It's Christmas time in New York City and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner; The Hurt Locker) has brought his three children to see the sights and take in the newest musical based on Steve Rogers and the Avengers. And so begins the 2021 Disney+/Marvel show, Hawkeye. The limited series was the fourth installment of what has now become "Marvel Television" airing exclusively on Disney+. Preceded by WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki, Hawkeye became a hit from the first episode, partly due to its stars, Renner and Hailee Steinfeld (Bumblebee). Three years after its television debut, Disney has released the 6-episode series on 4K with a steelbook case, just in time for your holiday shopping needs.
While in New York City with his kids, Clint Barton discovers that his Ronin disguise had been sold at an illegal auction, stolen and worn by a vigilante pretending to be him. Determined to get to the bottom of this mess, he tracks down the culprit to find it is a college student named Kate who was a State Archery/Fencing champion. She also happens to be a big fan of Hawkeye. After explaining her involvement in the auctioned/stolen garb, the two team up to get to the bottom of the mystery, the murder of a family friend and the individuals looking to murder Barton (just to complicate matters more).
Renner has always been great as Hawkeye; one of the lesser-seen Avengers. His brooding good looks and sullen scowl serve him well as the master archer. Steinfeld is a welcome addition as the millennial who thinks she knows more than she does. Her bubbly outward demeanor disguises the intelligent person who harbors deep sadness below the surface. The pair work beautifully together and have a terrific camaraderie that makes the series work. Other cast members include Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel), Florence Pugh (Dune: Part Two), Tony Dalton (Better Call Saul), and Alaqua Cox (Echo).
Presented in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, this 4k has a phenomenal technical presentation making it worth the purchase price. The 2160p resolution with 2.39:1 resolution offers incredible detail down to the stitching on their suits. Colors are multilayered, even in nighttime scenes and there is a depth to each frame that cannot be duplicated on streaming. The audio is equally as detailed with a powerful soundtrack accentuating the action sequences. Dialogue is clean and comes from the front speakers while the ambient noise surrounds the viewer from all corners of the room. Overall the 4K presentation is a beautiful offering from Disney.
The steelbook case is also a treat as the cover art - both inside and out - is concept art from the show. A beautiful purple-tinged photo of Hawkeye and Kate envelopes the cover teasing what lies inside. Besides the episodes, the disc has a number of extras that include: A Tale of Two Hawkeyes, Gag Reel and Deleted Scenes (Follow the Trail, At The Stake, Burning of the Suit, Kate's First Day at Work, Ice Cream, Detour, Friends?, You Never Miss, Moira Comes Home, Old Friend, Sorry, Until It's Done, and Boomerang).
Besides Loki Seasons I and II, Hawkeye is one of the better-told stories in the MCU television series. It has great action, a fully fleshed-out story, terrific characters, and excellent actors. Plus, it is nice to get some additional background on some of the lesser-known MCU characters that are never fully developed in the movies.
This is the perfect gift for the MCU fan in your family and is worth the purchase price.
Grade: A-
