When I watched Black Panther for the first time, I was struck by how unique each female character was. They had distinct personalities, positions, interests, and motivations. They sometimes argued with each other due to their different beliefs and points of view, but as actress Lupita Nyong’o, who played Nakia, one of the leading roles in the film, explained, the women are never pitted “against each other.” When I started thinking about other action movies I’d recently seen, I realized that I viewed most of the characters (female and male) as fairly one-dimensional or at least, they had the same generic motivations as the other characters on their side of the conflict (i.e. the “evil” side is bad). The women who are a part of the main cast of Black Panther have unique personalities and points of view; they are in very high-powered positions within their society and demand respect. As ELLE Magazine explained,

These women are crucial to the structure of the film and to how the film’s central ideas play out. And they’re fully human: defined by their ideas, their ability to communicate them, and the lengths they’ll go to fight for what they believe to be true.

All of these characteristics make them positive representations of women (and in particular, women of color) in superhero films.

NAKIA, THE SPY

Played by Academy Award winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, Nakia could have easily been reduced to a typical superhero love interest, contributing little to the overall story and constantly requiring rescue or reassurance. Although she is the love interest of the male lead, T’Challa, that is not the only thing that defines her. She is an incredibly accomplished spy and fighter. Nakia is fiercely loyal to her country and her people, willing to do anything to protect them. When T’Challa asks her to stay in Wakanda instead of returning to the dangerous life as a spy, she makes it clear that she will not stand by and do nothing when she knows that there are people in need around the world who would benefit from her help. Her strong sense of morality drives her character in every decision she makes and is consistent over the entire course of the movie.

OKOYE, THE GENERAL

Okoye (Danai Gurira) is the commander of the all-female Wakandan special forces team called the Dora Milaje. These incredibly powerful women are the most elite group of fighters in Wakanda and dutifully serve the reigning king or queen. Okoye holds onto this belief of loyalty to the throne very strongly, even when it pits her against her husband on the battlefield. This sense of loyalty to the throne places her at odds with Nakia at one point in the film and leads to one of the most important scenes in the movie (at least in terms of female representation). At this moment in the story, (spoilers ahead!) T’Challa had seemingly been killed and a new king, Killmonger, had taken control of Wakanda. Along with T’challa’s mother, Queen Ramonda, and his sister, Shuri, Nakia made a move to flee the country to avoid the new king’s wrath. She assumed that Okoye would follow her lead and aid in the resistance against this new ruler, but Okoye refused, professing “I am loyal to that throne, no matter who sits upon it.” This conversation inverts the typical dynamic of conflicts in television and movies in relation to gender: the fight between the men (T’Challa and Killmonger) is largely personal and emotional while the conflict that occurs between the women is a debate on ideas where the ultimate goal is to make the choice that is best for an entire nation.

SHURI, THE GENIUS

This 16 year old is not only second in line for the throne of Wakanda, but is also the head of the country’s science and technology development program. According to the directors of Avengers: Infinity War, Joe and Anthony Russo, Shuri is the smartest character in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Her inventions help to make Wakanda the most advanced civilization on the planet. Played by Letitia Wright, Shuri stood out as a fan favorite not only because of her incredible brains but due to her humor and liveliness. She is a typical little sister to T’Challa: mischievous and playful. She is confident and brilliant and serves as an inspiration that young girls can be the future of the scientific field.

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Representation is undeniably important. Danai Gurira, the actress who played Okoye, explained in an interview, “all children need to see that anyone can be anything, women can be the head of an army and black and bald (…) When I was a kid, and right up until just now, these images were not there. That, to me, is so vital.” Black Panther provides powerful role models to young girls by creating distinct, driven, strong female characters in vital, high-power positions.