MovieChat Forums > Black Widow (2021) Discussion > Did they turn Taskmaster into discount W...

Did they turn Taskmaster into discount Winter Soldier?

posted 4 years ago by M1sterDoct0r (4560)
15 replies | jump to latest

A la Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Or is it just me? Honestly kept thinking that throughout the film But felt like they didn't go all in. They didn't give Her any character arc/development. And She was barely even in the movie.

Could've been a threatening/menacing antagonist if used right. And when they did the twist, I was like, "meh, ok''. I wasn't like offended or anything, they just didn't do anything with the character. She was just there...

Taskmaster is honestly one of the best Marvel villains in my opinion. As Mercenary characters, I honestly like him as much as Deathstroke and I honestly rate him higher than Deadpool.

And in this, they didn't "ruin the character", at least not yet. But they did make the character bland & forgettable.

[–] AP (5295) 4 years ago

Pretty much. But the character lacked anything that made Winter Soldier interesting. I also noticed the villain’s plot is more or less Zemo’s pretend plot from Civil War.

[–] M1sterDoct0r (4560) 4 years ago

I feel like Marvel really improved in the last phase in terms of villains but holy sh*t, Dreykov was legit one of the worst, most forgettable villains in the entire MCU.

Such a step back in that department. He was SO generic. And that's where Taskmaster could've helped but again, they did absolutely nothing with the character.

[–] EvilPinata (1186) 4 years ago

Yeah how they handled Taskmaster bummed me out a bit. The comic version is a lot more complex. Reducing the photographic reflex ability to a chip in her head instead of being an ability she was born with just turned her into a mindless goon like the rest of the widows.

[–] M1sterDoct0r (4560) 4 years ago

THIS!

[–] EvilPinata (1186) 4 years ago

I think they can potentially redeem the character though at some point, thigh she'd likely be more of an anti-hero than a villain if they did.

[–] M1sterDoct0r (4560) 4 years ago

Probably what's gonna happen. Especially after they undid the mind control

Really would've loved to see the cold blooded killer version of Taskmaster before any kinda redemption.

[–] fc31 (6125) 4 years ago

No, not likely. In this version after mind control drug wears off she has no quarrel with avengers or black widow, she was as much as a victim as other girls, no reason to be a villain. She might as well join SHIELD, it is not like she can be an accountant.

And if they want to use taskmaster, I mean really use it, she would likely be featured in Hawkeye as well, but I don't see her name in cast list.

All signs point to she will have a minor role, as a trainer of SHIELD agents probably. Show up in Marvel movies or TV shows as needed.

[–] AP (5295) 4 years ago

Also, having the daughter character going after Nat out of revenge could have been an interesting way for Nat to be forced to confront her past decision. Instead, she is just brainwashed and apparently holds no grudge against Nat for blowing her face off. As it is, Taskmaster could have been any random, nameless henchman in that armor.

[–] EvilPinata (1186) 4 years ago

Those were my thoughts exactly. Basic revenge would've been enough of a motive for me to buy why she was after Natasha.

[–] M1sterDoct0r (4560) 4 years ago

For real though, It could've been like her past coming to hunt/haunt her in a way more interesting way.

But the way they did it, it could've honestly been literally anyone under that mask & it wouldn't really affect the film in any way.

[–] msegmx (446) 4 years ago

Pitch Meeting for BW puts it best:

Pitcher: ".. then she's gonna get attacked by this villain called Taskmaster"
Executive: "People love that character, very cool mimicking capabilities, entertaining personality.."
Pitcher: "Yeah, so I figure we could do like a Deadpool kind of thing"
Executive: "Yeah, bring a character that people love to the big screen in an enjoyable way, sure"
Pitcher: "Uh, no, I meant like a Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine kind of thing"
Executive: "Oh, turn the character into a mind-controlled killing machine with no speaking lines or personality traits, yeah that works, too"
Pitcher: "Great!"

[–] M1sterDoct0r (4560) 4 years ago

Oh, Ignoring the source material & creating an inferior version of a beloved character is tight!

[–] bellington83 (3293) 4 years ago

To be fair. I did not know Greg Davies was in this. Admittedly I still have to watch the movie but I am so excited right now!!👏👏👏

[–] M1sterDoct0r (4560) 4 years ago

Oh you...

[–] JakeSWITCH (504) 4 years ago

One of the purposes of Taskmaster was to demonstrate that Dreykov was a monster who controlled women - this didn't just extend to the victims of human trafficking, but also to his own critically-injured daughter. Instead of saving her life, he turned her into into his unwilling killing machine. She was the ultimate expression of his evil. These are themes that fit in with the other films directed by Cate Shortland.

Taskmaster's other purpose was so Natasha could finally shed the final remnants of her assassin-era guilt (which she anguished over in 'Avengers: Age of Ultron') and transition into a true superhero. Not only did she make peace with Yelena and her "family" of Soviet agents, as well as completely destroy the Red Room program and free all of those girls, she was even able to absolve herself of the child murder she thought she had committed ("collateral damage") in order to escape Dreykov. When we see Natasha at the end of the film, she even looks like a new woman, one who eventually becomes the leader of Earth's remaining superheroes during the "Blip".

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