Tag: nakia

polytropic-liar:

okay, so everyone has set up the main rivalry in Black Panther as Killmonger vs T’Challa. And obviously that’s the main narrative structure of the story, not arguing with that. But I feel like from a purely character arc standpoint, the actual battle is Killmonger vs Nakia, and she obliterates him.

Erik Stevens is a CIA covert operative; basically, he’s a spy. So is Nakia. And when you look at their various actions through the lens of “who accomplished their mission better?”, it becomes pretty clear that Erik spent 20-some years preparing to destabilize T’Challa’s reign, including having inside knowledge and a birthright on his side…and Nakia spent roughly 36 hours successfully destabilizing his reign, in turn, with nothing but her incredible ability to network disparate resources.

Let’s just review her actions over those 36 hours okay:

– Gets the surviving members of the royal family successfully out of danger within seconds of the coup (aka the only living people with a competing blood claim to the throne aka the greatest threat to his regime)

– Sows enough doubt in the “greatest warrior in the country” about Killmonger’s ability to lead that when the time comes, Okoye and the entire Dora Milaje all defect (eventually saving hundreds of lives)

– Steals a heart-shaped herb from under his nose as he’s identifying it as the most important power resource in the country and trying to prevent it falling into anyone else’s hands, lol too late buddy

– Immediately identifies the person in the country with the best platform to mount a counter-insurgency (M’Baku), identifies what it will take to get him on their side, and casually resolves a centuries-long division in their country while she’s at it

– Correctly predicts Killmonger’s opening move of distributing vibranium to the war dogs, and assists in a comprehensive strategy that shuts it down cold–a strategy they wouldn’t have been able to use if she hadn’t gotten Shuri, Ross, and T’Challa all in one place with the right information at the right time

As soon as T’Challa is back she takes an immediate backseat again (she said it herself, she’s a spy, not the leader of an army), but, seriously, if you have to pinpoint the one person who took down Killmonger, it’s undeniably her. And she did it by clearly demonstrating that her skills as a war dog are miles ahead of his as a CIA agent (due in part, I’m sure, to being trained in a superior country, but also she’s Just That Good).

Yes! Erik’s real misfortune was coming up against a much better and smarter intelligence operative. She also gives the lie to the stereotypical spy narrative (embodied by Erik) that you have to be heartless and violent to achieve your ends. She is the moral center and touchstone of film, so filled with goodness it comes off her like a glow, but she kicks the ruthless Erik’s ass from Wakanda to Kinshasa.

Another thing Nakia was good at was identifying where the necessary resources weren’t, namely in herself. That was why she argued Ramonda out of the idea of taking it herself. It wasn’t self-effacement or modesty, it was a clear-eyed calculation of what it would take to win and the best chance was with M’Baku, not her.

And she did much of this while she thought the man she still loved was dead. She admits as much to Okoye, too. Think of how much sheer fortitude that took, to work through a grief like that to save your country. She is a hero and her heroism is no less amazing for not being flashy or center stage.

One of the things that amused me about T’Challa’s coronation scene was where the tribes ceremonially passed on their option to challenge. All the potential challegers, young, hot-blooded champions, were being appropriately aggressive, like “Yeah, I’m ready. Let’s do this, I’ll fuck him up,” while the elders speaking for them were all chill. “Nah, we’re good. Maybe next time.”

River Tribe should totally have challenged, though. T’Challa would have frozen and Nakia would have trounced him handily.

thescriptorium:

TAKE A NOTE FROM BLACK PANTHER: THAT IS HOW YOU WRITE A LOVE INTEREST

Nakia holds her own life, own job, unique set of morals, doesn’t get kidnapped and held for ransom and doesn’t get naked for eyecandy

yes she and T’challa are adorably crushing on each other, but honestly the fact that it wasn’t obvious made it so real and refreshing. he wasn’t constantly looking over his shoulder for her or jumping in front of guns for her or saving her when she obviously didn’t need to be saved, that shows so much trust and loyalty and love right there—the fact that they both understand their capabilities and limits.

Nakia was a legitimate character in this movie and a love interest. That is so rare y’all.

aryainwinterfell:

Of all the perfect things about Black Panther, one of the purest has to be T’Challa and Nakia’s relationship. Seriously:

  • Exes who don’t have any bitterness or resentment toward each other 
  • Exes who have gone their separate ways because they both have individual goals they want to pursue, not because one has wronged the other
  • Exes who want different things and disagree without being hateful or verbally abusive toward each other
  • Exes who are still adorably crushing on each other and everyone around them can see it and tease them endlessly over it
  • Exes who can work as a team
  • Exes who laugh and playfully tease each other
  • Exes who comfort and support each other
  • SPOILER A reunited couple who faces the world together, ready to make it a better place

This is it. T’Challa and Nakia have done it. They are the truest of all the OTPs.