“I’m not a role model,” says Clint Barton towards the end of this week’s episode, and despite being known to the world as an Avenger, the group that just got done saving half of the population of the universe, audiences know that what Hawkeye the Elder is saying carries water. The MCU version of Barton bears the weight of a sketchy past much in the same way the comic version does, and this episode, “Echoes,” shows the fruit that his past vigilantism now bears. So, folks, welcome back, and let’s dig in!
Oh, and spoilers ahead!
1. “Cherry”
Episode three centers around a huge action set-piece that follows Kate and Clint as they escape from the Tracksuit Mafia and their vengeful lieutenant, Echo. Starting first in an abandoned K.B. Toy Store-turned-criminal hideout, and then ripping through streets of New York in a thrilling car chase – the heart, action, and humor of the series is on brilliant display throughout the entire sequence, and is likely one of the larger sequences we’ll see this series. The action is rarely deadly, and most of either Clint or Kate’s arrows either blow up things with an indeterminate body count, or hit a mark meant to be non-lethal. The toned down violence is, frankly, welcome and matches the tone of the show nicely. The stakes feel high, but not too high. The sequence goes from good to great once the two escape the toy store and hop in a vehicle for a thrilling tracking-shot and well choreographed car chase. Throughout, Kate gets to explore Clint’s quiver, using his trick arrows to mostly comedic results. At the end, the pair of Hawkeyes escape, and Clint admits to Kate in a touching scene that maybe she really is one of the world’s greatest archers. Responsible for a large chunk of the episode, this sequence lifts a funhouse mirror to issue three of Matt Fraction and David Aja’s run, a story called “Cherry,” in which Kate (driving) and Clint (shooting) spend the bulk of the issue in a cherry red 72 Dodge Challenger, escaping a bevvy of Tracksuit Draculas in a brilliantly paced 22 pages of action. Sadly, it’s the villain, Echo, who gets to drive the Challenger in this episode – Clint chiding Kate when she wants to steal it as they’re trying to make a getaway with a “we’re not smashing a ‘72 Challenger, c’mon!” The car gets smashed anyways, but damn, what a fun sequence!
2. Echo
I mentioned previously that the “villain” of this episode is Echo, and while the character is now a Phoenix Force wielding powerhouse hero in the comics, her roots are very much the same here as there. Avenging the death of her father, who is killed at the hands of Ronin, young Native American Maya Lopez replaces her father as an enforcer in a criminal organization. Despite being deaf, Maya becomes an excellent fighter, her keen perception noticing things that others do not. Echo/Maya is played by actor Alaqua Cox, who fits the role perfectly, and bodes well for the already planned Echo tv series. Sadly, but not unexpectedly, we get only a little bit of Echo’s father, played brilliantly by “Fargo” and “Westworld” actor Zahn McClarnon. His screen time, though limited, did enough to get us to empathize with Maya when he dies in her arms, so it was important to have an actor that could do a lot with so little. It was also interesting to see Echo interact with Clint, immediately taking note of his hearing aid, and her insistence that his using the device was crutch, and likely holding him back. It was a wonderful bit of characterization, only further bolstered when she purposefully removed and smashed the device during their fight. Though the comics have since redeemed Echo/Maya from her life of crime, I believe there is plenty of room left to explore this side of her in the MCU, especially after the reveal that this “uncle” she works for might be the same benefactor from the comics.
3. The Man At the Top
I think it’s a delight that Clint is playing his past close to his chest, and hiding the fact that he was Ronin while Kate is slowly putting the pieces together. It should make for a fun confrontation if/when Kate realizes her hero went off the deep end post-Snap and became the Punisher Who Swords. As Kate and Clint walk Little Caesar/Pizza Dog, Clint intimates that Echo is not the leader of the Tracksuit Mafia, and that the “man at the top” has his dirty fingers in a lot of pies. We know from her past her father trusts an “uncle” character to take care of her, and this same “uncle” mentioned by Kazi is the likely head of the organization. Further internet sleuthing has pointed out that Maya’s father worked at a “Fat Man Auto Repair.” This is leading to the rampant internet rumoring of the entrance of Wilson Fisk aka “The Kingpin,” and even further hypothesizing the return of actor Vincent D’Onofrio to the role. A fan favorite, his performance as the mercurial crime boss would be a welcome sight, for sure. However, I think this is all smoke and mirrors. If Derek Bishop isn’t the boss, I’ll eat my hat. (But I would like to see the Netflix “Daredevil” cast all return to the big screen at some point.)
4. Wait, Kate’s Dad is Dead, Right?!
Show, meee, the bodyyyyyyyyyyy! I mean, we know that Kate’s parents were having money troubles from the very beginning of the show. What better way to regroup and rebuild an empire than if everyone thinks you’re dead, right? Certainly, it has been presumed that Kate’s mom Eleanor might be the crime lord as well, or at the very least she might be the MCU Madame Masque – her monochromatic costuming and aloof behavior lending credence to her being a potential villain. And let’s not forget Jacques Duquesne, the Swordsman/Step-Father! The show is doing a great job of throwing a number of potential suspects at us, and like any good whodunit, the obvious choice isn’t jumping out at me. Swordsman, Madame Masque, Derek Bishop, and even the Kingpin are all in play here, and I’m loving it.
5. Hawkguys
Hawkeye the Elder and Hawkeye the Younger get some serious bonding time this episode, and full credit to Renner and Steinfeld for knocking the quiet moments out of the park. I especially loved the scene in Kate’s aunt’s apartment, when Clint, deafened, takes a call thinking it’s his wife, but it’s his youngest son, Nathaniel, wondering if he’ll be home for Christmas. As Kate transcribes the little boy’s words to his father, the look on both faces speaks volumes – Kate, finally understanding what Clint is giving up to help her, and Clint again forced to be away from his family, drawn back to his life of “superheroing” when he’s more than ready to put it all away for his wife and kids. Over a meal at a diner, the two come to terms with the road ahead – the Tracksuit Mafia still very much on their heels, and Kate highly suspect of her soon-to-be step-father. It is here that Clint proclaims “I’m not a role model,” to the very person whose life he saved and who modeled her own life based on her expectations of who he is. It’s another wonderful character moment for the both of them, and echoes Clint’s own doubts about himself in the comics. Having bonded through battle and an understanding of the mess they’ve made for each other, the two Hawkeyes (and Pizza Dog!) resolve to stick it out together. When that involves breaking back into her mom’s penthouse to access the family security company’s files, it puts Clint face to sword with The Swordsman himself, and a very fun cliffhanger ending!
Stray Arrows
- Renner’s deadpan Clint makes for some very funny comedy moments, reacting to Kate. “Not exactly a crime” and “You tried to stab your step-father in the face?” were both delivered expertly.
- I am both saddened and relieved we didn’t get a boomerang arrow. If ya know, ya know.
- Speaking of trick arrows – how fun were the ones we DID get? It’s nice to have friends in high places.
- Good use of The Kinks’ “Father Christmas” – the soundtrack for this series has been pretty clutch.
- I love Hawkeye’s original costume from the comics, but I think we can all agree that it only works in the comics. I hate the argument that live action projects are copping out when they don’t use the outfits from the comics, when the beauty of comics is their surreal dynamism and bold colors that could never translate to “real life.” Kate can talk branding all she wants, but Renner’s Barton wouldn’t be caught dead in the O.G. suit.
So – what are your thoughts on this episode? Do you think we’re due for a Kingpin sighting? Chime in below and let’s keep the conversation going! Until next week…
