These 2 Hawkeye episode 5 moments have me really amped for MCU Phase 4

These ii Hawkeye episode 5 moments take me actually amped for MCU Phase 4

Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld in Hawkeye poster art

(Paradigm credit: Curiosity Studios/Disney Plus via Twitter)

My favorite part nigh the Hawkeye prove has been how self-contained information technology all feels at times. Telling a good story well, and not making it a stride in a series of films and movies, information technology'due south a noble crusade for entertainment. And so Eagle episode v just changed all of that.

So, of class, this is your spoiler warning! This story contains large plot points most Hawkeye episode 5, and its ramifications upon upcoming Marvel movies and series .

Considering for every bit much as nosotros already knew what was going to happen, this episode got me more than fix to keep my Disney Plus subscription going.

The next Avengers team already has me hooked

Sure, I may exist the type to stay up until midnight to buy Spider-Man: No Way Domicile tickets, but I wasn't really excited virtually a Immature Avengers or new Avengers team. There is something about the Stage 1-3 Avengers that I think Marvel may have a tough time replicating.

And so I watched Yelena Belova repeatedly address Kate as "Kate Bishop" and mock her for nigh everything she could think of. All while the tension of Yelena having been sent to kill Clint existence in the air. In this moment, I realized that the new Avengers — and permit'south all be honest, there will be a new Avengers team — will exist just fine. I gauge my concerns centered effectually how all we really knew about this team was the admittedly decent barrack between Sam Wilson (coming back as Helm America) and Bucky Barnes (virtually a given to return besides) that was a highlight of The Falcon and The Wintertime Soldier.

Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova in the Hawkeye show — (Image credit: Disney Plus)

For Yelena and Kate to pin from fighting to getting to know each other, we see that the forming of the next team of heroes is starting. Yelena's on her mode to joining the forces of good, too, as we heard when she acknowledged that Bishop is the kind of person who saves a dog from moving traffic.

But to hear Yelena tell Kate that she just has one fork! For a Black Widow assassin who is e'er on the run to mock Kate's admittedly single-serving life? And for Yelena to promise she didn't "suspension" annihilation after breaking into the flat? Information technology all refilled my optimism about the future of the MCU.

Then, as Yelena said, thank you, Kate Bisho, for the "girls dark." I can't look to come across how this pairing of a new Hawkeye and a new Black Widow (if they use those names) turns out.

Netflix's Defenders are free to enter the MCU

While Hawkeye episode 5 addressed the "blip" for Yelena, the other "blip" is finally over — Netflix's Marvel characters are finally back — and I'one thousand pleased as punch. Later on Jessica Jones, The Punisher, Daredevil, Iron Fist and Luke Cage all disappeared from Idiot box in 2019 (correct before Disney Plus launched), one of their biggest baddies just came back, correct on Hawkeye's phone screen.

Yes, Vincent D'Onofrio returned in photograph-form as Wilson Fisk, The Kingpin and undercover crime lord who, every bit it turns out, employs Eleanor Bishop (who herself hired Yelena Belova). Earlier we move past this to how absurd information technology is, we have to ask about La Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) aka Madame Hydra (in the comics) aka "Val," who seemed to be the one who hired Yelena. I approximate Eleanor put out the striking through Val, or vice versa. Some other "who'south backside this?" reveal in the makings.

Vincent D'Onofrio as Kingpin and Vera Farmiga as Eleanor Bishop in the Hawkeye Disney Plus show — (Paradigm credit: Disney Plus)

While Kingpin appearing in episode 5 was already practically spoiled well in advance, this reveal has me jumping upwardly in the air at the possibilities. Having recently rewatched all the old Spider-Human being movies, I've go nostalgic for how much New York was a big character in those films. So, bringing back the Defenders (and aye, some if not all are coming back, starting with Daredevil) will be a smashing manner to ground the MCU in some of its heroes that tell more contained stories.

The big reason why I like this reveal is that there are so many upcoming Disney Plus shows that would make practiced places for us to reconnect with these heroes. The announced Repeat testify seems like a perfect place for D'Onofrio to flex his chops every bit Kingpin, and I could hands Daredevil joining forces with Echo to fight Kingpin — non only considering episode 5 heavily foreshadowed Repeat joining the side of good, simply because it would simply be cool for the blind Daredevil and the deaf Echo to work with 1 another. Also She-Hulk is prime space for Jessica Jones. Equally for Luke Cage? Put him anywhere, I'm in.

While you lot could give these characters new solo projects to reintroduce them — we at Tom's Guide think these are likely variants of their Netflix versions — the Defenders seem like a perfect kind of seasoning for lesser known MCU characters getting their own shows. The first iv MCU shows (WandaVision, Falcon and Winter Soldier, Loki and Hawkeye) were all about giving more depth to characters we'd already met.

Any apprehension for shows such as Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel and She-Blob — characters make new to Disney'due south Marvel project — is at present lessened. Now, let's just become to the Eagle finale already!

Henry is a senior editor at Tom'southward Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past half dozen-plus years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Mag. He's besides covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.