When news broke out that the Hawkeye series would introduce Kate Bishop, it was assumed that Clint would pass the baton because he wanted to retire. However, a darker theory was that Marvel would kill off Clint, mirroring the fates of a few other original Avengers.
This speculation was fortified further when Yelena came into the picture. Throughout Hawkeye, the Black Widow has been irreconcilably stubborn about accepting the truth about her sister Natasha’s death.
We all need a bad guy to pin our unexplainable pain on, and Clint made for a good punching bag.
When Yelena finally knocks Clint down in Episode 6, it feels like the end — we’ve never seen him so powerless before. This is him, surrendering to death if it means not hurting his best friend’s sister.
But a string of notes stops Yelena from pulling the trigger, almost waking her up.
Clint explains that Nat told him all about the sisters’ secret whistle, about how Nat always did her best to protect Yelena. It was that same selflessness that led her to sacrifice herself in Vormir.
There are two reasons to celebrate: Yelena finally forgives Clint. And two, we don’t have to say our final goodbye to him, not just yet.
But that’s not the only way Hawkeye breathed new life into the character of Clint Barton.
Clint, while extraordinary, has suffered being a background subplot in most MCU appearances. The Hawkeye series has allowed us to zero in on the man behind the arrow — his motivations, commitments, losses, and yeah, even his dry wit.
This is a real win for Hawkeye comic book fans, who have always known him to be super charming and super powerful, without being the textbook definition of a “superhero.” Finally, we see it explored on the screen as well.
As Kate says this episode:
You showed me that being a superhero isn’t just for people who can fly or shoot lasers out of their hands. It’s for anyone, who’s brave enough to do what’s right, no matter the cost.
Kate Bishop
While I’m skeptical about Clint Barton returning as Hawkeye in the MCU, the show hit bullseye with finally giving us a perfect rendition of the character.
They weren’t kidding when they said this was a gift that keeps giving!
About Hawkeye
Hawkeye is an upcoming television miniseries for the Disney+ streaming service. Created by Jonathan Igla, it is based on the Marvel comic character of the same name. The show will feature Clint Barton aka. Hawkeye and newcomer Kate Bishop who will eventually become the next Hawkeye.
Cast members include Jeremy Renner who will be reprising his role as Barton, and Hailee Steinfeld will be playing Kate Bishop. Additional cast includes Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, and Florence Pugh, who too will reprise her role from the unreleased “Black Widow”. Hawkeye is scheduled to be released in November 2021.
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