‘Hawkeye’ returns a familiar face for episode four

by Keane Eacobellis

Hawk Eye went viral in its first three episodes, establishing the relationship between Clint and Kate while exploring the murky underworld of NYC. Along the way, we received a great new MCU character in Alaqua Cox’s Maya Lopez/Echo and a teasing greeting that Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin is finally back in action.

But, sadly, episode four – ‘Partner, Am I Right?’ – very resistant to climate disturbances. Much of this week has been spent on light-hearted conversation in the house: a lengthy sex scene in the Bishop family, watching Clint and Kate hang out together, and retelling of vaguely hilarious jokes from the Bishop. LARP from episode two. Even more disappointingly, there hasn’t been any follow-up to last week’s Fisk-shaped vandal.

Thankfully, it’s not a full wash as the action gets a bit in the way of the final scene, in which Clint and Kate break into Echo’s apartment to get a watch. After tripping over the silent warning, she quickly appeared to confront both archers. But there’s another masked warrior in the fray – and it’s not hard to guess who.

• 

• MORE FROM THE WEB

Click to zoom

Yep, this is Florence Pugh making her appear in the second year of the MCU as Yelena Belova. In her Sam Fisher cosplay, she showcased Black Widow’s skills and technology – despite leaving the episode without saying a word.

Clint doesn’t know Yelena is Natasha’s sister and thinks she’s just a random Black Widow hired to assassinate him. Meanwhile, as shown in the post-credits scene of Black Widow, Yelena believes that Clint is responsible for her sister’s death.

What’s annoying is that Clint and Yelena’s conflict is entirely predictable from the fact that the pair don’t talk to each other. It seems like everyone knows in the MCU that Clint and Natasha are BFFs, so just saying “uh, no, someone is lying to you, we’re partners until the end” will make things clear pretty fast.

There are currently only two episodes of Hawk Eye the rest, so here’s hoping this slow-paced episode is just them cooling their heels ahead of a big Kingpin-centric finale.