Cate Shortland, the director of Black Widow, discussed the apparent ending plot hole of the Marvel film. The long-awaited release of Black Widow took place last weekend. It was the first film in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha Romanoff for one more adventure, taking the assassin-turned-Avenger back to her beginnings. Nat teams up with her Russian espionage family to take down the repressive Red Room. It taught her as a kid in Black Widow. It starts up after the events of Captain America: Civil War.
As Secretary Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) comes on the scene after the climactic fight at the Red Room, Natasha remains standing amid the debris of the once-floating fortress. Because Natasha is still on the run due to the Sokovia Accords scenario from the Civil War, one may presume Ross intends to apprehend her. Black Widow, however, cuts off before Ross arrives, jumping two weeks ahead. It is when a blonde Natasha sets out to reconcile with her fellow ex-Avengers. Some have questioned why Black Widow didn’t mention Natasha’s escape, calling it an ending plot hole.
Black Widow ending plot hole: “Intentional”
Shortland claims that Black Widow’s ending isn’t a narrative hole, but it’s also not supposed to be filled in. Shortland revealed to The Wrap that the choice to keep Natasha’s connection with Ross a mystery was “intentional” after the film’s release. She stated,
“That was intentional because we wanted to leave the question of how she would get away, rather than allow the audience to get exhausted by another fight.
“We wanted to leave you guys on a high with the question of how did she use her ingenuity? Because she did. And it was probably, I would say, she bargained her way out of that situation. But I don’t know.”
Natasha has the ability to pull herself out of tight circumstances like the one she found herself in after Black Widow. So it’s no surprise that she did. Furthermore, fans are fully aware that Natasha would ultimately join forces with Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and the other Secret Avengers. There would be little drama in that scene if the film showed her final scene with Ross. Shortland’s argument is reasonable. Though some fans may be face disappointment by the lack of finality on that subject.
The film closes with Natasha flying off into the sunset. But the true last sequence is buried away at the end of the credits, as is Marvel custom. It indicates Natasha’s sister Yelena (Florence Pugh) will have a larger part in the MCU. She will continue with the Disney+ series Hawkeye later this year. While fans will see more of Johansson’s Natasha in the future, Black Widow is her final film. As sad as it is to watch her leave, it’s maybe fitting that her final scene shows her heading for a new adventure after once again evading arrest. It has a certain enigmatic quality to it that is ideal for a figure as intriguing as Black Widow.