TV Series Review: Hawkeye (2021) Disney+ *Spoiler Free*

I've already written about my new, second favorite, MCU Super Hero, Kate Bishop, but, now that I've seen the full six episodes of the Disney+ series, Hawkeye, it's time for that full review I promised.

Regular readers will know I'm not really a comic book reader in the superhero space. Everything I know about Hawkeye is based on what I've seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as played by Jeremy Renner.

When I saw the original first teaser trailer for Hawkeye, it looked fine. It had a kind of similar spy feel to it with, what I would learn to be, graphics from the  Matt Fraction, David Aja, and Javier Pulido comic book run, along the lines of Captain America, The Winter Soldier. I was glad Hawkeye was finally getting a series.

Then, when the second 'Christmas' trailer was released it brought a whole new tone of fun to the series that I was immediately excited to see it. Whoever thought to set the show at Christmas and use the '...tied up with a bow' tagline is a genius.

I really enjoyed the series as a whole. It easily became my favorite of the MCU Disney+ shows so far. Which is quite a feat given, I really like all of them a lot. Almost to the point where I'd rather  watch more series than have more MCU movies.

While Clint Barton may not be as flashy or powered as some of the other heroes, he's always been reliable, doing the job he's asked to do without ever questioning whether his capabilities are enough to be an Avenger. So much so that he doesn't see himself as a superhero. He's just doing his job.

That's kind of where he is when present day comes around in the Hawkeye series. Just a man doing a job, trying to get home to his family for Christmas.

Enter Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), a Hawkeye fan girl from as far back as the Battle of New York, and an Avenger 'wanna-be' in a 'this is my actual career goal so I'm going to learn everything about it' kind of way.

Unwittingly the two cross paths when Kate begins to suspect some really shady goings on with her mother's new boyfriend, Jack (Tony Dalton). From there things start to go south as Hawkeye tries to keep Kate safe from some pretty serious threats in the week before Christmas, where Clint had planned considerable family time for the season.

Although many viewers said this show started out slow I never found myself waiting for something to happen. I was so invested in Clint and Kate's relationship as mentor and protégé, with most of my favorite scenes being just their conversations and exchanges. Both Renner and Steinfeld play their roles so well with great character arcs for them both.

I enjoyed the humor of the show, with a particular shout out to the Track Suit Mafia as being a relatively credible threat despite being comic relief with much of their dialogue. They could easily have slipped into being useless and silly but I always felt they weren't to be messed with.

Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox), also delivers a fine performance as one of the show's main antagonists. If people didn't keep saying this is her first role as a professional actor, you'd never know. Easily holds her own in some very intense moments for her character.

While it is a very dialogue driven series there are some really great action pieces as well with a highlight being the 'trick arrows' car chase seen in the trailers.

The big finale action is also a lot of fun (not really a spoiler since this is a superhero show - there's always some kind of final battle at the end).

I will say I thought the last episode was a bit of a let down for me (and only a bit, it was still fun) in that it really was trying to wrap up many different threads in a nice big bow. The thing that kicked it all off was a bit of an eyeroll moment for me (as were a couple of later moments), however most reviewers, seemed to love the last episode because it was mostly action.

Hawkeye is easily one of the top MCU Disney+ shows. Anyone who says otherwise is probably an action only fan with little appreciation for character development and great dialogue. The only MCU Disney+ series so far that I plan to binge watch, after having already seen every episode twice over.

So much fun, and a great series for the whole family.