Why I think Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova is the best thing in Thunderbolts*' strong ensemble

Marvel Studios has an incredible legacy of ensemble films that unite larger-than-life characters. Ever since the Avengers teamed up. Fans have gotten to witness some of the greatest talents in the MCU come together and create magic. The same has been seen with Marvel's latest take on superheroes- the Thunderbolts. With the Thunderbolts, we jumped again into moral ambiguity. And while strong performances were present throughout from Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, and Wyatt Russell - one star outshone them all: Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova.

In a cinematic universe filled with super-soldiers, sorcerers, and cosmic avatars, Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova stands out as a character grounded in relatable authenticity and multifaceted emotion. In Marvel's Thunderbolts, alongside a huge cast of characters, Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova not only drives the narrative but also changes the perception of what a superhero can be in the MCU. Here's why she stands out in a stunning ensemble, and how Yelena could be one of the best things to happen to the MCU in recent years.

A powerful MCU heroine

Yelena Belova is a standout- not because she’s the most powerful in the team or has a unique suit or the best skills, but because she’s painfully, vulnerably human. And that, oddly enough, makes her one of the most powerful female characters Marvel introduced in quite a while.

Portrayed with raw ferocity and comedic timing by Florence Pugh, Yelena made her first appearance in Black Widow as Natasha Romanoff’s younger sister and as a fellow operative of the Red Room. She had a different entry to the MCU, she didn’t need a three-movie arc or a stand-alone series to engrave her image into our minds. In a film that was bursting at the seams with content, on top of waiting a very long time for answers and giant action, Yelena managed to walk away with the show- she stole the show because she was so real.

She’s a heroine who is made from violence but not defined by it. From childhood, she was trained to kill, manipulated, brainwashed; whatever autonomy she had was robbed from her, and yet she’s not just alive, but she is insisting on taking herself back. We see hints of this in Black Widow- her use of sarcasm as armor, her disgust for the “poser” who gets to wear superhero costumes, her longing for something real. She was not portrayed as invincible; she bleeds, she cries, she questions everything around her. And in the larger-than-life world of the MCU, she is a part of, that honesty feels revolutionary.

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A Star Among Stars

Thunderbolts assembles an interesting cache of characters: Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, David Harbour's Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell's U.S. Agent, Hannah John-Kamen's Ghost, Olga Kurylenko's Taskmaster, and newcomer Lewis Pullman as Bob. Each one brings a certain shine to the film, but Yelena, played by Pugh, outshines all of the others, and gives a performance that is heart-wrenching but real.

As noted by several publications, Pugh encapsulates Yelena and gives a layered performance, translating emotional depth and subtle comedy in between the racket of comrades who are profoundly jaded. Thunderbolts* prioritizes character-driven narrative rather than plot-driven storytelling, which is rare for many superhero films. Director Jake Schreier's vision was influenced by indie sensibilities, thus ensuring a less obstructed experience of the nuanced character. Meanwhile, Pugh prospers in this kind of vehicle as she shows a complexity in a convincing and sometimes humorous portrayal of Yelena, which is striking in one aspect and operatic in another.

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How Florence Pugh made Yelena even better

Florence Pugh's dedication to authenticity is clear through her engagement with Yelena's character development. She advocated for major changes in the script, assuring that Yelena's grief regarding Natasha Romanoff's death was addressed. The script originally had less about Natasha's impact on Pugh, but the latter still forced this issue to be addressed since that would be a cornerstone of Yelena's character.

Pugh also advocated for Yelena's mindset to be represented authentically. She insisted that Yelena start in a frumpy sweatsuit rather than spy gear, suggesting that the sweatsuit would represent Yelena's emotional distress. This level of detail is part of what makes Pugh dedicated to representing a character that is as vulnerable as she is tough. More improvisations, like the iconic stunt from Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, and an emphasis on her relationship with Red Guardian, were advocated for by the actress. Overall, she had a strong hand in building Yelena up to ground her in reality and create a character that is more than just her combat skills.

Critics and audiences have praised Pugh's performance and even commented on the emotionality of her characterization, explaining that Thunderbolts feels like a more authentic film and a return to the MCU's focus on character as opposed to just multiverse and CGI and materialistic storytelling. Pugh's authentic performance of grief, redemption, and identity serves to strengthen the promise of the film, which is being lauded by many as one of Marvel's best efforts in recent years after the success of the Infinity Saga.

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How Thunderbolts* has altered the MCU in terms of storytelling

Thunderbolts* provides an important shift in the MCU's tone from grandiose battles to character-heavy pieces. Pugh's Yelena pushes the franchise to consider a more nuanced character study that feels more real and more authentic while not compromising on her impact on the team as a whole. Her performance enlivened the film and raised the creative stakes for character development in the future of the MCU.

To watch Yelena Belova make another big-screen appearance in Avengers: Doomsday would be like throwing a grenade into a room full of already lit fireworks: beautiful, chaotic, and unforgettable. She is not just another hero in a bunch of cosmic forces and tech geniuses; she is the beating heart within all the frenzy. With her signature snark, unfiltered humanity, and quietly devastating trauma, Yelena offers something the MCU desperately needs: a heroine who’s not perfect, not polished, but painfully real. Florence Pugh will no doubt command the screen with a performance equal parts rage and resilience.

In a lineup of gods and legends and tech-geniuses, Yelena's humanness might just be Marvel’s most powerful weapon yet.