Catch the Vapors (2007)

This article contains minor spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever wastes no time in dealing with the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman. The entire introduction of the film opens with in-universe scenes of the characters dealing with T'Challa's (Chadwick Boseman) untimely death. Director Ryan Coogler grounds the character's death in reality by having him pass away from an unknown illness that he kept secret, paralleling Boseman's real-life passing. This is followed directly by a breaking of the fourth wall where Marvel acknowledges fans with a tribute to Boseman using their classic Marvel graphics introduction. Instead of comic images of Black Panther, we are shown heart-wrenching images of Boseman before transitioning to the Marvel logo. This is ingeniously done without a score, instead, a literal moment of silence accompanies and follows the images. This is a wise move that allows the film to transition to life in Wakanda without T'Challa.

This is a major cinematic theme of this film: transition. There are many major characters who are on individual hero journeys as they transition into new people and/or stages of life. Some of these transitions are about death and dealing with life after losing the ones we love, while other characters are transitioning and changing into new characters. The entire movie itself acts as a transitional buffer for fans. It aims to please both the #recasttchalla fans and those who wanted Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther to remain the only portrayal. The film opts for a refreshing compromise in an increasingly polarized fandom. Princess Shuri and Queen Ramonda constantly remind the viewer that T’Challa might be gone, but that the mantle of the Black Panther must live on. However, the film wisely circumvents replacing T’Challa immediately with another male actor and instead passes the mantle temporarily to an appropriate party (likely spoiled in the trailers for most).  The sequel does not erase Boseman's T’Challa, instead, he is felt in every cell of the film, and it feels organic. The film acts as a proper transitional time for mourning while warming viewers to the possibility of future Black Panthers. The wisdom lies in pivoting the conversation from a replacement in recast to a legacy to be passed on.

The film’s story has been criticized as crowded by a few, but I would suggest the film is more full than crowded, as a transitional sequel should be. The characters are dealing with the loss of their King, protector, brother, lover, and friend; international espionage and political pressure; and the threat of either invasion or global warfare. There are a lot of story threads to weave into a cohesive narrative. Director Coogler handles the film well, keeping the action believable and tailored to the individuals, while also leaving an ending that allows the series to move forward in a number of different directions.