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talkingparrotkee · 3 months

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Come to think of it... Besides Ayo and Aneka (a well-established pairing with a lot more substance going for it in the comics, from hsving their own arc to short comics strongly reaffirming their romance, so if you want extra material or support for them, the comics are definitely for you) or Ramonda and T'Chaka (but in the comics, Ramonda is T'Chaka's second wife and stepmother to T'Challa)...

There is no MCU Black Panther ship (fanon or canon) upheld in the comics 😭.

▪︎ Shuri, at best, has a mutual apathy with Namor nowadays. I mean, she can exist in the same vicinity of him and isn't immediately gnawing on his shinbone out of pure unsullied hatred.

Which is kind of funny, considering how she verbalizes hating Doctor Doom, yet it's just blank with Namor (even though he's in a similar boat. Maybe because he at least has helped Wakanda-T'Challa before, while Doctor Doom has just been a consistent agent of chaos and all around a disrespectful tin can man?).

▪︎ T'Challa is not with Nakia. In fact, if you ship these two, you'd probably get a stroke over how different they are. I did. 💁🏾‍♀️

It is sorely one-sided. Nakia was young when she fell for T'Challa and grew an unhealthy infatuation for him. She was absolutely unhinged (e.g., throwing herself in a pool at neck-breaking height for T'Challa's attention, attempting to kill his real interest at the time Monica Lynne then lying about it).

You can call her a yandere of some sorts.

This Nakia also became a villain named Malice.

The closest he has ever been in a mutual relationship is with a different Nakia from Intergalatic Wakanda (she seems more like the Nakia from the MCU), and that was set up as a more "star-crossed lovers" kind of relationship with T'Challa's "true love" being Storm.

Marvel is liable for the emotional damages.

▪︎ Okoye is hot, but also single. She has no husband.

Surprisingly, W'Kabi did exist, but since been killed by Morlun (totem-thirsty vampire, long story) in 2009. He wasn't even married to Okoye, but he had a wife (Chandra) who he had a similar dynamic (regarding arguing about duties) if you refer to their Black Panther 1 deleted scene. He had children with her too (something mentioned by Okoye and W'Kabi in the BP1 deleted scene).

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▪︎ Shuri and Riri are friends-allies who bear similarities, but Riri is underage (15, as already said), with them having a more undeniable sisterhood dynamic.

It's a cute dynamic, really. One of my favorite lines is Shuri talking about slapping Riri in her mouth due to her disrespect like an auntie 😭.

I also want to further this. I remember how people used the comics as evidence of Riri or even Namor being a love interest to Shuri, but I just strongly recommend not doing that.

Firstly, no need to falsify information from a completely different canon for validation. Shipping is for fun and doesn't need to abide by canon. People shipped a whole lot worse or nonsensical for less. I mean, Jack and Elsa is a popular thing and they're from two different universes!

Secondly, you'd get side eyes from the comic fandom at best. At worst, they may accuse you of unsavory things. I think both Black Panther Shuri shippers should be conscious of this. It's the rite of passage for any MCU fan 💁🏾‍♀️.

It is generally known to comicbook readers that Riri Williams is a minor. On a smaller note, Ironheart is also arguably not ready for relationships beyond friendship, either. When you read Ironheart volume 1, this will be made exponentially clear (her anxiety, her lack of friends, her poor coping mechanisms, her going to therapy...)

It was made clearer here:

(For context, Riri is talking about when Viv kissed her without consent)

Claims that comicbook Ironheart is romantically with someone, let alone Shuri, will raise eyebrows.

The same easily applies to the romantic ship between Namor and Shuri. While they are both adults, Namor initially calls her child (showing both his disregard and lack of respect. He registers her as arrogant, young, and immature. This is in the Infinity War saga too, though he doesn't call her a child there). They do not have an equal or "respecting" relationship. That is moreso T'Challa and Namor, although even that's iffy and at times, tumultuous (T'Challa described their secret meet-ups as poison). There's not really any nuance the comicbook writers cared to give them.

They share similar character flaws or motivations. That's about it. Maybe fans can fill that void, but there's a void.

Additionally, both laid waste to each other's homes, mutually killing thousands. There's no layered relationship between them. It's kind of just hate or (nowadays) apathy. If you're into that thing, sure, but... Uh. You won't find evidence for the ship. You will get long silences too. 💀

To be perfectly honest, I actually would pretend the comics don't exist if I wanted Namor and Shuri or Shuri and Riri romantically together.

If you ship shuriri and set out to ignore sibling coding or recontextualize their dynamic as something else, I'd stress that the Marvel comics are not the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

1. The Marvel Cinematic Universe changed Riri to 19 (new MCU informational books enlist her as 19, so that's sticking), so mentioning Riri being 15 is just wrong in terms of the MCU. Shuri is in her 20s (confirmed by the script, and if you do the math). Shuri would be 27+, but due to the snap, she's about 22.

Shuri and Riri's age placements technically happen to be closer with them both being legal adults, so there's not the ickiness of a child being paired off with an adult. Riri is still younger, but not that much younger.

2. When discussing the implementation of Riri's character, Ryan Coogler contextualized them as a mentor-mentee, older sibling dynamic, likely because of the comics in which he confirmedly borrows from (a panel outright deems them that, they behave akin to squabbling sisters, and there's a tone of sister-brotherhood in Ironheart 9 through 12).

If you really wanted to, I think it'll be easier to disregard this dynamic in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because:

A) Shuri doesn't explicitly deem Riri her sister or vice versa. The closet nudges we have are:

1. The parallel of handshakes

2. Riri's quote concerning Shuri's mother protecting her "as her own."

You can probably dance around or fan-interpret as something else.

B) Again, different canons.

C) Riri and Shuri are both legal adults.

However, that's Shuri x Riri's elephant in the room.

If you ship Namor and Shuri, the comics are almost null. Namor's own backstory isn't the same, and his dynamic with Shuri has noticeably been restructured. They're paralleling characters who equal and had a cordial intimacy of two characters relating.

This is still not inherently romantic (something verbalized), but hey. As said before, you can disregard or recontextualize it. That's what shippers generally do. It was purposefully edited ambigiously for complexity, anyway.

The elephant in this room, however, is that Namor, uh, Namor killed her mother when he water ballooned the Golden City. It doesn't matter if he had a reason for it or if it was war. This just means Namor is a nuanced character and that it wasn't personal for him. However, it is personal to Shuri. Reasonably, and especially without mending or development, it would not make her inclined to be personal or intimate with him. Even if she can set aside differences to be amiable allies, he is not owed her heart.

Both ships will inevitably have non-shippers or anti-shippers due to the understandable elephants in the room. Likewise, you can still ship what you want (highlight in MCU) and people should be cordial (if you don't like a ship, ignore it rather than grieving a shipper just having fun).

So that's kind of just my more objective take and suggestion. A fill-in-the-blank for those who don't know.

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talkingparrotkee · 3 months

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What are your personal theories/hcs on Shuri's future interactions with the other avengers?

This is a brainracker, especially since the Avengers rooster has been flipped upside down and switched out with new blood. However, I think I can answer for a few.

▪︎ Princess Shuri and Peter Parker (Spider-Man)

I think this, by far, is the easiest answer to give. I think Shuri and Peter would click the fastest and the most seamless. Their character arcs entirely mirror.

Not only do they start out similar (quippy, mentored science geeks with more light-hearted, slow-to-anger personalities), they are taken down a path of loss, grief, vengeance, and near-consuming anger. Both were protagonists to their own "coming of age" movie.

Pair this up with their admirable brilliance and skill in technological design. Spider-Man also shares similarity to Riri Williams, and we saw how Shuri near immediately clicked with her.

They even get along in the comics, with an almost amusing brotherly-sisterly dynamic. Honestly, Shuri just overall gets along with Spider-men.

There is no doubt in my mind that they'll immediately snap together like magnets. A comfortable relationship where they don't need many words, and when they do speak, they instantly understand the other.

▪︎ Princess Shuri and Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier)

Does Bucky count? If so, I would think their personal interaction would be positive, for the most part. They are already friends and bonded in Wakanda, with her at his side nursing him.

They have an amiable relationship. Yheir end-credit scene indisputably shows that. He was even named, "The White Wolf."

However, I think he will be in the Thunderbolts, a team employed by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (her favorite colonizer's good for nothing ex-wife), undertaking tasks for the United States Government and CIA.

You know... The same people who sought to destablize Wakanda (Shuri's nation) and take Riri Williams (Shuri's bestie)?

They will very much be on opposite sides. I think Bucky will be immensely torn, maybe Shuri hurt.

▪︎ Princess Shuri and Scott Lang

In the Wakanda Files book, Shuri is quite envious of Lang and Pym's excursions in the Quantum Realm. She states this in her Kimoyo logs.

I feel like she'd definitely pick his brain if given the chance, maybe ask for Hank's digits for discussion. There would be some respect (not only for his groundbreaking advancements, but the way he operates for the love of his family) jealousy, and want for collaboration (something Shuri expresses several times in the files, like with mourning Iron-Man and feeling sad that she cannot do so with him) there.

Shuri also flexes how she, Wakanda, can do things better in both Wakanda Files and virtually all of her appearances. So I can imagine her fixing or improving something of his.

Lang is also kind of goofy, so I'm interested how tha5'll play

▪︎ Princess Shuri and Sam Wilson

Funny enough, the panther siblings don't quite get along with Sam Wilson in the comics. So if they ever take any note from that, they won't be frolicking in a field of flowers hand-in-hand.

While MCU proven time and time again, butting heads on political issues or on the principle of their nationality difference (Shuri is Wakandan, Sam is American. It's been shown that Shuri can have awkwardness or a difference with American characters, from Riri to Ross) seems very much viable. It is foreshadowed that Wakanda will be at war with surface nations, primary ones being France and the United States of America. Sam is now Captain America, that is the mantle he bears.

I don't think it will be too great of a rift, though. I would presume temporary conflict and challenge. He is friends with Bucky, Sam makes an effort for social change (identifying the problems in America himself in Falcon and The Winter Soldier) so I doubt he'd be for the corruption, and they have been on the same side before.

Now I'm not sure if Shuri will become a common, frequent, or permanent member of the Avengers, even if T'Challa was more or less one in the comicbooks (she is not T'Challa and these are not the comics). However, I can expect collaboration. They already collaborated before, and Shuri is the kind of character who can easily be a team player. She enjoys collaboration, is a teacher, leads two programs, and has a slow-to-anger, perceptive personality.

Additionally, she worked with previous Avengers founding members, and Wakanda garnered the development of outreaching to those outside of them who are in misfortune. I would think it'd be optimal and easy for her to work with them, maybe even serve as a temporary member for the time being.

I may add further onto this later (Dr. Strange, She-Hulk, and Shang-Chi). Thanks for the ask!

#princess shuri #peter parker #the avengers #mcu #marvel #bucky barnes #sam wilson #shuri udaku #black panther: wakanda forever #black panther #wakanda forever #bpwf #shuri black panther #spider man #miles morales #marvel comics #captain america #winter soldier #thunderbolts

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talkingparrotkee · 3 months

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Don't you wish that Namor & Shuri entered public domain much earlier?

Not really (at all) no 😭. Especially when people kind of can be weird with that.

The only thing I truly wish for is good, coherent writing for both individual characters.

Thanks for the ask!

#namor #shuri #marvel

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talkingparrotkee · 3 months

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I also want to further this. I remember how people used the comics as evidence of Riri or even Namor being a love interest to Shuri, but I just strongly recommend not doing that.

There is no need to falsify information from a completely different canon for validation. Shipping is for fun and doesn't need to abide by canon. Additionally, you'd get side eyes from the comic fandom at best. At worst, they may accuse you of unsavory things. I think both BP2 Shuri shippers should be conscious of this. It's the rite of passage for any MCU fan 💁🏾‍♀️.

It is generally known to comicbook readers that Riri Williams is a minor. On a smaller note, Ironheart is also arguably not ready for relationships beyond friendship, either. When you read Ironheart volume 1, this will be made exponentially clear (her anxiety, lack of friends, poor coping mechanisms, therapy attending...)

It was made clearer here:

(For context, Riri is talking about when Viv kissed her without consent)

Claims that comicbook Ironheart is romantically with someone, let alone Shuri, will raise eyebrows.

The same easily applies to the romantic ship between Namor and Shuri. While they are both adults, Namor initially calls her child (showing both his disregard and lack of respect. He registers her as arrogant, young, and immature.). They do not have an equal or "respecting" relationship. That is more so T'Challa and Namor, but even that's tumultuous (e.g., T'Challa described their secret meet-ups as poison). There's not really any nuance the comicbook writers cared to give them.

They share similar character flaws or motivations. That's about it. Maybe fans can fill that void, but there's a void.

Both laid waste to each other's homes, mutually killing thousands. There's no layered relationship between them. It's kind of just hate or (nowadays) apathy. If you're into that thing, sure, but... You won't find evidence for the ship here. 💀

If you ship shuriri and set out to ignore sibling coding or recontextualize their dynamic as something else, I'd stress that the Marvel comics are not the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

1. The Marvel Cinematic Universe officially changed Riri to 19, so mentioning MCU Riri being 15 is just wrong. Shuri is in her 20s. Shuri would've been 27+, but due to the snap, she's about 22.

Shuri and Riri's age placements happen to be closer with them both being legal adults, so there's not the ickiness of a child being paired off with an adult.

If you really wanted to, I think it'll be easier to disregard this dynamic in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because:

A) Shuri doesn't explicitly deem Riri her sister or vice versa. The closet nudges we have are:

1. The parallel of handshakes

2. Riri's quote concerning Shuri's mother protecting her "as her own."

You can probably dance around or fan-interpret as something else. However, that's Shuri x Riri's elephant in the room.

This is still not inherently romantic (something verbalized), but hey. As said before, you can recontextualize it. That's what shippers generally do. It was purposefully edited ambigiously for complexity, anyway.

The elephant in this room, however, is that uh, Namor killed her mother when he water ballooned the Golden City. It doesn't matter if he had a reason for it or if it was war. This just means Namor is a nuanced character and that it wasn't personal for him. However, it is personal to Shuri. Reasonably, and especially without mending or development, it would not make her inclined to be personal or intimate with him. Even if she can set aside differences to be amiable allies, he is not owed her heart.

Both ships will inevitably have non-shippers or anti-shippers due to the understandable elephants in the room. Likewise, you can still ship what you want (highlight in MCU), and people should be cordial.

So that's kind of just my more objective take and suggestion. A fill-in-the-blank for those who don't know.

#black panther #wakanda forever #princess shuri #bpwf #shuri #shuri black panther #marvel #shuri udaku #mcu #queen ramonda #namor shuri #shuri riri #mcu namor #marvel comics #shipper advice #comics versus mcu #marvel ships

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talkingparrotkee · 3 months

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I think some people should be reminded that Riri Williams isn't 19 in the comics as she is now in the MCU. She's only but a teenaged child; she is 15.

Not only was this confirmed several times by editorial or the writer (see below), but her youth is relevant to a lot of her storyline. For starters, she's a part of the young Avengers mantle, with her peers being Miles Morales and Kamala Khan.

All of the Black Panther or Namor characters are, at the very least, supposed to skew early 20s (e.g., Shuri, who is clearly an adult in her 20s, especially if you review her older installments like Doomwar 2009 or Black Panther 2016).

Here are just some citations that confirm these ages verbatim:

This is a key reason why them using the team-name "shuriri" in Ironheart wasn't "canonizing" or coding the duo as a romantic pairing like some MCU fans presumed.

This is even ignoring the contextualization of their dynamic being that of sisterhood-general solidarity because maybe you can bend that: Shuri is an adult, Riri is a child. There's not a romantic connection between them here. They even squabble like siblings.

I know not everyone is a comic book reader, so I don't think most are using these panels or shipping their comic counterparts while knowing this glaring detail. Again, they probably just came from the MCU and decided to poke around in the comics.

They may not even know Riri is 15 and think she's an older teen (18-19), based on some interpretations of how she's drawn.

However, the fact still remains. The Marvel comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe shouldn't be conflated. Counterparts of characters aren't 1:1 the same. The MCU is not the comics, I can not articulate that enough.

When you treat them the exact same way, things like this happens.

It happens a lot.

#black panther #wakanda forever #princess shuri #bpwf #shuri #shuri black panther #marvel #shuri udaku #mcu #riri williams #marvel comics #shuriri #ironheart #shipping #Riri is a minor...

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talkingparrotkee · 3 months

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Shuri Coloring Pages Free, You can Color online, Coloring sheets, Coloring pictures, Download, and Print for kids of all ages.

#shuri

#Coloringonlinefree

#Shuri #shuri black panther #princess shuri #artwork #Coloring Pages

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talkingparrotkee · 4 months

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(Longer read) It was extremely hard to find character takes without brainworms concerning Wakanda Forever in the thick of silly ship wars or character stanning, I'm not going to hold you. Each side had some level of misses going on. Everybody was too busy making another character a scapegoat or harping on about how good or bad a Shuri ship was. At best, a character seemed to be understood a little bit, but then diagnoses of other characters were woefully one-dimensional or mild mischaracterizations.

So anyway, I want to talk about it and give every character their grace.

Don't mistake me. It's not wrong to connect with one side more than the other. In a video interview, director and writer Ryan Coogler even stated it was written in a way that who you root for could change and depend on the day. He wanted both sides to be sympathetic, but never evil or wrong on all accounts. It was just a case of people trying to do the best they could with what they're dealing with. It was a story about grief and how it affected us. It also came with a layer of bipoc experience and colonialization.

It makes sense for you to follow Shuri and Wakanda as they are the protagonists. It is sensible to empathize with Talokan, too, given what we learned about them.

What drives me bonkers is completely spitting on the narrative, making it into something it never was. (If it doesn't apply let it fly!)

If some fans seemed to understand Namor, more than a comfortable number of times, it turned into oversympathization at the expenses of other characters and his own character development. They try downplaying Namor's canonically rough edges and faults while blaming Nakia or Ramonda.

It appeared that they understood Talokan's points, but suddenly, that same critical thinking or humane sympathy is in sparing doses for Wakanda (their sister nation).

I just think people need to remember that Namor is... Kind of an asshole in any canon. He was literally called that and arrogant by Ryan Coogler, which is what we have seen in Wakanda Forever.

Namor is a multi-faceted character. His motives are upright and just. He's not entirely a "villain." Everything he did in Wakanda Forever had a rhyme and reason. His actions were in response to something (e.g., Wakanda unknowingly jeopardizing Talokan's safety). No, Namor didn't want to hurt Shuri, nor did he view it as him killing her mother. Yes, he genuinely sought out kinship, support, and an alliance with her. Yes, it is true that he holds respect and admiration for Shuri and Wakanda (see Con La Brisa or Namor's first and lines just for three references).

At the same time, he had his missteps. His diplomacy skills (barring his first conversations with Shuri) sucked exponentially! Namor was difficult with Ramonda. He intruded and constantly tried to give orders, make demands, or give Wakanda ultimatum.

These things can co-exist. As Joe Robert Cole said, Namor wasn't wrong for what he felt or his objective. His point of view is comprehensible and valid, but the problem was his approach. Namor even admits how Shuri had every right to kill him to Namora, so yes, he is flawed and had fault.

If some fans seemed to sympathize heavily with Shuri, they oddly villified and outright misconstrue Namor as something "anti-black," an oppressor (pure insanity), or a purely villainous, evil finger twiddling mastermind who sought to manipulate her right from the start.

These are stupid reads that's blatantly non-canon, mind you. Ryan Coogler even debunked that. He stated that he wanted their scenes to read as intimate and legitimate human connection amongst people who mirror.

There is also the fact that, if anything, the only character that was to give the impression to being "fooled" was Namor.

I think people should also realize how Shuri was not at all ok (aka, her flaw). This is another thing Ryan Coogler stressed in an interview. Namor and Shuri were intentionally two sides to the same coin. The pain one had was reflected in the other. Shuri was paralleling Namor in his thirst for retribution and destructive grief, but the difference is that she stopped herself from crossing the point of no return as he did, while offering her hand to pull him back.

"Vengance has consumed us. We cannot let it consume our people." Shuri wouldn't have said that for no reason.

There is an important point behind Shuri and Namor resonating with one another. Attempting to erode the connection they kindled in Talokan or misconstrue either of the two is a disservice to the movie's intricately structured theme.

If some fans loved Okoye and empathize with her struggles, they took shots at Ramonda for snapping. Yes, Okoye is an amazing, sympathetic character and tried her best. Okoye was suffering too, but do not neglect Queen Ramonda's pains.

"I had to lead a wounded nation and a broken world."

This is the same woman who lost her daughter for 5 years in the Blip, lost her son three times with the final being permanent, and lost her husband, who was politically assassinated. Throughout all of this, she had to lead a broken nation through a broken world herself. In Wakanda Forever, Ramonda had to deal with a dangerously grieving Shuri whose whole world was torn apart. She had to stand strong, seeing her daughter come undone while grieving herself.

Okoye stayed loyal to the throne when N'Jadaka (T'Challa's supposed murderer) took it while she and Shuri ran for their lives to the Jabari. Okoye's husband, W'Kabi, was a traitor. Ramonda pushed this all away (likely because she knew Okoye's heart and she understood the situation), allowing Okoye to continue serving at her side as her entrusted general and friend.

Ramonda told Okoye Shuri wasn't ready and told her not to take her on the field. Ramonda stressed her concerns about Namor (an unknown player with vibranium who had unexplainably breeched their boarders, warned them of their military power, and acted with help). Still, Okoye insisted, assuming full responsibility over Shuri.

Yes, Queen Ramonda was acting more like a mother than a queen here, and it wasn't the best decision she could've made (Okoye is their best warrior and was the only one who had fighting experience against Talokanil). However, it shows that she was human. It makes complete sense that the dam broke. She also had a point: Okoye failed in her duty, an insanely important duty that determined the fate of Wakanda.

Shuri isn't just Ramonda's daughter. She's the apparent heir. Shuri is a vital pillar in Wakanda as:

A) the apparent and only heir

B) head of Wakandan technology and design

Shuri is a leader in more ways than one, so her being taken is nothing to take lightly. Shuri even told Namor herself that Wakanda wouldn't rest until she was returned. When she comes back, a lab technician confirms this, stating to Shuri that the city has been stressed and restless in her absence.

All in all, this was a tragic fallout spurred by grief between characters with a mother-daughter dynamic.

Then there's Nakia, who mostly gets blamed for everything when she was roped in with her hands constantly forced. Even in canon, she was mistreated with Shuri ostracizing her. I'll probably write a dissection on her because it's just so crazy to me, but to give a rundown:

☆ Nakia lost "her everything" thrice. She had to be a single mother to Toussaint (who she also had to keep secret).

☆ Nakia's lack of presence at T'Challa's funeral in Wakanda was misunderstood for "running away," when she was told by T'Challa not to attend in fear of exposing their child. This led to characters pressing or misjudging her for it. Shuri had snip remarks towards her and even ignored her calls, yet Nakia remained patient and her side.

☆ The grandmother of her child pulled up to her workplace and home in Haiti, practically pleading with her to save Shuri (the love of her life's beloved sister). Queen Ramonda came to her, urging her to come out of retirement as wardog to rescue Shuri from those who held her. Neither Ramonda nor Nakia knew that Shuri requested to be taken to Namor. There was no rapport formed between them and Namor (quite the opposite). They do not know Namor or how he treats Shuri. We, as the audience, have dramatic irony. The characters do not!

☆ Nakia acted under the order of Ramonda to retrieve Shuri by any means. Even then, she did not shoot immediately. She told the guard to drop her weapon, then shot her only because she attempted to kill Shuri.

When the young handmaiden shakily held Shuri with a fruit knife near her neck, Nakia warned her with two lines, one being a command to let Shuri go. It is understandable that the young maiden froze up in fear, but time was running out. Nakia wasn't going to roll the dice on Shuri's life either. Namor would've done the same (or probably would've killed them on the dot to save his people).

While it is true Nakia killing those two Talokanil in part led to Namor's attack on Wakanda's Golden City...

1. Wakanda and Talokan still would've had inevitable conflict.

2. Her hand was pushed.

I've seen people blame or hate on Riri Williams, too, simultaneously getting and missing the point. Yes, Namor had a reason to kill Riri. He was acting as a king and didn't want his people to suffer the same traumas that caused them to move again. T'Chaka would've done the same thing.

However, even in Namor's own words, it wasn't "about the scientist." In the original script, he furthers he would've killed a thousand scientists if it meant ensuring Talokan's safety. Unfortunately, Riri was the scientist who made the machine (that she honestly had no business creating, even if she didn't know of Talokan). They wanted to throw a wrench in the cogs by depriving them of the machine and the scientist who created it. That way, they can't possibly replicate it.

To Namor, it was "Nothing personal, kid." Not even he fixed the blame on Riri personally. He just emphasized the problematic nature of the vibranium detector and what it opened them to, what it has begun. It's like the ethical delimma question of rerouting the train: Would you save the worker working absentmindedly on the train tracks or the group of people on the other side?

Coming from his perspective, you can understand him to a degree. Shuri did, but still was firm in advocating for sparing Riri. The moment she heard and saw that Riri was a student, she couldn't just fork her over to be killed for something not truly her fault. On her brother and for her brother's legacy, she refused to kill Riri. The choice to protect Riri reflected Wakanda's overall development post-BP1. It also illustrates Wakanda's optimism (afforded by their history and position), which isn't shared by Talokan. Talokan has more pessimism (due to their history of displacement, massacre by colonial disease, and vulnerabilities).

However, Riri also shows how Namor could be wrong.

Riri is a young black girl living in a constant state of disadvantage, trying to prove herself.

“To be young, gifted, and Black though, right?”

She mirrors Namor ironically. She suffered and experienced byproducts of colonialism as an African American. Riri, who is a teenager beginning college (do you expect the pinnacle of maturity and foresight from a 19-year-old?), was just caught in crossfire. Her work was meant for a rock project her professor, for some reason, didn't responsibly dissaude her from doing (but challenged her to). The FBI stolen and weaponized it, then dared to send armed forces to seize her in order to have her make it again. They even attempted to use Riri as a guise to destabilize Wakanda, pretending to care about her safety and abduction.

Additionally, even by Namor's own words, the surface world coming for them was only a matter of time. With or without Riri. Killing her would just be pushing back the dates, but it wouldn't have solved the problem. Beyond the moral dilemma of killing a kid, it actually would've created new problems.

1. A sovereign body intruded on American soil. 2. Said sovereign body and representative of another nation took a citizen. Not only that, a teenaged citizen that poses no harm who has also created the first vibranium detector (which they wanted and are looking for themselves). 3. Assuming Wakanda obliged, Riri would've been killed and never returned. Her mother would throw a fit, and it gives them so much political ammunition and guises to destablize Wakanda.

And what can Wakanda do? They are sworn to secrecy that Talokan exists. So they'll just be taking the hits just like they almost took the hits for sinking that ship when it was Talokan. If Wakanda falls and gets plundered, Talokan is not far behind.

None of these characters are "the real villains." Each of them have nuance, goodness, sympathies, and complexities. Every single one captures the complexity of humanity.

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talkingparrotkee · 4 months

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‘Black Panther’ Costumes at the Afrofuturism in Costume Design Exhibition by Ruth E. Carter

Of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s 33 theatrical titles, only the two Black Panther films are Academy Award-winners. Ruth E. Carter became the first Black woman to win multiple Oscars in any category with her 2023 win for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, cementing her legacy as a visionary costume designer. In fall 2023, she brought many of her most famous creations to the Charles H. Wright Museum…

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#Black Panther #Black Panther: Wakanda Forever #Costumes #Marvel #MCU

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talkingparrotkee · 4 months

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Shuri by Amanda Macfarlane

#shuri #black panther #letitia wright #wakanda forever #art #artwork #marvel #marvel universe #mcu #beautiful work

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talkingparrotkee · 4 months

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Adding onto this post:

Hair language was an important detail in Wakanda Forever, I love it very much!

• Ramonda and Shuri cut their hair to grieve T'Challa. As Letitia Wright said, this is their culture. Notice how the movie begins with Shuri still with her braids and Ramonda with long lockes. After T'Challa dies, they have short hair.

Black Panther 1 》 Black Panther 2 (Pre-T'Challa's death, Ramonda's hair is out, Shuri's is still in an updue with her brown braids) 》 Black Panther 2 (Post-T'Challa's death, their mourning period)

Riri wears buns like Shuri did, which makes sense because, as Ryan Coogler pointed out, she is now the youngest character, and Shuri, the previous youngest, is now passing a torch to her. She is about the age Shuri was in Black Panther 1 and is just starting out.

Nakia is noticiably opposite to Ramonda and Shuri. Her hair is longer than it was previously (capturing her "maturity, growth, and shift in priorities" - Lupita Nyong'o).

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talkingparrotkee · 4 months

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I've always liked and was curious about the creative reason regarding giving Shuri's braids a mixed, honey brown coloring to them. I don't remember why or even if I have seen them speak about it (they did speak about the hair styling, though. For example saying that Shuri no longer has updues and high buns with her hair up, reflecting her maturity and climbing in age.).

It definitely creates more of a contrast when we see older Shuri, with a more stripped, subdued look partly out of grief. It certainly visibly marks a change in her character.

#black panther #wakanda forever #black panther wakanda forever #princess shuri #bpwf #shuri black panther #shuri #shuri udaku #marvel #mcu #was not intentional but you can also see her change in emotion with these pictures too :(

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talkingparrotkee · 4 months

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Mild Tw-blood

Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide

And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up:

…

Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,

Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay

To muddy death

Shuri’s Inner Turmoil feat. her family and it’s complicated’s fur/scale-sonas waiting to see if she will sink or swim.

I’ve wanted to do a Shuri painting inspired by by John Everett Millais’s Ophelia for like 4 months but didn’t have anytime to finish it until now. Shuri felt really Ophelia coded to me as she spends so much of bp wf floating on the surface of disappear, thankfully she manages to rise from the waters and meet a much better fate then Ophelia’s. I intended to illustrate her conflicted feelings during the final fight, but it could also be seen as more of an overall summary of her arc.

#black panther #wakanda forever #princess shuri #mcu shuri #bpwf #namor of talokan #beautiful

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talkingparrotkee · 4 months

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Oh. You guys really liked this yapping analysis, huh. That's cool 🫣. I'm happy, I love Shuri and analyzing her brilliant character.

One thing I like about MCU Shuri and also think several people sorely get wrong is that she's the more cool-headed character. She is slower to shout, panic, and anger, being relatively more laidback. Shuri would rather wall up and bury herself in her lab (M'Baku confirms this at Ramonda's funeral, and we see her doing just that in the beginning) before lashing out.

Even Ryan described how T'Challa was more hotheaded to T'Chaka's diplomat, while Shuri was the more cool and laid back one to fiery Ramonda.

We see it in her clothing styles.

We see this in the way she initially approaches things. Two key instances:

The way she first responds and confronts Namor. Shuri is still on defense at the river, but she is less combative or reactive compared to Ramonda. Shuri more quietly assesses and responds to him. Compare this to Ramonda, who immediately fires back and disregards what he says without even checking if it could possibly be true, to which Shuri has to point out some truths by empirical evidence (i.e., Ramonda dismissed him saying only they had vibranium, Shuri gently nudges her, saying he's covered in it, so that cannot be the case). A similar thing happens when she is down in Talokan with Namor. Throughout it all, Shuri kept a leveled head and bit back her tongue to think of solutions, even when things started turning south. She knew how to shut up as well rather than argue him down more (something not many people know how to do).

The way Shuri tried to extract Riri compared to Okoye. For starters, Shuri did not break into bathrooms or bring spears in Riri's dorm - she blended in and used the door. She did not make threats and give an ultimatum either. Shuri just tried to explain the urgency to Riri and draw her out without the use of physical force.

We also see it in her reactions with other characters.

In the first movie, she tells T'Challa to "calm down" when he shouts at her to drive. We also see her not care to fight T'Challa for the mantle, even if it is her birthright (she just wanted to go home and get out of a particularly uncomfortable corset). Instead, she prefers to fight alongside and as support.

Black Panther: "The Black Panther lives. And when he fights for the fate of Wakanda, I will be right there beside him."

Black Panther 2: "I was not trying to save the mantle mother, I was trying to save my brother."

For another example regarding her interactions with characters from Wakanda Forever, Riri is consistently depicted to be the more anxious and is more inclined to lose composure. Shuri, even when she's stressed or overwhelmed too, is often the one to remain composed. Shuri attempts to calm Riri down so she doesn't have a panic attack. Shuri also didn't reply when Riri started snapping at her about the FBI, only calmly working about and mapping out an escape plan.

One last particular example is with Okoye. Shuri is less quick to be defensive or shout compared to Okoye. We see it in the way Okoye commanded her to get in the car, and rather than shout back, she simply uttered quietly, "Why are you shouting at me..." Shuri didn't reply to Riri snapping, but Okoye did not let anything slide, pointing the finger back to her. During this entire exchange, Shuri was quietly observing before cutting in, saying how they needed to work together to get out of their situation.

Black Panther Wakanda Forever was her later in-character out-of-character. In other words, that unrivaled anger and snapping you saw was never her baseline. She's not an angry or vengeful person. That was the point of Ramonda, "Show him who you are," when she was hesitating killing Namor.

It was the result of her character at a breaking point. Shuri was not coping properly and dealing with frustrations she couldn't see her way out of. Shuri was struggling with spirituality. She was trying to know if her family was truly still there. She was trying to find the reason behind her failure and loss. Shuri already began cracking since T'Chaka died (see: Wakanda Files). T'Challa's death just broke her, with her narrowly holding her pieces together.

#black panther #wakanda forever #princess shuri #shuri udaku #marvel

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