Shuri is wrecked by grief that she is unable to process.
This heart-breaking realization fuels Shuris arc inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Shuri is a pragmatic person.
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She doesnt willingly accept Wakandan traditions and beliefs.
In the first film, Shuri was a precocious youngster without a care in the world.
Despite her fathers assassination, she seemed untamable.
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She can escape the FBI, but she cant fight off the super-powered Talokanil who abduct her and Riri.
So, Shuri uses her tactical skills to engage with the Talokans leader Namor.
Theres an obvious bond between the two, especially given how empathetic Shuri is.
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But Coogler and Cole develop their relationship differently.
She even tries to save the life of one of her captors but is rescued before she can.
Its only when Namor kills her mother that Shuri unleashes a torrent of emotion.
Image via Marvel Studios
Wrights emotional pain is so palpable its almost unbearable to watch.
And the change in her demeanor from overwrought in the throne room to stoic during Ramondas funeral is unnerving.
it’s possible for you to feel the shock of those losses permeate through Wrights performance.
She is angry, and she wants vengeancejust as Killmonger once was.
This scene is a turning point for Shuris characterization.
Its a suspenseful moment in the film, but also adds a new layer to Shurishe has flaws.
How refreshing to see a female character who isnt perfect.
In the end, Shuri does choose to spare Namors life.
Shuri is brave and empathetic, as we see through her interactions with Namor in Talokan.
She is secure in her abilities, so doesnt see Riri as a threat.
But she is human and consumed by vengeance.
Shuri takes her time becoming the hero but doesnt lack heroics before putting on the suit.
Its so delightful to see a female character written as a complex and flawed protagonist in a superhero film.
