Thunderbolts* is coming to theaters May 2nd, but what other MCU films or TV shows do you need to know in order to be able to fully enjoy the final film entry of Phase Five?
**Contains Spoilers**
Must Watch
- Black Widow (2021)
- Yelena Belova is introduced as the adoptive sister of Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow. She was in the Black Widow program, along with her sister, where she trained to be an assassin.
- Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian is introduced as the former adoptive father of Natasha and Yelena. He grew up in Russia and was given the super soldier serum when he was younger.
- Melina Vostokoff is introduced as the former adoptive mother to Natasha and Yelena, a seasoned Black Widow and scientist specializing in mind-control for the Red Room, until Natasha convinces Melina to help destroy the program.
- Antonia Dreykove / Taskmaster is introduced. Her father was the most recent leader of the Red Room and its Black Widow program, where he had all the Widows under a mind-control substance, so they would never turn on him. In 1995, when Antonia was a little girl, the Red Room was thought to be destroyed when Natasha and Clint Barton / Hawkeye bombed the headquarters, and Antonia and her father were presumed dead. They survived, but Antonia was severely injured, and her father put a chip in her that made it so he had complete control over her, as well as giving her the ability to mimic others’ fighting style as Taskmaster.
- Years later (in a post-credit scene), Yelena is revealed to be working with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.
- Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
- Ava Starr / Ghost was in an accident at her father’s laboratory when she was younger, and because of this, she can’t keep her molecules together, which means she cannot keep her body whole. She can walk through solid objects, but due to the instability of her condition, she is working with Bill Foster (an old co-worker of Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man) to harness quantum energy to cure her.
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier [6 episodes] (2021)
- John Walker is first introduced to us as the new Captain America, taking over the role from Steve Rogers.
- Bucky Barnes was best friends with Steve Rogers growing up. He is now a recovering brainwashed assassin and has begun a new life, wanting to fix his past mistakes.
- Bucky and John Walker work on a few missions together, along with Sam Wilson and Walker’s best friend, Lemar Hoskins. However, Bucky and Sam do not feel John Walker is worthy of the title of Captain America.
- John Walker, feeling the pressure of living up to the role of Captain America, ends up taking the Super Soldier Serum, which enhances his strength but also his mental instability.
- During a group mission, Lemar is killed by someone in the terrorist group, the Flag Smashers. This sets Walker into a fit of rage where he kills a member of The Flag Smashers while being televised, causing the whole world to see.
- John Walker is stripped of the role of Captain America.
- After taking some time off, Walker tries to redeem himself by fighting alongside Sam and Bucky to stop the Flag Smashers.
- After this fight, Walker is introduced to Contessa Valentina “Val” Allegra de Fontaine, who feels Walker can work in more of a gray area for the government, and gives him the new name U.S. Agent.
Good to Know but Not Necessary to Watch
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- Bucky Barnes is introduced as Steve Rogers’ childhood friend. During a mission with Steve, he falls from a great height and is believed to be dead.
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Bucky is revealed to be alive, but has been brainwashed into an assassin called the Winter Soldier, who Hydra has been using for the past 70 years to take out their enemies.
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Steve rescues Bucky and sends him to Wakanda so they can help cure him of being brainwashed.
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Bucky looks to have been cured of the brainwashing, but is then dusted away by Thanos.
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Oh wait… Bucky’s back! And he helps the Avengers defeat Thanos.
- Hawkeye (2021) [episodes 4-6]
- Yelena is seeking revenge for the murder of her sister Natasha, because Valentina has convinced Yelena that Hawkeye was responsible for Natasha’s death during the 5 years while Yelena was dusted.
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
- Valentina is now the head of the CIA.
- Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
- Bucky visits Sam, who is now officially Captain America, to support him after a mission goes wrong. Bucky also mentions he’s running for Congress.
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