10 MCU moments where Yelena Belova ate – And left no crumbs

Yelena Belova is an important character in the MCU and is based on the fictional character in the Marvel comics. The character’s backstory is full of tragedy as Yelena was trained as an assassin the Russian-based Red Room. However, Yelena turns over to the good side and is Natasha’s sister and one of her closest allies. In the MCU, Yelena Belova is played by Florence Pugh, who does a stellar job at portraying the character’s both playful and emotional side. Here are some of her best moments in the movies, Black Widow and Thunderbolts* and the series, Hawkeye.

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Yelena's fight with Natasha, her moment with Bob, and other memorable Yelena Belova moments in the MCU

1. Yelena’s emotional moment with Natasha

While Yelena Belova and Natasha are like any other siblings who like to make fun of each other and drop sarcastic remarks, there are also moments when the two sisters give the viewers some authentic and emotional scenes. In the MCU movie, Black Widow, the siblings have a heart-to-heart conversation towards the middle of the movie. While the two are already emotional after seeing each other after a long time, they are also recalling the memories that they had with each other. Finally, when the two sit down to talk and discuss, viewers get to see the emotional side of Yelena Belova, which adds a layer of depth and maturity to her character. Till now, Yelena is seen as a comedic relief, but this scene shows her complex emotions, and prepares the audience for her more mature performance in Thunderbolts*. The two sisters have a healing and heartfelt conversation and it is an important moment for Yelena’s future growth.

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2. Yelena’s fight with Hawkeye

In Hawkeye, Yelena Belova is made to believe that Hawkeye killed her sister Natasha and therefore, she sets out to kill him, which results in a memorable fight between the two. The final fight for Clint Barton is against Yelena herself and the scene is action-packed and rewatchable. Apart from the action aspect however, the scene is also tinged with sadness as the Hawkeye tries to make Yelena realize that Natasha died for the greater good and he did not have a hand in killing her. The scene is thrilling, pulsating, and brimming with tension as viewers wait to see what Yelena’s reaction would be. As the fight gets more intense the emotions of the two, especially that of Yelena’s also heightens the most. The final sequence is a memorable way to end the Hawkeye series and it is a key moment in Yelena’s trajectory as she comes to terms with her sister’s death.

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3. Yelena and Kate Bishop

Once again, Yelena Belova gives the viewers a wholesome moment in Hawkeye. Even though Yelena has her fair share of emotional moments, she really shines when she is being goofy and comedic, which is true to her nature. In one of the scenes of the movie, Yelena breaks into the new Hawkeye, Kate Bishop’s apartment and begins to eat her mac and cheese. The moment is laughable but also highlights the bond and healthy dynamic that Yelena has with Kate. Even though they have met each other properly for the first time in this scene, the two build a great rapport. Funnily enough, Yelena casually tells Kate that she plans to kill Clint and even though they are against one another for the life of Clint, they share a wholesome dynamic. After Natasha’s death, Yelena finally finds someone who can act like her sister and it is Kate who does it for her.

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4. Yelena’s opening monologue in Thunderbolts*

The latest offering in MCU, Thunderbolts*, is one of the best movies to have fleshed out Yelena Belova as a character. In the movie, Yelena is still reeling from the loss of her sister and is unsure of where she stands in the world. The film is also one of the most sensitive MCU movies as it focusses on mental health to a large extent. Therefore, Yelena’s opening monologue and sequence is one of her best and most deep moments. It is also the opening scene of the movie and it immediately hooks the audience with Yelena’s monologue, which is compelling, authentic, and reflects her emotional conflict as she says lines like “something is wrong with me”. The scene is also memorable as Yelena is standing on top of a tall building and she jumps off of it. The monologue and the thrilling sequence is therefore the perfect manner in which the viewers can be hooked to the character of Yelena.

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5. The dinner scene

The movie, Black Widow, is all about Natasha. But it also has some of the best moments of Yelena. The viewers not only meet the character, but they also get to see Yelena’s range of emotions, from the comedic to the emotional. When the family dinner scene is taking place and Natasha says that all of it is fake because their family is fake, it is Yelena Belova who cries out and says that “it was real to me!”. The single dialogue is an important moment in the movie and Yelena’s character arc and has since become a pop culture staple. Yelena’s emotional outburst is heart-wrenching to watch as she always wanted a family and when she comes to know that all of it is fake and she was lied to, her emotions make perfect sense. Yelena says that for her, everything was real and she is hurt that no one ever told her that it was all fake. The moment is emotional and one of the most important moments of Yelena in the MCU canon.

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6. Yelena’s hilarious remarks to Natasha

While Thunderbolts* offers viewers a different side to Yelena Belova, as she is seen as somber and silent, the character is actually quite funny in the Black Widow movie. Even though she has faced harsh cruelties at the hand of the Red Room, Yelena is unique as she uses her sarcasm and dry humor to keep the viewers hooked to her character and make the audiences care about her. Yelena has displayed her humor during several moments in the movie and some of the best examples are when she famously teaches Natasha about her iconic fighting pose and hilariously mimics it. Other examples include when she states the Natasha is not the most important Avengers as she needs a painkiller after a battle and the God of Thunder doesn’t. Yelena’s character therefore, is full of comedic relief and witty quips that make her drastic change in the recent Thunderbolts*, even more important.

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7. Yelena and Bob

The climax scene of the MCU movie, Thunderbolts*, is pivotal and is a huge moment in Yelena Belova’s character arc. Throughout the movie, Yelena Belova says to Bob that one needs to shove their emotions deep down and ignore it to move forward. However, during the climax of the movie, Bob’s darker alter ego, The Void, has taken over New York City and Yelena decides to bravely jump into Bob’s mind and forces her way through her past—thus confronting her own demons—to find Bob who is hidden away. She comforts Bob, and reverts her earlier stance by motivating him to face his inner demons and quell The Void. Finally, Bob is able to destroy his own darker side with the help of Yelena and the moment is therefore important not only for Bob for also for Yelena. It is perhaps, one of the most important moments for her as she is finally free from her remorse over Natasha’s death and is willing to face her inner battles and move forward.

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8. Thunderbolts* versus Sentry

Towards the latter half of the MCU movie, Thunderbolts*, Sentry makes his grand entry under Valentina’s control. The moment is important and all the characters in the movie decide to fight with him and get heavily injured in the process. However, as the protagonist of the movie, Yelena Belova, shows great presence of mind and leadership qualities as she tries to dissuade the others from jumping into the fight and tries to stop others from attacking the Sentry. This moment is pivotal as it shows that Yelena is slowly maturing and becoming a more responsibly superhero like her sister, Natasha. The scene also shows how caring Yelena is towards Bob and her team and has the making of becoming a true superhero in the future years of the MCU. The scene is a testament of her true character, which is empathetic, caring, and worthy of being a true hero.

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9. Yelena fights Natasha

Another important moment in Black Widow is when Yelena Belova finally meets her sister, Natasha, after many years. The scene is Yelena’s first action-packed scene as the two sisters get into a fight that is thrilling and a bit hilarious. It is funny because the two are unsure of each other, because they both were mind-controlled in the Red Room. However, the viewers know that both of them are free and therefore it is funny to watch how the two are cautious of each other. The scene is also an important moment for Yelena’s viewers as it showcases the strength that she has in facing off Natasha. This is the first time that Natasha is fighting against another Widow and Yelena’s strength is remarkable to witness. The scene is a great debut moment for Yelena and makes her character even more iconic.

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10. Yelena and Red Guardian

In Thunderbolts*, Yelena Belova has always maintained her stance towards emotions—to bury them deep down and ignore them. However, when a lot of carnage happens after the Sentry fight, she finally breaks down and lets go of her tough exterior to let out her pent-up emotions in front of the Red Guardian, who is her father. The moment is important and the scene is climactic for Yelena’s character in many ways as she finally embraces her emotions and the remorse and guilt that she feels over her sister’s death. Florence Pugh gives a profound performance and lends gravitas to her character. In a way, the scene is a full circle moment for Yelena as she finally faces her inner emotions. It is also one of the most emotionally aware scenes in the MCU as the movie focusses on mental health and facing one’s emotions.