The Soldier Sent to Hunt In Black Widow: Bad Blood Episode 5

The adventure of Natasha Romanoff continues in Black Widow: Bad Blood Episode 5. It all started out as just another job – one of her choosing. But now it’s a hunt for answers, and probably vengeance as well.

Last we saw of our dangerous heroine, Natasha had found the home of her wayward ally, one who very well might be in a fair share of danger himself. Now she’s once again on the trail, with things looking more concerning than ever.

Black Widow: Bad Blood is the second Marvel series to hit Serial Box (now Realm). This entire platform releases new episodes every week, meaning you get a steady dose of the Black Widow. Soon she won’t be the only heroine on the platform, with Jessica Jones due to get her series next week (cue the squealing).

A Killing Machine

The writing for Black Widow: Bad Blood Episode 5 has been handed off to Mikki Kendall, who did an absolutely brilliant job of blending Natasha’s past and present to form something both terrifying and beautiful. It was expertly done, infused with Russian elements to firmly remind us of everything Natasha is and was.

This honestly may be the best episode yet, saying something since the rest has been intensely fascinating. Natasha’s quest has not taken her on the path we expected. Or, more accurately put, the new barrier in her path wasn’t predictable, though perhaps we should have seen it coming.

What is truly brilliant about this episode, appropriately titled ‘Flashback City,’ is how Kendall balances two different worlds for Black Widow. There’s her past in the Red Room, and there’s her present. But the lines blur as the dialogue continues, forming something that is so raw and exquisite.

This episode easily moved the plot forward while giving us a new perspective on a hero we love so much. It also bridged the gap between show and tell, providing a rare opportunity to provide extra information without it being overwhelming. It was delightful.

Narration

Once again, Sarah Natochenny has stepped up to the plate in order to narrate Black Widow: Bad Blood Episode 5. As with the previous episodes, she did a fantastic job here. Honestly, she really blew me away with her reading this time around, and I’ve actively been enjoying her work thus far.

The emotion and intensity she was able to infuse into Natasha’s voice were impressive. As was the way she flowed through the dialogue. It all felt smooth and organic, fitting seamlessly with what is occurring.

Meanwhile, the additional sound effects were shockingly effective this time around, especially in regards to the fighting that occurred. I would never have expected that simple combat sounds would enhance a scene. But it worked well here.

Conclusion

Black Widow: Bad Blood Episode 5 has begun to up the ante as Natasha’s quest for answers (and blood) continues. This series has been so much more than I could ever have hoped for, and it certainly does justice to fans of the character.

It’s amazing that we’re already a third of the way through the series. It doesn’t feel like it, while at the same time, it feels like I’ve been following this series for ages. I guess it just wormed straight into my head. I will miss the series/season when it ends. Here’s hoping that there will be more!

Speaking of more, next week, a new Marvel series will be dropping on Serial Box: Jessica Jones. Her series is titled Playing with Fire, and frankly, I could not be more excited about it. So expect reviews as soon as I can get my hands on it!

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.