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The Marvel universe has just received a striking new entry with Eyes of Wakanda, an animated series set in the Black Panther world. Now streaming on Disney+, the series delves into the stories of previous Wakandan warriors who gave everything to protect vibranium.
In each episode, we delve into a different moment in history, demonstrating that the legacy of Wakanda extends far beyond what has been depicted on screen. The show is a fresh and action-packed entry into a hidden piece of Marvel lore.
Eyes of Wakanda Episode 1 establishes the show’s tone early on with a gripping, stand-alone story. A young Wakandan fighter travels to foreign lands, hunting for vibranium that has fallen into the wrong hands.
The mission is dangerous, brutal, and deeply personal, hinting at how far Wakanda has always gone to protect its secrets. And it’s during this journey that we meet one of the show’s most intense characters yet.
The man is called The Lion, and his presence in Episode 1 is impossible to ignore. From the moment he enters, he commands attention with his strength, strategy, and strange connection to Wakanda.
He isn’t just another villain. There’s something more layered behind his cold demeanor. Fans immediately started asking: Who is this man, and why does he matter?
Episode 1 only scratches the surface, but it leaves just enough clues to spark big questions. Was The Lion connected to Wakanda? What drove him to claim vibranium?
And could he be part of a larger Marvel story in the making? In the rest of the article, we’ll explore exactly who The Lion is and why his appearance makes such an impact in Eyes of Wakanda.
Keep reading below!
Who is The Lion in Eyes of Wakanda Episode 1? Details explored
Episode 1 of Eyes of Wakanda, titled "Into the Lion's Den," introduces us to The Lion, the villain played by Cress Williams. However, this isn't just a one-dimensional power-starved warlord. He's quite a bit more twisted than that.
Nkati is revealed to be a former Royal Guard captain from Wakanda, who has forsaken his birthplace. He betrays the very nation he served and ducts containers of advanced technology based on Vibranium to take into the UK, far out of reach from Wakanda, where it cannot harm who knows how long.
And what's worse than Nkati's returning to an earthly realm that suffocates vibranium tech and opponent disappearance, is the perverted empire that he's building. The Eyes of Wakanda premiere also explains that, during Nkati's time in Crete, around 1260 B.C., he created himself as a god-king.
He ruled through complexity, fear, and the ultimately disruptive tremors of Vibranium weaponry. His regime was abusive and fraudulent. He enslaves the local men as laborers or soldiers while indoctrinating the women through music and poetry. Through this, he manages to control the local populace.
His form of control is primarily not about domination. It is about changing culture's expression on his whims, structuring a cult form of personality. The Lion again is more than a villain with weapons in Eyes of Wakanda.
He is a figure who represents how power, fueled by ego and betrayal, can turn the most loyal of guardians into a slave master.
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The Lion’s conflict with Noni in Eyes of Wakanda shows how power can corrupt Wakandan ideals
Episode 1 of Eyes of Wakanda starts off with a fiery and raw confrontation between two headstrong personalities, Noni and The Lion. Noni was once a Dora Milaje, Wakanda's elite royal guard, until she was expelled for disobeying orders.
Now, she has a very unique opportunity for redemption. If Noni can recover the stolen Vibranium and detain The Lion, Wakanda might reinstate her. In order to accomplish this, Noni has aligned herself with the Hatut Zeraze, Wakanda's covert black ops cadre. Noni's mission takes her to Crete, where The Lion has built his own kingdom and rules like a god.
But their meeting is not purely about combat sports. It is also positional combat. The Lion provokes Noni's loyalty by claiming that Wakanda's need for secrecy results in oppression rather than protection. Noni is forced to examine her own loyalty and what she stands for.
Eyes of Wakanda moves beyond a good vs. evil storyline by examining how the very values of Wakanda can be twisted for manipulation. The Lion, once a respected Royal Guard with the trust of the royal family, has taken Wakanda’s most advanced technology and repurposed it for domination.
Instead of serving as tools for progress or protection, these innovations become instruments of oppression and worship under his rule. As The Lion builds a fear-driven, cult-like empire, his actions force Noni and viewers to confront a deeper truth: when protection goes unchecked, it can easily become control.
His arc transforms him from a simple villain into something more symbolic, a cautionary figure representing how even the most noble ideals of Wakanda can lead to dangerous extremes when misused.
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