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This Article Contains Spoilers -
WARNING: This article contains major spoilers. If you do not wish to know vital information on plot / character elements in a story, you may not wish to read beyond this warning: We hold no responsibility for any negative effects these facts may have on your enjoyment of said media should you continue.
That is all. |
| “ | We are defined by what we do. | „ |
| ~ Yelena Belova. |
I’ve been planning this proposal ever since I saw the film a few weeks ago. Let me just say—it’s easily one of the best Marvel movies since Endgame, and honestly, one of the best in the MCU overall.
What's the Work?[]
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a shared universe of superhero films, TV shows, and other media produced by Marvel Studios, based on characters from Marvel Comics. It started with Iron Man in 2008 and has grown into one of the biggest franchises in entertainment history.
Thunderbolts*/The New Avengers is the most recent Marvel Studios film that brings together a team of anti-heroes, reformed villains, and morally complex characters from across the MCU. Similar to DC's Suicide Squad, the movie follows a government-assembled team sent on dangerous missions that typical superheroes might avoid. The lineup includes Yelena Belova (the new Black Widow), Bucky Barnes (the Winter Soldier), Red Guardian, U.S. Agent, Taskmaster, Ghost, and is overseen by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, a shady intelligence operative who’s been recruiting characters behind the scenes in recent MCU projects.
Who's the Character?[]
Yelena Belova (Russian: Елена Белова) is a major character in the franchise. She is a highly trained assassin who, like Natasha Romanoff (the original Black Widow), was raised in the Red Room—a secret Russian program that turned young girls into deadly spies. She was introduced in Black Widow (2021) as Natasha’s adoptive sister.
After Natasha's death in Avengers: Endgame, she reappears in the Disney+ series Hawkeye (2021), where she initially seeks revenge on Clint Barton (Hawkeye), believing he was responsible for Natasha’s death. Over time, she starts to question who she can trust and where she fits into the world now.
What Makes Her Admirable?[]
Black Widow[]
- Despite years of separation, she reaches out to her sister by sending her the antidote vials, hoping Natasha and the Avengers can use them to help liberate the other Widows.
- Joins forces with Natasha to bring down the Red Room, risking her life to end the program that exploited and abused young girls like her.
- During the Red Room raid, she exposes the other brainwashed Widows to the antidote, giving them their freedom.
- She risks her life by blowing up Dreykov’s aircraft in mid-air, ensuring the death of the man who orchestrated so much pain in her life and the lives of countless others.
- After Natasha gives her the final antidote vial and the locations of other brainwashed Widows, Yelena commits to finding and freeing them, continuing her sister’s legacy of doing the right thing.
Hawkeye[]
- In a flashback to 2018, she and her friend Sonya try to help a Widow named Ana regain her free will.
- She fights Kate Bishop multiple times, but never seriously injures her. She clearly holds back and shows Kate genuine respect for her will to fight.
- After a fierce fight with Hawkeye, Yelena demands the truth about Natasha’s death. Despite her rage and grief, she listens to Clint’s heartfelt explanation and ultimately chooses not to kill him.
Thunderbolts*/The New Avengers[]
- Rescues a guinea pig from the O.X.E. Group’s lab before destroying the facility.
- Checks in on her adoptive father, Alexei (Red Guardian), to make sure he’s safe and doing well.
- Once she realizes she and Valentina's other operatives were set up to be incinerated to destroy evidence, Yelena immediately shifts loyalties and works with them to survive and escape.
- She attempts to console Bob after he expresses feeling worthless.
- Despite their complicated past, she chooses to work with Alexei, who rescues the group.
- When Bob’s dark alter ego, the Void, starts consuming New York in psychic darkness, Yelena voluntarily enters the heart of the darkness to reach him.
- Faces her own past traumas as a Black Widow to help guide Bob back to himself.
- Finds Bob in his childhood trauma and doesn’t scold or fight him—instead, she talks to him, empathizes, and affirms his humanity.
- Rallies the Thunderbolts to affirm Bob’s worth, helping him fight off the Void’s influence through their belief in him.
- Despite Valentina rebranding them as the “New Avengers” to save face, Yelena and the others play along, and gladly accept the role as Earth's new Mightiest Heroes.
What Makes Her Inconsistent?[]
- She is an extremely lethal assassin who has no qualms with killing anyone who gets in her way.
- She tracked down and attempted to murder Clint Barton/Hawkeye, despite having no proof that he was actually responsible for her sister's death, only choosing to take Valentina's word for it.
- After many years of doing repetitive and draining work for Valentina, she eventually grew indifferent to killing and turned a blind eye to Valentina's corruption.
- However, it's worth nothing that she does show remorse for some of her crimes, specifically the murder of her childhood friend when they were kids, whom she was coerced into killing by the Red Room.
- She can be a huge jerk at times, particularly when interacting with her sister, father, and teammates. Her blunt and often flippant attitude can come off as cold or dismissive.
Verdict[]
Easy yes. She helped her sister Natasha shut down the Red Room for good, sparing other young girls from enduring the same brutal childhood they had, and helped Bob overcome the Void, ultimately saving New York and possibly the entire world. However, she is far too lethal to qualify as NPG.