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Since Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) was introduced in a minor appearance in Thor (2011), he has been one of the least explored Avengers. He has always seemed to take a narrative backseat to some of the “A-Listers” like Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans).
With the new Disney+ series Hawkeye, the archer finally is in the spotlight, but he shares it with a few new and familiar faces. Among those faces are fan-favorites Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) and Yelena Belova (Hailee Steinfeld) as well as a surprise villain from a previously abandoned Marvel property.
Disney +’s Hawkeye (Jonathan Igla; 2021-)
This is, of course, MCU’s love letter and a possible sendoff to one of the last standing original Avengers. Renner’s character has been around the block, making 5 appearances in the MCU’s mainline movie series. He starts as a humble Agent of Shield, working to investigate Mjolnir’s sudden appearance and eventually works his way up to a fully-fledged Avenger. This series explores his life post-Thanos, and largely post-Avengers while also introducing new characters that promise to develop Hawkeye’s character further. Hawkeye is now older and has all but retired from his previous superhero livelihood. He’s had many reasons to hang up the bow, but perhaps none more important than his family.
The series opens on a pre-Christmas vacation to New York City, filled with tourist trap musicals, forced family fun, and promises of giant Christmas trees. This all goes awry when The Ronin, one of Barton’s past alter egos seemingly resurfaces. Flash sideways to Kate Bishop, a troublemaking college student, and heiress to Bishop Security’s fortune. Bishop has been looking into the dealings of her soon-to-be stepfather, Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton), which plants her in a secret underground auction. During the said auction, certain assailants donned in tracksuits crash the party. Thinking fast, Kate escapes unseen with the aid of a certain super-suit she steals from the auction’s inventory. Cameras catch her on her way out.
She has stolen The Ronin costume, and thus rekindled the infamous rumors of the vigilante. This is where our heroes intertwine, and the main storyline begins. Despite some convoluted plot points and dry moments, Hawkeye manages to create a strong emotional core with its cast of characters.
Hawkeye‘s Characterization
The show shines with its characters. Renner is at his best in the series, giving life to a side of Barton viewers have rarely seen before. His relationships with Bishop and his family are a driving force to the success of the show. Now that Hawkeye is the main focus of a piece of media, viewers get a more intimate look into how the Avenger operates – how he balances his work with his family, how he goes about detective work, and so on. The show also shows a gruffer, perhaps more world-weary side of the character that had been alluded to in other appearances.
Unlike most of the other Phase Four heroes, Hawkeye doesn’t actually want to be a hero at this point. The eagerness of characters like Shang-Chi isn’t necessarily present anymore. The show finds him forced out of retirement, and he’s not happy about it. With this beat, there seems to be a repetitiveness in his “I’m too old for this” mentality that some viewers may find tiring. Despite that, the show proves that Hawkeye is just as worthy as some of his compatriots. Kate Bishop’s introduction into the MCU is stellar. While the show obviously takes notes from Matt Fraction’s run of our titular character, the show does a great job of creating an original and approachable version of Kate that fits well into the existing universe.
Steinfeld’s performance leaves little to no complaints. Her chemistry with Renner’s Barton creates a lovable mentor-student duo that develops over the show. Sometimes, Kate makes questionable decisions, but the show celebrates that fact rather than trying to hide it. The show is just as much about her journey as it is about Hawkeyes’. Because of this, it occasionally feels that the stories are juggled less than equally, with each character’s narrative placed on the backburner for too long. A balance could definitely be struck here. Shows with multiple concurrent storylines can oftentimes feel cramped, and, unfortunately, it seems that Hawkeye suffers from that detriment.
Hawkeye‘s Villains
Too many cooks spoil the broth — the same could be said for Hawkeye’s villain situation. First, the show sets up Jack Duquesne as a villain, then it introduces Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox), the leader of the Tracksuit Mafia. In a climactic twist, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova returns to hunt down Barton. As the show proceeds, it is revealed that the three of these ‘villains’ are actually scapegoats and hires for the two true villains of the series; Eleanor Bishop (Kate’s mother played by Vera Farmiga) and The Kingpin, Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio).
While that reveal is satisfying, it instantly overcomplicates a previously simple plot. Fans may revel in the fact that Fisk has returned in his previous Netflix form, but he has entered a crowded playing field of antagonists. So much so that his appearance in the show almost feels like a rushed reintroduction rather than a proper one. Because there are so many antagonists, the audience never gets a chance to truly connect with any of them. Instead, each feels vacuous in their own way.
In fact, among them, the standouts are the villains who turn out to be somewhat innocent. Jack Duquense turns out to be a lovable sword fanatic, and Maya is well on her way to her own solo show. While Yelena is intriguing in her own right, it feels that her story takes a backseat to the others. Her story remains powerful, to an extent, but her final confrontation with Clint is less than satisfying. That being said, the show’s low point definitely lies in how its villains are crafted.
Hawkeye’s Storytelling
The story is presented at a pretty rapid pace, considering Hawkeye only had 6 episodes to play with. On one hand, a limited run can be just that — limiting. However, the length is perfect for the series. It never feels like it needs to expand too much on anything. The series’ lead writer, Jonathan Igla, fascinatingly blends genres, bouncing between the classic MCU vibe audiences have come to love, Christmas specials, and buddy cop adventures. While this may sound disjointed, it weirdly works. Perhaps, in some ways, this is where Hawkeye enjoys some of its most gratifying successes. While maintaining the MCU’s tropes of heroism and gallantry, the series is able to craft a unique aspect of quirkiness to keep viewers engaged.
For example, Barton faces a reckoning with his past and comes out of it the wiser with his hero’s journey coming to a close, all the while dealing with a burgeoning sarcastic Kate Bishop and a clock-is-ticking style Christmas story. The goofiness is intentional and mostly additive to the story, unlike comedic moments in MCU films that seem shoehorned or distracting. While Hawkeye’s beats may not be the deepest or the most mind-blowing, they are certainly fulfilling and fun.
In the midst of this, Igla also manages to form a distinctly diverse cast of characters, most notably in up and comer Maya Lopez who will be featured in Disney+’s Echo. At the end of the day, the story is about Hawkeye closing the heroic chapter of his life and Kate Bishop opening hers. In the process, Igla does a fine job of tying Barton’s loose ends up neatly. While some events are certainly goofy (i.e., an entire subplot regarding LARPers assisting the duo), most narratives are able to drive home the core message of the series. The conclusion is satisfying and largely a touching sendoff to one of the final members of the Avengers, while also creating excitement for the future with Kate Bishop’s taking up of the Hawkeye mantle.
The Verdict: Disney +’s Hawkeye (2021-)
Largely, Hawkeye did exactly what it needed to do. Phase Four is definitely a transitional period in the MCU. The Avengers as we know them are disbanded, and it is time for new heroes to take their place. While it may not be as mind-bending as other Disney+ shows, Hawkeye finds itself as a firmly worth entry into the MCU mythos.
