Why Black Widow Shouldn’t Get a Netflix Show

In the comments about our piece on Clark Gregg talking about the need for a Black Widow movie, one of our readers brought up the possibility of a Netflix show for Black Widow, saying that it would be awesome for Natasha to get the same amazing solo treatment as Jessica Jones or Daredevil. My immediate first thought was OMG, that would be amazing! But then I thought about which heroes got TV shows versus which heroes have gotten their own blockbuster films, and my feelings became a bit more mixed.

The Pros

1. Netflix Has an Amazing Track Record with Marvel Shows. Daredevil was an amazing start and paved the way for what was possible, showing us how gritty Marvel properties could get if they weren’t beholden to the need to be made for a PG-13 audience. Jessica Jones was an amazing next step, giving us not only a quality Marvel show, but an amazing group of nuanced female characters, from its hard-drinking protagonist, to the wonderful supporting cast, including the brave, Krav Maga-fluent best friend, the morally questionable lawyer, and the unnerving, way-too-close-with-her-brother-to-be-normal neighbor. The quality of these shows make me really excited for what will be possible on Luke Cage and Iron Fist when they come out, and it leads me to believe that Black Widow would find an excellent home at Netflix, and would be treated with respect.
2. We’re in a Golden Age of Television. A common complaint these days is that there are “too many” TV shows right now, meaning that there are so many good shows, it’s hard to keep track. (After all, no one would complain about “too many shows” if they were all complete garbage.) And these days, “television” doesn’t just mean broadcast, or even cable networks. It means the streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon among others. Streaming services have been steadily gaining legitimacy as more and more viewers use them as their primary source of entertainment. Meanwhile, films have become less culturally relevant, unless they are adaptations of pre-existing work. Gone are the days when movie stars were “too good” for TV. Now, plenty of Hollywood film stars are taking on TV roles, because that’s where the interesting material is. And so, if we want Black Widow where she’s more likely to be seen, perhaps getting her into people’s homes on a weekly basis might not be a bad plan. TV is where the chances are being taken, and where the audiences are. What’s more, more of those audiences are on streaming services like Netflix.
3. Female Creators Fare Better in Television. Whereas there’s a huge gender disparity between male and female writers and creators in the film industry, the gap is less wide in television, particularly in genre television. And so, if there were ever a Black Widow series on Netflix, it’d be more likely that it could be helmed, written by, and directed by mostly women, who’d be able to strike a better balance between Natasha’s hero life and her emotional life than she’s often received in the filmed versions of the character.

The Cons

1. Putting Black Widow on Netflix Would Relegate Her to the Entertainment Ghetto. One of the first thoughts I had when presented with the idea of a Black Widow show was…Why is it that the female superhero, the black superhero, the blind superhero, and quite possibly an Asian superhero if they go that way with casting Iron Fist (though I know there are plenty of Asians opposed to this because he does martial arts and, you know, STEREOTYPES) are relegated to TV shows, but all the white guys get their own blockbuster films? While the white, cis, hetero, male heroes are trusted to make bank, it seems like marginalized heroes continue to get, well, marginalized. It would be a slap in Black Widow’s face after her having been a freaking Avenger, only to have every other one of her male teammates each get their own series of films, while she gets a television show. It’s inexcusable that we’re forced to pin so many of our hopes on the upcoming Wonder Woman film, because that’s all there is (oh, and Captain Marvel, if they don’t push that back any further). Black Widow should be one of many female superhero films we have to look forward to.
2. Money Makes the World Go ‘Round. Scarlett Johansson made $20 Million to appear in Avengers: Age of Ultron. While that’s significantly less than Robert Downey Jr.’s $80 Million, it’s significantly more than she would be paid to do a television show. But the actress’ pay is not the only money-related concern here. Films are more of a global enterprise than shows are, and they often make a majority of their money overseas. The Whole World isn’t watching Jessica Jones the way it has watched The Avengers. For example, while The Avengers was released in China, where it made over $200 Million, China still doesn’t have Netflix, nor do other countries with which the US has political issues, or whose governments heavily censor their Internet. With her own solo film, Black Widow could make lots of money here and overseas, give women everywhere another heroine to look up to, and reconfirm the fact that superhero films with female leads can do extremely well. With a TV show, Black Widow’s financial and social impact would be less widely felt.

I want more Black Widow, and there are so many stories from the comic source material that could be used to tell a great one — either on film, or on Netflix. However, while I would accept a Black Widow Netflix show and watch the crap out of it, I would be disappointed that a character that was so integral to the Avengers on film wasn’t given a film of her own in which to shine. It would feel like such a come-down. At least to me.

What do you think? Would you be happy with a Black Widow Netflix show, or would it feel like a consolation prize? Let’s talk about it in the comments below!

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