With fan anticipation for the Black Widow movie sky high before its release not only due to the delay caused by the global pandemic but also the dragging of Marvel's proverbial feet, mixed reviews come as no large shock. While some argue that it doesn't feel like a Marvel movie at all and others complain that it fails in its premise, many were just happy to be back in the theaters watching heroes take down the baddies on the big screen.
One thing most fans agreed on, however, is their love for Yelena Belova. Audiences expected the sister of Natasha Romanov to be a brutal, quick-witted fighter. What they didn't quite prepare for was the pure joy that her little sister antics bought to the movie. Thrown back into a relationship with her dysfunctional family, Yelena takes to her role as the youngest sibling almost the second she reunites with Natasha. With every line, she creates more fans, making even the most cynical Marvel moviegoer fall in love with her.
When She Charmed The Audience
"We're Both Upside Down."
A seemingly throwaway statement, this quote by a young Yelena at the beginning of the movie speaks to one of the themes of the movie. Natasha and Yelena's family isn't real. Brought together by Dreykov for the sole purpose of spying, everything about them is made up.
Though Yelena is young and doesn't realize it yet, there is something very wrong with the life she has been forced into. This quote, said with a childish innocence, establishes Yelena as a powerful voice in the movie and hints at the sharp contrast of the world she believed she lived in, and the reality.
When She Said What Everyone Was Thinking
"Such A Poser."
More than a good laugh for the audience, this quote brings a level of self-awareness to the movie as well as a commentary on an age-old superhero trope. As cool as Natasha may look when a camera centers in on her sticking an epic landing, Yelena brings attention to the somewhat silly nature of the dramatic pose.
In true little sister form, she can't help but make fun of the woman she sees as an older sibling, and this dynamic helps make Natasha and Yelena the best siblings in the MCU. This snarky observation even leads to a payoff later in the movie where Yelena herself drops down from the ceiling and lands in the exact same way.
When She Refused To Play By Natasha's Rules
"You Want Me To Chase Him Down And Un-Steal It?"
Though she is now free from Draykov's mind control and certainly no longer one of the bad guys, Yelena doesn't have time for Natasha's superhero rules. When it comes to survival, Yelena subscribes to the Loki school of what's right and wrong. She shows in this scene that she will do what is necessary to survive, even if it means a little grand theft auto.
What is even more striking is the fact that Natasha has done the same thing, only with darker consequences. In order to be free of Draykov, she sacrificed his young daughter. Yelena's quote again contributes to the theme of the movie, the idea that all too often freedom comes at the expense of someone else.
When She Had Constructive Criticism
"Great Plan. I Love The Part Where I Almost Bled To Death."
Like her commentary on Natasha's superhero pose, Yelena's sarcasm is relatable and funny. Frustrated with being left behind when Natasha got out, but unable to resist the pull of family, Yelena takes every opportunity to slip into her role as a little sister.
In their moment of quiet after a harrowing scene, Yelena picks on the effectiveness of Natasha's plan, again stealing the scene with her snark and assessment of the situation. Again, she calls to mind the brotherly arguments between Loki and Thor, something fans have loved in the MCU.
When She Defended Herself
"I Didn't Say Anything, That's Not Fair!"
Black Widow assassin or not, Yelena is still a little sister through and through. In spite of the fact that her entire family is, in fact, a lie, this doesn't change much for Yelena. She believes deep down that Melina and Alexei are her parents and that Natasha is her sister.
The moment her "mom" reprimands her, Yelena can't help but defend herself. Their family argument is a highly amusing contrast to the dark events of the overall movie.
When She Refused To Mince Words
"That's What Happens When The Red Room Gives You An Involuntary Hysterectomy. They Kinda Just Go In And Rip Out All Your Reproductive Organs."
One of Yelena's best characteristics is that she refuses to sugarcoat the truth. While she still sees Alexei as her father and knows that she and Natasha need to work with him - in one of Black Widow's best team ups - to take down Draykov, she has absolutely no problem giving him the gory details of what happened to her and Natasha in the Red Room of Pain. Her gritty honesty shows that although she loves him, she isn't willing to let him off the hook for what he allowed to happen.
Confronting Alexei with a reality he didn't have to face before, Yelena plants the seeds of their family's rebellion against Draykov. Speaking the truth, especially to family, is an incredibly difficult thing. Yelena's willingness to do so sets her up as a fantastic hero fans love.
When She Confronted Natasha
"...I'm Not The One Who's On The Cover Of A Magazine. I'm Not The Killer Little Girls Call Their Hero."
In this distinctly painful scene, Yelena underscores the injustice of her own path in comparison with Natasha's. Though they both suffered the same childhood trauma and though they are both assassins with "red in their ledgers," Yelena has been left in the shadows. As with their father, she is willing to tell Natasha difficult things she needs to hear.
Because she is honest about the pain her sister caused, whether unintentionally or not, Yelena ultimately encourages Natasha to face her biggest fear and help her take down Draykov. The bond between the sisters is one of the things that stand out about Black Widow from the first watch, and moments like this only help to strengthen it.
When She Got Excited Over Small Things
"This Is The First Piece Of Clothing I've Ever Bought For Myself... I've Never Had Control Over My Life Before, And Now I Do. I Want To Do Things."
After not only having her entire life dictated for her and her will stripped away by a biochemical weapon, Yelena revels in even the smallest things. Under the levity and innocence that had fans laughing in theaters lies an absolutely heartbreaking truth.
A slave her entire life, something as simple as a vest brings Yelena an almost unreasonable amount of joy. This quote shows just how much she has suffered. It's a beautiful, simple thing that she has no shame in celebrating. It's also a great bonding moment for Natasha and Yelena. For the first time in the movie, they're no longer treating each other as enemies, but as friends and sisters instead. As a result, Yelena quickly becomes one of Black Widow's best friends in the MCU.
When She Chose Bravery
"This Would Be A Cool Way To Die."
Living most of her life in the presence of death, Yelena displays an attitude of nonchalance toward her own life ending. But from the first moment of the movie, the audience witnesses her fight for her own life, and the lives of others, making it clear that she wants to survive.
This desire becomes more profound when she is freed from Draykov's mind-control at the beginning of the movie. Now that she is no longer under his thumb, Yelena has the opportunity to not simply exist anymore, but to truly live. This quote shows how she protects herself. Yelena uses snark as a weapon against fear, as a way to make herself brave in the face of losing the very thing she has fought so hard for.
When She Inspired Her Family
"Don't Say that. Please Don't Say that. It Was real. It Was Real To Me."
As Yelena watches her false family fall apart, her cry reminds them all of what they meant to her. This statement ultimately binds them together. Yelena proves herself to be the heart of the family, her pain stopping them all in the middle of their political bickering and reminding them of what they mean to her.
Dropping her guard of snark and sarcasm, Yelena confronts the entire family in a way they can no longer ignore. This quote forces Natasha, Alexei, and Melina to recognize their own pain, even though they might have logically separated themselves from the situation.