Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is heavy, intense, and emotional. It tackles grief and loss in a way that is relatable, but isn’t afraid to include vengeance and anger.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow. With the Disney+ Marvel series all taking on a different genre, it seems to have been lacking the truly powerful and emotional beats since WandaVision. Well, have no fear because these are back with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The first Black Panther film was extremely powerful, and remains that way to this day. Wakanda Forever had some big shoes to fill and with the unexpected passing of Chadwick Boseman, the way that was going to happen remained up in the air. Marvel has opted not to recast the beloved King T’Challa character, which is part of this films greatest strengths, but at the same time his absence is felt.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever focuses on heavy and complex themes of racism, while still allowing for strong ties to the greater MCU. The characters deal with grief because of the horrible loss of their leader, and this movie shows viewers what that can do to a person. The anger they experience and their urge for vengeance comes through in nearly every scene. The themes are dark and heavy, while sending viewers on an emotional roller coaster as there are also moments of light and humor. Of course, there is also a whole lot of action and the introduction of several new-to-the-MCU characters — more on that later.
Killing T’Challa Was The Right Choice
The choice to give T’Challa a final death in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever only strengthens the impact he has had on the MCU. This is very similar to what fans in the real world were going through after the loss of the extremely talented Chadwick Boseman. The cast was dealing with the great loss of their friend and colleague, so allowing their characters to go through a wide range of emotions, ones that humans actually go through after a devastating loss, only makes this movie more powerful. Yes, T’Challa will be missed. But he has made an impression that will last, much like Chadwick did, and the Black Panther will live on.
Wakanda Forever does a great job of honoring the late actor as well as the character that he played. Chadwick’s absence is felt throughout the film, sometimes more than others. This is one of the only issues with this movie, however thanks to smart writing, this absence makes sense. Yes, audiences will be longing for him, but that is how they relate to the characters on screen because Shuri, Okoye, and Queen Ramonda are longing for him as well. Right from the very first moment of this movie, it is clear they will do justice to the character, and to Chadwick, as difficult as it is to watch.
Wakanda Forever Is Intense & Heavy
The women in this film step to the forefront because they are the ones most affected by the loss of T’Challa. These actresses all do a phenomenal job in tapping into what is likely their true emotions when telling this story. Each and every one of them deals with his death in a different way, but one that is extremely relatable for the viewers. They all deserve to be nominated for all the awards. We cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for them to allow themselves to be so vulnerable on screen, because they lost a brother in Chadwick when he passed away.
With Wakanda and Talokan at war, it is to be expected there are a lot of action sequences. And there are. They are massive, intense, and quite gorgeous to look at. Seeing these two great nations pull out all of the stops to try to take each other out is impressive. But much like Black Panther, this means there are human characters fighting human characters. This makes things feel a whole lot more real than seeing your favorite heroes take on aliens or robots.
There is death, there is blood, there is injury, and it looks real and it cuts deep. Because of this, these scenes are a lot more intense. They make Black Panther: Wakanda Forever feel like a war movie. Of course, there is a whole lot more going on when it comes to plot and story, but there are a lot of battles as well, so be prepared.
It isn’t all doom and gloom though. Riri Williams finally joins the MCU In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ahead of her Disney+ series release, and she is a shining light in an otherwise dark abyss. The way she connects with the Wakandans in this movie feels a little bit forced, but it does create for some of the funniest moments. She is the majority of the comic relief, especially when she gets together with Shuri and Okoye.
Namor Is The Perfect Villain
One of the best things about the introduction of Namor is that the writing immediately explains why no one has heard of him before. A question that is often asked by Marvel fans when someone is brought into the world is how come they didn’t help with past villains or events. Remember when everyone needed to know why the Eternals did not fight Thanos? Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is sure to address this in a way that feels right for Namor, and for the greater universe that he resides in.
His origin story might be different, but it still has the same general feel as the comic book origin. Tenoch Heurta does a phenomenal job with the role, creating the perfect villain. No villain is a villain in their minds. They always believe their actions are done for the greater good. This version of Namor might be a villain, but he operates in the gray area, as every villain should. It is easy to relate to him, and to understand why he is acting the way he does. This is thanks to the great writing surrounding his character.
M’Baku Gets His Time
M’Baku felt a bit underused in the first film, but his screen time nearly doubles in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. He is yet another character who is mourning the loss of King T’Challa. Bringing him to the forefront of the story at times allows the movie to showcase the many ways that a human can react to grief. While we certainly would have liked to see more of him, as Winston Duke’s smile is infectious, it was important to give those closest to T’Challa the limelight in Wakanda Forever.
Still, when he is on screen, he steals his scenes. He is funny but also strong. Another character that is very relatable and brings something special to the story overall.
New Black Panther / New Iron Man?
As seen in the trailers, yes, there is a new Black Panther. The way this is done well in the story, although there are some pieces to the puzzle that don’t work as well as they should have. It is hard to get into details about why exactly that is without diving into spoilers, so we must tread lightly. The character development is there, and it helps to tell an important story, there were just several other ways it could have gone — and perhaps should have gone. What ultimately occurs isn’t horrible, but it just could have played out better.
That is just a nitpick though as the majority of this film is so powerful, and so beautiful. The costumes are next level, making every single character look stunning, and fit their role perfectly. No matter where the scene is taking place, the style fits – and they all look great doing what they do. There are multiple new suits (Riri Williams as Ironheart looks incredible), each one stealing the show.
The parallels between Riri Williams and Tony Stark is something that will make MCU fans hearts fill with joy. Seeing her build her suit is very similar to watching Tony build his, and is certain to evoke some emotions in viewers. Again, this film is not afraid to make you feel all the feelings. Which is why it is so incredible.
Overall Thoughts
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever focuses heavily on grief and loss, as well as the guest for revenge and how that can affect people. It is the introduction of one of the most popular Marvel comic book characters, Namor, and while they do change some things about him, he remains similar enough that it makes sense to the MCU and what is sure to be his role in it.
This movie is nearly three hours long, but it never feels its length, which is important with something like this. There is a lot of story to tell here. It is jam packed with action, heart, and a very important story. It heavily relates to real life, and how the oppressed can band together against their common enemy — but should they? That is a topic that is sprinkled throughout Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in a way that is relatable and relevant.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever perfectly honors Chadwick Boseman, as well as King T’Challa. They will both be missed but thanks to this movie, their impact is felt. There is one mid-credit scene that is imperative to the future of the MCU, and the legacy he left behind, so be sure to stick around for it. Don’t forget to pack your tissues when you head to theaters to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on November 11th.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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About Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
In the film, Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. When Namor, king of a hidden undersea nation, alerts them to a global threat and his disturbing plan to thwart it, the Wakandans band together with the help of War Dog Nakia and Everett Ross and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters everywhere on November 11, 2022.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.