After watching Wakanda Forever, I started to see the chemistry between Shuri and Namor. It started after Namor kidnaps Shuri and shows her his underwater kingdom. Besides the undertones of Hades and Persephone which attracted to me to the whole sequence is also how Namor tried to convince Shuri to become allies.
Just think about it, he probably plan this with Attuma and Namora to hunt down Riri, fight anyone who oppose them, but keep Shuri alive. Probably so he can give Shuri the royal gown he gave her and gift her his mother bracelet. A big gesture to give away something so meaningful from a very important person in his life. (and you can't have that big gesture without being brought up again in the future)
He later talks to Queen Ramonda telling her that he has her daughter and she requested to stay in Talokan, and that was a good deal for Namor as he didn't considere anything else in exchange. A manipulation tactic perhaps, but still an interesting exchange considering that to Namor the offer was a good deal for him.
It goes without saying that one of the factors that attract Namshuri shippers is the Enemies-to-Lovers trope, myself included. Now, let me say this from the complains I saw against the ship. One being their age difference. However, there was no uproar when Thor and Jane became a thing, in fact, it was a far more greater age difference between the couple than it is between Namor and Shuri. But we know the biggest turn off and alarming reason for others to not ship Namor and Shuri together is the fact that Queen Ramonda, Shuri's mom, died by the hand of Namor. Well, first of, for us who like the fictional relationship dynamics of Enemies-to-Lovers is that you can't have the 'enemy' and not commit to being the 'enemy/villain.' Otherwise it would be a Rivals-to-Lovers plot, and rivals don't cross that far the line to kill your family members without becoming your enemy. In a way, it is an extreme version of the dynamic in terms of drama and angst to elevate a relationship from rivals to enemies. So there's no point to argue about the morals of it, we know what it is, and we like the fictional possibilities of how the character can evolve, how the relationship of the two of them to change, and the multiple plot directions it can go from transitioning enemies to finalizing the story to lovers. And that to me, personally, it is an interesting factor.
That said, Shuri ended with nothing left. Her father gone, her brother gone, and now her mother. So she gave in to hatred and revenge, in the Ancestral Plane she meets Killmonger, the representation of her same inner feelings.
This is the start of her journey. She started with being T'Challa younger sister, she who scolded tradition. She had the comfort to be the scientist without the worry to be the ruler of Wakanda and become the Black Panther. That all changed when T'Challa passed away and Wakanda left without their protector. She was still under the care of Queen Ramonda who step up for the diplomatic duties, she still was able to hide away in her lab and not deal with the hurt of the reality that she would be the one to step in eventually. But that didn't meant it would be in the immediate future.
Wakanda Forever set up her growth from a genius, but still, 16 year old girl in the first movie to become the leader and protector of the most advanced and powerful nation. Her transition to force her to become a leader was due to the threat of Namor, no other could had done it. If it was in any other way, she could had relied on M'Baku, someone who had already experience of being a leader. The attack of Wakanda and the death of Ramonda was just the painful but necessary tools needed for her to face her responsibility and start her journey.
I talked a lot, going in circles without mentioning the reason of this topic. The defense of Namshuri. So let's talk about it, starting with the final fight.
She had full intention to kill Namor to fulfill her revenge, following Killmonger's influence. Even though she was distraught to see him instead of her mother or brother feeling left, we did not got an answer to his question:
"Are you gonna be noble like your brother or take care of business?"
We didn't see what she choose, but it was implied what was her answer. But one of the clashing ideas was exactly that in the first movie. T'Challa chose to forgive his father killer, Killmonger wanted to burn the world for his father death. Considering that the person we are suppose to root for and the one who won was T'Challa. Revenge won't solve anything, but bring more chaos, and the cycle of hatred as either side attacks in retribution.
Back to the fight, Namor is on the floor, defeated, Shuri has no other obstacles to give the final blow. That is when she hesitates and she hears from the Ancestral Plane Queen Ramonda.
That was Shuri deciding factor to give up her revenge, and mirroring T'Challa, forgiving their parent's killers.
So what was the defense? Ramonda herself telling Shuri to 'show him who you are." And who she is won't end in the final fight or in the rolling end credits, we would see more of Shuri and what she's made of and who she is. Ramonda herself, in a way, asked Shuri to not kill him despite of what he has done.
Enemies-to-Lovers means it is a slow burn, it won't be quick and it won't be pretty. They would go from enemies, to a hint of chemistry but still very much opposing forces, to the action/betrayal that sets the ball rolling for the conflict. There would be mistrust, hidden (and not so hidden) resentments, and anger. Shuri won't see Namor again with a smile nor I am asking to see that any time soon. Shuri won't see Namor as a trusted ally, if anything, reluctantly would seek his help only when it is necessary when she tired up all (and I mean all) her options and resources. Shuri deciding to spare his life did not mean she forgave him or that their nations are in accordance with each other. (Demonstrated when Namora questioned Namor on his decision to stop the battle.)
Enemies-to-Lovers means that there would be a long, long, long road ahead for them to trust each other. At least in trials and in very specific and strict circumstances. For this to work, there would be a lot of trials for Namor to prove to be a reliable ally. Not only for his nation but as his own person to prove to Shuri and her people. Eventually as they grow to slowly trust each other there would be more chances of them connecting the same way it was when Namor showed her his home.
One thing is for sure, thanks to the events of Wakanda Forever, Namor and Shuri are tied to one another. Namor said that once Wakanda is in trouble they would have no choice but to ask for his help. This can go both ways. Either him simply aiding Wakanda as a true ally or, in response to Namora questioning his decision to stop the fight, might be an underlying that by allies means a way to sneak into Wakanda again. Namora can too be a representation of how some people in Talokan feel. In the other hand, she spared his life and he can be grateful for that. It's the push and pull between them, and that's what attractive for Namshuri shippers.
