“Eyes of Wakanda”: War Dogs, Secrets & the Price of Loyalty

Directed by: Todd Harris

Written by: Geoffrey Thorne and Marc Bernardin

Produced by: Ryan Coogler and Andrew Pearce

Executive produced by: Todd Harris, Ryan Coogler, Kevin Feige, Brad Winderbaum, Louis D’Esposito, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Kalia King, and Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt.

Starring the voices of: Winnie Harlow, Cress Williams, Patricia Belcher, Larry Herron, Adam Gold, Lynn Whitfield, Jacques Colimon, Jona Xiao, Isaac Robinson-Smith, Gary Anthony Williams, Zeke Alton, Steve Toussaint and Anika Noni Rose

Streaming on: Disney+

Release date: August 1st, 2025

Eyes of Wakanda is the kind of storytelling that reminds you why Wakanda stays undefeated. This four-episode animated series might be short, but it’s rich with history, resonant character arcs, and world-building that goes beyond vibranium and high-tech gear. It’s basically the MCU’s Coogler-verse in full effect, with a narrative that feels intentional and deeply rooted in its themes from start to finish, drawing the audience deeper into Wakanda’s intricate belief systems and societal nuances.

The series follows Wakandan agents across centuries. Specifically warriors from the elite Hatut Zeraze (also known as the War Dogs), as they retrieve stolen vibranium artifacts worldwide. While we know Wakanda for its advanced tech and fierce protectors, Eyes of Wakanda flips the lens, showing the human cost of being a soldier in a world that doesn’t know Wakanda exists. No T’Challa, no Shuri, but the stakes are just as personal.

The Episodes: Past Battles, Present Lessons

Episode 1, written by Geoffrey Thorne, kicks off strong and sets a solid foundation for the series. We meet Noni (voiced by Winnie Harlow), a disgraced former Dora Milaje on a mission to track down “The Lion,” an ex-Wakandan warrior who went AWOL and built his empire using stolen tech. The action? Straight A’s, especially Noni’s showdown with The Lion and his army. She’s smooth, tactical, and still every inch a Dora Milaje. So why isn’t she a Dora? The episode goes into the reasons behind her absence and the specific mission she’s been tasked with. Beyond the action, the episode peels back a layer of the Lion’s character, revealing his betrayal as less about power and more about his complicated relationship with Wakanda, a nation many view as an untouchable ideal. I wouldn’t mind an episode dedicated to his origin story; his brief reasoning left me wanting more. Also, I would like to see more of Noni’s adventures, because she was out here taking on whole armies.

But it’s Episodes 2 and 3 that truly stand out for me.

Episode 2, written by Marc Bernardin, stands out as the series’ most emotionally powerful chapter. It drops us into the heart of the Trojan War, following Memnon (Larry Herran), a Wakandan spy embedded as the right-hand man to Achilles—yes, that Achilles. This is also where we really see how Wakanda’s influence and history have quietly shaped other cultures and global conflicts. Honestly, it’s one of the most creative choices the writers made, blending mythology, folklore, and Wakandan legacy into something that feels both epic and grounded. The drama intensifies as Memnon’s loyalty and identity are pushed to the limit. How much do you sacrifice for the mission? It’s layered, emotional, and easily the most impactful episode so far.

Episode 3, also by Bernardin, leans into adventure. Set in 1400 AD, it introduces Basha (Jacques Colimon), a talented, cocky agent whose ego nearly blows the whole mission. There’s a cool crossover moment with an early Iron Fist, and the tension ramps when ancient forces threaten Wakanda’s borders. Basha vs. the dragon warrior? Let’s just say Wakanda handled it, but the clash left its mark. In this episode, we also get a thrilling revisit to the iconic Wakandan tunnel ways, a familiar sight from the 2018 Black Panther film, adding a nice touch of continuity and expanding on the country’s hidden infrastructure.

Episode 4, back to Thorne’s pen, shifts to 1896 Ethiopia. We meet Prince Tafari (Zeke Alton), shadowing the seasoned agent Kuda (Steve Toussaint). After retrieving an artifact, they cross paths with a mysterious warrior (voiced by the legend Anika Noni Rose), who challenges their thinking about Wakanda’s influence and responsibility. It’s a more reflective close to the series, showing that sometimes the most powerful weapon is self-awareness.

Animation & Music

The animation? Clean. From moonlit snow to deep-sea missions, the lighting and textures are sharp. The animators went all in on the details; the way shadows fall across faces, the movement of water, even the snowfall; it all lands with great precision.

Now let’s talk environments. The worlds these characters move through feel alive. The backgrounds are well crafted. And the end credits? Stunning. We get these nice oil-pastel visuals of Wakanda, China, and other locations. Honestly, some of those frames deserve to be hanging in my living room.

And a big shoutout to composer Hesham Nazih, who understood the assignment when it came to music composition. His score gives each episode its own evocative and cultural identity, while still grounding it in that signature Wakandan rhythm. The opening and closing tracks? Beautifully done.

What It All Means

Eyes of Wakanda is canon to the MCU, and by the final episode, you’ll see how it connects. It enriches the understanding of what Wakanda stands for and how far ahead it has been of the world. Whether it’s 1400 AD or 1896, they’ve had aircraft, communications tech, and strategy that would make even Tony Stark blink twice.

More importantly, this series reminds me of what made characters like Kilmonger, Nakia, and N’Jobu so compelling. I now understand even more why Kilmonger and N’Jobu held their stance on how their country should engage with the outside world. The series also offers insight into why Nakia may have felt like an outsider. Though deeply devoted to her country, she spent years on the outside as a War Dog. These characters like Nakia and like N’Jobu, aren’t just spies, they’re people shaped by what they’ve seen beyond their borders. They form bonds, question orders, witness suffering and cruelty, and are sometimes forever changed by their missions.

Conclusion

This isn’t your typical MCU animated series. It’s storytelling with emotional depth, driven by history, nuanced character development, and Wakandan excellence. The pacing initially takes its time, allowing for character and world setup, but by Episode 2, the narrative truly finds its stride and hooks you in. I’d love to see this universe expanded, give me young T’Chaka stories, Kilmonger’s military missions, or M’Baku’s tribal origins.

Rating: 8/10 Catch Eyes of Wakanda streaming now on Disney+ August 1st, 2025.