"So, Banner... that's your play."


Natasha knows she was compromised at the time. She also knows that is no excuse - there's never an excuse.

In retrospect, the Hulk couldn't have been Loki's primary objective. At most, the Hulk could have caused the total destruction of the Helcarrier and Loki's release. But Loki proved himself capable of escaping and his thralls capable of sending down the ship, not merely crippling it. One turbine more . . .

So, she got cocky; she got lazy. She got his game wrong somewhere, forgot bluffs can have bluffs.

She should've known better, yes, but known what?