Movies

Thunderbolts’ Surprising Depiction of Depression Will Leave You Speechless

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Hey fellow movie enthusiasts! Heads up, if you haven’t caught the latest Marvel blockbuster, Thunderbolts, currently playing in theaters, you might want to hold off on reading this. Trust me, the thrill of watching it first-hand is worth every penny!

Instead of saying “How about them Thunderbolts*, huh?”, you could rephrase it as “What did you think about the Thunderbolts*, by the way?” or simply “I was curious to see the Thunderbolts*. What about you?”

In your original text, you mentioned that you were primarily interested in Florence Pugh’s performance and the movie’s action. To make it more engaging for readers who might not be familiar with the context, you could rephrase this part as follows: “I was eager to witness another remarkable performance by Florence Pugh, enjoy a fun-filled action movie featuring Marvel’s popular underrated heroes, and uncover the mystery behind the asterisk.”

“This film not only reminded me of what makes Marvel movies exceptional but also struck a chord with me due to its portrayal of depression. It served as a powerful reminder of the emotional depth that these films can deliver.

After giving it some thought for a few weeks following the initial viewing of Thunderbolts, I found myself intrigued about how its exploration of depression would resonate with me in the long run, being someone who has battled anxiety and depression since my teenage years. Now that I’ve spent some mental energy on it, I can say that my initial positive impression remains strong, and I’d like to delve deeper into why I feel this way.

Additionally, I’d like to make it clear that each person’s experience with depression is unique to them. My views and perspectives are derived from my personal encounters and don’t aim to generalize or invalidate anyone else’s journey.

Ever Since I Watched Thunderbolts* There’s One Scene That I’ve Been Thinking About The Most

Thunderbolts* subtly explores themes of depression, starting from the initial scene where Florence Pugh’s character Yelena Belova leaps off one of the tallest buildings in the world, expressing her life as dull and isolating. The final act introduces Lewis Pullman’s Sentry as a chilling antagonist who forces individuals into The Void, making them relive their most sorrowful and regretful memories. However, a particularly impactful scene that has stayed with me is when we are taken inside Sentry’s Void, to the laboratory of the Sentry project. Here, Bob encounters his shadowy counterpart and, in an attempt to combat negative emotions, repeatedly strikes himself.

From a die-hard cinema enthusiast’s perspective: In most superhero movies, the third act calls for a violent resolution, but that’s not the case with Thunderbolts. Instead, our protagonist, Bob, keeps punching his own inner darkness, making things increasingly chaotic. It’s Yelena Belova who spots his despair, partly due to her personal understanding of it. She bravely delves into this darkness to find him and offer a helping hand as he confronts it. Eventually, the rest of the Thunderbolts rally around him. An intriguing twist unfolds: Bob surrendering to the darkness only worsens the situation. The key to escaping this void lies in denying it energy.

I’ve Had Anxiety And Depression For A Long Time, But The Void Helped Me Visualize It In A New Way

After watching the movie Thunderbolts, I’ve been astonished to discover that certain scenes from it have popped up in my thoughts as I navigate my daily mental health journey. This self-management involves talk therapy, medication, exercise, and journaling, with occasional bouts of depression triggered by intense anxiety or major life events.

During these tough times, I’ve often thought about the character Bob fighting his darker side. Just like he emerges from the deepest recesses of his mind, my own struggles sometimes lurk in the shadows. However, instead of resorting to Bob’s initial methods of dealing with it, I find that a kinder voice within myself is more beneficial in overcoming these challenges.

As I cease viewing myself as an opponent and cultivate compassion towards myself instead – similar to how Yelena showed empathy towards Bob in Thunderbolts. It’s true that at times, I need someone else to nudge me into stopping the internal struggle, since it only exacerbates the problem, but finding the resolve to do so is a challenge.

The ‘Shame’ Rooms Remind Me Of What It Feels Like To Be Caught In The Same Negative Thought

Beyond discussing the “shame” rooms in The Void, I’d also like to delve into an intriguing aspect: Yelena Belova’s recurring flashbacks. Just prior to discovering Bob, Yelena is forced to relive her past as a young girl, betraying her friend repeatedly, which seems deeply distressing for her and appears to be a significant traumatic experience. This scene resonates with the sensation of endlessly replaying a negative memory or thought during periods of anxiety and/or depression.

When such an event occurs, it can be as agonizing as Yelena experienced during that particular scene. In general, I felt the entire third act of this film was cleverly constructed, as it mirrored the high-stakes finale of typical Marvel movies, but also depicted the genuine experience of mental health issues. It’s noteworthy to mention that Yelena’s personal battles with depression enable her to identify what Bob is going through and aid him in managing his struggles. I believe those who possess the ability to recognize depression (be it a therapist, loved one, family member or friend) are better equipped to provide the necessary support to help someone escape from a difficult situation if they can empathize with their struggles.

Yes, Thunderbolts* Could Have Gone Deeper With The Topic. I Am Happy It Didn’t

Overall, I was quite taken with the representation of depression in the film “Thunderbolts”. Given it’s a high-budget production with a runtime of approximately two hours, and also serves as a precursor to The New Avengers, its portrayal of depression was commendable. It even managed to top the box office during its opening weekend, momentarily alleviating my growing fatigue for Marvel content. While it may not have tackled all aspects of anxiety and depression, it certainly resonated with me on a fundamental level. Upon reflection, I believe there could have been more in-depth exploration into the subject matter, but I wouldn’t want the film to delve so deeply that it becomes somber and strays from its primary goal as an entertaining blockbuster movie. Somehow, it achieved both objectives.

Additionally, I appreciate that the post-credit sequence didn’t portray Bob as completely healed and full of sunshine following his escape from The Void. Instead, we find him relaxing with some fast food, savoring the modest triumph of washing dishes this week. It’s often the smallest victories that taste the sweetest.

I’m eager to see how the Marvel Cinematic Universe tackles the character of Sentry moving forward, and boy, am I thrilled that they decided to portray the struggle with depression in a thoughtful and relatable manner for me personally.

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2025-05-19 15:40

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