Why Hawkeye is the MCU’s Ultimate Christmas Show

by

Four years ago, the Marvel Cinematic Universe gave us a fantastic Christmas series with Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld in Hawkeye. While there are many classic Christmas movies like Elf and It’s a Wonderful Life, Christmas TV shows aren’t as common. Despite this, Hawkeye stands out as one of the best Christmas shows ever made.

What makes Hawkeye special is how fully it embraces the Christmas season – unlike many superhero stories that just hint at it. It’s remarkable how quickly the show became a fan favorite, and it’s worth looking into why it was set up to be the ideal Christmas series and why it resonates so well with the holiday spirit.

Hawkeye Is The Most Family-Friendly MCU Show

Marvel movies and shows are generally suitable for all ages. While some explore more serious topics, they almost always receive a PG-13 rating (with Deadpool & Wolverine being the exception) and are made with younger viewers in mind. However, Hawkeye stands out as the most universally appealing MCU show for families, even for those who aren’t big superhero fans, making it the perfect choice for a family movie night.

Shows like Secret Invasion tend to attract a specific audience – probably those already into superhero content. It’s not something most people would necessarily watch with the whole family, especially if some members aren’t fans of the genre. Hawkeye, however, has broader appeal. It draws in not only superhero enthusiasts but also viewers who enjoy action, comedy, or family dramas. Plus, the show is notable for its strong and positive representation of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

Unlike other Marvel shows, Hawkeye feels more like a grounded action thriller than a superhero story. This is mainly because it focuses on Clint Barton and Kate Bishop, who are both ordinary people without superpowers. Even the villains aren’t superpowered—aside from a few sci-fi gadgets, like Yelena’s cuffs. Because of this, Hawkeye is accessible to everyone, and families can enjoy it even if they don’t usually like superhero content.

As a critic, I’ve seen a lot of holiday entertainment, and what struck me about Hawkeye is how broadly appealing it is. Let’s be honest, nobody wants to be stuck watching something they dislike during the holidays! A rom-com might leave the kids bored, and Die Hard always starts a fight about whether it counts as a Christmas movie. But Hawkeye? It genuinely seems to please everyone, and that’s what makes it the ideal show to watch as a family during the festive season.

Unlike Other MCU Shows, Hawkeye Is Endlessly Rewatchable

One of the things I really love about Hawkeye is how rewatchable it is. I actually just finished another viewing while working on this, and even knowing what happens didn’t make it any less enjoyable! While there are definitely surprises, the show isn’t built on them. Interestingly, knowing the twists actually enhanced my experience the second time around, making it even better.

Just a heads-up: I’m about to mention a few minor spoilers. When you rewatch Hawkeye, you start to notice how cleverly the story plants clues for later twists. For instance, the show subtly hints at Eleanor’s true nature and Jack’s innocence right from the beginning, and it’s really cool to see how everything connects once you know the outcome. Things that seemed harmless at first, like Eleanor trying to push Clint away from Kate, become much more meaningful on a second viewing.

Plus, Hawkeye is a short series – only six episodes that are about 45 minutes each. Your family could easily watch the whole thing one afternoon after opening gifts, or spread it out between meals or while deciding what Christmas movie to watch next. Each episode feels like a mini Christmas movie, making it a great addition to your holiday traditions.

Compared to other Marvel TV shows, Hawkeye holds up really well on repeat viewings. Shows like Secret Invasion and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are pretty much one-time watches. Even highly-rated shows like WandaVision and Loki aren’t as enjoyable after you know the plot. Hawkeye, however, remains fun and engaging no matter how many times you watch it.

Why Hawkeye Is The Perfect Marvel Christmas Watch

Hawkeye isn’t just a Marvel series that happens to take place during Christmas; Christmas is actually central to the story. It successfully blends elements from classic holiday films: the action of Die Hard, the humor of Elf, and a heartwarming emphasis on family, all set in New York City.

What really makes Hawkeye special, especially around Christmas, is its characters. Kate is dealing with family issues and doesn’t quite connect with her mother’s new partner, which ties into the show’s focus on family. Clint is also navigating personal challenges – wanting to be a good father and husband while also confronting his difficult past and striving to be a positive role model. It truly feels like these characters were perfectly chosen for a Christmas story.

Everything about Hawkeye feels perfectly suited for the Christmas season. From the show’s setting and core ideas to specific plot points—like Clint’s rush to be home for the holidays—it’s all infused with the spirit of Christmas. In fact, Hawkeye feels more like a Christmas story than a superhero adventure, and it doesn’t just use the holidays as a convenient backdrop.

Hawkeye Has All The Benefits Of A Superhero Show Without Any Of The Downsides

What truly makes Hawkeye a perfect fit for the holidays is that it delivers all the excitement of a superhero story without any of the typical downsides. As part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it boasts a talented cast, a large budget, impressive visual effects, and all the high production values you’d expect. Plus, it offers the action and thrills similar to films like Captain America.

The show Hawkeye really benefits from having a well-established character in Clint Barton, who audiences had already seen develop over nine years of movies. Because of his history, especially his appearances in The Avengers, the show can immediately dive into a complex new story. Other spy shows would have needed to spend time explaining Clint’s background and his relationship with Natasha, but Hawkeye doesn’t have to – it starts right in the middle of the action.

Unlike some superhero shows, Hawkeye is easy to jump into even if you’re not a dedicated fan. You mostly just need to be familiar with the core Avengers films – and recognize a couple of characters like Yelena and Kingpin – to follow the story, which most people are. It doesn’t require a huge time investment to understand what’s happening. Plus, Hawkeye feels more grounded and realistic than many other superhero stories, avoiding overly fantastical or science fiction elements.

Simply put, Hawkeye delivers the quality and depth of a major Marvel project, but it’s also accessible to viewers who aren’t necessarily into superhero films. You don’t need to have watched a ton of other Marvel movies to understand the story, and it avoids feeling childish. Hawkeye manages to capture everything great about the superhero genre while skipping the parts that don’t work, making it an ideal show to watch during the holidays.

Read More

2025-12-03 23:11