Top 10 Best Moments From Black Widow

Scarlett Johansson’s first major scene sets an appropriate tone for the film, finding a balance between the MCU and the “Bourne” franchise. Picking up where “Captain America: Civil War” left off, Natasha finds herself on the run with Thaddeus Ross in hot pursuit. Talking with Nat on the phone, Ross is ready to negotiate her surrender as his forces storm a building. In typical Black Widow fashion, Nat is ten steps ahead of Ross. As the authorities break through a door to find nobody, it’s revealed that Nat is already on a boat, disappearing off the grid. For newcomers, this twist establishes Nat’s resourcefulness. For longtime MCU fans, we feel Nat’s pain as she leaves her broken Avenger family behind, starting over once again.

Although the film opens with Nat running away from one family, she soon reconnects with another. Nat never expected to mend the bond she once shared with her childhood family. If her sister, father, and mother figures could all reconcile, though, perhaps there’s hope for Team Cap and Team Iron Man. Johansson’s last scene takes place shortly before the events of “Avengers: Infinity War,” which we can tell from the blonde hairdo. Bidding farewell to Rick Mason, Nat is cautiously optimistic about healing her other family. It’s bittersweet knowing what’s on the horizon, but the moment also adds layers to Nat’s eventual sacrifice. As Black Widow walks off and fireflies illuminate, it’s hard not to think about the lyrics from a certain Owl City song.

Nat’s past catches up to her in the form of a vehicle accident on a bridge. While Nat naturally survives the crash, this is only the beginning of her problems. Nat is confronted by Taskmaster, a silent but deadly masked figure who can fire an arrow with Hawkeye’s precision and throw a shield with Captain America’s might. When it comes to hand-to-hand combat, Black Widow is still a force to be reckoned with. However, she meets her match in Taskmaster, who can mimic her every move. Nat just might have been in serious trouble if Taskmaster didn’t shift targets, giving her a window of opportunity. While the film admittedly could’ve used more Taskmaster, this well-choreographed sequence at least delivered on the antagonist’s potential.

For a brief period in her childhood, Nat lived a normal life in Ohio with a fake family that might’ve been more real than she thought. It’s all fireflies, scraped knees, and “DuckTales” until daddy comes home one night, saying that the time has finally come to flee. Don McLean’s “American Pie” is effectively utilized as Nat says goodbye to the U.S. and the best days of her young life. It also foreshadows the family’s plane problems, as they’re ambushed by the authorities mid-take-off. With Melina shot, Yelena frightened, and Alexei hanging on the wing for dear life, Nat is forced to take control. Getting the plane off the ground, Nat saves her family, but she can only keep them together for so long.

While “Black Widow” gives Johansson a chance to shine like never before, Florence Pugh arguably steals the show as Yelena Belova. Raised as sisters, Nat and Yelena are reunited in Budapest. Nat doesn’t receive the warmest welcome, as she exchanges punches, kicks, and one-liners with her sis. Again, it’s a scene that wouldn’t look out of place in the best “Bourne” movies. After calling a truce, the two make their getaway when a team of Black Widows storms the hideout. Thus ensues an intense chase that makes impeccable use of its surroundings and a variety of vehicles. Taskmaster also breaks out the explosive arrows and shield, but the sisters live to fight and pose another day.

Remember the photostatic veil from “The Winter Soldier?” We’re not sure why Nat doesn’t use that more often, but it comes in handy once again here. After Melina seemingly betrays the family, they’re taken to the Red Room up in the air. It turns out that Melina actually betrayed Dreykov, however. Having switched places, Melina helps Alexei and Yelena while Nat confronts Dreykov face to face. The most dramatic unmasking is saved for Taskmaster, who’s revealed to be Dreykov’s daughter. Previously mentioned in “The Avengers,” Nat thought Dreykov’s daughter died in an explosion she was responsible for. While she survived, being turned into her father’s puppet is arguably a fate worse than death. Whether you predicted this twist or not, it’s definitely a disturbing reveal.

We come for the action, but it’s the character dynamics and that’s made the MCU such a successful franchise. “Black Widow” is sprinkled with memorable dialogue throughout, although the best interactions take place around the dinner table. Alexei acts as if no time has passed, squeezing into his old Red Guardian uniform and sitting down to a meal with his family. Yelena also can’t help but get nostalgic while Nat is more skeptical about welcoming these people back into her life. As if this family wasn’t unusual enough, Melina invites her pig to the table. Almost calling “WandaVision” to mind, it’s like something out of a surreal sitcom. For all the laughs, the scene is anchored by themes of abandonment and the meaning of family.

It appears that post-credits scenes will remain a Marvel mainstay going into Phase 4. Sometime after “Avengers: Endgame,” Yelena pays respects to her sister. While it would’ve been nice to see Natasha’s funeral, the items left at her grave and the inscription on the tombstone shows just how much Nat will be missed by both of her families. We share Yelena’s sentimentality as she reminisces about her sister. Unfortunately, the moment is interrupted by Selina Meyer… we mean Elaine Benes… we mean Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Although previously seen in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” this was supposed to be the Contessa’s Marvel debut. Julia Louis-Dreyfus once again makes the most of her limited screen time, giving Elena her next target: Clint Barton.

To reach the Red Room, Nat and Yelena need to break out their father figure. Alexei Shostakov is the top dog in prison, beating every inmate who challenges him at arm wrestling. Nevertheless, Alexei realizes that he’s fallen far from grace, reflecting on his Red Guardian days and everything he could’ve been. When an escape crew comes knocking, Alexei sees his chance to make a comeback. Being a human wrecking ball, though, he doesn’t make the most discreet getaway. You could say that the breakout snowballs out of control, culminating with an avalanche heading towards the prison and Nat snatching Alexei at the last second. The sequence contains some of the film’s most impressive shots that are accentuated by the red and white color palette.

Dreykov seemingly has the upper hand during the climax, but Nat is never to be underestimated. Getting everything she needs, Nat severs Dreykov’s control over her and it isn’t long until the other Black Widows are freed as well. Yelena finishes off Dreykov as the Red Room collapses, but she nearly gives up her life in the process. Thankfully, Nat saves Yelena in mid-air. We can’t help but wonder if Yelena’s selfless act inspired Nat’s sacrifice on Vormir in “Endgame.” In any case, Nat has one last loose end to tie up as Taskmaster butts in for a final showdown. For years, Nat blamed herself for what happened to Dreykov’s daughter. In an ironic twist, though, Nat gives her a second chance at life.