Hawkeye – A Bullseye For the Marvel Cinematic Universe

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to explore new frontiers like the Multiverse and a whole bunch of dragons, Disney+’s Hawkeye delivers a return to simpler storytelling with characters you actually care about. And it lands a bullseye in doing so.

The series doesn’t put Clint Barton/Hawkeye front and center right away, instead focusing on his eventual successor, Kate Bishop (played with goofy perfection by Hailee Steinfeld). Kate is a New Yorker who witnessed the 2012 attack on NYC in which her father was killed, and she was saved from the Chitauri army’s arrows by Hawkeye himself. From that point on, she has idolized the master archer and wished to follow in his footsteps as an Avenger. It’s a classic detective story set in modern times, pairing a rough-and-tumble operative with an eager, fresh-faced neophyte. And Steinfeld is a perfect match for Kate, who embodies the good-natured, thrill-seeking character from the comics to the T. During the first two episodes, her chemistry with Jeremy Renner’s grizzled Clint is one of the most satisfying parts of the show.

Whether it’s through funny one-liners or tear-jerking moments with his kids, Renner’s Hawkeye is a hero you truly care about by the end of the first season. And the story arcs that accompany him, especially those with Kate, are equally impressive. The way in which they are able to build this rapport and watch Kate blossom as the next hero is quite brilliant, and shows that there is more to the MCU than just revolving around new heroes.

And that’s not to dismiss the action sequences, which are both entertaining and suspenseful. The fight scenes maintain a fun tone by including banter between the characters, which adds levity to life-or-death situations, a staple of superhero narratives. The show also manages to incorporate more modern visual storytelling, utilizing motion graphics and other tricks that bring the world to life.

While it’s still too early to tell whether Hawkeye will continue to live up to its promise, the first season is an excellent start to an exciting, more grounded Marvel TV universe that doesn’t have to rely on multiverses and other high-concepts to hold our attention. And with its likable leads, compelling arcs, and impressive action, it’s definitely worth your time.

Marvel fans have been clamoring for this more grounded MCU series, and it’s delivered in spades. Hawkeye is everything you could want in a Marvel show, and more.

The series is directed by David Aja, and stars Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, and Emily Bennett as Yelena Belova/Black Widow. The cast also includes Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton, Zahn McClarnon, and Brian d’Arcy James. Florence Pugh is also slated to reprise her role as Black Widow in future episodes of the series. You can catch the first season of Hawkeye streaming on Disney+ November 24. For more on the show, you can check out our full review of it here.