The General Ross Detail That Has Black Widow Fans Scratching Their Heads

Leaving a series of distractingly nonlethal explosions in its wake, the Marvel Cinematic Universe returned to theaters after a two year absence with "Black Widow." The long-awaited solo picture finally let viewers know just what in the world Scarlett Johansonn's Agent Romanoff was getting herself up to circa 2016, what the backlash was like after the implementation of the Sokovia Accords, and, most importantly, that she dyes her own hair with stuff from the grocery store. Like, Marvel movies have always played it fast and loose with the laws of physics and nature, but come on. Impeccable coverage with no signs of frizz from box dye that she applied herself? And we're supposed to believe that she doesn't have super powers?

In any case, Black Widow's backstory had a few cracks puttied in, offering viewers a better feel for the guilt and loathing inherent in the MCU's favorite shadowy assassin. What's more, her solo flick showed us just what she was doing between "Captain America: Civil War" and "Avengers: Infinity War." Step one: She reunited her unconventional family and helped take down a ring of mind-controlled international saboteurs. Step two: She stood in a field of burning wreckage and waited to be arrested by William Hurt's General Ross and a small army of troops under his command. Step three: Flash forward to two weeks later without any explanation for how Natasha got out of this latest bucket of molasses. If it feels to you like we missed a step, it's only because ... well, because that's a pretty huge leap for the third act of a movie to make.

In the moments that follow "Black Widow's" climactic battle, Natasha's family faces a new threat. The pose-happiest Avenger has summoned the wrath of General "Thunderbolt" Ross, the cardiovascularly-challenged firebrand with a penchant for hunting down unregistered super folk and dropping them in an aquatic prison for safekeeping. Audiences gasped as Ross pulled up to the scene of the film's final conflict, accompanied by a convoy of military personnel, surrounding Romanoff as her family made a daring escape to the promise of freedom and further franchise appearances. How would Black Widow, with nothing but a lifetime of training in the art of jumping around and shooting people to back her up, get out of this dang old pickle?

The answer, it seems, is "who knows?" The story drops off without offering fans a single hint as to how Natasha got away. Not to nitpick, but when it picks back up, she's also accumulated enough wealth to buy a top-of-the-line sci-fi fighter jet, answering the "where did Black Widow and Captain America get their slick new ride in 'Infinity War?'" question, but raising so, so many others.

Who knows how Nat got away from Ross. Maybe she struck a deal on the basis of having just exploded a leftover Soviet infiltration ring. Maybe the majority of his forces were squished by the still-falling debris from the Red Room. Maybe Ross just didn't recognise her in her sick new vest. The point is, the plot of "Black Widow" has some red in its ledger.