A bridge over troubled water.

While it’s fair to say Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has had its ups and downs, any accusation that it’s been an unmitigated disaster feel well wide of the mark.

To push this narrative, a common complaint regarding this phase has been a perceived lack of cohesiveness across it all, however, while many have become fixated on Phase Four’s dearth of narrative links, huge thematic ones have largely been ignored.

Considering the continuous stream of monumental events that have struck the MCU over the past fourteen years, and the significant tragedies that came with Infinity War and Endgame, it really is no surprise that death has loomed large over what followed. From Black Widow to WandaVision to No Way Home, death has haunted the universe at every turn, forcing heroes and audiences alike to confront their grief like never before.

Which brings us to this moment right here, with a film that, at times, felt buried under the weight of its own grief. For very real reasons, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has become a focal point for all of Marvel’s mourning, a factor that risked holding it back from ever making it at all.

But make it Wakanda Forever did. And, in many ways, the very fact that the film is here at all should be considered both a monumental achievement and a welcome opportunity for closure.

In the wake of King T’Challa’s death, invading forces from around the world target Wakanda’s stocks of precious vibranium, unleashing chaos in the process. Seeking to defend the nation in the absence of the Black Panther, Shuri (Letitia Wright), Ramonda (Angela Bassett), M’Baku (Winston Duke), and the Dora Milaje must work through their grief to keep Wakanda safe. However, when Namur (Tenoch Huerta) and a mysterious Mexican civilisation emerge from the depths of the sea, the country’s very existence comes under threat.

As scarcely believable as it is, it’s been over two years since the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman. It’s a time scale that has allowed us some space to process his absence, yet the dangling thread of Black Panther has made it difficult for the world to truly say goodbye to the late star.

Of course, at the end of the day, a character in a fictional superhero universe shouldn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, however, the enormous cultural and social significance of both Black Panther and T’Challa is of such a scale that the future of the story and the legacy Chadwick has left behind is incredibly significant.

Understandably, Chadwick’s sudden passing some way into Wakanda Forever’s pre-production left both director Ryan Coogler and Marvel Studios with the unenviable task of finding a way to continue the Black Panther story while respecting, honouring, and leaving space to grieve. Certainly, the online pressure to recast T’Challa didn’t help matters, and while everyone will have their opinion on how things should’ve been handled, the route Wakanda Forever takes is about as satisfying as you could’ve possibly hoped for.

With choppy pacing and a run time that could’ve done with a little trimming, Wakanda Forever certainly isn’t perfect, yet it represents a wholly satisfying send-off for both Chadwick Boseman and this phase of the MCU. Naturally, the film is a distinctly sombre affair and a clear reflection of the circumstances under which it was produced, yet there’s a profundity and a thoughtfulness to it that offers a resounding conclusion to an intensely difficult period for all involved.

Quite understandably, the film wastes no time in dealing with Chadwick/T’Challa’s death, confronting it head on and in such a profound way that you’ll be choking back tears before we even get to the Marvel Studios logo. There are a million and one ways that Marvel and Ryan Coogler could’ve approached the ramifications of Chadwick’s passing, however, the route they’ve chosen feels fitting, natural, and, most importantly, respectful.

Without a doubt, the absence of Chadwick Boseman is keenly felt, especially in the film’s early moments, as the story struggles to find its footing without the majestic figure of T’Challa there to guide things. It really is no mean feat to fill such a huge void in the Black Panther story and the great loss of its king means the plot takes some time to get going, however, after this initial wobble, things swiftly begin to soar.

While certainly more solemn and deliberate in tone than its predecessor, Wakanda Forever nevertheless continues the franchise’s burning desire to fly the flag for representation and fight the status quo, while never losing sight of the need to entertain. Whether it’s the continued Black and African representation, the authentic Mesoamerican-inspired depiction of Namor and his people, or the willingness to engage with geopolitics head on, the Black Panther brand feels as vital and as progressive now as it’s ever been.

The ability of Ryan Coogler to not only navigate his way through such delicate circumstances but to do so in style should not be underestimated, but it’s also to the immense credit of the entire cast that Wakanda Forever is the success that it is. Of the ensemble, Letitia Wright and Angela Bassett step up to the plate magnificently, shouldering the responsibility of being the film’s focal points with poise and grace, largely mitigating the blow of Chadwick’s absence while offering a fresh spin on the Black Panther story that promises a fruitful future for the franchise.

Alongside them, returning faces like Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, and Winston Duke provide wonderful support in trying times, while the introduction of Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams adds an extra dimension to things, however, it’s the addition of Tenoch Huerta that takes it all to the next level. Whether you’d consider him a villain, an antagonist, or an anti-hero, Huerta’s Namor is undoubtedly one of Wakanda Forever’s highlights and a unique realisation of one of Marvel’s oldest characters.

Posing a menacing threat while being utterly sympathetic, Namor marks himself out as one of the finest villains in the MCU and certainly the equal of Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger from the first film. In what will surely be his breakout role, Huerta brings an arrogance, a simmering fury, and a composed power that helps carry the film through even the choppiest of waters to offer a commanding presence and a potent antagonist to stand opposite the Wakandans.

Captaining this ship, Ryan Coogler once again proves just how much of a generational filmmaking talent he is, not only holding Wakanda Forever together amidst impossible circumstances, but providing something truly special in the process. Getting the film’s delicate, mournful tone just right while delivering the action rush you expect from any good Marvel movie, Coogler marks himself out as one of the finest, most versatile directors of his generation.

Although the film’s CGI does feel a little muddy at times, especially when we dive down into Namor’s subterranean Talokan kingdom, the handle that Coogler – together with the peerless sartorial stylings of Ruth E. Carter – has on Wakanda Forever’s aesthetics is as strong as ever. Feeling far more lived in than it ever has before, Wakanda itself continues to hum with life, colour, and vivacity, and continues to prove itself one of the most awe-inspiring locations in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Mired in tragedy and controversy from day one, at times it felt like Wakanda Forever may never see the light of day at all, so to finally have it with us is a truly monumental moment. At many points, it felt doomed, so to not only have the movie out in the world at last, but to have it prove itself a more than worthy follow-up to Black Panther is a real moment of cinematic catharsis.

While his absence will be felt both in the MCU and across cinema for some time to come, Wakanda Forever offers a true moment of closure and the chance to say goodbye to Chadwick Boseman in a way that’s as soul nourishing as it is devastating. Sure, the film is messy in places, but then grief itself is an incredibly messy process, so, in many respects, it feels like the perfect encapsulation of the emotional journey we’ve all been through these past two years.

Poignant, powerful, and wholly satisfying, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever marks both an affecting farewell to Chadwick Boseman and a fitting full stop to an MCU phase where death and grief have loomed large. With Ryan Coogler and his cast stepping up to the impossible task of filling the void left by Chadwick’s passing, Wakanda Forever overcomes its difficulties to offer an emotionally rewarding, highly ambitious story that beautifully honours the past while setting sail for the future.