Hawkeye Review: The Street-Level Superhero Show The MCU's Been Missing

The fourth of Marvel Studios' live-action Disney+ shows, Hawkeye follows previously released series WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki. Named for the alter ego of Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), Hawkeye is the first time since the character's introduction in 2011's Thor that he leads his own property — making him the final of the original six members of The Avengers to do so. He's joined in the series by co-star Hailee Steinfeld, who makes her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Kate Bishop, a hero who also adopts the mantle of Hawkeye in the comics. Hawkeye is more Kate Bishop origin story than Clint Barton solo series, but Steinfeld and Renner's dynamic makes for a delightful holiday adventure.

In the first two episodes of Hawkeye (which were provided for review), Clint is spending time in New York City with his three kids, taking in the sights and catching a Broadway show, Rogers: The Musical, which recreates events from 2012's Battle of New York. However, when a masked vigilante wearing his old Ronin costume is spotted fleeing the scene of an explosion, Clint gets roped into tracking down the suit. That leads him to Kate Bishop, the daughter of wealthy socialite Eleanor Bishop (Vera Farmiga) who comes home from college for the holidays to find her mother engaged to the mysterious Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton). Kate, who's been a fan of Hawkeye since 2012, insinuates herself as the partner of the reluctant Clint, who's simply trying to get home to his family in time for Christmas.

With much of Hawkeye episode 1 focused on introducing Kate and establishing her reasons for adoring Hawkeye enough to pick up a bow and arrow herself, the series premiere leaves little room for catching up with Clint in his first appearance since Avengers: Endgame. Thankfully, Steinfeld shines bright as the meddlesome and troublemaking Kate Bishop, making her a different kind of superhero. She's someone who is in the game because she truly wants to be rather than it being a job or a curse, which, of course, puts her at odds with the jaded and blasé Clint Barton. Though much of Hawkeye episode 1 focuses on Kate, there are moments when director Rhys Thomas and writer Jonathan Igla manage to show some insight into how Clint's dealing with the aftermath of Endgame, particularly the loss of his close friend Natasha Romanoff. Once Kate's introduction is more or less complete, Hawkeye episode 2 features plenty more of Clint and has a more even balance between the two characters.

For their parts, Steinfeld and Renner work fantastically together when they share scenes as Kate and Clint. The hopeful and overzealous Kate contrasts well with the weary and exasperated Clint for a particularly enjoyable dynamic that grounds the Hawkeye series. The actors are strong enough in their own right to carry their solo scenes, though Steinfeld is slightly more charming when Kate gets up to her hijinks than Renner is as the gruff and annoyed superhero he becomes when his kids aren't around. It helps that Steinfeld is working off some formidable co-stars in Farmiga and Dalton, the latter of which is particularly fun as Jack Duquesne. But Hawkeye is much more entertaining when the two are bantering back and forth with their wildly disparate views of what being a superhero entails. This is Renner and Steinfeld's show, and they carry the two-hander effortlessly; there's some added sweetness from Jolt, the delightful golden retriever who plays Lucky the Pizza Dog.

Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld in a subway station in Hawkeye

Further grounding Hawkeye is the street-level nature of its story, the tone of which is more reminiscent of Marvel TV's Netflix shows like Daredevil and Jessica Jones than one of the franchise's big bombastic blockbuster movies. It's a welcome change of pace, especially after movies like Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War, as well as the more recent Eternals, which were packed with characters and exceptionally high stakes. But Hawkeye isn't quite as dark as Marvel's Netflix shows (both visually and tonally), meaning it keeps the lightheartedness that's characterized much of the MCU's offerings even as it tells a more grounded story. While it's not necessarily a replacement for shows like Daredevil or The Punisher, it fills a void in the MCU. Plus, it's the first truly holiday-focused MCU movie or show, which makes sense for a character like Clint, whose family has been at the heart of his story since they were introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron. It adds another layer to Hawkeye that makes it even more enjoyable, and keeps it firmly rooted in the more realistic side of Marvel's superhero stories.

Ultimately, Hawkeye is a charming and compelling addition to the MCU, providing a story with plenty of holiday hijinks. Those hoping for a purely Clint Barton story may be frustrated by the amount of time given to Kate Bishop, but like Black Widow earlier this year, the Hawkeye series was clearly tasked with both giving Clint a solo story and introducing his replacement. For the most part, Thomas and Igla strike a good balance, especially in Hawkeye episode 2, which may be more indicative of the rest of the series. The dynamic between Renner and Steinfeld is entertaining enough to keep casual viewers happy, while the show's connections to the larger universe are sure to enthrall Marvel diehards. In the end, Hawkeye is the holiday must-watch for MCU fans.

Next: Hawkeye Show Trailer

The first two episodes of Hawkeye premiere Wednesday, November 24 on Disney+, with the remaining four episodes releasing weekly thereafter.