“Your whole thing is that you’re low-key,” says Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) to Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) during a scene in the second episode of the new Disney+ Hawkeye limited series; “It’s a very hard brand to sell.” That feels more-than-slightly like an acknowledgment about the potential appeal of the show itself, but it’s also a bit of a clue as to what the show’s mission is likely to be.
Because while Clint Barton is the Hawkeye that we’ve known since his introduction in 2011’s Thor, the amount of time spent on Kate Bishop in the first two episodes made available for preview makes it clear that this is all about a passing of the baton—or bow-ton, perhaps—to a considerably less dour archer superhero.
Indeed, the entire prologue of the series’ first episode involves an origin story for Kate, whose beloved father dies during the 2012 “Battle of New York” from the first Avengers feature, inspiring her to spend the next nine years mastering martial arts, fencing and, yes, archery. As a 22-year-old in the present day, the rebellious Kate stumbles upon a black-market auction attended by Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton), the fiancé of her widowed mother (Vera Farmiga), where she finds herself in the possession of a costume used by the mysterious criminal-slayer Ronin—the alter-ego adopted by Clint Barton as he grieved for his lost family during “The Blip” caused by Thanos.
That makes for a nice excuse to bring Kate and Clint together, although the dynamic between them is a little muddled. Though it makes perfect sense for Kate to latch on to Clint as a father-figure/mentor, especially with a possibly-shady stepfather on the horizon, it’s less clear what Clint might get out of the relationship—especially with his family back, and his clear interest in spending time with them as Christmas approaches. Renner gets a couple of amusing scenes to play, involving a musical version of the Avengers story and his interaction with a group of live-action role-players, but Barton as a character remains a tough nut to crack, unless subsequent episodes are really going to dive into the psychological fallout from all the people he killed as Ronin, and remembering the loss of his family.
Steinfeld is a much lighter presence all around, and as a result, her scenes are a lot more fun. The first two episodes are somewhat skimpy on actual superhero action, with lots of plot detail to set up, and at times the pacing and tone feel a lot more like conventional TV episodes than the mini-versions of MCU features that has characterized some of the other Disney+ content. But Kate Bishop makes for an appealing protagonist, and the segments focusing on her curiosity-inspired perils give Hawkeye a vibe not unlike a Nancy Drew mystery.
Is that a pitch that will appeal to a lot of the MCU hard-core fans? Perhaps not. It’s also true that, as much as there was a need to transition from Steve Rogers to Sam Wilson as Captain America, there was a need to allow Clint Barton a peaceful retirement—and to be frank, this change is a much easier sell given how his “whole thing is that you’re low-key.” At least at the outset, Hawkeye seems to have a reasonably satisfying sense for how to introduce another new Avenger; it remains to be seen if this story that Clint and Kate share will find a strong enough chemistry between them, or provide a reason for us to miss Clint Barton when he’s gone.
Hawkeye is now streaming exclusively on Disney+ with a two-episode premiere.
Hawkeye Stunt Show at Disney California Adventure
If the new Disney+ show isn’t enough Hawkeye for you, Disney California Adventure’s Avengers Campus has begun hosting a holiday themed stunt show featuring Clint Barton and Kate Bishop. The show isn’t very good, but it gives audiences a chance to catch a glimpse of the characters.
Black Friday Theme Park Ticket and Hotel Deals Start NOW!
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The World-Famous MiceChat Gumball Rally Returns!
After a long hiatus, it’s time for the big return of the MiceChat Gumball Rally at Disneyland. The event is a competition to see who can ride the most attractions at Disneyland in a single day. Guests compete in small groups of 2 to 4 members and spend the day doing what Disney fans love most… riding the attractions!
So, say goodby to those nice people on the dock… because the Gumball Rally is rolling your way on February 12th.
Due to the need to book Disneyland park reservations for February 12th, we recommend snagging a reservation as soon as you can and then signing up for the Rally. We are also offering discounted theme park admission and discounted hotel rooms this year via our partners at Get Away Today. Don’t miss out!
Gumball Rally Event information * HERE *
(AND DON’T MISS MICECHAT’S 20th ANNIVERSARY MEET-UP ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13th – BOOK YOUR DISNEYLAND PARK RESERVATION NOW)
Let’s Hear From You
After a year packed with Marvel movies and shows, will you be watching Hawkeye this holiday season? Do you think that Hawkeye is an interesting enough character in the MCU to have his own spinoff? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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