Entertainment
Hawkeye episode 1 & 2 recap: Clint Barton’s Ronin past catches up with him as Kate Bishop becomes target
Hailee makes a storming debut as Hawkeye superfan Kate (Picture: Film Frame/Disney Plus/Marvel)
Warning: spoilers ahead for episode 1 and 2 of Hawkeye on Disney Plus.
Marvel has treated fans to an early Christmas present, as episodes one and two of Hawkeye have dropped on Disney Plus.
Following veteran MCU hero Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) and his new protégé Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), the show offers an exciting adventure on the streets of New York as the two master archers team up a couple of years after the events of Avengers: Endgame.
Clint, who’s aiming to be home with his wife and kids in time for December 25, is initially reluctant to take Kate on board when she stumbles across his path wearing the suit he used to own as the assassin Ronin.
Nonetheless, their dynamic is unmistakable, as the pair find themselves entangled in a mysterious plot supposedly involving the Tracksuit Mafia, new character Echo (Alaqua Cox) and her stepdad-to-be.
Episode 1
Young Kate caught in Battle of New York
Fans learn why Kate decided to follow in Clint’s footsteps (Picture: Disney Plus/Marvel)
The minute the first episode of Hawkeye started and it said that the first scene was set in 2012, most Marvel fans would have sussed that we would be transported back to the Battle of New York.
Viewers meet a young Kate Bishop in her family’s penthouse overhearing her parents arguing about finances before chaos ensues, with the Chitauri blowing the side of their apartment off and supposedly killing her father.
As Kate stands near the edge of her building, panicking as she absorbs the invasion taking place before her very eyes, she suddenly becomes transfixed by Clint battling the aliens on an opposite building, using his bow and arrow to masterfully swing off the roof through a window.
It’s a scene that many will undoubtedly place in their top MCU moments and one that perfectly introduces Kate as an up-and-coming hero as her admiration for Clint inspires her into adulthood.
Heartbreaking nod to Black Widow in Rogers the Musical
Nat and Clint have a long history together as friends (Picture: Marvel/Disney/Kobal/REX)
In Hawkeye, it’s been two years since the events of Avengers: Endgame have taken place – but that doesn’t make them hurt any less.
While watching Rogers: The Musical with his kids, a creation that will surely become a production in real life, the music dies down as he watches the actor playing Black Widow pirouette on stage.
Having watched his best friend Natasha Romanoff sacrifice her life for his in Endgame when they were searching for the Soul Stone, Clint – who now wears a hearing aid, in keeping with the comic book character’s hearing loss – exits the theatre, clearly overwhelmed by the memory.
Despite promising his kids that they’ll be home for Christmas together to enjoy activities such as movie marathons and ugly festive sweaters, this might not be likely given the complex drama that’s about to make its way into his life.
Kate’s mum has suspicious new fiancé
Something doesn’t add up about these two (Picture: Chuck Zlotnick/Disney Plus/Marvel)
At the beginning of episode one, Kate’s mum Eleanor Bishop (Vera Farmiga) is clearly concerned about the financial strife their family are in, causing a conflict with her husband, David Bishop (Brian d’Arcy James).
However, years later when Kate is all grown up, Eleanor is now seemingly flourishing, wearing a lavish outfit while attending a charity event with her fiancé Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton), who she initially failed to tell her daughter she was engaged to.
It’s apparent that Kate has her suspicions about her stepdad to be, made even more so when she sees him attending a blackmarket auction with his uncle, Armand Duquesne III (Simon Callow), who later winds up murdered in his home.
Considering Jack stole the retractable Ronin sword that was being auctioned when the illicit event was interrupted by intruders, what could he be up to?
The wrong Ronin is found
Following the intrusion at the black market auction – when the assailants were searching for a special watch taken from the Avengers compound – Kate stumbles upon a box containing Ronin’s suit.
Unaware that it was previously owned by Clint, she wears the suit while fighting back against the intruders, resulting in her being photographed in the street and landing on the news while saving Lucky the Pizza Dog in the middle of the road.
Clint manages to track her down, expressing his shock when he discovers that Kate is just a kid underneath the mask.
The tale of this dynamic duo has only just begun.
Episode 2
Tracksuit Mafia track duo down
The Tracksuit Mafia are just as hilarious as they sound – both a formidable threat that Kate and Clint need to face while also providing some light comic relief.
The group manage to track Kate down back to her apartment, setting the property ablaze as she and Clint escape, leaving the Ronin suit behind.
Considering we caught a glimpse of Fra Fee as Kazi, a mercenary for the Tracksuit Mafia, we have a feeling he’ll come into play as a more significant character later on.
Agent Clint is back in action
Clint has a unique set of skills (Picture: Mary Cybulski/Disney Plus/Marvel)
Considering we’ve mostly seen Clint in action as part of an ensemble in the Avengers films, viewers can be forgiven for momentarily forgetting that first and foremost, he is an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
While we’ve seen Natasha in action as a highly-trained spy in films including Captain America: Winter Soldier and Black Widow, we haven’t been privy to that side of Clint as much, until now.
Watching him track down Kate with ease after seeing her parade in his old Ronin suit and then covertly enter her burnt out apartment as a firefighter without being noticed was impressive to say the least.
Plus, it was so sweet to watch him teaching Kate about the dos and don’ts of hero work, including how to patch up injuries like a pro.
Kate disobeys orders to chase after Clint
Kate may idolise Clint, but that doesn’t mean she’ll obey his orders (Picture: Chuck Zlotnick/Disney Plus/Marvel)
As if anyone suspected she would ever do as she’s told, Kate decides to contact Clint when he specifically told her only to do so if she has an emergency when she begins to suspect Jack of foul play.
When a member of the Tracksuit Mafia answers the phone, Kate uses the technology from her mum’s security company to find Clint’s location, after he is abducted by the group.
As Kate crashes through the ceiling at Clint’s feet, where he’s tied up, the Avenger is clearly exasperated at the realisation that Kate is obviously not going to obey any orders he gives her if she agrees.
All the better for us to see them on screen together.
Echo makes her epic entrance
Echo is going to have her own series on Disney Plus (Picture: Chuck Zlotnick/Disney Plus/Marvel)
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Echo has arrived, making one of the coolest entrances of a new character so far in the MCU.
Maya Lopez (Alaqua), who appears to be the boss of the Tracksuit Mafia, is Deaf and has the ability to copy other people’s movements.
Considering her own eponymous show has already been confirmed, it’ll be fascinating to see her in action either against or alongside Clint and Kate.
With episode two ending with her deep, booming theme music, we can’t wait to see what Echo is going to bring to the table.
Hawkeye is available to watch on Disney Plus with new episodes released on Wednesdays.
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