Closing out Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and it is a spectacular display of the legacy of the late Chadwick Boseman, at the same time, it sets the future of the nation in the MCU. Here’s a breakdown of what happened in the ending, explained.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Ending Explained: Recap
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sits perfectly at the end of the MCU Phase Four as it captures the hearts of the franchise with the legacy of T’Challa being carried on by Shuri, and surprisingly, by his child who has the same name as him. It starts with Wakanda mourning the loss of T’Challa and the one most affected is Shuri who tried everything in her power to heal her brother but was too late. They honored the late king’s life as they send him to his burial rites, thus, Queen Ramonda is back as the ruler of Wakanda. A year after, Shuri remains in her laboratory while Queen Ramonda warns other countries to stop their searches on vibranium because an outreach center of Wakanda just got attacked and thankfully, the Dora Milaje was there to protect the best interests of Wakanda. Queen Ramonda is still the mother of Shuri and as they bonded over some ritual, Namor arrives and reveals to them that some countries hit their vibranium reserve, something that shocked Wakanda to its core upon learning that there is another source of vibranium. Shuri thinks it is logical but Namor was after a young scientist who amde a device that could detect vibranium – Riri Williams, and during a mission to get Riri out of trouble, Okoye failed to protect the princess who willingly went with the Talocans to ensure Riri’s safety. Shuri personally gets a glimpse of the Talocan culture, however, Namor revealed that they are seeking the help of Wakanda to attack the surface world, something that doesn’t sit well with Shuri. After Nakia shows up to save Shuri and Riri, Namor shows havoc on Wakanda. This is just a warning from Namor but it resulted to the death of Queen Ramonda who chose to save Riri Williams from drowning. Namor gives Wakanda a week to decide whether to side with them or be the first nation to fall on their hands. Consumed by grief and vengeance after losing her brother and mother in a year, Shuri found a way to replicate the heart-shaped herb through the bracelet Namor gifted her. She personally took in the herb and became the Black Panther. Despite being warned that a war fought on vengeance will not be won, Shuri pushes through and when both sides are clearly losing, just as Shuri gets her chance to kill Namor, she didn’t. The goodness within her prevailed and they formed a truce that could keep the peace between nations.
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Ending Explained: Namor Is A Mutant
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever just confirmed and revealed another mutant in the MCU. Following the reveal that Ms. Marvel has a mutation in her, this time, Namor himself knows that he is a mutant and has been under everyone’s noses for quite a few hundred years. When Shuri was in Talocan, Namor revealed to her how he became the king of their hidden nation. It turns out they were once humans but they discovered a flower growing from a glowing rock and their ancestors drank it, resulting to them breathing underwater. Namor was special, he was still in his mother’s womb when she drank the potion, thus, Namor became a mutant. He could breathe on land and underwater. Shuri and Riri deduced that Namor could breathe through the oxygen from the water on his skin, and using this, too, as their defense. Namor got his name after the Spanish conquistadors called him “El niño sin amor,” when he killed them all.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Ending Explained: M’Baku Is Now King of Wakanda
It is possible that the king and the Black Panther of Wakanda isn’t the same and this is the first time it happens. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever just revealed that there is a new king in town and the Black Panther personally paved way for it to happen. Following the end of the war against the Talocan, the Wakandans gathered on the side of the waterfalls where the ritual of hailing the king of Wakanda happens. While everyone was expecting Shuri to be the next queen, she foregoes the ritual to go somewhere else. Who else could be fit to be the new ruler of Wakanda? Well, M’Baku comes out of the aircraft and personally brings forth his intention to be the new king, just as Shuri seemingly hinted. Hail, King M’Baku, leader of the Jabari tribe, new king of Wakanda.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Ending Explained: Shuri Is Still Black Panther
Despite Killmonger burning all the heart-shaped herb in Black Panther, Shuri found another way to make a synthesized version of it Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with the use of T’Challa’s DNA and the bracelet given to her by Namor. See, the gift of Namor to Shuri has some strands of it coming from the flower from the glowing rock underwater, the vibranium that the Talocan has, and Shuri hoped for the best that being from vibranium rich soil, it will work. Yes, it did, and Shuri herself tested it. However, it isn’t T’Challa or Queen Ramonda who showed up, not even King T’Chaka. It is Killmonger who appeared to Shuri in the ancestral plane given that they share the same sentiment on why they wanted to be the new Black Panther. Still, Shuri realized why is that so – for her to realize that vengeance is not the way to protect the people of Wakanda, but rather, her mother reminds her who she is. In the end, Shuri remains to be the Black Panther and she foregoes being the queen, giving way to M’Baku.
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Ending Explained: Welcome to the MCU, T’Challa/ Toussaint
Shuri went to Haiti instead of the ritual for the new ruler of Wakanda and there she meets someone who will definitely turn the world around when he grows up. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduces Toussaint, son of T’Challa and Nakia, and his Wakandan name is also T’Challa. This is the best way that Marvels Studios found to reconcile the void that the late Chadwick Boseman left and continue with the plans they had for T’Challa. In introducing Toussaint, while there may be a delay on their original plans, they could continue with their narrative laid out for T’Challa through him, at the same time, they could still have the legacy of Chadwick Boseman honored and never forgotten in the MCU.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Ending Explained: Possible Midnight Angels Spin-Off Series
Okoye was stripped off of her title as part of the Dora Milaje but Shuri knows Okoye’s skills and expertise in combat shouldn’t go to waste in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Thus, she gives Okoye the new suit she is working on – the Midnight Angel. Okoye even recruits Aneka to be with her as they don a blue suit that could give them an avenue to remain as protectors of Wakanda, just as they always wanted. Also, this points to the spin-off series of Okoye in the MCU. Could it be that Okoye’s spin-off series be about the Midnight Angels? In the comics, they are the strike team of Wakanda, but if the series pushes through, it could focus on their recruitment process which could lead to some conflict with the Dora Milaje.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Ending Explained: How The Sequel Sets Up The Thunderbolts
Other than what happened in Wakanda, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever also revealed a lot about Everett Ross and Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Not only that they are ex-spouses, it turns out Contessa Val is now the head of the CIA, and this is huge for the Thunderbolts. Throughout Phase Four of the MCU, Contessa Val appeared more than once, seemingly inviting anti-heroes to join her in a yet unknown cause, and with the reveal that she is the CIA head now, this changes the direction of the Thunderbolts. Could it be that they would work on something that the government knows the heroes won’t?
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Ending Explained: When Will Namor Return To The MCU?
Following the reveal of Namor being a mutant in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Namor could come back in the MCU in any possible way given the flexibility of his character. The most possible is on Fantastic Four’s reboot. In the comics, with Namor as one of the oldest Marvel characters is Johnny Blaze, the Human Torch, and with their connection, Namor could return in the MCU on 2025 when Marvel’s first family comes into the picture. There is also Secret Invasion, the series that will be headed by Nick Fury, but it is quite unlikely given that Namor chooses to remain underwater and undetected by the outside world, well, except the CIA, of course, which may be teeming with Skrulls. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now in theaters worldwide.
