By Rena Ketelsen — Hawkeye (2021) is Marvel’s fourth TV show this year that is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Its first two episodes were directed by Rhys Thomas and released on Wednesday, November 24. They are exclusively available on Disney Plus.
The show sees Jeremy Renner reprise his role as Clint Barton aka Hawkeye and introduces Kate Bishop who is played by Hailee Steinfeld.
The first episode “Never Meet Your Heroes” starts with a step back in time to explore Kate Bishop’s past. It takes place during the Battle of New York which is set in 2012 and is part of the Avengers (2012).
The next part of the episode returns to the present and shows a grown-up Kate Bishop. It serves as an introduction to the person she has become. She appears to be a rebellious daughter and gets herself into some trouble.
That rebellious side paired with her visible dislike for her mother’s fiancé leads to her getting caught in a fight with members of a Russian gang.
At the same time, Barton is in town with his three children, celebrating Christmas early. But news reports about the fight that Bishop was involved in catch his attention. He sets out to find her and retrieve something of his that is in her possession.
When they meet, they get caught up in a conspiracy. The episodes surprisingly feature live-action role-playing (LARP), Russians in red Adidas tracksuits, and a fencing duel.
Thus far, the show is a fun, entertaining way to introduce Kate Bishop as the new Hawkeye into the MCU. It also features a dog called Lucky who was picked up by Bishop during the first Episode and frequently appears in the comics alongside Hawkeye.
At the same time, Clint Barton finally gets to be the main character in his own show instead of being a side character or a part of a group. This show gives the viewers an opportunity to see why he is such an important part of the Avengers.
The show also pays a nice homage to his friendship with his fellow Avenger and best friend Natasha Romanoff. She died in the Avengers: Endgame (2019), saving him, his family, and billions of people.
It also shows some effects that the existence of the Avengers and other MCU characters has on society. For instance, there exist musicals about battles that the Avengers have had.
In comparison with other MCU shows and movies Hawkeye is very light-hearted. Smaller fight scenes and the lack of the appearance of other Avengers make it more down-to-Earth and relatable.
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