Black Panther's T'Challa and Nakia are seen together only in that one film, but they made an impact on fans because of how relatable they were together. It was easy to believe that the characters had known each other for a long time. Unfortunately, due to the tragic death of T'Challa actor Chadwick Boseman, it’s unclear if more about the couple will be explored in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Still, many fans do hope to get some resolution for this relationship, as sad as it all may be.
In the meantime, it’s worth looking back on the scenes and development that made watching T'Challa and Nakia on-screen so enjoyable and believable.
T’Challa Assists Nakia In Her War Dog Mission
One of the great things about Black Panther is how it sets up motivations and storylines for the female characters that don’t revolve only around love interests. Nakia is a dedicated War Dog who is freeing women who had been trafficked, and this sets up her independence right away. While T’Challa does help her with this, it’s obvious that she’s someone who can hold her own, and it sets up the dynamic between her and T'Challa right away.
Nakia Comforts T’Challa Over T’Chaka
The reason T'Challa pulled Nakia from her undercover work was because King T’Chaka had died. When T'Challa tells Nakia this news, the moment they share demonstrates the bond between them. Nakia comforts T’Challa on the jet and agrees to go back to Wakanda for his coronation. It’s a tender moment between them that displays the casual intimacy they have, and even if though they aren’t romantically involved at that point, it’s clear they still have feelings for each other.
Nakia Tells T’Challa They Should Help The World More
Nakia often doesn’t get enough credit for being the one to talk to T’Challa about how Wakanda should help other people, especially Black people, in the wider world. While Killmonger presents a similar idea, his approach and his violence toward even other Wakandans dilutes the message. It’s Nakia who presents a newer, better vision of that message, and her traits of independence and protectiveness are on full display in this important conversation.
T'Challa and Nakia Go With Okoye To South Korea
Nakia, T’Challa, and Okoye all go together to South Korea to find Ulysses Klaue. This sequence once again shows how much Nakia had been out in the rest of the world and that she has many connections in her work as a War Dog, which makes her extremely valuable in situations like this.
Beyond the plot, this sequence displays Nakia and T’Challa’s prowess in a battle situation, and it also gives them an opportunity to look extremely well put-together and royal while doing so. It’s a great collection of scenes that shows how closely Nakia, T’Challa, and Okoye have worked together throughout their lives.
T'Challa and Nakia Talk About N’Jobu
After Killmonger arrives, T’Challa deals with the shocking truth about his uncle N’Jobu and how Killmonger had been left behind. He grapples with the revelation and wonders what it means for him as the new king. Nakia is a source of wisdom and tells him he’s not his father’s mistakes.
Nakia also once again advises T’Challa to choose to be a different kind of king and to seek progress. It’s another quiet moment between them that shows the trust they have in each other.
T’Challa Is Presumed Dead
When T’Challa is challenged by Killmonger, he is thrown over the waterfall and presumed to be dead. Nakia is one of the people who is there to witness this, and it’s obvious that it impacts her deeply. It appears that T’Challa is lost forever, but although Nakia is clearly in a state of shock and grief, her training is on full display as she quickly springs into action to do what must be done.
Nakia Gets Shuri And Ramonda To Safety
Nakia, as well as Okoye, makes sure that Shuri and Queen Ramonda are taken away from Kilmonger and protected. Yet it’s Nakia, who isn’t as connected to duty as she’s not a Dora Milaje, who goes with them to find M’Baku. Her loyalty to T’Challa’s family might come from a sense of duty to her country, but it's also because she cares about them and knows them very well given her relationship with T’Challa.
Nakia Helps Fight Against Killmonger
After T’Challa is shown to be alive, he has to assemble his remaining allies to fight against Kilmonger. Nakia plays a key role in all of this as she, Shuri, and Ross sneak into Shuri’s lab to get weapons. Nakia also fights against Killmonger and tries to protect Suri from him.
While this moment doesn’t involve much direct interaction between Nakia and T’Challa, it is another good indicator of the fact that Nakia is a well-rounded character who doesn't only exist in the story to revolve around T’Challa.
T'Challa And Nakia Discuss How To Make Their Relationship Work
After Killmonger is defeated and T’Challa resumes his role as king, he and Nakia discuss their relationship. It’s made even more apparent that their differences in opinion and Nakia’s desire for freedom kept them apart before. However, one of the strengths as a couple is shown to be their ability to compromise. They care about each other, but they also have their own needs and goals. They agree to try to make it work again in part because T’Challa take Nakia's council to help the world.
T'Challa And Nakia Share A Meaningful On-Screen Kiss
Another great and progressive thing about the relationship between T'Challa and Nakia is that it doesn’t feel forced. They work together as allies with a history throughout the film, and it’s only at the end that they resolve their relationship. Their on-screen kiss feels earned, and it’s easy to believe that they care about each other and can work through any differences they may have.