Hawkeye Season 1 Episode 3 review: A definite improvement from the first two episodes

Rating: 3.5/5

Story:

Kate Bishop and Clint Barton plot to escape the clutches of the Tracksuit Mafia. There is also an origin story for the Marvel comic character, Echo is woven into the narrative.

Review:

The first two episodes of the series may have started off on the wrong foot or the wrong ‘quiver’, but the third episode featuring the famous archer of the Avengers appears to have found the right balance in delivering an entertaining episode that works well as an entertaining addition to Marvel’s catalogue of Disney plus original shows released this year.

The performance of Jeremy Renner stands out, however, the same cannot be said about Hailee Steinfeld as her character is almost a reflection of several of characters from various films, which is surprising considering how she excelled in the critically acclaimed animated show, Arcane, as its lead character Violet. Her performance in the western period drama True Grit was also a standout, but for Hawkeye, the character of Kate Bishop is a cliche. It would be unfair to be too critical of her performance, as it may have been a conscious decision by writers to depict Kate Bishop the way she had been portrayed in the series. Because, the scene where Clint talks to his son over the phone with Kate’s help, Steinfeld showcases her true potential as an actor.

Regardless, the episode has managed to pool in all the good bits of the MCU to produce a thoroughly entertaining episode. There are also some well-choreographed fight sequences and car-chase that grips the audience with its pacing. Further, the addition of Alaqua Cox Maya Lopez has definitely rejuvenated the series. Fans of the Daredevil comics will know that she is the superheroine called Echo, and also the adoptive daughter of Wilson Fisk aka, the Kingpin. While Vincent D'Onofrio’s critically acclaimed version of Wilson Fisk from the cancelled Netflix Daredevil series is technically part of the MCU, the Netflix shows were hardly ever acknowledged in the films or the Disney plus shows.

Therefore, it would be interesting to see if Fisk does return in Hawkeye. A flashback scene of Echo does tease Fisk’s presence in the briefest of moments. If Fisk and Daredevil do make an appearance it certainly would be a cause for celebration for fans of the Daredevil, because it was quite simply the best thing the MCU has ever produced - far superior to their formulaic and repetitive films. Such an enticing prospect would certainly have the fans of the Marvel Netflix shows eagerly wait in anticipation of what comes next in Hawkeye.

Verdict:

The unnecessary cringe-inducing slapstick comedy still remains a sticking point for anything related to the MCU, but the episode excels on several fronts that the cheesy scenes can be ignored. Jeremy Renner is excellent, yet again. If Fisk does make an appearance it would be disappointing if his character is reworked from the gritty and grounded version from Daredevil to a bumbling idiot like several unfortunate Marvel characters.