After almost 4 weeks of dodging spoilers on the internet I finally went to the SterKinekor cinema in Claremont yesterday to watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to celebrate my 33rd birthday. And I was not disappointed and each and everyone of the new characters brought their A game on :)
We got see Mbaku and the rest of the Jabari tribe come through for Wakanda and its matriarch, beautiful. I didn't expect T'challa's absence to cause the leadership to grow apart that much and that hurt. But they were all given space to grieve and superhero movie style, there was more grieving to do.
The world is coming for Wakanda same they all knew would happen and the main reason they kept their existence from the world. Queen mother showed up in that UN meeting and shut the house down with the dora milaje, what a powerful moment for women in that space!
The Mayan culture, oh my days, Talokan was so surreal! Imagine a crossover with Aquaman and Atlantis... Anywho, it broke my heart how beautifully the Mayan culture is portrayed and how most of it is dying out in real life. Coogler definitely balanced the scales by showing us what both Namor and Shuri were fighting for and trying to protect.
Shuri did the ritual with Nakia's assistance and it all felt wrong without the other part of the ritual we saw in the first movie. I guess this is what becomes of culture down the line when the people with knowledge take it to the grave and the younger generation who value science and technology more than heritage and the value of ancestral connection. Funniest part was that I hoped Shuri would see her family but instead she came across the one ancestor we all know is happy to use violence to get the job done. Killmonger's come back was proper and he was exactly the kind of ancestor I knew he would be hehehe and him appearing to Shuri was a realistic portrayal of what we connect to depending on our desires and what's in our hearts. The moment broke my heart because I'd hoped he'd come back and fight for Wakanda and it also confirmed that he truly is gone. I don't want Mbaku to die but I can't wait to see him as one of the ancestors, he'll spice things up for sure!
Each side got to throw blows and we had the epic show down where Shuri finally became the black panther and faced Namor and Queen Ramonda finally showed up and gave Shuri the strength to move forward with a new ally. It was really satisfying seeing Shuri reap off a wing or two but at the same time I look forward to seeing her and ankle wings aka Aguapapi work together. He confused the hell out of me though, don't get me wrong I am always for Wakanda but I was happy for Shuri to get her groove back, okay?! He's the sweetest most compassionate and considerate person and threatens to kill and to take out the most powerful national in one breath! What madness is this?!
Oh, Talokan has its own Mbaku and Okoye and them n*gg#$ is strong, so strong - I was shook at their fighting skills and lack of fear for death. I mean, they took the hits and kept going like it's nothing - I was so confused cause I wanted to cheer for them too *inserts ugly crying emoji*! Now that the Wakandans know that water is the key to the Talokan people's strength, it will level the plains a bit.
Post credit shows us Shuri doing the ritual she refused to join in on with her mom in the beginning of the movie - burning her mourning clothes and being introduced to her last living family member, her nephew. Will Baby Panther have to fight Mbaku for the throne in the future and how many years in the time jump will the next Black Panther movie start from?
Wakanda is restored for now :)
I will watch it again!
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