Warning for spoilers: Avoid reading this if you don’t wish to uncover the ending of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Spoilers lie ahead.
The culmination of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is heartwarming. It unfolds that prior to his passing, King T’Challa had a child with Nakia (Lupita N’yongo), his beloved. This child, a 6-year-old named Toussaint, has been raised by Nakia in her new home, Haiti. However, young Toussaint tells Shuri (Letitia Wright), his aunt, that his true name mirrors his father’s – T’Challa.
When I watched Wakanda Forever, the audience was filled with sentiments about the touching scene, emphasizing the essence of new beginnings after an end. It somewhat alleviated the sorrow of losing a cherished fictional character, though not the pain of losing the talented actor portraying him.
Yet, while the scene was poignant for viewers, its integration into the Black Panther realm appears inconsistent. Indeed, hints about this revelation are scattered throughout the movie, primarily when Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) attempts to share significant news about her son with Shuri. But it’s Nakia who finally discloses the big secret, and this revelation seems incongruent.
One primary inconsistency: Would T’Challa truly be content with Nakia raising their child, the prospective Wakandan king, in a distant land like Haiti? Given T’Challa’s immense commitment to his kin and nation, this seems improbable. Nakia’s reasoning that she wanted to shield her child from the stresses of royalty seems flimsy. There could have been other protective measures within Wakanda for ensuring the young prince’s privacy.
However, there’s a plausible reason for Nakia’s solo parenting journey: The Snap. T’Challa vanished in the chaos of 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War and returned after half a decade. With T’Challa absent, Nakia might have opted for a new start in Haiti, a place devoid of memories of the man she loved. The timeline is snug but conceivable. Assuming the child’s conception post the events of the original Black Panther movie, T’Challa’s subsequent disappearance, and eventual return only to tragically perish soon after – all align.
Yet, the glaring inconsistency is the 6-year silence on the child’s existence, especially to Shuri. Despite her close bond with her family and significant stature in Wakanda, no one informs her of her nephew. Granted, Shuri also disappeared during The Snap, but upon her return, such monumental family news would surely be shared.
While a level of suspended disbelief is natural for movies, the closing scene of Wakanda Forever challenges our understanding of Shuri’s relationships with her dear ones. Though the moment strikes an emotional chord, its logical coherence is lacking.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now showing in cinemas.