Black Widow is making waves all around the world. Fans are particularly happy with the fact that Natasha Romanoff got a chance to tell her story. As explained by Scarlett Johannson before, the movie was never going to be an origin story. That’s why it was set between Civil War and Infinity War. Moreover, in hindsight, the movie did explain her past every now and then. There were some really jaw-dropping moments in the movie, but one stands out in a major way. And that is the revelation of Taskmaster’s identity. So let’s dive into the Identity twist of Taskmaster in Black Widow.
Identity Twist of Taskmaster in Black Widow
Black Widow wasted no time in explaining how strong Taskmaster is. The trained killer goes after Natasha after she receives vials of red liquid responsible for counteracting the effects of brainwashing. She was easily overpowered. However, she has brains as well and was able to escape safely. But it is soon revealed that the Taskmaster isn’t working alone. It is all in connection to the Red Room, and the villain was sent to retrieve the vials.
But the Taskmaster wasn’t the real villain at all. It turns out that it was just a front to cover up for General Dreykov (Ray Winstone) and his evil ploy. However, Natasha thought that she had killed Dreykov years ago, but Yelena reveals that he’s pretty much alive and still functioning. In a surprising turn of events, Taskmaster’s real identity is revealed. Now, this is something that we predicted all the way back in January 2020. The face behind the mask was Dreykov’s daughter that Natasha thought she had killed along with Dreykov.
Dreykov’s daughter, Antonia was first mentioned all the way back in The Avengers. So this brings Natasha’s storyline full circle. It’s a nod to the moment when Loki wondered if Black Widow could truly wipe her slate clean after alluding to Antonia’s death. After all, she wasn’t really dead. Even though Natasha was aware that she is in the building present with his father, she still gave a green light to Hawkeye to blow the building up.
Taskmaster Ties To Budapest
The movie finally ties the loose end that’s been left unanswered for years. We finally get to know about Black Widow and Hawkeye’s Budapest mission. The mission was the final step in defecting to S.H.I.E.L.D. and kill Dreykov. The evil general was the final connection she needed to end before moving on for good. This would have proven her loyalty to the U.S. agency.
But obviously, the mission was ultimately a big fail as Dreykov didn’t die. Instead, he continued to deploy his weapons all over the world. Dreykov’s daughter Antonia (Olga Kurylenko) was in fact his greatest weapon. After the explosion, he put a chip in Antonia’s neck, which allowed him to control her. It goes on to say just how far from redemption Dreykov was since he turned his own daughter into a lethal killing machine. Taskmaster could mimic anyone it ever fought, just by observing.
This very mission actually haunted Natasha for life, because she always considered Antonia as collateral damage. But considering that Dreykov didn’t die, it might have only prompted him to do certain things to his daughter. It could be that he always wanted to turn his daughter into a killing machine. But the explosion might have only sealed her fate. Moreover, Taskmaster fighting Black Widow in the same location makes the movie all the more relevant as it is all about Natasha Romanoff and her actions.
Taskmaster Will Return To The MCU
Taskmaster is Black Widow’s primary antagonist for the most part of the film. But Natasha was far from aware of its true identity. It was only until the climax that Dreykov decided to reveal her identity. Moreover, Black Widow has set up a perfect comeback for Antonia. Unlike Dreykov, she didn’t die. Rather it was revealed that his father is no more there.
Taskmaster being free from mind control means she could join forces with Melina, Yelena, and Red Guardian. In the end, Natasha’s family took her with them to take care of her. Moreover, Natasha was able to counteract the chemical agent that forced her to take orders from her father. Hence, freeing her once and for all. It’s also possible Antonia might be recruited by Contessa Valentina de Fontaine, who first appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. So Taskmaster’s story in the MCU is far from over.
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