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HAWKEYE Episodes 1-3: A Marvel Christmas Caper

HAWKEYE Episodes 1-3: A Marvel Christmas Caper

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HAWKEYE Episodes 1-3: A Marvel Christmas Caper

Hawkeye is not the most iconic Avenger. His show admits this. That being said, he’s perhaps the most stable of all superheroes in terms of keeping his private and professional lives separate. He tries and often succeeds at being a good father and husband, keeping his family off the table at all times. Clint Barton feels like someone who can be as competent without his trusty bow and arrow in hand.

And, sure, that may not make him the most crucial Avenger. He’s certainly not going to be playing a bigger role in the stage of international affairs present in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Nor will he be a crucial player in the forthcoming war of the multiverse posed in Loki and What If. Yet, there’s something admirable about pushing the camera in with this series rather than continually zooming out on the bigger picture of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In the same way that the previous Spider-Man and Ant-Man films felt like summer breaks from the borderline epic sternness of other MCU entries, Hawkeye feels like a much-needed break. Also, it takes place on Christmas so think of this show as a winter break. And it’s not even directed by Shane Black!

The Contemplative Clint

Jeremy Renner returns to the role of Clint Barton after the events of Avengers: Endgame. As with every film and TV series that followed the events, there’s some postmodernism at play. Clint now occupies a world that seems strange after having been involved in every key Avengers event. Having previously defended New York City from aliens, it’s perhaps weirdly surreal to now see it portrayed in a musical that is all about Steve Rogers. It’s even uncomfortable for him when watching Black Widow on the stage, being reminded of the death he couldn’t stop during Endgame.

HAWKEYE Episodes 1-3: A Marvel Christmas Caper
source: Disney+

But, hey, it’s Christmas time and he’s seeing this show with his kids. He may not be up for viewing a historically inaccurate version of 2012’s Avengers (why is Ant-Man present?) but he is up for having some holiday fun with his three kids. He sets up a plentitude of holiday wishes to fulfill, eager to make this the best Barton Christmas ever.

The past, however, is haunting him enough that duty starts calling to him. Specifically, his dark times as the assassin Ronin haven’t left him. During Endgame, he took on this identity when he lost his family to the Thanos snap. He went from being a plucky archer to a violent assassin who took on the criminal underworld with swords. The identity hasn’t fully gone away and he intends to finally bury it. And, wouldn’t you know, it just happens to coincide with Christmas.

The Crafty Kate

Also present in New York City is Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), an aspiring archer from a wealthy family. She lost her father during the events of Avengers and was inspired by Hawkeye’s heroics. She has grown up training to be a superhero just as good. She also happens to stumble upon an underground auction for the Ronin suit. When a mafia tries to steal it, Kate snatches it first and dons the uniform.

HAWKEYE Episodes 1-3: A Marvel Christmas Caper
source: Disney+

Kate is also suspicious of her mother’s latest boyfriend. Jack (Tony Dalton) seems like a nice guy but he seems too nice. After all, he was present during the criminal auction and has this wicked smirk to him. Jack may also be a suspect in a mysterious murder that is blamed on Ronin. He also may have some interest in Kate’s mother and her security company.

Kate aims to find the connection while also helping Clint get the Ronin suit back. Their team-up is a reluctant one. Though Kate is eager to work alongside her hero, Clint is hoping to wrap up this business of mafia and assassins early so he can be home for Christmas. It’s certainly possible considering how quickly world-shaking events can be handled when he was with the Avengers. But with only Kate by his side, his quest may be a tougher ordeal.

A Different Side of the Archer

We get to learn a lot more about Clint during the first three episodes. For starters, we learn that he has hearing loss and relies on a hearing aid. He’s learned a little bit of sign language but mostly relies on reading lips. His mission becomes even more reliant on Kate when he briefly loses that aid and relies on her ears.

Clint’s hearing loss (highlighted as damage from his various Avengers missions) plays nicely with the first big villain of the series. Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) is a deaf woman who has taken over her father’s criminal business. Having endured the death of her father at the hands of Ronin, she has a personal vendetta out for Hawkeye. Considering Black Widow’s sister of Yelena may also be after Clint following the events of Black Widow, the archery hero may have his hands full as this series progresses.

HAWKEYE Episodes 1-3: A Marvel Christmas Caper
source: Disney+

It was pleasing to see more of Clint the father during the first few episodes. They always feel like a drive for the series. Even by the third episode, there’s a rather heartfelt moment where a sullen Clint tries to speak to his son over the phone without his hearing aid. Kate tries to translate for him and it’s perhaps the most emotional moment of the series thus far.

The Branding Silliness

Keeping with the MCU’s brand of humor, Hawkeye is a series that mocks its own comic book conventions. Kate brings up that Clint’s real problem with being more true to himself is that he just doesn’t embrace enough of the Hawkeye character. In short, he doesn’t wear an iconic costume. Naturally, Kate draws up a crude interpretation of the comic book Hawkeye of masks and purple, only for Clint to scoff.

HAWKEYE Episodes 1-3: A Marvel Christmas Caper
source: Disney+

Other bits of humor feel more pleasing than stock when compared to previous Marvel TV series. One of the best scenes features Clint driving away from the mafia while Kate fires his arrows at the enemy. Kate, not aware of Clint’s many arrows, finds herself in the dark as she shoots any arrow she can find. It’s a fun and fast sequence, feeling like the first fresh merging of action and comedy into an MCU show.

Conclusion: Hawkeye Episodes 1-3

The first three episodes of Hawkeye prove to be one of the strongest starts for any MCU TV series. It gives the character equal parts dignity, charm, and gritty pathos. The character also feels more front and center for his more relatable desires. Unlike other Marvel heroes, he’s not shooting for fixing dimensions or saving the world. He just wants to stop some mafia goons, shred his past persona, and be home in time for Christmas.

Sure, that may seem like a lower target. But for aiming at such a goal, the show is so far coming through with flying colors. Thus far, Hawkeye is proving to be an entertaining romp that doesn’t feel as bound by the MCU timeline. Hopefully, it can stick the landing as all signs point to the potential for an effectively enticing superhero series.

What did you think of Hawkeye? Let us know in the comments below!

Hawkeye is currently streaming on Disney+.

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