So is 'Hawkeye' setting up the Kingpin for the MCU? Let's examine the evidence.

Kate Bishop has been introduced to trick arrows, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe will never be the same. The third episode of Hawkeye on Disney+ delivered on all fronts, and there were plenty of comic book references in the mix.  

The biggest trick arrow in the quiver, however, is the identity of the one running the tracksuit mafia. The show seems to be pointing its bow at one character in particular, and we're really hoping for a Christmas miracle. 

***WARNING: From this point forward, there will be spoilers for Episode 3 of Hawkeye. If you haven’t watched yet, then get outta here, bro.***

Maya “Echo” Lopez (Alaqua Cox) is fully introduced in this episode (after being teased at the end of Episode 2), and gets her backstory told. Her father was a member of the tracksuit mafia, and he was killed by Clint (Jeremy Renner) while Clint was in his Ronin phase. Maya has it out for Ronin. 

Her relationship with her father was obviously hugely important to her, but it’s her mysterious “uncle” who has us most intrigued. We only see a dark suit as this “uncle” pinches her cheek at martial arts practice in a flashback. 

When the bros have to move to a new base, Kazi (Fra Fee) says to Maya, “I hope Uncle doesn’t find out.” Whoever Uncle is, he’s still running things. Clint knows about him too, enough to say, “There’s someone above Maya, someone you don’t want to mess with.” 

Everyone who has been following the rumors and knows Maya’s story from the comics is hoping that “Uncle” will turn out to be none other than Wilson “Kingpin” Fisk. Not just any version of the character either, the one played to perfection by Vincent D’Onofrio on Daredevil in the Netflix run of street-level Marvel shows.

It would be a much sought after connection between the MCU proper and the Marvel shows that debuted on Netflix. Though they claimed at the time that those shows were connected (and some lip service to the MCU is given on those shows), none of those characters have been paid any mind anywhere else. Maya is Fisk’s adopted daughter in the comics, so it would make perfect sense for him to be this mysterious figure.  

The show is already building him up a lot, so if he turns out to be Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton), then that would be a “Ralph Bohner/WandaVision” trick arrow and it would not go over well. If they do bring in D’Onofrio’s Fisk, then the way is clear to open the MCU gates to Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock (who has been rumored to turn up in Spider-Man: No Way Home for months now), and other key players from those shows. 

Image Credit: Netflix

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This episode isn't all about Uncle’s identity; it is packed with presents. Kate (Hailee Steinfeld) and Clint start the episode still being held by the tracksuit mafia in an abandoned toy store. Kate helps one of the bros talk through a fight he’s having with his wife which is based on two tickets to see Imagine Dragons. 

Kate and Clint are out in no time, but not before Clint’s hearing aid is brought back into the mix. Maya knocks it out of his ear and stomps on it. She tells him he should try things without it. For the big chase that follows, Clint isn’t hearing so well, but he manages. Kate shoots a host of trick arrows here, and just like in the comics, they aren’t labeled. There’s a putty arrow, a plunger arrow, a USB arrow (which prompts a joke about a “dongle arrow"), and best of all? There’s an arrow powered by Pym particles. 

Kate fired an arrow up in the air, and Clint fired the Pym arrow at her arrow. Kate’s arrow grew giant, and it plunged into a van of bros. It was very, very satisfying. 

Kate hasn’t gotten around to naming their dog “Lucky” yet, but she does refer to him as “Pizza Dog.” She also talked to Clint about his branding, drawing him a crude (but comics accurate) depiction of a possible costume. It’s got wings and an “H” on the cowl. It would all be purple. 

Clint has multiple reasons for not wearing something like that, but chief among them is him thinking he’s not a role model. Kate does not agree on that. 

Steinfeld and Renner are magical together as Kate and Clint, and their post-escape scene on the subway was probably their best yet. Clint doesn’t have his hearing back at that point, so he has no idea that he’s echoing the same things that Kate has just said. He also tells her that she was right about being a fantastic archer. Steinfeld plays the moment perfectly, as she is wont to do. 

The mystery of Uncle remains, however. Jack ends the episode with the Ronin sword at Clint’s throat, and again, if he’s the big reveal, it would be… a let down. Clint makes it sound like he knows exactly who Uncle is, and nothing in what he says points to Jack. It points to Fisk. 

We’re hoping (we really are) we’re hoping for this one. Let the MCU cry Uncle. Let them cry Kingpin. It’s time for Vincent D’Onofrio to give everyone a Christmas miracle. 

Hawkeye streams on Disney+ every Wednesday.