'Eyes Of Wakanda' Episode 1 - 4 Review

Marvel

Aug 4

It’s been ten years since the kingdom of Wakanda was namedropped in Avengers: Age of Ultron. It’s been nine years since we were introduced to King T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War. And if you can believe it, it’s been seven years since Black Panther impacted pop culture in a way very few superhero movies have. Ryan Coogler’s critically acclaimed masterpiece has remained one of the most beloved installments of the MCU. Earning billions of dollars and multiple awards, including three Oscars for its costumes, sets, and score. Loved by fans, critics, and audiences alike, as recently as last month, The New York Times ranked Black Panther among the 100 greatest movies of the 21st Century, both the industry-voted list and the readers’ choice list. The Writers Guild of America named it among the 101 greatest American screenplays of the 21st Century. And of course, Rolling Stone deemed it the greatest superhero movie ever made.

Sadly, with the loss of the late and great Chadwick Boseman, our time with T’Challa was cut short. Thankfully, our trips to Wakanda haven’t stopped. We got one more ride with Boseman in his Emmy-winning vocal performance as T’Challa in What If…?, playing the character in an alternate universe where he is Star-Lord. Ryan Coogler returned to the MCU with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022. Despite not achieving the same acclaim as the first, the film was still a success and earned Marvel its first-ever Oscar nomination for acting, with Angela Bassett’s unforgettable performance as Queen Romonda being recognized. There have been whispers (yes, that is a reference) about an animated series focused on Wakanda for years, with a rumored title of The Golden City. And finally, that rumored animated series is finally here!

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Eyes of Wakanda is the newest project to come out of Marvel Animation and the first to be set in the MCU’s Sacred Timeline. Created by former Marvel storyboard artist Todd Harris, Eyes of Wakanda is a labor of love that’s taken years to make it to our screens. And the wait was worth it! Eyes of Wakanda makes the best of its short length to deliver a centuries-spanning tale of heroism, loyalty, and friendship across four memorable episodes of animated television. Todd Harris and his cast and crew bring Wakanda to life in ways that rival what Ryan Coogler and his crew accomplished.

Episode 1, titled Into the Lion’s Den (directed by Todd Harris and written by Geoffrey Throne), quickly drops us into this new animated world and doesn’t let up for a moment. This episode centers on a warrior named Noni (voiced by Winnie Harlow), a former member of the Dora Milaje who was demoted due to her brashness and unwillingness to work with others. Noni is sent on a mission to take down a mysterious figure who has been stealing Vibranium to build an empire.

Into the Lion’s Den makes excellent use of the spy film influences and Afrofuturist iconography that made the first Black Panther so memorable. The series’s unique animation style is easier to get used to than that of previous Marvel Disney+ shows, thanks to its eye-catching character design, expert use of colors, and fluid action sequences. Winnie Harlow and Cress Williams deliver remarkable voice-over performances as Noni and Nkati/The Lion, respectively. Despite the episode being 30 minutes in length, Noni and Nkati feel three-dimensional and fleshed out. The episode also introduces the recurring thematic throughline of characters wondering if Wakanda's isolation from the rest of the world is a good thing or a bad thing. Noni asks herself the tricky question of whether Wakanda’s isolation is worth it, as Nkati reveals his ultimate goal is to share Vibranium with the world.

Of the four episodes, Into the Lion’s Den is the most self-contained. Despite wanting more of these characters, the episode is overall a worthwhile experience.

Episode 2, titled Legends and Lies (directed by John Wang and written by Marc Bernardin), is probably the weakest episode of the four. Despite an intriguing premise and a fascinating concept of an undercover Wakandan agent fighting in the Trojan War, the episode is ultimately just fine.

Centered on Memmon (real name B’kai), he has spent nine years living among the Mycenaean Greeks. During this time, he befriends a warrior named Achilles (yes, that Achilles). Memmon’s mission is to retrieve a vibranium-infused necklace and bring it back to Wakanda. After finding it, Memmon and Achilles engage in combat as Memmon struggles to convince Achilles that, despite his deception, he still sees him as a friend.

The animation and action are still great here, but it’s the writing that lets down the episode. While the episode sees Memmon struggle with his mission and his friendship with Achilles, it’s too action-centric to give the themes it presents the attention and room to stretch it deserves. Granted, the action is excellent, as mentioned above. Larry Herron as Memmon/B’kai and Adam Gold as Achilles also do good work here. If anything, the highlight of the episode is Memmon speaking to an older Noni (now voiced by Lynn Whitfield) at the end.

Episode 3, titled Lost and Found (directed by both Fang and Harris with Marc Bernardin acting as writer once again), is the best one of the four by far. We’re introduced to Basha, a tracker who is sent on a mission in China to retrieve a statue containing Vibranium. After he returns to Wakanda, a mysterious warrior named Jorani (also known as The Iron Fist) follows Basha in an attempt to get the statue back. Continuing the theme of the cost of isolation and loyalty to one’s nation, Lost and Found gives us another perspective to challenge our Wakandan main hero.

Those of us who are fans of the Iron Fist character have been hoping for years that the character would get his (or her) due at some point after the abominable 2017 Netflix series all but squandered the character’s potential. We would get a taste of what could’ve been with Destin Daniel Cretton’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021, providing us with the action and lovable characters that we were robbed of in Iron Fist. While Danny Rand isn’t our Iron Fist in this episode, Johrani is a welcome addition to the MCU to the point where she could easily carry her own solo project. However, don’t let the Iron Fist distract you from Wakanda, as Basha is an excellent character in himself. He fits the MCU protagonist mold of a skilled, albeit somewhat arrogant, hero who tries his best to do good but finds himself in a situation where charisma isn’t enough.

Like Johrani, Basha can carry his own project if given the chance. His relatable personality and charm make him a remarkable protagonist to follow. Jacques Colimon’s vocal performance is also a massive win. And after being unceremoniously cut from Spider-Man: Homecoming, Jona Xiao finally gets to shine in an MCU project with her performance as Jorhani.

Any fan of martial arts media should give this episode a watch, as it’ll hold you over until we get a new Iron Fist project and when Destin Daniel Cretton takes a break from a certain webslinger and makes a Shang-Chi sequel one day.

Episode 4, titled The Last Panther (with Harris and Throne returning as director and writer, respectively), is another massive highlight of the season. If Lost and Found was a feast for martial arts fans, The Last Panther sends some love to fans of science fiction. The Last Panther is also the episode that has the most direct ties to Ryan Coogler’s duology (soon-to-be trilogy) of films. Young Prince Tafari and his friend Kuda find themselves in the middle of a massive battle in Ethiopia. Amidst the chaos, they retrieve an axe that contains Vibranium. However, while en route to Wakanda, they are greeted by a woman who claims to be from 500 years in the future. She warns that the axe being removed from its resting place will destroy Wakanda in the future. While Tafari instantly believes the woman (who refers to herself as the last Black Panther), Kuda isn’t convinced and thinks the axe should be sent to Wakanda immediately.

The stakes in the episode are the most apparent, and it makes for a harrowing and emotionally impactful episode. While there is a brief worry that the sci-fi heavy elements and connections to the Black Panther films may come off as hokey, they’re pulled off insanely well. The dynamic between Tafari and Kuda (brilliantly voiced by Zeke Alton and Steve Toussaint, respectively) is the heart and soul of the episode. The young prince, eager to prove himself and do good, and the seasoned warrior who struggles with his allegiance to Wakanda provide the episode with a high amount of emotional depth that stands next to Coogler’s best moments in the films. Anika Noni Rose (the voice behind the best Disney Princess, I said what I said) delivers the best vocal performance not just in the episode, but in the entire series.

Another highlight of the episode (and of the entire series) is the musical score by Hesham Nazih. This isn’t Nazih’s first foray into the MCU, as he is the composer behind the remarkable score for Moon Knight. Nazih’s score fits in well with the musical soundscape crafted by Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar-winning work for the Black Panther films, which remain some of the most beloved MCU scores to date. While Nazih doesn’t get many opportunities to reprise themes from the movie outside of a brief reprisal of the Dora Milaje motif in episode 1, he does a great job creating his own themes for new characters. The opening main theme and the end credits cues are massive highlights, and I only hope that an official soundtrack release is imminent.

Overall, Eyes of Wakanda accomplishes its mission of expanding one of the most interesting and viable parts of the MCU. As Coogler preps what will most likely be his final spin in the MCU, it’s nice to know that the world of Wakanda is in great hands with creatives who aren’t him. The gorgeous animation, memorable characters, well-crafted action, expansive world, focused storytelling, and a pulse-pounding score all make Eyes of Wakanda a worthwhile viewing experience. However, like the equally excellent Star Wars anthology series, Tales and Visions, the biggest downside is that every episode will leave you wishing the series were longer. Four episodes are nowhere near the amount Todd Harris and his creative team deserve, but they make the best of that short length. I hope Harris and his team return for more episodes and perhaps other shows. Should Marvel ever invest in theatrical animation, Harris should be first on call to helm a feature.

While its short length prevents it from topping the endlessly delightful Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Eyes of Wakanda easily surpasses all three seasons of What If…?. A visual feast for the eyes that is endlessly compelling, Eyes of Wakanda is a must-watch for any and every fan of Black Panther.

Rating: 8/10

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