It isn’t surprising that a character brought to life by Florence Pugh is thoroughly compelling, but it’s riveting that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is actually giving Yelena Belova an arc that’s worthy of her history, her present, and her future. Thunderbolts*/The New Avengers works for a myriad of reasons, but it shines in its honest and heartfelt display of mental health struggles.
Pain and loneliness aren’t new themes in the superhero genre, but we’ve yet to see a depiction of it through a female character that transparently showcases her strength amid her vulnerabilities. As a character, Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow always had potential for excellence, but the narrative was too often unkind to her, treating her like the token female superhero instead of the powerhouse she was until it was basically too late in Avengers: Endgame. Now, through her grief and her heartaches, her little sister not only honors the mantle, but she makes it clear that if the MCU put in the effort, they could’ve had something brilliant on their hands.
Yelena Belova’s Character Arc Is Thoughtful and Authentic
When I think about my favorite characters in the MCU, they’re always the ones whose hearts still beat even amid all the crosses they carry. (Peter Parker, Yelena, Steve Rogers, Loki.) Characters in this universe are tirelessly tested, yet when Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness reverted Wanda Maximoff’s character journey, it told us that Marvel didn’t care about all the work the women have done to overcome their grief. Thankfully, between Black Widow, Hawkeye, and now Thunderbolts*, we’re seeing the tides shift with Yelena as canon films and shows spend ample time exploring a woman’s pain while putting them center stage.
The decision to tell a more nuanced and layered story in Thunderbolts* makes Yelena Belova’s arc the most relatable one thus far because many of us not only know grief, but we know what it’s like to feel hollow and directionless. We know what it’s like to wake up every day, do a job, go home, repeat. We’re fighting against all sorts of obstacles, and most days, the fight turns into a void that gives our depression the space to win. And yet, we have to keep fighting because we can’t afford to stop working, and if we stop working, we don’t even know what we’re made for anymore. (Somewhere in the distance, Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For” plays on a loop.)
By allowing Yelena Belova to fully open up about her loneliness and voice the fact that she doesn’t ever remember being happy, Thunderbolts* gives her the means to slowly begin healing. And through her journey of healing, the movie simultaneously helps viewers feel less alone. It’s hard to hope that the MCU will continue developing Yelena’s character as brilliantly as it’s doing so now, but even if this is all we get, it’s too incredible not to praise.
In Thunderbolts* alone, viewers are not only reminded of the steadfast guilt Yelena harbors because of everything that happened in the Red Room, but we’re reminded of her grief, her loneliness, her depression, and her deeply nurturing spirit.
David Harbour’s Alexei Shostakov says it best when he reminds her that she wanted to be the goalie of the soccer team to protect the other players. And throughout the film, the hand she firmly places on Bob’s back is proof that Yelena can’t stop taking care of people. Her pain has not only made her stronger, but it’s made her braver, and the fact that the MCU is allowing their female characters to be more fleshed out instead of pawns to throw around, it’s giving the actresses brilliant material to work with.
Pugh is superlative when it comes to showcasing raw emotions that hit right to the viewer’s core. There’s a reason she could play Amy March through the years while putting clear distinctions between the different time periods through her performances. How she escapes into a role is no small feat, and the transcendent character embodiment she delivers as Yelena Belova makes her work inimitable in the entire franchise. In every frame, even while she isn’t at the center of the shot, Pugh is still giving us content that’s layering Yelena. With a full range of emotions, she brings to life something that’s not only objectively captivating, but it feels personal and raw for those who are able to connect more closely to her character. Nuance and a rich understanding of deeply complex emotions make Yelena Belova the character she is, and Florence Pugh’s embodiment takes it the extra mile. There’s so much to appreciate, and this is only just the beginning. She not only deserves to heal, but she deserves the happiness she so desperately wants to give to others, and I hope the MCU is brave enough to allow that.
Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Marvel