Hawkeye – A Small Victory for the Little Guy by Conrad Gardner

When it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly the Avengers, Clint Barton aka Hawkeye, isn’t among the most popular or beloved characters. Prior to his eponymous series on Disney+, Hawkeye had never been given the leading role in a Marvel film and was given some character development, but not quite enough to stand out. Appearing in MCU films with numerous superheroes, he has never been much of a big draw when compared to characters such as Captain America or Iron Man. But Disney+’s most recent addition to their run of Marvel series focusing on the less-discussed characters in the MCU has shone the spotlight on Hawkeye and given Jeremy Renner more material to showcase his talent .

Hawkeye follows Clint Barton in the days leading up to Christmas, where he finds himself tangled in a web of problems. Clint’s violent past returns, and he is forced to help young Kate Bishop Hailee (Steinfeld), who finds herself pursued by a criminal organisation. One of the biggest strengths of the series is the chemistry between Renner and Steinfeld. Renner balances Clint’s emotional scenes with the comedic weary looks of someone who doesn’t want to be there and would rather celebrate Christmas with his family brilliantly. Steinfeld, on the other hand, brings Kate’s mixture of extreme talent but lack of experience in superhero affairs to the screen with a bullseye’s precision. Both actors bring the heart and comedy of their characters to life, a pair of gifted archers in a world where magic, aliens, and flying robots exist.

Clint and Kate’s dynamic is shifted from the comic book series by Matt Fraction and David Aja which served as a major influence on this series. In the comic, Kate is presented as the more capable and together of the two. However, this change feels natural to the characters presented on-screen, and doesn’t leave newcomer Kate feeling like a less-capable version of her comic-book counterpart. The Kate we see here is still finding her feet. The moments when we see her and Clint talking and exploring their inner demons are among the best parts of the show .

While the series is a strong entry into the MCU, it isn’t perfect. Bringing characters from the MCU and the Marvel Netflix series as the episodes progress lead an overstuffed finale. Vincent D’Onofrio’s return as the Kingpin from the Netflix’s Daredevil, while exciting for those well-versed in the MCU, isn’t as impactful without this knowledge (the series ended in 2018). Additionally, Florence Pugh’s appearance as assassin Yelena Belova delivers a mishmash of snarky comments and misplaced ‘comedy’ during her character’s revenge plotline. While the show can be enjoyed by people with cursory knowledge of the MCU, the later episodes may feel less dramatic unless you are a die-hard MCU fan.

Despite the overstuffed ending, the series more than makes up for it with exhilarating action. From a fistfight in a wine cellar to a car chase employing Clint’s trick arrows (including explosives and plungers), each episode delivers an entertaining and well-choreographed action sequence. A particular standout is the second episode’s slow-motion LARP (live-action role-play) battle, where the highly trained Clint must limit himself to tapping people with a fake sword.

Although the final episodes peter out in some respects, Hawkeye is a victory for one of the MCU’s little guys, and has introduced the perfect lady to take over the Hawkeye mantle. Additionally, the series gets bonus points for the inclusion of Lucky the Pizza Dog, a fan-favourite from the comics.

Hawkeye is available on Disney+ now.

Edited by Marshall Moore