Black Widow: Who Deprogrammed Natasha In The MCU?

Black Widow deprogrammed several women by the end of her solo film, but it never answers the question regarding who did the same for her in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Black Widow fills in a lot of blanks about Natasha Romanoff’s past, covering the details of her training to become a ruthless spy and assassin, as well as her surrogate family. At some point, Black Widow broke free of her brainwashing and who may have helped her may not be all that surprising.  

For as long as fans remember, Natasha has had free will and has not adhered to the controlling environment she grew up in. By the time of her introduction in Iron Man 2, the skilled spy and assassin was already working as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., defecting to the organization following her mission to kill Dreykov in Budapest. Black Widow offered additional information regarding Nat’s upbringing, her time in the Red Room, the facility where she was conditioned to follow Dreykov’s orders, and her family. While the main plot saw the characters using a red substance to counteract the widows’ brainwashing, it’s still unclear who released Natasha from her own. 

Though it’s never confirmed, it’s possible Nick Fury and Clint Barton took some part in breaking Black Widow’s conditioning. In Avengers: Endgame, Natasha tells Steve Rogers she had nothing before she got the job with S.H.I.E.L.D. and joined the Avengers. While Black Widow reaffirms she spent a number of years working under the control of Dreykov and her Red Room indoctrination, it was ultimately her recruitment into S.H.I.E.L.D. that changed her life. The film doesn’t provide much information regarding Natasha’s life following her leaving the Red Room behind, but Fury was well aware of who she was and initially sent Clint to intercept the spy and kill her. 

It’s important to note that Natasha’s brainwashing was different to the way the Red Room indoctrinated the new widows, whose conditioning was so thorough and deep that an antidote was required to counteract its effects. Based on Natasha’s history and time in the Red Room, it’s doubtful she needed a substance to deactivate Dreykov’s control. What’s more, Black Widow’s Budapest mission makes even more sense if Fury, Clint, and S.H.I.E.L.D. had a hand in undoing the damage made to her mind. The assignment was to kill Dreykov, which would prove Natasha’s loyalty to the agency once and for all. Being the final act in her defecting to S.H.I.E.L.D. adds yet another layer to Black Widow’s story. It would also further explain why she and Hawkeye have long been so close.

Of course, since Black Widow didn’t divulge this particular information, it’s unclear how Fury and Hawkeye might have gone about helping Natasha for good. Did killing Dreykov finally set her free? How did Clint appeal to her while still under the Red Room’s control? Melina goes against Dreykov rather quickly in the film, despite having been in the Red Room for far longer, so it’s possible Black Widow had a similar experience in that regard. The Budapest mission itself was the final step toward proving she wouldn’t go back to the Red Room, but the period before that reveals there are still mysteries surrounding Natasha’s backstory. 

About The Author

Mae Abdulbaki
(1078 Articles Published)

Mae Abdulbaki is a movie reviews editor with Screen Rant. She previously wrote about a variety of movies and TV shows for Inverse, CinemaBlend, Pajiba, and The Young Folks, where she wrote reviews, features, news pieces. Her other work can be found at The Mary Sue, Film School Rejects, UPROXX, Heroic Hollywood, Looper, The List, and Bam Smack Pow, among others. Mae has also appeared on television segments, podcasts, and panels to discuss all things entertainment.

More From Mae Abdulbaki