I Will Never Recover From The MCU Cutting A Black Widow Storyline That Would've Made Bucky Barnes' Next Appearance Even Better

Marvel cut a potential Black Widow storyline that would’ve altered Bucky Barnes’ next MCU project, and I truly wish they hadn’t. The main focus of the franchise has always been the flashy action and over-the-top heroes. While romance isn’t always featured in every project, Marvel has usually used romance to add some emotional weight to certain storylines. Not every couple has been a hit with fans and some anticipated couples have yet to make their MCU debut, but it’s a shame that one romantic pairing will never even get a chance to begin.

One of the MCU’s biggest romance misses was Natasha Romanoff and Bruce Banner’s brief fling in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Though their chemistry wasn’t necessarily bad, it was more so due to Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo’s great acting rather than the characters actually feeling compatible. Since that film, Natasha has luckily been allowed to grow on her own without depending on a romantic partner. However, I would’ve loved to see one of her comic relationships make it onto the big screen.

Bucky Barnes And Natasha Romanoff’s Comics Romance Explained

The Two Met In The Red Room

Natasha Romanoff's Black Widow and Bucky Barnes' Winter Soldier in the MCU — Custom Image by Kai Young

In the Marvel comics, Natasha and Bucky Barnes crossed paths while in the Red Room. After surviving his and Steve’s World War II mission, Bucky was found by the Soviet Union and recruited by the KGB. He was experimented on and physically enhanced, becoming the super soldier that we know as the Winter Soldier. He was then recruited to be a trainer in the Red Room, which is where he first met Natasha. The two developed a romantic relationship but ultimately got separated by the Red Room staff.

Natasha and Bucky presumed the other ᴅᴇᴀᴅ and went on with their lives, but they met again shortly after 2006’s Civil War event in the comics. Bucky wanted to reclaim his best friend’s weapon after Steve had supposedly died in the conflict, and he recognized Natasha while fighting over the shield. The two reconciled and started fighting side-by-side again, but a Red Room ᴀssᴀssin soon targeted them and tampered with Natasha’s memories. She forgot her memories of Bucky and although she’d eventually get them back, their romantic relationship was never the same.

Bucky Having A History With Natasha Would’ve Made Thunderbolts* Even Better

Bucky Is Working Alongside Natasha’s Sister

Natasha is no longer in the MCU following her death in Avengers: Endgame, but her spirit still lives on in her sister, Yelena Belova. She will be appearing in Thunderbolts* alongside Bucky, and their dynamic could’ve been made so much more interesting if Marvel had just adapted his romance with Black Widow. The MCU has already explored Yelena’s dynamic with friends of her sister, such as her emotional confrontation with Clint Barton in Hawkeye. Considering that one of the draws of Thunderbolts* is how these anti-heroes will work together, an existing connection would’ve shaken up the group.

If Bucky and Natasha’s romance was MCU canon, he would’ve already had a built-in dynamic with Yelena. Things could’ve started off rough as they did with Clint with Yelena thinking that Bucky didn’t do anything to save her sister, but it would then turn to understanding as she realizes that he was snapped away too. They could’ve bonded over their love and grief for Natasha while also having to navigate their professional relationship and the greater team dynamic of the Thunderbolts. It also would’ve been one more thing that tied the new era of the MCU to the original Avengers.

The MCU Could Still Adapt The Comics Storyline But I Hope They Don’t

A Bucky And Yelena Romance Would Not Work

Alexei Shostakov, Ava Starr, Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova and John Walker in an elevator in Thunderbolts* — Custom Image by SR Image Editor

There is still one possible way for the MCU to adapt Bucky and Natasha’s comic romance, and that is through Bucky and Yelena. However, I really hope that Marvel doesn’t go in that direction. Though both Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan are adults, there is still a substantial age difference between them that would make for an uncomfortable romantic dynamic. If anything, they would likely come off as more of a brother-sister pair, and I just don’t see a romance between them working.

Having Bucky and Yelena get together would just seem like a storyline out of left field for someone who doesn’t have the underlying context.

For MCU fans who haven’t read the comics, they don’t even know about the Bucky and Natasha romance. Having Bucky and Yelena get together would just seem like a storyline out of left field for someone who doesn’t have the underlying context. At this point, it’s too late for the MCU to adapt this romance and that’s okay. I’ll always miss the storyline that we could’ve had, but it is much better for Marvel to just let it go rather than force it into the MCU in a way that doesn’t feel genuine or romantic.