Marvel Gave Black Widow Her Endgame Memorial Finally (And Then Ruined It)

Warning! This post contains spoilers for Black Widow.

Black Widow finally gave its titular character a memorial that should’ve happened in Avengers: Endgame before ruining it. Natasha Romanoff has been a pivotal character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since she was first introduced in Iron Man 2. Her status as an Avenger elevated her and she was often one of the most logically sound members of the superhero team. Black Widow’s death in Endgame was tragic and her solo film, which is set before Avengers: Infinity War, attempts to retroactively do right by her character one last time.

Black Widow is in a unique situation: the film is caught in the middle of explaining Natasha’s backstory while also moving the plot of the MCU’s Phase Four forward. While the movie’s events occur prior to Black Widow’s death, the post-credits scene is set after Avengers: Endgame. Yelena Belova, another sleeper agent of the Red Room, appears in the end-credits scene to visit the tombstone of her beloved sister. Surrounding Natasha’s grave are flowers, photos, and stuffed animals that suggest how often Yelena (and maybe some others) visited the burial site. The moment, while brief, gave Black Widow her due after being slighted in Endgame in favor of giving Iron Man a full and heroic memorial of his own. She was loved in life and grieved in death.

Black Widow’s memorial was long overdue, but the moment of Yelena paying her respects to her sister was interrupted by Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Her arrival ruined the memorial because it was disruptive and unnecessary. Whereas Iron Man’s memorial honored his life and sacrifice as an Avenger, Black Widow got the short end of the stick. Yelena couldn’t even finish her visit without the time at Natasha’s tombstone being callously undermined by the sudden presence of a character who was only there to set up the next plot of the MCU’s Phase Four.

There’s no doubt Valentina handing Yelena her next assignment — which involved hunting Hawkeye — couldn’t have waited until after she left Natasha’s grave site. That the decision was made to include Valentina in the midst of a lovely, emotional, and perfect moment meant to pay tribute to Black Widow’s sacrifice undervalues her overall importance. The fact Valentina exaggeratingly blew her nose at Nat’s grave felt disingenuous. Black Widow's death was already overlooked in Avengers: Endgame, so it’s frustrating her loved ones can’t have a moment alone to mourn her properly before attempting to set up the next stage of the MCU’s story. If Natasha had gotten a proper memorial in Endgame, Valentina showing up in Black Widow’s post-credits scene wouldn’t have been so bad.

Black Widow ultimately tried to have it both ways by giving Natasha a memorial while simultaneously laying the groundwork for Yelena’s appearance in Hawkeye, the Disney+ series slated for release later this year. And yes, it’s wonderful Black Widow finally got a memorial after Avengers: Endgame, but the scene would have easily worked as a standalone sans Valentina. Her scheming and the set-up for what’s to come in the MCU was better left for another moment that wasn’t disruptive to Yelena grieving and honoring her sister.

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