Spoiler Warning: This discussion contains some spoilers. It could be an entire gag from a comedy or in-depth conversation concerning events in the second act.
















Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

"This is some Christmas."

Fashionably late to the Hawkeye party, Marvel Studios' foray into the television industry continues with their attempt to make something more of Jeremy Renner's master archer. It's fair to say that this is astoundingly average in the grand scheme of things, particularly from a technical standpoint, but the fact remains that if you are a fan of these Marvel properties, then Hawkeye is probably worth your time.

It almost feels like a moot point saying that because I'm sure the Disney+ numbers speak for themselves, and fans of Marvel have already sought this out. Regardless, the show is deeply ingrained into the larger cinematic universe Marvel has built with recurring characters you haven't seen in years and tie-ins to some of the least popular Marvel products released at this point. Is the show worth watching if you haven't felt the urge to watch Black Widow or Avengers: Infinity War? Realistically, no. This isn't going to be the thing that gets you into the superhero movie game.

Is it completely worthless? I don't think 99.9% of art is, but nevertheless, I think there is some genuine good to be found in Hawkeye. I'll be the first to say that it is not in the action scenes, which are composed of very standard shot sequences and transitions. They are lit just atrociously, pointedly so in the first two episodes, and only begin to pick up as you become more invested in the characters. The choreography is fun, creative, and really takes advantage of what Hawkeye can and cannot be in his own show. The villainous Tracksuit Mafia, despite the wonderful moniker, is dismally disappointing for the most part. The attempts to differentiate the henchmen fail miserably and the confusing relationships at the head of the group only compile that dissatisfaction. I wish there were a little bit more about it. In the final three episodes, the show realises this itself and starts bringing out some (admittedly, quite fun) surprises for fans to appreciate.

The real pleasure in the show are the two leads: Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop and Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton. Renner has always been a little too good of an actor to play his bit parts in the Avengers quadrilogy, despite attempts to broaden his character in Age of Ultron. The show gives him the space to have some fun with the character, with some really cute interplay between him and Steinfeld. They are both routinely amusing, with the writing lending a nicely balanced wit and emotion - particularly on the part of Renner, who delves into the trauma of his character at pivotal moments in the show. Steinfeld is bubbly, lending perfectly to her youthful Kate Bishop. It just so happens that she is also a terrific actress and gives Marvel's dwindling star roster a real boost for future endeavours.

Hawkeye is on the same level of quality as pretty much every Disney+ show as of yet. I would argue that the persistent Christmas music and staging does get you in the festive spirit and probably makes it worthwhile waiting till December to give it a watch. It's endearing; I'll give it that much. The six-episode structure also means it doesn't outstay its welcome, and again, it's not harmful to your spirit. 75% of people will find this pretty enjoyable, and the other 25% just won't care that much. That's fine - that's the baggage that this kind of storytelling brings with it.

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