It’s been a year today since we lost Chadwick Boseman, the man himself who brought T’Challa and Black Panther to life. Even now, a year later, the news that we suddenly lost this legend still trembles through people’s emotions, including mine.
Chadwick Boseman lost his life due to colon cancer on this day a year ago, and even throughout the vast majority of the Black Panther performances he suffered from his illness, but still managed to play the character with such stride whilst going through chemotherapy and surgeries.
It still hurts, and I think even more so that I don’t think there’s anybody who will ever play T’Challa the same way Boseman did, and this is why I decided to write this article. To remember the many amazing moments we got with the Black Panther character thanks to the amazing actor behind it all.
Please note these are in no particular order. It’s difficult to pick a top 5 and there are many more, but these are my favorite moments.
1. T’Challa returns to stop Killmonger (Black Panther)
“I never yielded, and as you can see, I am not dead!” It just hypes you up so much. There’s nothing more to say on this, but the way in which you can see the passion is definitely a big deal. This is my #1 across all moments for Black Panther.
2. The subtle nod to Captain America when he comes through the portals (Avengers: Endgame)
The portals scene in Endgame is my favourite moment in any movie in history. There’s been no scene in history that made me feel the way this did when I watched it for the first-ever time. I remember me and my younger brother just ready to fly out of our seats, and it all starts with Black Panther, Shuri and their mother walking through the portals first. It’s the subtle nod that just screams “we got you” that I love so much.
3. “Evacuate the city, engage all defences, and get this man a shield” (Avengers: Infinity War)
This became one of the most talked-about scenes when the Infinity Watch trailers dropped, and even though the movie you get hyped. The reason why I like this is that T’Challa is taking control of the situation and being an exceptional leader to his people. He knows what to do, and the scenes that follow after with him and Cap running at Thanos’ army is just amazing.
4. T’Challa confronts his father (Black Panther)
After Black Panther is defeated by Killmonger and brought back using the Heart-Shaped Herb, he visits the Ancestral Plane in where he visits his deceased father and ancestors. This scene shows a lot of broken emotions. He’s happy to see his father of course, but he’s so emotionally hurt by what happened with Killmonger. The tears, the way in which he speaks, it’s all so emotional and it’s definitely a moment you feel.
5. The Winter Soldier gets his ass handed to him
The first moment we get T’Challa suited up. After his father is killed in the explosion, T’Challa suits up and goes after Bucky. From the moment he gets to him on the rooftop, Bucky is completely outmatched. It’s only until Steve intervenes that the fight is brought to a halt. This is a great way to introduce Black Panther into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In just the 5 scenes I presented to you, he brings about so many different emotions when you watch him. Only Chadwick Boseman could have done this with T’Challa, and he has been missed, and always will be missed.
Rest in power, King.
Wakanda Forever.
