I honestly can’t think straight.

This episode was truly something else, in the sense that it just opened more doors while perfectly closing others. And what I really love is that it didn’t feel like a lead-up episode, in the sense that its’ only purpose is to prepare us for the finale. It gave us just enough new information and so it’s time we break it all down, starting with this week’s podcast which you can listen to below or press the button to find your preferred podcast platform.

Let’s start with that opening scene. Hawkeye has not missed once with the opening scenes of each episode, but I have to say this one may have been my favorite. This is really only the second time we really see someone come back from being snapped and how they react, the other time being Monica in WandaVision. What is most powerful is that Yelena has been given a background to us prior to this show, allowing us to feel even more connected to her and how jarring the experience was for her. When she was dusted, she was doing the very thing we knew she set off to do at the end of Black Widow, which was free the other Widows. And when she came back, you could see the pain she felt of losing five years of her life and the anguish at needing to find her sister and make sure she knew she was okay. Natasha saved her sister and everyone else at the expense of herself, but the heartbreak for Yelena to come back and find she is dead makes it clear as to why she was so quick to want to go after Hawkeye.

Of course, this then bleeds into that great scene between her and Kate. The next generation of archer and widow has been established and has officially had a girl’s night. I love this interaction between these two and think their characters are amazing. I find it amazing how different the two of them view Clint, one of them seeing him as a role model and another accusing him of bad deeds and being a terrible person. Obviously, as fans, we see such a different point of view from the hero that we know, but it is a great way to show the dark side of our heroes and that not everyone loves them.

The biggest thing that came out of this episode was 100% that ending scene. We were ready and have been and we have officially now seen Kingpin on our TVs. But not even Kingpin being there is what makes that ending scene as dramatic as it is. Eleanor Bishop being in a meeting with the man himself and being the one to hire Yelena makes that aspect of the scene even deeper. As some of you may know, I called Eleanor being sketchy from I think episode one or two. But to see her there, with Kingpin himself, is really what blows my mind. She is likely his eyes and ears, using her security company as a source for him to know everything that is going on. They knew who Ronin was, and I bet that is how Valentina had the image of him unmasked. When it was convenient for Kingpin, he used Ronin as a weapon, and now he knows that Ronin has too much knowledge to be back and working again (even if he never officially was). Eleanor, as terrible of a mom she can be at times, wants to ensure her daughter’s safety, even though she partially was the one to jeopardize it, to begin with.

Now does all this mean I think they will be going after Kingpin in the season finale? No, I don’t quite think so. Kingpin’s introduction is meant for a much bigger role of the character and this likely means a faceoff with our friendly neighborhood Spider-man. I truly believe that Hawkeye was a great entrance point for him, but he definitely won’t be part of the big battle. His goons on the other hand? Most likely, but it won’t be the Tracksuits unless Kazi leads them. Uncle (Kingpin) is still the highest leader of the Tracksuits and Kazi is now feeling even more pressure from Maya and her questions about the night her father died. This is where we are going to see Maya and the Tracksuits split and likely where Kazi will finally take the lead, as he was supposed to when Maya’s father died but was not allowed to. With her own show in the works, I wonder if Maya will take on a similar role to Ronin and go after the underground crime organizations to get to Kingpin. Regardless, the big bad of the final fight scene may remain partially unknown (as we know Yelena is still going to go after Clint), but we do know there will also likely be a culminating point between Kate and her mother.

As I said earlier, this show has not missed and I’m hoping that its’ finale will hit just as hard as the rest. There has been a rumor of a second season, but nothing has yet been confirmed. With the ending of this episode, we are definitely going to see some poop hit the fan in the final episode, so be prepared Marvel fans. Make sure to watch the last episode of Hawkeye as soon as possible and enjoy, as the next piece of content is Morbius and then possibly a hefty break. Soak it all in, as Marvel just blew your mind, so let’s talk about it.

Image: “Hawkeye Episode 5”, Annika Rollock, Tor Com