Annika W at 2010-11-01 16:41:32:

I have a question about The Wizard of Oz, if you have time to theorize....

A few months ago, another teacher of mine (who loves this flick) pointed out that the witch melting because of the very ordinary substance of water is a huge, happy accident for Dorothy - who has no idea water is the witch's Achilles heel and is only trying to put out the broom fire anyway. So, it's a lot like a deus ex machina... except I'd never caught this before and have watched Oz a number of times. Why does this feel so satisfying, even though it's breaking a major rule - a massive coincidence saving the protag during the major battle with the antag?