Warning! This publish incorporates SPOILERS for Depraved: For GoodRegardless of being one in every of many distinctive Ozian phrases in Depraved: For Good, particular consideration has actually been paid to “Clock-Tick”. For the reason that sequel’s debut, social media has latched onto the time period, a phrase some movie-goers really feel was repeated within the film to a distracting diploma.
The “Clock-Tick” dialog has taken off partially as a result of 2024’s Depraved: Half One hardly used the phrase, making its presence in For Good really feel extra pronounced. Whereas that is actually true, there has since been a rising perspective on-line that Depraved: For Good contains a “clock-tick” second in practically each different scene (so we determined to maintain observe).
Depraved: For Good Makes use of The Phrase “Clock-Tick” Extra Than As soon as
On-line posts have urged that Depraved: For Good drops “clock-tick” continuous. Memes and numerous response movies have argued that the phrase seems dozens of occasions, spoken each jiffy, a operating joke and commentary throughout platforms like TikTok and X.
Admittedly, the sequel’s sudden consolation with this particular piece of Ozian vocabulary does make “Clock-Tick” stand out greater than others, and it is heard greater than as soon as from totally different characters all through the film.
Nevertheless, it does appear as if “clock-tick” merely turned extra audibly noticeable as a result of its way more restricted use in Depraved: Half One (having solely been heard as soon as on the very starting from Dulcibear throughout Elphaba and Nessa’s childhood).
How Many Occasions Depraved: For Good Makes use of “Clock-Tick” (And The place)
This is each time the phrase “clock-tick” is heard by the tip of 2025’s Depraved: For Good:
- Throughout the Yellow Brick Street opening ceremony, Fiyero and Glinda head off-stage to talk in non-public, with Glinda telling the gang that they’d solely be “a clock-tick“. That is the place Fiyero voices his frustrations in regards to the lies being informed about Elphaba, and his need to seek out her.
- When Boq questions whether or not Nessa will enact new legal guidelines limiting animals’ rights in Munchkinland, she tells Avaric to present them a “clock-tick” to be alone. Avaric was a fellow scholar at Shiz College in Depraved: Half One, who now appears to be like to have turn out to be a member of Nessa’s workers after she turned Munchkinland’s new governor following the loss of life of her and Elphaba’s father.
- Making ready for her marriage ceremony to Fiyero, Glinda is aided by two white bats earlier than telling them to present her a “clock-tick” earlier than she meets with Elphaba on the balcony.
- Following Nessa’s loss of life through Dorothy Gale’s flying home, Glinda accuses Elphaba throughout their Munchkinland confrontation of stealing Fiyero, prompting Elphaba to inform Glinda: “Now you simply wait a clock-tick.”
Regardless of the big on-line commentary, the precise variety of “clock-tick” makes use of in Depraved: For Good is surprisingly small, because the phrase seems solely 4 occasions all through all the film. In consequence, it appears as if the notion of overuse merely comes from its repetition, mixed with the truth that it wasn’t practically as prevalent in Depraved: Half One.
Nonetheless, the phrase’s comparatively restricted presence didn’t cease the Depraved fandom from magnifying it right into a operating gag on-line, particularly as soon as clips and edits unfold throughout social media.
Why The Folks Of Oz Use “Clock-Tick” (What It is Referencing)
Within the land of Oz, “clock-tick” exists to present the world of Depraved its personal sense of distinctive tradition. It’s merely an alternate manner for Ozians to say “only a second” or “give us a second” in dialog, and it is arguably a extra pure and natural match subsequent to phrases like “thrillified”, “obsessulated”, or “rejoicify”.
Moreover, “clock-tick” holds a deeper connection to the lore of the higher Depraved franchise. “Clock-tick” serves as a nod to the Time Dragon, a serious aspect in Gregory Maguire’s unique Depraved novels. The Time Dragon within the Depraved books is a mechanical oracle tied carefully to Elphaba’s destiny, framing her life as a type of destined narrative.
Whereas the flicks solely trace on the Time Dragon’s significance with just a few references, the books place the Time Dragon as a key mythic aspect.
Within the unique Broadway musical, the Time Dragon Clock bodily frames the present above. The Time Dragon is a big mechanical recreation above the proscenium (the a part of the stage in entrance of the curtain), symbolically framing Elphaba’s whole story and suggesting, although its function is way extra restricted than within the books.
The extra clock iconography and the dragon itself surrounding the stage are supposed to convey that all the stage present is an in-universe puppet present, similar to the touring Time Dragon present within the books.
The time period additionally reinforces the sense that Oz runs on guidelines other than the actual world. By giving the characters of Depraved their very own slang, the movies keep a whimsical tone and emphasize Oz’s cultural id. “Clock-tick” might sound uncommon at first, however that uniqueness is a part of the general worldbuilding allure, similar to all the opposite distinctive word-uses (“Scandalacious”).
Depraved: For Good is now enjoying in theaters.
- Launch Date
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November 21, 2025
- Runtime
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137 Minutes
- Director
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Jon M. Chu
- Writers
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Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, Gregory Maguire
- Producers
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Marc Platt, David Stone