The Hawkeye show has been streaming on Disney+ since right before Thanksgiving. Starting with a two-episode premiere, it has plenty of action and holiday-themed cheer. As the final show to premiere this year on Disney+, Hawkeye had a lot to live up to. Especially with so many Marvel projects winning awards at the People’s Choice Awards last night. So far, Hawkeye has done a good job delving into MCU plot points, past, and future. His past as Ronin is explored, and a mysterious watch from the Avengers Compound is in the mix. In the most recent Hawkeye episode, there was even a connection to the Black Widow movie. Spoilers ahead for the most recent episode and Black Widow.
A New Black Widow is Out for Revenge on Hawkeye
If you’ve seen Black Widow (or our review on it), you know it’s all about family values. Natasha lived with a deep-cover family when she was younger, only to be torn apart. The majority of her movie is therefore about meeting these family members again so she can take down The Red Room. The first, and most important, member she finds is her younger sister Yelena Belova. After releasing her from Dreykov’s control, they come together as sisters throughout the film. In the end, they part ways before Natasha heads off to help in the Infinity Saga.
The problem at hand, and what leads to Hawkeye’s involvement, is that Yelena doesn’t believe Natasha let herself get killed. When she visits her grave in the post-credits scene of Black Widow, she commiserates over wanting revenge. That’s when the sly and so far unexplained Valentina shows up, and offers her a job. With episode four of Hawkeye, that came to a head. Hawkeye and Kate Bishop are attacked while retrieving the watch, and it turns out to be a Black Widow assassin. When the mask is ripped off, we see Yelena’s face. Kate hesitates to shoot her, and for now, she’s escaped.
Some people theorize that Yelena has joined Valentina’s “new project” that was teased in Falcon and Winter Soldier. This project is most likely the Dark Avengers, a group that doesn’t quite follow the super-heroics of their namesake. If this is true, assassinations and wetwork-style crime wouldn’t be surprising to see from Yelena. What do you think of Yelena’s involvement in Hawkeye? Are you excited for the last two episodes soon? Leave a comment below!
