Katie Grubbs, Ilia Danner Grubbs, and Sara Klooster talk about Marvel’s Black Widow film (2021).
Corrections: Listeners, after recording we became aware that some misstatements of facts appear in this episode. We acknowledge that both Black Widow and Tony Stark die in Avengers: Endgame, and that at the time of this recording, Disney World did in fact have a mask mandate in place. We regret this and any other errors that appear in the episode.
CFP 152: Black Widow
-Introductions
-Why talk about Black Widow?
Knowing
-When did you first encounter Black Widow? What do you find interesting about the character overall?
-Where this movie and Black Widow in general fit into the overall MCU continuity
-The making of the film and Johansson’s recent lawsuit against Disney
-Plot summary of the movie
Reading
-What’s so interesting about Natasha and Yelena’s “sister” relationship? What does this movie have to say about the importance of non-blood relationships that nevertheless feel like family?
-How does this movie confront the physical realities of living in a female body?
-How does this movie complicate the villain/hero dichotomy with a character like Antonia, who is also a victim?
-How is this movie is different than most of the “superhero” genre movies, especially in the MCU?
-Does this movie finally give Natasha her due? Or are there different choices that you wish the film’s creators had made?
– What vision does this give of women in the military?
– Do you think this is a good movie? If not, why not?
Passing On
Katie: Marvel’s Loki https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9140554/
Ilia: Black Widow Golden Book
Sara: Gunslinger Girl https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0476042/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1