Episode 5 was this week. No multiverse. That doesn’t fit with street level Marvel.
And no connection to the rest of the MCU? It’s almost an epilogue to both Endgame (Ronin) and Black Widow. Hell they showed the blip from the POV of someone blipped.
Agreed, Hawkeye is LOADED with references and direct continuations to the MCU. From yet another view of the NYC invasion, to the "average joes" opinion and perspective of the Avengers, Thanos, and the blip, it is a necessary thing to show if they want to build a new crop of heroes and what their attitudes towards the OG folks might be. Things like the broadway show hint at an almost desperate need to lionize the initial avengers despite their flaws (Tony seems to be getting a major free pass for all his fuck ups), while the plaque and free meals at restaurants gives us the gratitude usually reserved for first responders during 9/11 or soldiers coming back now. It's nice they were able to be more direct, versus all that "the incident" and "the big green guy" B$ the netflix shows had to do.
I'm actually kinda surprised Clint hasn't told Kate to just be a soldier or policeman if she wants to help people directly through combat. How do you apply to SHIELD/SWORD these days? Seems like an obvious route for her given what we see the other non-super agents doing in the films and shows. Why play at vigilante when you can go legit?
I'm waiting for an oblique spiderman reference or nods to the Netflix shows (beyond KP). Someone mistaking Ronin for DD or the Punisher, for example, or the annoyance at Spiderman leaving sticky web fluid all over town (maybe an app to track it like SF does for poop?
Edit: I also liked that they only require you to sit through the first 15 minutes or so of Black Widow to understand what you need for Hawkeye, not the entire thing of that trainwreck of a film (which I've not finished).
