Uncle – Life and Other Disasters

It’s Wednesday and we’re back with another Marvel, or in this particular case Hawkeye, review for episode 4 of the season – Partners, Am I Right? Please beware of spoilers from here on out!

Kate Bishop with a bow and arrow — credit: Marvel Studios

What was it about?

As Kate feels ever more involved in her “partnership” with Hawkeye, Clint comes to the realization that he has to cut ties with her if he wants to keep her safe.

My thoughts?

The fourth episode of the season has usually held some kind of twist or surprise for us in previous shows (Wanda proving that she controls Westview, John bloodying the shield, the revelation that the Time Lords aren’t real …) and the formula still held true for Hawkeye. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a surprise in this case, because everyone was waiting for it to happen, but it was still used as a sort of turning point in the show. I don’t know whether to appreciate the consistency in storytelling across Marvel show properties or be extremely frustrated with their predictability.

Albeit a little later in the day, you know the drill! It’s Wednesday, so we are reviewing/recap-ing Marvel’s Hawkeye episode 3 titled “Echoes” – there are spoilers from here on out!

What was it about?

After getting captured by the Tracksuit Mafia, Clint and Kate have to fight their way out.

My thoughts?

I liked the episode, don’t get me wrong, but not a lot actually happened. It furthered the show’s main conflict a bit and established our antagonists, but in terms of story progression, we haven’t really gone much farther. I don’t see that as a huge issue, especially because I like getting to know characters on a deeper level, which this show provides, but we only have three more episodes. They are going to have to either a) wrap this up quickly or b) prove me right again in my theory that Marvel/Disney+ shows are only used as lengthy prequels for upcoming movies.

But let’s just break the episode down:

We start off with an opening sequence set in 2007 up to present day to show us the evolution of Maya Lopez. It was really beautifully done and conveyed so much about her in little time. For one, we learn how she became so exceptionally gifted at martial arts and other fight techniques, while we also learn about her “connection” to Ronin, due to him killing her father.
On a side note, I liked the little nod towards dragons, as we now *do* know they are actually real thanks to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
One of the more crucial hints the opening delivered was a sneak peek at who Maya’s father was working for/with. The man going by Uncle, who is only shown neck down, is very likely Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin. I’m beyond curious to see who they have cast for the role and if this might our first hint at the resurfacing of Daredevil in the MCU. (I’ve heard rumors! Let me dream!)

Then we’re back at the factory hideout of the Tracksuit Mafia with a tied up Kate and Clint. Kate Bishop is such a fun character and throughout the whole episode the grumpy/sunshine dynamic this newfound duo has is very entertaining and works extremely well for me.
When Maya faces Kate and Clint for the first time, she actually believes Clint to be able to communicate with ASL as well, but scolds him for relying so much on technology and has to use Kazi as an interpreter instead. Barton eventually gets free and Maya crushes his hearing aid during a fight. While I see her point in how it makes his life harder not knowing how to communicate with others, which also leads to some fun scenes throughout the episode, losing one of his senses doesn’t seem to impact his fighting or bow and arrow skills at all. At least I wasn’t aware of any difficulties there.
We get a super cool car chase scene with loads of trick arrows. While I thought that some of the CGI was really noticeable, I generally enjoyed how the scene was shot. They seem to have put someone in the backseat of the car and it really puts you right in the middle of the action with all its shakiness.

Kate and Clint eventually escape and while they regroup at her aunt’s place, we witness Kate helping Barton with a phone call with his son. These small scenes can be so emotional an impacting, I love them. Because despite Clint being a good man, he has so much doubt in himself. He doesn’t believe to be a particularly great father or role model, no matter if he is one of the greatest archers. This self doubt and regret for his past make him so very human and I love that we get to explore that in this show. And then to have Kate be the balance, this absolute fangirl of his to *show* how much he has done for people – great contrast.
Ultimately, the episode ends at Kate’s mother’s apartment. After breaking into the work computer, the duo learns that Kazi works for “Sloan Limited”, which sounds familiar to Clint, but I can’t say it really rings a bell for me. Clint, hearing a noise, investigates and is met with his Ronin blade held by Jack. I don’t think this will be a huge reveal of him as the villain. They did break into the house, so he has an “excuse” to be hostile.

I can only repeat myself, but I think the show shines the most in its quieter moments. As fun as the action is, learning about these characters is what intrigues me. Their emotional turmoil, fears, doubt and what connects them is the driving force. This is, unfortunately, already the halfway point of the series, but I don’t feel we have gotten enough time with them as of yet. I’m very much looking forward to the next episodes though.