Movie review
November 9, 2022 · 162 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a 2022 Marvel superhero sequel in which Wakanda's leaders defend their vibranium-rich nation from intervening world powers and a rival underwater civilization after King T'Challa's death. The story follows Queen Ramonda, Shuri, Okoye, and the Dora Milaje as they forge new alliances amid grief and external threats. Specific woke elements include Shuri's girlboss-style rise to become the new Black Panther, recurring anti-colonial dialogue that labels Western characters as "colonizers," visible LGBTQ+ representation with a same-sex couple moment among the Dora Milaje, and framing of global powers as exploitative forces threatening Black and Indigenous sovereignty.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Woke representation / casting
Strong Black female leads, Mesoamerican Indigenous rep for Talokan, and visible LGBTQ+ Dora Milaje couple.
Woke political dialogue
Recurring "colonizer" insults directed at white and Western characters.
Identity-driven story themes
Central girlboss arc for Shuri as Black Panther plus Black/Indigenous cultural pride and queer elements.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Modern activist-style portrayal of world powers as resource-exploiting colonizers undermining sovereignty.
Woke character or canon changes
Shuri takes Black Panther mantle (gender shift from male hero); Namor culturally reimagined for rep.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Moderate anti-woke backlash over girlboss rewriting, anti-colonizer messaging, and identity politics.
Creator track record context
Coogler and Alonso show consistent pattern of identity and diversity-driven work and statements.
Production
