Hawkeye Has Already Set Up A Sadder Ending Than Iron Man's Death

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Hawkeye.

The end of Clint Barton's story has already been set up in Hawkeye, and it will be even sadder than Iron Man's Avengers: Endgame death. After being a supporting character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye finally has a leading role thanks to Disney+. The first half of Hawkeye has quickly worked to build up Clint's life better than the movies have. In doing so, it might also be teasing the conclusion of Hawkeye's MCU story, which could be heartbreaking now.

One of the key plot points in Hawkeye is Clint Barton wanting to spend time with his family and trying to get back home in time for Christmas. Even though the series is set more than a year after he helped bring them back in Avengers: Endgame, Clint's trip to New York with his kids was meant to give them a chance to bond and make up for the lost time. Hawkeye's family was set up in previous MCU movies, but the Disney+ show has had the time to truly make viewers care about those relationships for the first time. Clint's phone call with his youngest son in Hawkeye episode 3 particularly resonates and shows the sacrifice he's repeatedly made to try and keep his family safe. However, this exchange also feels purposeful in that regard to make viewers care before the MCU possibly kills Clint Barton.

Although many have been prepared for Hawkeye to die since Avengers: Age of Ultron, his Disney+ show proves that his death now would be sadder than Iron Man's Avengers: Endgame sacrifice. All Clint has wanted to do for almost a decade in the MCU is spend time with his wife and kids. He's never really had the chance to do that, though, as the Sokovia Accords, Thanos, and now Kate Bishop have pulled him away. It is only supposed to be right now that Clint Barton has a chance to enjoy retirement with his family. Meanwhile, Tony Stark had five years to live a retired life with Pepper Potts and raise their daughter, Morgan. Iron Man had his chance for a happy, everyday life with his family, but Hawkeye killing Clint would ensure that never happens for him.

Clint Barton with Hearing Aids in Hawkeye

It's also unquestionable that Hawkeye's death won't hit the world as hard as Iron Man's did. Spider-Man: Far From Home showed multiple murals around the globe that were made in Iron Man's honor as people everywhere mourned his death. Clint Barton dying would surely be a devastating moment for his family, other Avengers, and probably even Kate Bishop. However, the widespread recognition of his heroics in Hawkeye and the MCU overall likely won't happen.

Crucially, the tragedy of Hawkeye's death also would undermine Black Widow's Avengers: Endgame sacrifice. She gave up her life on Vormir to give Clint a second chance at life and to spend time with his family once they returned. Hawkeye has shown how difficult this decision has been for Clint to live with, but him living still allows Natasha Romanoff's sacrifice to have the meaning she wanted. If Clint Barton dies in Hawkeye, let alone as he tries to atone for his Ronin mistakes, then Black Widow's death is stripped of its importance beyond the heroic nature of sacrificing herself to bring half of the universe's population.

Hawkeye dying could be done in his own sacrificial way to save his family and mirror Iron Man's death in that regard, but it would still be too sad to happen right now. Clint Barton deserves a shot to really have a happy life with his family and make it home in time for Christmas. He can die after Hawkeye then, once he's had some time with a normal retirement.

More: Marvel Finally Gave Black Widow's Endgame Death Real Meaning

Hawkeye releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.