Romance has always been a big part of theMarvel Cinematic Universe.
Here’s whyBlack Pantherhas the best romance in the MCU.
They eventually end up overlapping, but Nakia and T’Challa are seeking very different things as the story begins.
Nakia and T’Challa are supportive of one another, no matter what.
Nakia is the beating heart ofBlack Panther she deeply cares about others and their suffering.
She also doesn’t need to wait for T’Challa to come in and rescue her.
She’s perfectly capable of doing that herself.
As a warrior, she’s versatile and showcases physical strength, as well as exemplary use of weaponry.
Nakia is also full of grace, emotional strength, wisdom and mercy.
T’Challa treats her as an equal, never condescending to her or suggesting she’s incapable of anything.
It’s a heavy burden to carry, and he often needs advice and support from others.
Together, Nakia and T’Challa are the ideal co-leaders they balance each other out in the best ways.
Intense chemistry
“Don’t freeze,” everyone says to T’Challa.
Whenever he sees Nakia, however, he’s unable to help himself.
Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong’o have fantastic chemistry.
They’re both flirty, while also being gentle and reverent toward one another.
It’s present in their body language and eye contact.
She knows how much they mean to him.
He remained loyal to her dream and invested in it.
T’Challa is vulnerable with Nakia
Vulnerability inromantic relationshipshas rarely been depicted onscreen in the MCU.
She wants to help people more directly than her role as queen would allow.
Beyond that, T’Challa and Nakia both break racial, gender and superhero stereotypes.
Nakia isn’t just the “strong black woman.”
She’s physically strong, yes, but that isn’t the only way to be strong.
A dark-skinned black woman gets to be soft, vulnerable, opinionated, and fierce all at once.
This is a rarity in film.
Nakia gets to show emotion and isn’t treated lesser for it or brought down.
Nakia is also deeply loved, trusted, and has agency.
Likewise, T’Challa is a leader, but he’s soft-spoken and isn’t afraid to show emotion.
He’s deeply sympathetic and confident in his masculinity without needing to engage in toxic behavior.
