“Hawkeye” (2021) is the fifth Disney+ television series or specifically a miniseries since it is not currently projected to have a second season. It set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (“MCU”) after “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) and “Black Widow” (2021), which are required viewing, but it also would not hurt to have at least a working knowledge of Netflix’s “Daredevil.” It is Christmas time in Manhattan, and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) is celebrating with his three kids while his wife, Laura (Linda Cardellini), stays home. When his biggest fan, college student Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld, i.e. Mary from “Sinners”), decides to stop a crime while donning some of his old gear, he decides to step in to save her life and account for his past wrongs.
Hawkeye is my least favorite Avenger, which is why I was dragging my feet watching this miniseries. No disrespect to Renner intended. Clint’s appearances in “Thor” (2011), “The Avengers” (2012), “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015), “Captain America: Civil War” (2016) and “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) were only as interesting as his relationships to the other Avengers or the big reveal of his family’s existence in his 2015 appearance. After the Blip, apparently, he became Ronin, a bloodthirsty vigilante who killed the Yakuza, and according to “Hawkeye,” other members of criminal organizations, but even this development did not make him interesting, and it still does not even though it is the entire concept that the miniseries revolves around. Even though Barton explains that he was used, there are no details, and it really seemed like a “him” idea so I’m going to stick with that impression until the creators actually do the groundwork properly. The character’s descent was phoned in, so the redemption arc seems squeezed in. For God sakes, his family defines him more than his career, which is a rare thing for male characters.
Even though the miniseries is called “Hawkeye,” it is not his show. Kate Bishop is the real protagonist. If I had seen this show prior to “Ms. Marvel” (2022), my opinion may be different, but my reaction to another Avenger admirer who tries to emulate them is ugh, again. What I would give for another notivation. While it is long overdue for television series to stop making every hero angst-ridden over having so many responsibilities and gifts, the pendulum shifts too hard in the other direction with young people with zero edge brandishing powers that could kill people as if it was nothing. No offense intended to Steinfeld’s performance, but it made sense in the second episode when her actual age is referenced in the dialogue. These new set of heroes are such squeaky clean, goody two shoes, which is fine, but the woman is exploding things and shooting people. It is not an activity any normal person would engage in unless they wanted to hurt people on some level. People will sabotage themselves in war to not hit a target. Somehow she is wealthy and privileged, but she remarks on others’ wealth as if she had not known them for her entire life and was not the air that she breathed. Disney+ screams a cleaner image than any other platform that handled the other MCU series (Netflix, Hulu, FreeForm, ABC), but it affects credible character development, and I could take or leave Bishop’s gee-wiz act. She is supposed to be a born and bred New Yorker. Also I beg the MCU to stop using the law enforcement’s mistake over thinking the hero is the good guy. Please! Especially since the assigned detective barely gets any screentime. Let’s stop pretending that anyone cares about these storylines when they arise. They never get resolved in a satisfying way. Everything is just magically fine.
If someone had told me that Vera Farmiga would be in “Hawkeye,” I would have watched it sooner. Her role should have been bigger than it was. She plays Eleanor, Bishop’s mom, and the head of a security company. If you are familiar with Farmiga’s stunning work in “Bates Motel,” then you will be like me and guess fairly early which way her character is going to go. Imagine Norma with more resources and emotional stability. The story never explicitly explains how daddy Derek (Brian d’Arcy James) died, but she was my chief suspect because she was missing too long as her daughter called for her. A woman does not get that rich, especially in security, without being able to get her hands dirty, but it is supposed to be an eleventh-hour reveal. I won’t spoil the details for those who have not watched the series yet. It was such a missed opportunity.
If I was a Barton child, I’d be more pissed at my dad than they are. Cooper (Ben Sakamoto), Lila (Ava Russo) and Nathaniel, aka Nate (Cade Woodward), are too chill about suddenly having to parent each other, and their dad leaving them to play father figure to some stranger. Also if the story was set in the real world, Laura (Linda Cardellini) was trying to get him to be a father for once and get some time alone on the farm. This saccharine, unrealistic family dynamic feels about as real as Santa though I will sign a waiver for Laura considering the reveal about a certain item, which would be a spoiler. Also can someone just buy dog food. In the MCU, does canned dog food not exist? Pizza can kill dogs. Is every adult actually a child in this miniseries? I do not care that the dog is from the comics and eats pizza. Vet bills are expensive, and stupidity is at an all-time high. Some viewers will feed pizza to their pups.
The main reason that I finally watched “Hawkeye” was the return of Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio). How did D’Onofrio not crash out over his character’s story arc?!? Why was he not spending time with Vanessa while working at the tiki lounge? Was it embarrassment? When did he get superstrength? When did he lose his fashion sense: a chain, a Hawaiian shirt, rainbow bead curtains?!? It was the most disrespectful resumption of a villain, and the checks must be good. Say what you will about Wilson Fisk, but the man has style and class. D’Onofrio does his best in a thankless role, but he should not have to. I’m glad that Disney+ fixed those creative choices before “Daredevil: Born Again” (2025).
There are some mediocre developments that could go either way. Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton), a character who also appears in “Daredevil: Born Again,” is introduced here. He is mainly used as a plot device to distract or enhance a scene without much consideration for him as an individual. Dalton is delightful, especially when his character starts beef with a child relative and treats him like an equal, which gives him points in my book. Children are people and deserve dignity, and that kid wanted nothing less. Jack feels very old school, classic Hollywood in a good way, and I wish that Disney+ would find a way to expand his character while keeping the core intact.
LARPers (live action role-playing) who are normally first responders and law enforcement, play a bigger role than expected after they appear in the second episode. If they were going to be pivotal, they should have been a consistent part of every episode like the latest gang group, the Tracksuits. Grills (Clayton English) had a nice dynamic with Clint when they are just hanging out. Wendy (Adetinpo Thomas) made an unexpectedly better screen partner with Jack than anyone else. Orville (Robert Walker) is given nothing to do. Missy (Adelle Drahos) did not seem credible as a vigilante outside of the fantasy realm, but to be fair, that whole storyline is way more lighthearted and lower stakes than it should have been. What do you mean that you are a cop willing to smuggle out evidence?!? They are deliberately supposed to be a vehicle for humor, but it is just inherently problematic.
Even though I am leading with the bad news, “Hawkeye” has amazing fight scenes and finally conveys why Clint is called Hawkeye, which gives it an edge over all the movies. They are also shot well and consistently satisfying, which apparently was still possible in 2021 thanks to directors Bertie Ellwood, Amber Templemore and Rhys Thomas. Along with the first season of “Loki,” the obsession with purple seems strange, but I’m not mad at it.
The best new edition is Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox), and perhaps to distinguish her from Bishop, she is everything that Kate is not, but that makes her a more compelling character, and Bishop could have used some of that while making it suit her character’s backstory more. They are supposed to be foils, and while competition is not necessary, even with all of Bishop’s trophies, Maya is the winner. Maya is an unstoppable bad ass, radical deaf person, and her storyline had a real arc. In real life, Cox, a Native actor, is deaf and an amputee with a prosthetic lower leg. I’m looking forwards to watching her in a later Disney+ series, “Echo.” This role is Cox’s first, and damn, she is a natural. Please cast her in everything yesterday. Chop, chop. God gave with both hands: solid actor, great fighter, gorgeous. She checks all the boxes. If meritocracy really existed, she would be a household name. Also, separate kudos to Darnell Besaw, who plays Maya as a child because the child and adult actors seem like one person.
Last, but never least is Florence Pugh resuming her role as Yelena, a Black Widow super soldier and Natasha Romanoff’s sister. Pugh is probably the best, bankable actor currently on the MCU payroll. Yes, I am including Robert Downey Jr. in this equation because he has less range than Pugh though he probably gets paid more and has an Oscar. Another reason that I wanted to watch “Hawkeye” is to prepare for the upcoming “Thunderbolts” (2025). The clip of what happened to Yelena during the Blip has made the rounds online. Pugh never pulls a muscle as she jumps from comedy to action to rage. She is so cute, lethal and approachable. In contrast, Renner mainly leans on looking put out and bored when he engages in civilian hijinks whereas Yelena is a freakin super soldier but has a zest for life. She is not too cool for anything.
Everyone loved “Hawkeye” more than I did. The main characters are the least interesting, but they made up for it with the fight scenes, which is the real reason for the season. Some supporting characters deserved better development and storylines. If it did not introduce Maya or move Yelena’s story forward, it would not be essential viewing, but alas, it is if you want to be prepared for the next MCU movie, you’re going to have to bite the bullet.
