Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye (played by Jeremy Renner), can't catch a break, even during Christmas. Hawkeye (2021) is a more grounded adventure set within the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe that is relatively self-contained save for the numerous characters that would later show up. In this Disney+ mini-series, Clint is spending Christmas with his family in New York City after the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019) when he encounters Kate Bishop (played by Hailee Steinfeld), a 22-year-old fan of Hawkeye, which inevitably leads Clint to confront his past as the vigilante Ronin (as was depicted in the events of Endgame after his family and half the universe was snapped away). Since I will be covering specific plot points and characters from certain episodes, there will be spoilers in this review. With that out of the way, here is my belated series review of Marvel Studios' Hawkeye.
The series begins right at the beginning, specifically, during the attack on New York from The Avengers (2012) when a young Kate Bishop (played by Clara Stack) witnesses her father (played by Brian d'Arcy James)'s death and Hawkeye in action, which motivates her to take up archery, gymnastics, and other sports which she excels at over the years. We then meet up with Clint and his family several months after reuniting at the end of Endgame to watch a hilarious Broadway musical adaptation of the first Avengers movie. Clint, now wearing a hearing aid after being exposed to all the explosions over the years, is still traumatized after Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow (played by Scarlett Johansson)'s self-sacrifice in Endgame, which plays a more prominent thematic role in this series.
It isn't until a grown-up Kate uncovers a secret auction of Ronin's accessories like his suit and sword with her wealthy mother Eleanor Bishop's (played by Vera Farmiga) new fiance, Jack Duquesne (played by Tony Dalton) in attendance, that she inevitably crosses paths with Clint, thus forcing him to confront his past actions and enemies he made as Ronin. Thus begins a mad dash for Clint to make it home by Christmas Day, Kate's journey in finding a mentor in Clint, a flurry of encounters with unlikely allies and enemies, flying trick arrows, and an adorable one-eyed dog who loves pizza.
The chemistry and witty banter between Renner and Steinfeld are endearing and, at times, heartfelt. On a side note, there is surprisingly more story in this series than I initially expected, as it delves into not only Kate's family mysteries and connections to imposing criminal bosses but also Hawkeye's lingering trauma and the underground gangs that interconnect with the ground-level threats of the MCU. One of the newest additions to this cinematic universe is Maya Lopez, a.k.a. Echo (played by Alaqua Cox), the deaf commander of the Tracksuit Mafia gang. Her backstory of her father being killed by Ronin and having a secondary father/uncle figure in Kingpin (played by Vincent D'Onofrio), coupled with the fact that Cox is in real life, deaf and of Native American heritage, makes for an excellently positive form of representation of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
This series receives its first of two twists by introducing Yelena Belova (played by Florence Pugh), Black Widow's adoptive sister, who debuted in Black Widow (2021). Her presence and mission to kill Clint for his supposed involvement in Black Widow's sacrifice, as well as her surprisingly lighthearted interactions with Kate, make for a winning combo that I cannot wait to see more of in future movies or series. The second twist is the reveal of its main villain, Kingpin from the Marvel/Netflix show Daredevil (2015-2018), who brings not only a genuinely imposing physical presence to the character but also a genuine sense of menace that the mainstream MCU had rarely been seen on a human level. His uncle figure relationship with Echo, combined with the fact that Echo will soon be receiving a spin-off mini-series on Disney+, paves the way for a particular masked red hero (no, not Spider-Man) can return to the MCU fold. More on said hero later in my following review. Regarding Kingpin's fate in the finale, I have a sneaking suspicion that this will not be the last we see of him in the MCU, given his overall influence in the world of criminals and gangs.
The fight scenes are entertaining, with jokes and visual splendor sprinkled throughout, as always. However, in the third episode, the cinematography steals the show. In the episode, the camera does a slow 360-degree turn from inside a car as characters interact, avoiding oncoming cars, gunfire, and explosions during a white-knuckled car chase through the streets. It is very well-timed and thought-out and did not feel like a gimmick. The soundtrack and use of Christmas tunes like "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" perfectly capture the lighthearted Christmas atmosphere and self-aware approach to the Avengers' in-universe legacy.
Season/series finales tend to be hit-or-miss. Fortunately, this finale was more of the former. All the major players coming out and confronting each other is entertaining enough, but what stood out was the scene where both Clint and Yelena mourn Natasha, which is incredibly powerful and emotionally satisfying. Yes, Clint makes it home to his family by Christmas Day and thus begins the inevitable setup of Kate becoming the new Hawkeye.
Hawkeye plays the long game by delivering two solid episodes (both 8 out of 10 each) before kicking into high gear for the rest of the season with 9 out of 10 episodes. Excellent cinematography and fight choreography with the right amount of fan service and pathos make this mini-series an overall satisfying entry to the franchise. All in all, this is both a return to basics and an expansion of the lore, especially with the introduction of Steinfeld and her likable charisma to serve as a new face for the ongoing cinematic universe.
P.S. More of Rogers: The Musical, please. The number "Save the City" written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman is hilarious, and an excellent listen. It deserves a full-blown musical, and one song isn't enough. Yes, the musical number from Episode 1 is played out in its entirety as the series' post-credit scene, and while some may cringe at it, I found it delightful.
Final Score: 8.67 out of 10
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