With Ryan Coogler’s new film Sinners out now, I figured now’s the time to discuss the odd reality that transpired in 2022 when Angela Bassett received an Oscar nomination for her turn in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Bassett is regarded as one of her generation's most commanding actors. Her filmography, which includes standout performances in What’s Love Got to Do with It, Malcolm X, and Waiting to Exhale, speaks for itself. However, her nomination and awards season recognition for her performance as Queen Ramonda in Wakanda Forever raised valid questions about whether the role merited such high acclaim, especially in a competitive year with numerous deeply nuanced performances.

To be clear, Bassett's portrayal of Queen Ramonda was powerful and emotionally resonant. She brought gravitas and presence to a role that could easily have been one-note in less capable hands. Her impassioned line delivery in the now-infamous throne room scene — "I am queen of the most powerful nation in the world, and my entire family is gone!" — quickly became a highlight of the film and a viral moment. But a standout scene or two doesn’t necessarily equate to an award-worthy overall performance.

One of the key arguments against her awards trajectory is the limited screen time and character development. While Bassett certainly impacted her scenes, Queen Ramonda was not the emotional or narrative core of the film — that role belonged to Letitia Wright’s Shuri. Bassett’s character, though important, served more as a symbolic anchor than a dramatically complex figure. Her arc, while tragic, lacked the depth and evolution that traditionally define award-winning supporting performances. Furthermore, the film's structure works against any one actor carrying the emotional weight. Wakanda Forever is a large ensemble piece with multiple subplots — from Namor’s political philosophy and underwater kingdom, to Riri Williams’ introduction, Shuri’s scientific grief, and Ramonda’s storyline is only one piece of that sprawling puzzle. Because of this, the film doesn’t give Bassett enough space to transform her character across the narrative.

Another issue is that much of the acclaim may have been influenced more by context than content. The emotional weight of Chadwick Boseman’s death loomed over the entire production, and audiences — rightly — approached the film with grief and reverence. Bassett’s role as the maternal figure mourning her son resonated with that real-life sorrow. However, awards should ideally be based on the merits of the performance itself, not the meta-narrative surrounding it. It’s possible that voters responded more to the emotion around the film than to what was actually in it.

It’s worth comparing Bassett’s performance to her fellow nominees that year. For instance, Hong Chau delivered a tightly controlled, quietly devastating performance with complex emotional undercurrents in The Whale. In The Banshees of Inisherin, Kerry Condon (my pick to win) brought humor and heartbreak to a sharply written character. In that context, Bassett’s more declamatory, less layered role felt less substantial by comparison. Then there’s the actual winner, Jamie Lee Curtis, for Everything Everywhere All at Once. While she was far from a standout in that film, let alone Oscar-winning caliber, she left more of an impression on audiences than Bassett did in Wakanda Forever.

Additionally, her recognition came during a moment of Hollywood reckoning with diversity and inclusion. While awards bodies must recognize a broader spectrum of talent, there’s a danger in conflating representation with performance quality. Bassett's nomination, in a way, seemed like an overcorrection — not because she is undeserving in general, but because this performance, in this film, may not have been the one to honor above all others. This created an uncomfortable dynamic where people hesitated to question the nomination for fear of appearing dismissive of diversity or insensitive to the broader context.

The acclaim felt more like a career achievement nod — an attempt to make up for past snubs — than a celebration of a singularly remarkable turn in this particular movie. Now I know having Bassett go for an Oscar wasn’t one of the focal points of Wakanda Forever, but it does come off as a massive caveat that made bigger waves than it should have. Angela Bassett is undeniably one of the most formidable actors working today. Her performance in Wakanda Forever was a highlight in phase four of the MCU, yet it lacked the depth, transformation, and screen dominance typically expected of an awards-season standout. Her nomination reflected a confluence of cultural, emotional, and industry factors more than an objective assessment of her work in the role. Her performance would likely have been praised in a more balanced critical environment, but not necessarily awarded.

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