570 words, 3 minutes read time.
In Malaysia, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) is sent by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) to destroy a laboratory tied to the O.X.E. Group’s secret “Sentry” superhuman project. As de Fontaine faces imminent impeachment for her involvement, she separately dispatches mercenaries—including Yelena, John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen), and Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko)—to a covert facility, secretly intending for them to eliminate each other.
Meanwhile, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), now a U.S. congressman, is secretly investigating de Fontaine’s corruption. As the mission unfolds, the Thunderbolts realize they were set up and must work together to survive. Bob (Lewis Pullman), also known as Sentry, becomes a key figure, as anyone who touches him experiences dark visions of their past due to the Void inside him. De Fontaine manipulates Bob, attempting to bring him to her side.
Marvel’s Thunderbolts assembles a ragtag team of anti-heroes, operating in the murky grey area between morality and necessity. Unlike the Avengers, this squad isn’t driven by ideals or duty—each member carries scars, regrets, and personal demons that define their actions. The film embraces this psychological depth, layering the story with themes of trauma, manipulation, and survival.
Bob, played with remarkable restraint by Lewis Pullman, emerges as one of the film’s most nuanced characters. His depressive episodes directly impact his powers, creating moments of unpredictability that challenge the team’s cohesion. Scenes of Bob and other characters being forced to relive painful memories add an eerie psychological dimension, though the narrative weakens by making Bob forget these experiences afterward. A more compelling arc could have examined whether he could process and control his trauma rather than erase it.
David Harbour’s Red Guardian injects moments of humor, much like his role in Black Widow, but Thunderbolts fails to fully capitalize on his comedic potential. His self-deprecating wit is engaging, yet the film doesn’t allow these moments to breathe. Compared to Guardians of the Galaxy or even Thor: Ragnarok, the humor feels restrained, a missed opportunity to contrast the bleakness of the team’s mission with absurdity.
Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova retains her sharp-edged humor and cynicism, blending it with layers of emotional detachment. Her interactions with Bob hint at a shared understanding—both navigating trauma through sarcasm and control. Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier, in contrast, remains an observer rather than an instigator. His quiet presence echoes earlier films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, reinforcing the idea that despite his redemption arc, Bucky Barnes is still shaped by the ghost of his past.
Then there’s the CIA director, personifying the widespread distrust of authority. Marvel has increasingly leaned into scepticism toward institutions, with Captain America: The Winter Soldier exposing Hydra’s infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever addressing political manoeuvring over vibranium. Thunderbolts continues this trend, positioning bureaucracy as a shadowy manipulator rather than an ally. The director isn’t just a villain—she’s a reflection of public cynicism toward government agencies, a sentiment Marvel cleverly amplifies in the film’s subtext.
Thunderbolts delivers a layered exploration of broken individuals forced into an uneasy alliance. It’s central message that sharing the burden of trauma mitigates it is a positive one. It thrives in its character-driven moments but stumbles in pacing and comedic execution. The film raises compelling questions about trauma, control, and institutional deception, though some arcs feel underdeveloped. For fans of Marvel’s grittier narratives, this is a solid entry, but it could have pushed its themes further.
Verdict: A compelling character study with missed potential in humour and pacing.
Picture Credit: By http://www.impawards.com/2025/thunderbolts_ver10.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=76191780
