Hawkeye Proves The Avengers Can Make Heroes & Not Just Villains

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Hawkeye episodes 1 and 2!

The Hawkeye premiere episode confirms that the Avengers are highly capable of making new heroes and not strictly villains. The Disney+ series marks the fourth live-action title set within Phase 4 of the MCU and follows Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) entangled in a mess thanks to the skilled young archer Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld). While it seems like the two were always destined to meet at some point, Kate never expected to meet her hero, Hawkeye, even though all signs point to her taking over the mantle. The longstanding admiration also proves the positive power the Avengers have despite their complicated history.

As superheroes with a history of saving the world and universe on multiple occasions, one would think they would receive undeniable respect, but that wasn't always the case with the Avengers. While they continue to have support from a portion of the population, the superhero team has experience indirectly creating villains. Baron Zemo set out against them while organizations like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's Flag-Smashers sought revenge for reversing the Blip. Tony Stark alone influenced villains such as Ivan Vanko, Aldrich Killian, the Vulture, and Mysterio. Stark's name on the weaponry that bombed Sokovia even set Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver on a villainous path before the siblings later joined the Avengers.

Even with the Avengers being accountable for some of the MCU's fiercest antagonists, the group still manages to acquire new team members. As the franchise moves deeper into Phase 4 and beyond, a new generation will need to be added to the mix. Thankfully, Hawkeye shows the Avengers are still capable of creating heroes like Kate Bishop. In Hawkeye episode 1, "Never Meet Your Heroes," the story flips back to 2012 during the Battle of New York. While many blamed the damage on the Avengers, they saved the world from the Chitauri invasion. As her family penthouse was under attack, Kate witnessed Clint singlehandedly battling otherworldly invaders with just a bow and arrow. This sight alone sets her on a path to becoming a hero, just like Hawkeye.

The Hawkeye flashback from 2012 counters the argument that the Avengers only inspire villains with their actions by showing Kate's origin. There will always be opponents of superheroes, but Kate's perception of Clint and his team reveals these figures still carry a special allure, resulting in new hero origin stories. Once Kate got a hold of her own bow, she never gave up her goal of becoming the world's best archer. As the rest of New York City watches the Avengers through a cheesy Steve Rogers musical, Kate gets first-hand experience in what it means to be someone like Hawkeye.

Clint's influence on display in Hawkeye is even more significant based on how easily Kate's fate could have gone in the opposite direction. Like Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, Kate lost a loved one during an attack. Whereas the twins lost their parents, Kate's father was killed during the Battle of New York. His death could have sent Kate into a villainous origin story, motivated by getting revenge against Clint and the Avengers. Instead, she saw the bigger picture even at a young age, and that perception of the Avengers hasn't changed in the current MCU timeline at focus in Hawkeye.

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New episodes of Hawkeye air Wednesdays on Disney+.