band got to once again prove why they won first place with their amazing performance. Once more, they blew the judges away and with a score of 90, they won fourth place and secured a back to back Championship. 

     Fourth place may not seem like much but to the band, it was everything. They secured 2 box 5 places and won what they couldn’t in previous years. Thanks to the championship, the band happily expects more people for their 2026 marching season to bring in more trophies as a bigger band. 

    Of course, the marching band wouldn’t be what it would be without staff. Thanks to our beloved staff members and technicians, we got our instruments sounding great and our champs ready. Our band boosters as well made sure we were always well fed before, during and after hard rehearsals. Again, another huge thank you to any staff who dealt with the marching band to secure a successful season. 

     At the end of each rehearsal, the marching band called out “Five!” after their drum major’s “Band ten hut!” to motivate themselves into working to their limit to bring home a champion trophy, now thanks to their effort, all returning and future band members can call out “Six!” and bring the exact same spirit to their 2026 finals. 

     Until then, the 2025 Marching Band season has ended, with a bang and two champion trophies. 

 

Mission Viejo Wrestling Insight

Artin Eskandarnia
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Mission Viejo Wrestling Insight

     Mission Viejo Wrestling is one of the sports at Mission Viejo that anyone, girl or boy, can attend. As the class isn’t simple or easy, it teaches you to learn and adapt to wrestling.

     A typical schedule for practice is Monday to Friday everyday, consisting of harsh conditioning, club practice, training, making weight, and constant moving. Practice is hard of course, as also Saturday if there’s a tournament or a special occasion for wrestling. Sunday is the only free day they get.

     When people get ready for a match in a tournament, some people say they listen to music and get very mad as a way to get ready and be at their best performance to win.This boosts their confidence and mentality.

     Something that people don’t see in wrestling is how hard it is against your body. You might have to cut weight or make weight, constant workout pushing your body. If you get injuries, you get set back and your body gets sore.

     People at Mission Wrestling have to focus on school work, social life, and wrestling. Some people say they don’t, as they have wrestling almost everyday not letting them have a social life. For school work, they have to come home exhausted to do it, getting it wrong or not doing it and falling asleep.

     Barely any wrestling players can have a social life or do their homework, as they are so caught up in wrestling that they can’t even compete. As they did do this and chose wrestling, they should fix this and help athletes with school and social life. 

     The team’s atmosphere this season is great, as they all are eager to win and put up good dedication to going to practice. Everyone is very welcoming to the wrestling team, and they help each other learn better, with better communication.

     Their coach has said very important things to them in the past season, as she’s trying to help them get better at wrestling and pushing them to their greatest potential. One thing that she’s good at is she’s very big on becoming the best version of themselves.

     The new stuff this season for the wrestling team is that they have new coaches for the wrestling team. As well as they are building the girls wrestling team to strengthen their wrestling skills.

 

     The wrestling team is a winter sport, starting at the beginning of winter and the start of spring. The season of wrestling is for about 3-4 months, as they get to compete in harsh competitions.

     One thing that the wrestling team has difficulty is making weight. If you weigh 145 and your weight class is 135, you have to cut your weight to be able to compete against others in that weight class.

     Everyone has been doing good in their matches, winning and competing at their best. As you might win some games and you might lose some, everyone is eager to keep competing at their best to keep pursuing wrestling.

A Tale so Magical, It Needed Two Trips Down the Yellow Brick Road

Leah Douglas
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A Tale so Magical, It Needed Two Trips Down the Yellow Brick Road

     Movie viewers are getting tired of excessive sequels that value quantity over quality. Story lines that could be compacted into one movie are being lengthened to fill more and more movies. Many people feel that this is simply a gimmick used by companies to make more money. 

     That being said, if done correctly, multi-part movies can leave a greater impact on the viewer because of its length and attention to detail. Wicked and Wicked: For Good are perfect examples that not only exceeded expectations, but changed our world for good. 

    From the first movie to the second, the characters matured, grew, and lost their naivety. Elphaba became courageous, Glinda became strong, and Fiyero became selfless. They are fictional representations of human weakness that can be turned into strength if only they persevere.

      Wicked: For Good takes place in a less innocent Oz. The times are darker and everything is no longer wonderful. While the first movie centered around school drama, the newest movie focuses on Oz as a country with a corrupt government. 

      The story of Wicked is so special because it teaches the reality of trials and how governments are not all wonderful. Life is not perfect, but stories like Wicked teach us that we have the power to make a difference, even if it’s just changing one person. 

     Viewers who love musicals, drama, and fairy tales will love this movie. It had a little bit of everything;here was action, romance, comedy, and a deeper message. 

     Wicked: For Good stars Arina Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. While Cynthia Erivo impressed us all in the first Wicked, it was Ariana Grande that stole the show in Wicked: For Good. 

     Ariana Grande’s  portrayal of Glinda was beautiful as well as vulnerable. Not only can she sing like an angel, but her acting was so real that I forget that she wasn’t actually Glinda. 

      Glinda is supposed to be the very picture of goodness, and Ariana Grande was able illustrate the toll that perfection can take on a person. Her rendition of “I’m Not That Girl,” brought me to tears because of how relatable her vulnerability was. 

     However the added song, “The Girl in the Bubble,” was not necessary and was quite boring. I would recommend this as the perfect opportunity to use the bathroom, because you would miss nothing other than a mediocre ballad.  

      I also did not particularly like the new “No Place Like Home,” sung by Cynthia Erivo, but I thought it was more enjoyable then the other song. Both songs were written by Stephen Schwartz, the original song writer for the broadway musical.

     The new songs were necessary to extend the movie and to make it a full feature film. However they added nothing to the plot, but instead wasted our time. 

     Director Jon Chu is the wizard behind this masterpiece. He is most known for directing the movies Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights. In both Wicked movies, he showcased his magic with otherworldly set designs and carefully chosen film shots. 

     While Wicked: For Good is an emotional movie there were also moments of levity that balanced out the serious nature of the film. Simple jokes were made throughout the film and there was even a humorous fight scene between two frenemies. 

      Overall Wicked: For Good was an excellent film that made viewers laugh and cry simultaneously. While it wasn’t perfect, it was filled with magic and love.

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