Hawkeye (Disney+ Series) Review

Lets start by showing y’all the trailers shall we?

—

Non-Spoiler Plot Overview

Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), aka Hawkeye, just wants a simple Christmas with his wife and kids. But when his violent past as Ronin resurfaces after his old suit and sword hit the black market, his holiday peace quickly unravels. Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), a young archer and Hawkeye superfan, accidentally dons the Ronin costume and becomes entangled with the Tracksuit Mafia. Together, Clint and Kate must survive mobsters, assassins, and family betrayals, all while racing to get Clint home in time for Christmas dinner.


—

Character Rundown

Clint Barton / Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner): Worn-out and haunted by guilt, Clint is finally given real depth as he wrestles with his Ronin past and Natasha’s death.

Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld): Energetic, stubborn, and endlessly charming. Kate is the spark of the show, bringing humor and optimism while forcing Clint to open up.

Eleanor Bishop (Vera Farmiga): Kate’s mother, who hides a criminal secret—she’s in league with Kingpin.

Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton): Eleanor’s fiancé and sword enthusiast. Suspicious at first, but mostly a red herring with a goofy streak.

Lucky the Pizza Dog: The one-eyed scene-stealer who deserves his own spin-off.

Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh): Natasha’s sister, grieving and gunning for Clint, until she learns the truth.

Wilson Fisk / Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio): The iconic crime boss from Daredevil returns, but his over-the-top portrayal sparks backlash.

Echo / Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox): Fierce, deaf enforcer tied to the Tracksuit Mafia, with a compelling arc that spins into her own show.



—

Pacing / Episode Flow

The six-episode format moves quickly. The first half focuses on setting up Clint and Kate’s uneasy partnership, while adding cozy Christmas vibes. Mid-season balances action with heartfelt bonding. The finale, however, suffers from Marvel’s classic “too many subplots in one episode” problem, juggling Kingpin, Eleanor, Echo, Yelena, and the Mafia all at once.


—

Best Episode / Standout Moment

Episode 4 (Christmas bonding): Clint and Kate share snacks, movies, and decorate a Christmas tree. It’s heartfelt, funny, and the most human Hawkeye has ever felt in the MCU.

Episode 5 (Yelena’s mac-and-cheese scene): Florence Pugh casually eating boxed mac while threatening Kate is both hilarious and tense—pure Marvel gold.

Episode 6 (Finale fights): While overstuffed, Kate standing her ground against Kingpin and Clint finally convincing Yelena of the truth are emotional payoffs worth highlighting.



—

Pros

Hailee Steinfeld is a perfect Kate Bishop, instantly likeable and believable as Hawkeye’s successor.

Clint Barton finally gets meaningful closure and development.

Yelena and Kate’s dynamic is hilarious and refreshing.

Cozy holiday backdrop gives it a unique Marvel flavor.

Pizza Dog. Enough said.



—

Cons

The Tracksuit Mafia wear out their welcome as comic-relief “bros.”

Finale overload—too many villains, too many storylines.

Eleanor Bishop’s villain reveal is rushed.

Tone whiplashes between goofy and serious.

Kingpin’s portrayal undercuts his menace (see below).



—

Fan Reception & Criticism

The return of Kingpin was supposed to be huge—but fans were divided.

In Daredevil, Fisk worked because he was grounded: brutal, calculating, and terrifyingly human. In Hawkeye, Marvel exaggerated him into an indestructible cartoon. He shrugs off arrows, explosions, and even being rammed by a car, all while strutting around in a white suit and a red Hawaiian shirt.

Fans found this “overpowered Kingpin” dumb because it stripped away what made him compelling: his fragility behind the rage, his cunning strategies, his terrifying unpredictability. Instead of a layered crime lord, he felt like a boss fight NPC. For many, this was less a return and more a parody of the Kingpin they loved.


—

Final Thoughts

Hawkeye is a fun, street-level Marvel series with holiday charm. It gives Clint his overdue spotlight and successfully introduces Kate Bishop as the MCU’s next Hawkeye. Yelena’s presence adds both tension and humor, while Pizza Dog is a delightful bonus.

But the finale falters with too many subplots, and Kingpin’s mishandling left a sour taste for fans expecting the nuanced crime boss from Daredevil. Even so, it’s an entertaining, festive ride—best enjoyed as a Christmas Marvel comfort watch rather than a groundbreaking epic.


—

Rating

8/10 – A cozy Marvel Christmas adventure with great characters, memorable moments, but weighed down by a bloated finale and an overcooked Kingpin.


—

Spoiler Warning

The following section contains full spoilers.


—

Spoilers

Kate dons the Ronin suit, drawing the Tracksuit Mafia’s wrath. Clint reluctantly helps her after her apartment is burned down.

Kate and Clint bond while laying low, celebrating Christmas together with movies and decorations.

Jack is revealed to be harmless comic relief.

Yelena shows up in Kate’s apartment, casually cooking spaghetti while threatening her to hand Clint over. Kate refuses.

Kate later learns her mother Eleanor is working with Kingpin, confirmed by Yelena’s text.

Finale: Clint and Kate fight Kingpin’s forces downtown. Yelena nearly kills Clint but spares him after he explains Natasha’s sacrifice.

Kate battles Kingpin, eventually downing him with trick arrows despite his absurd durability.

Eleanor is arrested for her crimes.

Echo shoots Kingpin point-blank in the face, but he survives offscreen (because Marvel doesn’t kill villains, apparently).

Clint returns home for Christmas with Kate in tow, officially passing her the Hawkeye mantle.