TV Review: Hawkeye

Directors: Rhys Thomas, Bert & Bertie
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfeld, Alaqua Cox
Series length: 6 episodes

Marvel concludes its cavalcade of 2021 content with Hawkeye, a festive take on the MCU, which plays up the goofy aspects of the universe. It is a very traditional Marvel affair, lacking the subversiveness of WandaVision, the introspection of The Falcon and Winter Soldier and the scope of Loki. However, this smaller worldview allows the series to show off New York in a new way in the MCU, allowing the universe to talk to some of its people – certainly the right direction for Hawkeye, who has always been a more ground-level hero. 

The series starts off very slowly, struggling to advance its plot in a way that is needed for a limited series. This slowness causes some of its plot to be poorly explained later in the series, while other elements are rushed and aren’t given room to be fleshed out properly. Initially, the stakes presented aren’t felt by the audience, but do improve as the series goes on.

The show introduces a new Avenger to its ever growing stable. Kate Bishop (played by Hailee Steinfeld) is a skilled archer and fencer, and the events of the battle for New York caused her to idolise Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye. At times this fangirling is annoying, as it is constant throughout the show, however for the most part the show dials it down. Her chemistry with Jeremy Renner is mostly centred around this and her enthusiasm to do what’s right shines through whenever she is on screen.

Jeremy Renner gives Hawkeye a new take, and brings an exasperated demeanour to the role. Clint Barton is done with the superhero life, and wants to settle down with his family. Renner gives Clint an irritated performance, and gradually learns to accept Kate and helps her.

The show fully leans into the more campy aspects, as action sequences are set to the tune of jolly upbeat Christmas music and features extremely goofy villains. While this can be funny at times, the increased levity is sometimes too much, further cemented by the post credits sequence.

Another character that is introduced is Echo, played by Alaqua Cox, and serves as a great step forward for Marvel’s representation of characters. The character is deaf, and takes a secondary role as an antagonist throughout the show. Cox manages to convey the emotion even without using her voice, with great facial expressions and expressive sign language. Her introduction to the show marks the start of a bigger role in the MCU, with an anticipated show announced only a few weeks before. 

The show also features some amazing reveals that longtime fans will certainly be amazed by, and are best experienced by watching the show. These reveals will no doubt be the pushing factor for the MCU going forward, taking it to new places. Audiences will be clamouring for where these characters will show up next. One of these surprise guest characters bounces off Kate in a sibling-like way, whereas the other is introduced quite late in the show, and while it certainly makes an impact, is resolved in a disappointing anti-climax. Either way, it’s certainly a bold decision. 

In conclusion, this show is unfortunately average for Marvel. It doesn’t build on the novel concepts that made previous shows unique, but the Christmassy tone lightens up the mood considerably, and Steinfeld’s enthusiasm for her role is bound to excite audiences for wherever she will show up next.

Did you know? Director Rhys Thomas drew inspiration from the 1993 comedy film Robin Hood: Men in Tights for the fictional Avengers-themed musical that appears in the series.

Hawkeye is available on Disney+