The romance between Black Widow and the Hulk in Avengers: Age of Ultron may have boosted the profile of two overlooked characters, but their brief flirtation ultimately proved to be a mistake for the MCU. When The Avengers sequel premiered in 2015, few fans expected a love affair to blossom between Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo). After watching the movie, many wished any seeds of affection between the two had stayed buried.

Avengers: Age of Ultron was a true superhero ensemble movie, embracing the group dynamic between the team members. The film also introduced new dynamics within the Avengers — Tony Stark and Bruce Banner bonded over science, while Hawkeye's family was revealed. Among those developing relationships was a romance between Widow and the Hulk, in which Natasha flirts with Bruce and takes up a role as the only one able to soothe his savage alter-ego. In a now-infamous scene, the two connect through perceived flaws when Natasha reveals her inability to bear children. A few minutes later, the quasi-couple discusses running away together, a plan that never comes to fruition when Natasha is unable to abandon the Avengers in their time of need.

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The developing romance between the characters was scrapped in later movies, with the Hulk revealed to have flown off to a little-known planet in Thor: Ragnarok and the two characters more occupied with battle plans than dating when they were reunited in Avengers: Infinity WarFollowing Natasha's death in Avengers: Endgamethere's zero mention of Black Widow's cut-short romance with Bruce, a choice that even Johansson thought was for the better. Despite their respective acting talents, Johansson and Ruffalo have little onscreen chemistry. The effort to bring them together as a couple was a misguided attempt to introduce depth to their characters that distracted from the main narrative.

Black Widow touches Hulk's hand in Age of Ultron

The romance between Widow and the Hulk not only limits their characters, but also plays no role in the overall plot. While layering romance into the Avengers franchise may seem like a good idea, it ultimately serves no purpose in the film. Unlike the relationship between Tony Stark and Pepper Potts in Iron Man 3 — which fits into the larger conflict Iron Man faces between superherodom and domestic life — the relationship between Natasha and Bruce doesn't reflect or contribute to the conflicts their characters face.

Both characters are already struggling with complex internal conflicts — Natasha wrestles with reconciling her blood-soaked past and her superhero identity, while Bruce is trying to gain control over his rage and come to terms with the deaths he has caused. Avengers: Age of Ultron does further Bruce's story somewhat (as he tries to avoid battle and return to a normal life),  but by reframing Natasha's struggle with self-identity as an effort to regain her femininity, Whedon undercuts her character. The appeal of Natasha is that she is a female character whose story does not revolve around desire for a relationship. Avengers: Age of Ultron turns Natasha into just another two-dimensional character wishing for romance. Introducing a romantic dynamic between Natasha and Bruce interrupts storylines of personal development introduced in The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

In addition, scenes between the two feel halting and forced. Despite the acting talents of both Johansson and Ruffalo independently, they don't mesh as an on-screen couple. In an ensemble movie like Avengers: Age of Ultron, the key is to balance the overall narrative with more personal, focused storylines. With Bruce already wrapped up in Tony's effort to create artificial intelligence, adding another subplot about his romance with Natasha is superfluous. The scenes between the two interrupt the film's forward momentum and take up time that could be better spent delving more deeply into other narratives.

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