Glinda, forever alone and lonely.

Everybody needs somebody. Consider Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. She has served and protected Oz for 500 years. She is powerful, intelligent, beautiful, and compassionate. Loved by everybody (except the bad ones). Nevertheless, in the “Lost Wizard of Oz,” we find Glinda alone and lonely. Her solitary life weighs on her, causing her to doubt the value of her commitment.

Who doesn’t love a good love story?

Glinda hires a bounty hunter (Strigand Nightflyer) to find the missing Wizard of Oz. He is dark and brooding, awkward with human interactions. Completely focused on the job, he speaks to her sparingly, only talking to her when he must. Though he shows himself committed to finding the Wizard and keeping her safe, he holds himself aloof from the beautiful Queen of the Quadlings.

For her part, Glinda finds his sullenness irritating. She wants more information than he is willing to share and finds it difficult to trust him. And who can blame her?

Nevertheless, sharing a dangerous quest with someone often fosters a deeper connection than we intend. To survive, Glinda and Strigand are forced to depend on one another, risking their lives, and perhaps the mission, to keep each other safe. Their shared adventures create intimate moments for which neither of them is prepared. This becomes fertile ground for romance to blossom. The trouble is, they might not live long enough to enjoy it.

A parable about marriage.

As much as anything, the relationship between Glinda and Strigand serves as a parable of marriage as it ought to be: Two people devoting themselves to a higher cause while devoting themselves to one another. But relationships are tough and don’t always survive. Their adventure becomes a metaphor for the journey of love, with each destination and obstacle strengthening or weakening the connection between them.