Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a grief machine. It knows what it is doing, and it mostly does it well. After the death of Chadwick Boseman, the film rebuilds the franchise around loss, and it commits to that choice fully. The result is a sequel that is less a continuation than a requiem. It is also a technical marvel, with some of the best action sequences in the MCU. But the emotional core is thinner than the first film’s, and the plot sometimes struggles to keep up with the weight of its own themes.
The film picks up after the events of Avengers: Endgame. T’Challa has died, and his sister Shuri now leads Wakanda as queen. She is brilliant, fast, and fiercely loyal, but she is also grieving. The movie spends its early hours showing her trying to hold the country together while also building a new vibranium weapon to replace the one her brother used. That weapon, called the Heart of Wakanda, becomes the center of the story. When a mysterious underwater nation called Talokan appears, demanding vibranium to power their war machines, the stakes shift from personal to global.
Trailer, via Marvel Entertainment.
Shuri Carries the Weight
Letitia Wright carries the film. Her Shuri is a force of nature, a genius inventor who can outthink anyone in the room. She is also deeply human, cracking jokes to hide her pain and collapsing into tears when she cannot anymore. The film gives her moments of quiet reflection that feel earned, and it lets her make decisions that hurt the people around her. That is a bold choice for a lead character, and Wright sells it completely.
The supporting cast is strong. Angela Bassett plays Queen Ramonda with dignity and steel, refusing to let her daughter handle everything alone. Winston Duke’s M’Baku is a powerful presence, both loyal and suspicious. Daniel Kaluuya’s W’Kabi is a man caught between loyalty and corruption, and he gets a moment of redemption that feels genuine. The film also introduces Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan, the MCU’s Ms. Marvel, and she lands well, though her role is smaller than expected.
Talokan and the Underwater World
The villains are where the film stumbles. Talokan is a nation ruled by Namor, played by Tenoch Huerta. He is a proud leader who believes his people deserve vibranium because they were taken from their land. The film tries to make him a tragic figure, but his motivations are thin. He wants power and revenge, and the script does not give him enough complexity to make those desires feel earned.
The underwater world itself is stunning. The design is ambitious, with cities built from coral and waterfalls that function as infrastructure. The action scenes in Talokan are some of the best in the film, with kinetic choreography and practical effects that make the battles feel alive. But the plot threads tied to Talokan feel rushed. The film introduces a new villain, a new world, and a new conflict all within the first hour, and it never quite settles on what any of it means.
The Heart of Wakanda
The Heart of Wakanda is the film’s central McGuffin. It is a massive device that can absorb energy and release it as a devastating blast. The problem is that the film explains very little about how it works. It is simply there, a threat that drives the plot forward. This is a missed opportunity. The first Black Panther spent so much time building its technology that it felt grounded. This film has a chance to do the same with a new invention, but it never takes it.
The climax of the film revolves around this device. Shuri and her allies fight to protect it, while Talokan fights to steal it. The final battle is tense and well-choreographed, but it lacks the thematic weight of the first film’s climax. The first Black Panther ended with T’Challa sacrificing himself to save his people. This film ends with a similar sacrifice, but it feels less earned. The payoff is there, but the build-up is weaker.
The Soundtrack
The music is a highlight. The score, composed by Ludwig Göransson, draws on traditional African instruments and rhythms. There is a track called “Wakanda Forever” that captures the spirit of the film perfectly. It is a driving, percussive anthem that feels both mournful and triumphant. The film also uses songs from the original Black Panther soundtrack, which helps anchor it to the legacy of the previous film.
The performances in the songs are excellent. John Legend and H.E.R. deliver powerful vocals, and the lyrics speak directly to the themes of loss and renewal. One song, “We Are,” is a call to unity that feels particularly resonant. The film uses music to express what the characters cannot say in words, and that is a smart choice.
The Grief Machine
The film is at its best when it is honest about grief. It shows Shuri’s tears, her frustration, and her determination. It shows Ramonda’s quiet despair and her fierce protection of her family. It shows M’Baku’s anger and his loyalty. These moments are the film’s true strengths, and they are why the movie works even when the plot falters.
But the film is also at its worst when it tries to be uplifting too soon. There is a sequence near the end where the characters gather to celebrate Shuri’s ascension as queen. It feels forced, like the film is rushing to a happy ending before the audience has had time to process the tragedy. The tone shift is jarring, and it undermines the emotional work the film has done.
The Action
The action is the film’s technical high point. The fight scenes are fluid, with the actors performing their own stunts. The cinematography is sharp, capturing the speed and grace of the combat. The film uses slow-motion sparingly, and when it does, it is effective. The underwater sequences are particularly impressive, with the actors moving through water with real weight.
The film also has a car chase that is one of the best in recent memory. It is fast, chaotic, and thrilling. The stunt work is top-notch, and the editing keeps the pace relentless. This is a film that knows how to stage a set-piece, even if the story around it is less sure-footed.
The Plot
The plot is the film’s weakest link. It is overly complex, with multiple factions and shifting alliances that are hard to follow. The Talokan arc, in particular, feels like a subplot that should have been trimmed. The film also introduces a new character, a young girl named Ayo, who is supposed to be a threat but never feels dangerous. The plot is busy, but it is not always coherent.
The film also has a problem with pacing. It is long, and the middle section drags. There are stretches where the dialogue feels expository, with characters explaining things they should not need to explain. The film is also repetitive, with several scenes that could have been cut without losing anything. The result is a film that is longer than it needs to be, and slower than it should be.
The Comparison
| Element | Black Panther | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | T’Challa | Shuri |
| Motif | Death of a king | Grief and renewal |
| Villain | Killmonger | Talokan |
| Central device | Heart-shaped herb | Heart of Wakanda |
| Emotional core | Sacrifice | Mourning |
| Technical strength | Character-driven | Action-driven |
The table shows how the films are related, but also how they differ. Both are about loss, but the first film was about a sacrifice, while the second is about living with the loss. The first film was character-driven, while this one is more action-driven. Both are strong technically, but the second is stronger in its visual effects and stunt work.
The Verdict
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a flawed but worthy sequel. It honors its predecessor by continuing its themes and its world, and it honors its star by giving his character a fitting send-off. The film is at its best when it is honest about grief, and at its worst when it rushes toward a happy ending. It is a technical triumph with a weaker plot, and it is a heartfelt tribute with a thinner emotional core.
The film is not essential viewing for everyone, but it is worth seeing for fans of the franchise. It is a film that respects its characters and its audience, even when it stumbles. It is a film that tries to do something difficult, and it mostly succeeds.
Key Facts
– Title: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
– Release: 2022
– Director: Ryan Coogler
– Runtime: 161 minutes
– Score: 7 of 10
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
