Warning: This article contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
A lot was riding on the sequel to 2016's Black Panther. After the passing of Chadwick Boseman, fans eagerly waited to see how director Ryan Coogler would carry the story without King T'Challa — and he knocked it out of the park. Shuri is the new Black Panther, but her story appears to be a bit darker than her brothers. The princess went through a lot in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It was hard enough for her to lose her brother, but an attack from Namor and the forces of Talocan saw her become orphaned. Shuri allowed her rage and anger to motivate her in preparing for a counter-attack, and in her efforts, she was able to finally recreate the heart-shaped herb to become the new Black Panther.
However, when she entered the ancestral plane, there was an uneasiness from the moment she opened her eyes. She hoped to see her mother or brother again, but instead, Shuri found someone else waiting for her that she was not expecting: Killmonger. Erik Killmonger put her family through a lot of agonies, so it was a shock to everyone when the villain was the one to greet Shuri. The moment was almost akin to when Darth Vader revealed himself to be Luke's father. In a way, the trip to the ancestral plane sets the tone for a Black Panther's journey, and from the look of things, Shuri's may be a bit darker. So, why did Shuri see Killmonger in the Ancestral Plane?
Why Killmonger?
When Shuri enters the Ancestral Plane, her emotional and mental state were in turmoil. Having just lost her mother, the only thing on her mind was vengeance (via Looper). The only other relative who knew that pain and anger was Killmonger. Without meaning to, Shuri subconsciously summoned her devious cousin because he was the only one who could recognize what she was feeling, and he could push her in the direction she wanted to go. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn't help but want revenge regardless because the wound was still fresh.
As much as she didn't want to admit it, Shuri had more in common with Killmonger at that moment than she liked. They both shared a rage brought on by the loss of family. For Shuri, it was her mother and brother, for Killmonger, it was his father N'Jobu. Not only that, but there are similarities of being outsiders. Killmonger was a Wakandan stranded in America and spent his life trying to find his home country. Shuri is an outsider in her country for her rejection of old traditions, something M'Baku took pleasure in reminding her of in the first Black Panther movie. While they failed to see eye to eye, their emotions were aligned. However, they still couldn't be more different. Shuri made science her life, while Killmonger lived for combat. He wanted to burn the world down, and the only other person who wanted to do that in Wakanda Forever, besides Shuri, was Namor. To face her enemy, Shuri had to understand him, and Killmonger was the closest thing in her mind.
Will He Continue to Influence Shuri?
Another reason for Coogler choosing Killmonger as the relative Shuri sees in the Ancestral Plain could be because he may continue to influence her in future films. Despite rejecting his advice, she showed his influence by choosing an outfit more similar to his than T'Challa's. Shuri also let her anger dictate her actions in Wakanda Forever's second half by choosing war over peace, although she later changed her mind. However, that rage remains and is part of the reason why she let M'Baku take the throne in her place. When we see Shuri going forward, her choices may be morally conflicted like they were in this film, and we could continue to see Killmonger's presence sways her as she struggles to be worthy of her brother’s seat. T'Challa was practically built to rule, but Shuri was forced to be the Black Panther by circumstances beyond her control. Their journeys couldn't have been more different. It'll be exciting to see how Shuri continues to fit into her new role, but it remains to be seen what kind of panther she will be.