Avengers: Endgame represented the pinnacle of the first three phases in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: the climactic confrontation that brought the Avengers and their allies together in a legendary display. The forces of good rallied against Thanos, and the imagery remains one of the most striking in movie history. But not every single character is present—and perhaps the cruelest absence is that of Natasha Romanoff.
Natasha’s death in Avengers: Endgame makes her subsequent origin story feel a little lackluster. However, Black Widow does bring Natasha’s sister, Yelena, into play, and Yelena’s charm makes her an excellent addition. If there’s anyone who can fill Natasha’s shoes, it’s definitely her, but in some ways, Natasha will always be better.
10 Yelena’s Unique Brand Of Innocence Makes Her Very Endearing
Like Natasha, Yelena is raised by the Red Room. The two are actually adoptive siblings but form a bond during an undercover mission. Years later, Hawkeye gives Natasha a second chance, but Yelena is left behind. The confrontation between the two sisters reveals some understandable anger from Yelena, but the two eventually make amends.
Despite having a fighting style and upbringing similar to Natasha’s, Yelena’s character differs from her sister's. For example, she has moments where she seems almost innocent—particularly when it comes to the relationship with her adoptive family. She also finds joy in the simplest of things, such as her favorite song, her first purchase as a free woman, and a simple meal. All this makes her very endearing.
9 Natasha Is A Chameleon With Many Masks And Hidden Depths
Unlike Yelena, Natasha was a character all about her masks. For example, her constant hairstyle changes were a symbol of her chameleonic nature. But beneath all her lies, Natasha had hidden depths and cared deeply about the people close to her heart. She was devoted to her adoptive family and always wished she could have protected Yelena from the Red Room.
Her failure to save Yelena weighed on her, particularly when she learned how Yelena had been brainwashed by General Dreikov. Natasha also had a very close bond with Hawkeye, so much so that he named his son after her. She also considered the Avengers her new family, who she strived to protect in her own way.
8 Yelena’s Dry Humor Often Adds A Level Of Levity To The Direst Situation
It’s not unusual for MCU characters to use quips as a way to keep audiences engaged, but Yelena does it in a particularly charming way. Her dry and sarcastic sense of humor hides the fact she's a very cynical person, hardened by the cruelties of the Red Room. Perhaps that's what makes her comments so interesting. She teases Natasha about her iconic fighting pose and displays disgust when she ends up mimicking it.
She’s not afraid to hit below the belt either. For example, she comments that Natasha isn't one of the most valuable Avengers as the God of Thunder doesn’t need pain killers after a battle. Yelena and Natasha’s exchange over Nat's new vest is a particularly funny and cute moment too. Overall, she manages to add a level of levity to dire situations, and she does it by being absolutely exasperated with her own lot in life.
7 Natasha’s Unflappable Persona Complements Her Incredible Fighting Skills
While both Yelena and Natasha are highly skilled fighters, it’s well-known that Natasha was the superior combatant. But her combat ability isn’t what made Natasha truly special. Her unflappable persona made her shine on more than one occasion. It’s not that she's unafraid. In fact, she displays genuine panic when confronted with the Hulk. However, she takes challenges in her stride, and it's rare that she shies away from a threat. For example, she's completely calm when she dumps S.H.I.E.L.D’s files on the Internet, revealing her own past in the process. Her confidence may not always be justified, and her character isn't always consistent, but she definitely deserved a better fate than what she got.
6 Yelena Embarks On A Mission To Free The Other Widows
After Natasha, Yelena, and their adoptive parents take out the Red Room, Natasha returns to her life as an Avenger, leaving Yelena and some of her allies to track down the remaining Black Widows and free them from Dreykov’s control. Yelena admits that it's hard work but incredibly fulfilling, and her dedication is admirable.
It's during one of these missions the Snap happens. The Disney+ show Hawkeye displays the shocking scene of Yelena’s death as she turns to dust, only to come back what seems like a few seconds later. It’s very well done, and easily one of the most memorable parts of Hawkeye.
5 Natasha Becomes The Leader Of The Avengers After The Snap
In the wake of the Snap, half of the universe’s population is killed. Many of the Avengers struggle under the weight of their failures. Thor succumbs to depression and alcoholism, while Tony Stark decides to retire and marry Pepper.
Despite her personal grief, Natasha persevered. She became the de facto leader of the Avengers and coordinated with the remaining heroes to create some order in the chaos. It’s visibly very difficult for her, but she refused to give up.
4 Yelena Vows Revenge When She Learns About Natasha’s Death
One of the first things Yelena learns after coming back is that Natasha is dead. She's later told by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine that Hawkeye was responsible for Natasha’s fate. He becomes her next assignment, though, for Yelena, it's primarily because she wants revenge for her sister. When she appears in Hawkeye, she's a woman on a mission, even if her fury over Natasha’s death is often hidden under a casual mask.
The final episode of Hawkeye sees Clint and Yelena confront each other, and Yelena’s palpable grief is even more powerful than Clint’s. The depth of the bond between the two sisters is all the more painful due to Yelena’s previous dream of reuniting with Natasha and coming to live with her like they did when they were children.
3 Natasha Sacrifices Herself To Take Out Thanos
There are many heartbreaking scenes in Avengers: Endgame, but the one that shocked audiences the most was Natasha’s death. Upon realizing that someone needed to die so the Avengers could acquire the Soul Stone, both she and Clint tried to make the ultimate sacrifice. In the end, Natasha prevailed.
Despite Clint’s best attempts, he was unable to save his friend. Natasha fell from the clifftop and her death grants Clint the Stone. What makes matters worse is how her body remains there—trapped in an alternate universe—unable to be retrieved for a proper burial.
2 Yelena Assumes The Identity Of White Widow In The Comics
One of the interesting details in Black Widow was the winter uniforms worn by Natasha and her team. The suit appears in the Deadly Origins comics but may also remind some Marvel fans of Yelena’s history. She replaces Natasha after the former leaves her loyalties to the Soviet Union behind. The two even switch identities on one occasion as Natasha attempts to teach Yelena a lesson on the true nature of their handlers.
Their complicated relationship is hostile for the most part, but when Natasha is killed, Yelena wants to avenge her fallen comrade. In the end, Natasha makes her return as a clone, and Yelena is also revealed to be a clone of the original. Yelena then proceeds to take up the name of White Widow as she and Natasha work together to gather a new team of Widows.
1 Natasha Will Always Be The Original First Female Avenger
Although she's gone, Natasha will always be the first original female Avenger. Her first appearance in Iron Man 2 has been criticized by some viewers as having sexist vibes. However, with time, she proves that she's a real asset to the team. In Avengers, she even manages to fool Loki.
Fans of the character waited for her origin story for many years, only for her to be completely ignored. Therefore, the first female-led MCU movie is Captain Marvel. Natasha's origin story arrived far too late, which was unfair for a number of reasons. Ultimately, Natasha deserved better.