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'Hawkeye' Episode 6: 'So This Is Christmas?' review

Television

‘Hawkeye’ Episode 6: ‘So This Is Christmas?’ review

It’s been a short and enjoyable ride but this week marks the end of Hawkeye. It feels like just yesterday we were getting to know these characters and seeing new bonds form, and episode six brings all this to a head in a thrilling conclusion. As a finale, it works well at giving the series a sense of closure, though some of the resolutions do work better than others.

As if in reply to all the speculation surrounding last week’s Kingpin reveal, the episode opens with a fateful meeting between Kingpin and Eleanor. Eleanor announces her abrupt departure from Kingpin’s business which turns out to be the inciting event for the rest of the episode. Immediately here, Vincent D’Onofrio’s presence elevates this scene and it feels like he never left the role. We then catch back up with Kate and Clint as they reel from last week’s revelation and begin planning how to prevent Kingpin from retaliating.

From here on is almost non-stop action in the Hawkeye finale and it’s as fun and engaging as one could hope. We see Clint showing Kate how to create trick arrows for their mission, which makes for a fun scene and adds a note of “Home Alone” in fitting with the holiday theme. This leads into the Christmas party with our heroes staking out the area and having their LARPing buddies infiltrate as waiters, but with the arrival of Yelena, the track suit mafia, and Kazi things soon heat up.

There’s tons of action and moving pieces here and everyone gets their moment to shine. Clint reminds us why he’s the world’s best archer, as he deftly takes on Kazi and the tracksuits. Kate and Yelena get more banter before tearing though the building in a race to get to Clint. All the action here is gripping and balances the right amount of humor and tension throughout, making this first half of the episode the strongest portion.

hawkeye 6.2

Photo: Marvel Studios

After kicking everything into high gear the episode begins to wind down and end off its various story threads. To Hawkeye’s credit, it does take the time to pay off every plot line; which is generally satisfying but comes off too convenient at times. This is where the episode’s latter half stumbles. The Bishop family drama ends in a one on one brawl between Kate and Kingpin to save her mother.

The fight between these two characters was cool to see, but the resolution of Eleanor getting arrested while trying to lecture her daughter about responsibility comes off as weird. Yelena’s quest for revenge ends in a touching scene of absolution, as Clint gets through their shared love of Natasha, but it never quite fully justifies Yelena’s presence in the show. This leads into the wrap up of the show’s other plotline around Maya.

With Kingpin staggering out of his encounter with Kate, Maya confronts him and seemingly shoots him in the street. It remains to be seen how this will play out, but for me this still didn’t sell me on Maya’s character. She finally gets her revenge on those responsible for her father’s death but it doesn’t really matter since we never spent much time with her. I’m glad there was resolution here and it’s very clearly left open ended for potential future projects, but I can’t say I’m that excited for her future.

The final scene then adds a heartwarming holiday ending as Clint brings Kate home to celebrate Christmas. Here we finally find out the importance of the watch Clint tracked down and the episode closes out on a pleasant note hinting at Kate’s future adventures. At the end of the day, everything gets paid off in this episode just to varying degrees of satisfaction. For me the Kate and Clint dynamic really hits it’s peak in this episode and the fast paced first half knocks it out of the park. Hawkeye has had it’s ups and downs but at the end I can say it’s an adventure I was happy to have experienced.

'Hawkeye' Episode 6: 'So This Is Christmas?' review
'Hawkeye' E 6 Review: 'So This Is Christmas?'
At the end of the day, everything gets paid off in this episode just to varying degrees of satisfaction. For me the Kate and Clint dynamic really hits it's peak in this episode and the fast paced first half knocks it out of the park. 'Hawkeye' has had it's ups and downs but at the end I can say it's an adventure I was happy to have experienced.
Reader Rating0 Votes
0
Peak Clint and Kate dynamic.
Great first half filled with action and humor.
Solid sense of closure to the whole series.
Latter half feels very future project oriented.
Maya and Yelena's arcs don't end with the same level of satisfaction.
7
Good

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