Warning! This article contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*.

The final twist of Thunderbolts* makes one Marvel scene from four years ago involving Yelena and The Avengers much better. The story of Marvel’s Thunderbolts* primarily focused on several characters from the franchise who were undergoing similar struggles. Many of the antiheroes ᴀssembled for the film lacked a feeling of worth, either due to being alone, not having a set purpose, or struggling with the trauma of their past. By the time of Thunderbolts* ending, though, the characters came together as a close-knit support group.

This marked a big difference from usual team-up stories, which upcoming Marvel movies like Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will likely return to. Although the cast of Thunderbolts* is set to play a role in these two films, their origins will always be different due to how the film focuses on the mental health of each character. Where Yelena is concerned, her mental health journey links to finding a family and a purpose, with that purpose outlining itself by the film’s conclusion and making a quote from her even better, four years later.

Yelena Disregarded The Idea Of Avengers In 2021’s Hawkeye

Linked To Her Brief Vendetta Against Clint Barton

The MCU scene from four years ago came in 2021’s Hawkeye. Yelena played a big role in the final few episodes of the show after she was told by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine that Clint Barton was responsible for the death of her sister, Black Widow. To get to Clint, Yelena struck up a tentative friendship with Kate Bishop, with the former telling the latter that she would be safe so long as she stays out of her way.

During a scene in Kate Bishop’s apartment, the Hawkeye protege defends Clint, stating that he is still an Avenger. Yelena replies, “What does that word even mean, huh? That it holds so much power? You call him a hero no matter what he does?” Evidently, Yelena once did not care about тιтles nor what heroes have done for others around them, especially if it is someone like Clint who has done wrong in his past. Although Yelena was misled and Hawkeye was not responsible for Natasha’s death, her point links to Thunderbolts* in an interesting way.

After Thunderbolts*’ Final Twist, Yelena Now Understands What It Means To Be An Avenger

Yelena’s Recent Journey Proved Her Old Self Wrong

Where Thunderbolts* is concerned, the film has Yelena coming to terms with the fact that she was wrong in Hawkeye. As alluded to, the film focuses on her wish to find a purpose and a group of people to support her. This comes in the form of the Thunderbolts, eventually renamed The New Avengers in Thunderbolts* post-credit scene. In finding this purpose, Yelena now understands what it means to be an Avenger, proving her own comments wrong about Hawkeye all those years ago.

Even more so than Clint Barton, Yelena has done some terrible things in her past. Although part of this was due to her indoctrination and control at the hands of the Red Room, she still remembers the bad things she has done. This caused her self-worth to erode and led to her loneliness and sadness in Thunderbolts*. Regardless of what she has done, though, Yelena came to realize that everyone deserves a chance at redemption and committed to the New Avengers, thus proving that bad things do not matter so long as someone commits to fighting for what is right.

Kate Bishop & Yelena Have Both Become Avengers Since Hawkeye

The Scene Works On Two Fronts

While Yelena’s transition from questioning Avengers to being one herself works well, the scene from Hawkeye works on two levels. Someone who has never doubted herself and always wanted to be a hero is Kate Bishop, who defends Clint in the aforementioned scene. Now, it is not only Yelena who is an Avenger, with Kate being confirmed as one of the three Young Avengers members in The Marvels. Both heroes, for different reasons, have solidified themselves as future MCU heroes, with Thunderbolts* completing the transition for Yelena.