Black Panther: Wakanda Forever held the right to leave viewers skeptical before they walked into the theater. With poorly-performing movies and questionable TV Shows, Disney’s Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been on the receiving end of a slew of valid criticism. Previous films such as Thor: Love & Thunder or Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness rightfully lowered the expectations of many going in to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Furthermore, leading up to its release, the film saw a number of criticisms within the controversy of how Disney handled the late death of actor Chadwick Boseman, who had played the character of the Black Panther in previous Marvel projects. The decision not to recast T’Challa had been made clear to the public around November of 2021, and had immediately sparked an online debate as to whether or not Disney had made the right call. Many convincing arguments had been made on both sides, yet they had no impact in director Ryan Coogler’s final script. However, as of now, the film officially grossed nearly $546.3 million worldwide.
Plot Summary (Spoilers!!)
The film begins with Shuri, sister of T’Challa, played by Letitia Wright, whispering a prayer to the Wakandan God, Bask, requesting for him to grant within her the power and skill to successfully grow an artificial version of the heart-shaped herb which had originally granted the Black Panther with his immense strength and durability. The heart-shaped herb had been grown and passed down in Wakanda for generations; however, as seen in the plot for the original Black Panther in 2018, the Wakandan’s supply of the herb had all been burned by the movie’s antagonist, Killmonger played by Michael B. Jordan.
Shuri fails in her efforts to recreate an artificial herb, and soon after her Mother, Ramonda, played by Angela Bassett, arrives to bring the news of how her brother has joined their ancestors. The illness behind T’Challa’s passing is never named, providing offhand respect to those who had suffered from similar fates in the real world.
After this news flashes, the kingdom of Wakanda grieves the loss of their new King and honors his death. The film then jumps forward to a year in the future, where audiences see the new Queen of Wakanda, Ramona, and how she and Shuri continue to grieve T’Challa’s loss.
A new threat is made apparent when the film cuts to a US ship searching for Vibranium, Wakanda’s precious metal, in the sea using a device invented by young scientific prodigy Riri Williams, played by Dominique Thorne. This ship, however, soon becomes overrun by Talokanians, a new aquatic tribe that uses vibranium weaponry and resides in the underwater city of Talokan. Led by their ruler Namor, played by Tenoch Huerta, they massacre everyone on the ship as the world blames the incident on the Wakandans.
Back in Wakanda, Shuri and her mother reside in a peaceful and isolated spot along the riverbed, mourning T’Challa. Suddenly, Namor emerges from the body of water and deposits the vibranium-finding machine alongside a form of contact. He requests that the Wakandans find and return the scientist who forged the machine, and after a brief meeting with the elders, Shuri, alongside Okoye, head of the Dora Milaje and played by Danai Gurira, heads to M.I.T. college in Cambridge to retrieve young Riri. While fleeing from the FBI, however, Riri, Shuri, and Okoye are intercepted and jumped by the Talokanians, who take with them Riri and Shuri and leave Okoye behind to warn Wakanda.
Queen Ramonda, scheming a method to retrieve her daughter, meets up with T’Challa’s former lover Nakia, played by Lupita Nyong’o in Haiti. Back in Talokan, Namor shows Shuri his ancient city and provides in-depth detail on himself, including his backstory as well as his motives. In the midst of this, Ramonda sends the signal and Namor meets with her on a beach above, where he proposes his plans to burn the surface world and threatens to flood Wakanda. However, while this is happening, Nakia successfully infiltrates and retrieves both Riri and Shuri and escorts them and Ramonda back to Wakanda.
This act infuriates Namor, who in retaliation travels with his army to Wakanda and floods the streets. A grand battle ensues, and Namor flies up to the window overlooking the throne room where Queen Ramonda and Riri subside. Using grenades of water, he floods the room and drowns the Queen, resulting in a further loss for the Nation of Wakanda, as well as the next of kin, Shuri.
Hope, however, remains prevalent in the nation, as seen within the next few scenes. Shuri isolates traces from the heart-shaped herb left in a bracelet Namor gave to her back in Talokan, and uses it to successfully replicate and form the artificial plant. In a brief ceremony, she takes this plant and meets with her cousin, Killmonger, in the spirit realm, where he implants ideas in her to take revenge on Namor. She fights and when she is taken back to the real world, she has been granted the superhuman abilities of the Black Panther.
Shuri, clad in a new Black Panther suit, unites the tribes of Wakanda, forms a suit of armor reminiscent of Iron Man for Riri, and develops a plan to lure Namor to a spot in which he would be weakened from minimal water vapor.
Thus the third act is kicked off, with the Wakandans fighting off the Talokanians on a large vibranium sea vessel in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean close to the city of Talokan. Shuri’s plan is successful, and she gets trapped inside a Wakandan aircraft with Namor, who because of the increased heat, suffers from a severely reduced power level. With his remaining strength, however, he still manages to explode the jet, crash-landing him and Shuri on a nearby beach. The two battle and both exchange blow after blow until Shuri is stabbed through her torso with Namor’s spear. Dry and weakened, Namor struggles and limps towards the sea, however, Shuri dislodges herself from the spear and explodes the remaining bits of the jet behind him, knocking and burning him close to death onto the dry and sandy ground. Shuri grabs his spear and contemplates ending his life, and getting revenge for her mother. In a flashback, though, she recalls memories of her noble and merciful brother, and ultimately proposes an alliance with Namor. He, left with little other option, agrees.
Back on the Vibranium vessel, the Wakandans lose great numbers and are repeatedly pushed back by the superior Takolokanian forces. When all hope seems lost, however, Shuri alongside Namor flies in and demands a ceasefire from both sides. The conflict is resolved and both sides return to their home nations.
The movie ends with Shuri, now officially appointed the new Queen of Wakanda, venturing off to Haiti, where she meets with Nakia and exchanges a few sentimental words. She mourns and accepts the passing of her brother before Nakia introduces her secret son with T’Challa, named T’Challa, and played by Divine Love Konadu-Sun. The credits roll, and the audience is left in a gasp.
Review
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever definitely exceeded most audience expectations. The movie was two and a half hours of emotionally gripping scenes, thoroughly packed and rewarding action sequences, great performances by the actors, and excellent special effects and cinematography. The jokes remained buoyant and carefully spread out, the CGI was more reserved with perfect practical effects and sequences, and the plot was concise and well-rounded. Furthermore, their handling of the late Chadwick Boseman’s passing I thought was played out beautifully, with the characters mourning the character and idea of T’Challa just as how we all mourned Chadwick after his passing. Officially, the film received an 84% certified fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 95% score from audiences. If you are a fan of Marvel and the MCU, then this movie is an absolute must. If you are more of a casual fan who only watches the occasional marvel movie, then prior knowledge is not at all necessary, with the film providing more of its own stand-alone take and brief recaps.
No matter where you stand or who you are, if you are an enjoyer of movies and have some free time coming up, then you should go see “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” in theaters.
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