New Adventures Await: Jeremy Renners Hawkeye Takes a Hilarious Turn into the World of LARPing in Episode 2

Hawkeye episode 2 is now available on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar, showcasing the series’ knack for festive entertainment. In the depths of this episode, Jeremy Renner’s character, Hawkeye, indulges in LARPing, which stands for live-action role play. This activity combines elements of cosplay and acting, where participants emulate fictional characters. Given the serious nature of LARPers—many of whom are cops and firefighters—Clint Barton (Renner) has no choice but to engage in this peculiar pastime to sidestep potential conflicts. This part of the episode is delightfully absurd, highlighting what Hawkeye does best: plopping a serious superhero into ridiculous, laugh-out-loud scenarios he would prefer to avoid.

Meanwhile, Hawkeye episode 2 begins to provide glimpses of its villains and anti-heroes. Toward the episode’s conclusion, we get a fleeting introduction to Maya Lopez, also known as Echo (Alaqua Cox). The episode hints at her hearing impairment and echoes her comic book counterpart, who can replicate anyone’s movements—similar to Taskmaster/ Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko) from the Scarlett Johansson-starring Black Widow. There’s a suggestion of intrigue surrounding Eleanor’s fiancé, Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton), who appears to have hidden swordsmanship skills. Throughout the episode, Kate repeatedly confronts Jack about the truth while trying to reach Clint, even though he warned her he would block her if she contacted him.

Episode 2 of Hawkeye, titled “Hide and Seek,” directed by Rhys Thomas and penned by Elisa Climent, resumes the story from episode 1, placing us in an alley with Kate (Hailee Steinfeld) and Clint (Jeremy Renner). In response to Clint’s question about her identity, Kate introduces herself as Kate Bishop, to which Clint replies, “You’re just a kid.” With the police en route, they retreat to Kate’s apartment, where she changes out of the Ronin outfit as their conversation unfolds. Kate discloses that she is 22 years old and shares how she acquired the suit (through a black-market auction). She requests Clint to autograph her bow, but he is focused and serious at the moment.

Clint inquires if anyone could link Kate to the suit, referencing the “Tracksuit Mafia” (his words) that had tracked her to Armand III’s residence. Confident of her anonymity, Kate reassures him, but they’re interrupted by noises from outside—the Tracksuit Mafia must have traced her back to her apartment. Kate mentions that her name is on the intercom as the Tracksuit Mafia announces their presence by bombarding the place with Molotov cocktails.

Also seeHawkeye Episode 1 Recap: Kate Bishop Joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton in Hawkeye episode 2
Photo Credit: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios

As the situation escalates with fire engulfing the apartment, Clint and Kate manage to escape with the dog but leave behind the Ronin suit. Later, at a convenience store in Hawkeye episode 2, whilst Clint purchases medical supplies, Kate pokes fun at his Avengers affiliations. So when Clint mentions needing to “stash” her somewhere safe, Kate suggests the Avengers Tower, to which Clint reminds her that Tony (Stark/Iron Man) sold it years ago.

Instead, Kate brings them to her aunt’s house, where her aunt is away in Florida for the winter. Clint leaves her there with instructions to tend to her injuries before heading back to retrieve the Ronin suit. Disguised as an employee of the FDNY, he attempts to enter but can’t locate the suit. Just as he’s about to leave in disappointment, he spots a NY LARPers badge on the firetruck’s window, indicating that one of the firefighters is involved in LARPing, which is like cosplay but with more interactive elements.

Clint subsequently returns to Kate’s aunt’s apartment in Hawkeye episode 2, where he gives her a lesson on treating wounds, a rare occurrence in Marvel content, especially given how often characters find themselves in perilous situations. Afterward, they go to bed, but not before Clint searches for NY LARPers online. Conveniently, he discovers that the firefighter is showcasing his newly acquired Ronin suit in an Instagram story.

The following morning, Clint visits the hotel to say goodbye to his family, who are leaving without him. His daughter, Lila Barton (Ava Russo), senses something amiss, noting the cut on his forehead. Clint assures her he will be fine, but Lila makes him promise he’ll return for Christmas. The plot then circles back to Kate’s aunt’s apartment, where Kate learns about Armand III’s murder on the news, with reports of someone matching the Ronin’s description seen nearby. Since Clint has now made headlines twice in just 24 hours, he urges Kate to stay put, but she insists she needs to visit her mother.

As they venture out in Hawkeye episode 2, Clint instructs Kate to stay on his left side to hear her better, which is his hearing-aid side. Curious about his injury, Kate prompts a montage of Clint’s accidents throughout his time as an Avenger, filled with loud explosions and broken glass. Clint dismissively claims it’s a long story.

Also seeHawkeye review: Is Marvel’s Breezy Christmas Series Too Light-Weight?

As they walk through Times Square in Hawkeye episode 2, a conversation unfolds when Kate mistakes a woman dressed as an archer for Hawkeye. Clint quips that she’s actually Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, which feels like an ongoing joke among the writers: “Isn’t Kate basically Katniss?” Kate points out that Clint lacks branding, to which he replies that he isn’t looking to sell anything. Kate counters, “That’s your issue; you’re too understated. People crave authenticity.” Clint maintains, “I’m really not trying to sell anything.” Unperturbed, Kate asserts, “But you are; you’re selling inspiration.” She reflects her own feelings from Hawkeye episode 1, yet Clint isn’t interested in pursuing the discussion.

Upon arriving at Kate’s mother’s security firm office, Clint indicates that this is basically farewell if all goes according to plan. However, considering this is episode 2 of 6, the expectation is that things won’t go smoothly. Nonetheless, he exchanges contact numbers with Kate for emergencies only, to which she protests that he hasn’t taught her anything. Clint retorts that he showed her how to tend to injuries.

Inside the office, Kate reunites with her mother, Eleanor (Vera Farmiga), and her fiancé, Jack (Tony Dalton). Kate’s demeanor is somewhat hostile towards Jack, who analyzes her behavior in a rather psychological manner, expressing, “She feels unsettled regarding me and is testing our new relationship. She craves my approval yet wants to set strong boundaries.” Jack reveals he has read a book on being a stepdad, prompting a sarcastic, “Money well spent,” from Kate. In an attempt to defuse the tension, Eleanor invites Kate to dinner with the condition that Jack will be cooking. Kate agrees but insists that she will be in charge of conversation topics.

In another subplot of Hawkeye episode 2, Clint aims to retrieve the Ronin suit from the LARPer he encountered earlier. However, with the community engaged in LARPing, Clint must comply with their rules or wait until midnight to reclaim the suit. He reluctantly decides to participate in LARPing, which provides some comical moments as he avoids disclosing personal information during registration. He then rolls his eyes at the “weapons” they provide him, humorously noting he’s an Avenger and doesn’t need them.

As Clint enters the LARP area, which is full of simulated dueling, he bypasses most participants to confront the individual (Clayton English) who took the suit. Clint presents him with two options: either fake dying while he takes the suit or endure a real punch. The guy attempts to negotiate, suggesting they could simulate a kill and in return, Clint could take the suit. With a sigh, Clint mutters, “I fought Thanos,” and offers himself up as a target. However, the suitor insists on a realistic trial by combat. Clint’s casual claim about battling Thanos is a bit misleading since he sat out most of Avengers: Infinity War for family reasons. The only notable event was at the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, where countless heroes clashed.

Also seeAll You Need to Know About Hawkeye on Disney+ Hotstar

Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton in Hawkeye episode 2
Photo Credit: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios

In Hawkeye episode 2, Kate resumes messaging Clint with random thoughts despite his emergency-only request. She then receives a call from Detective Caudle (Ivan Mbakop) at the NYPD, who inquires about her whereabouts during the apartment fire. Initially hesitant, she claims she was at work but is asked to report to the station the next morning.

Returning to the LARPing scene in Hawkeye episode 2, Clint’s trial by combat has attracted an audience. He improvises in the duel and allows his opponent to take him down. Later, Grills (English) reintroduces himself and returns the suit, expressing he had the time of his life. Clint admits he can’t say the same, yet concedes he enjoyed himself.

As Clint secures the suit in a lockbox in Hawkeye episode 2, he contacts his wife, Laura (Linda Cardellini), informing her that he won’t make his scheduled flight today because he needs to investigate the extent of the Tracksuit Mafia’s operations. Laura reminds him of his five-day deadline to keep his promise to Lila.

The narrative shifts to the Bishop family dinner, where Kate and Jack discuss his passion for swords. Jack casually claims, “I dabble,” to which Kate poses a specific question that surprises him, indicating her expertise. Claiming to be a two-time state champion, she challenges him to a fencing match. Eleanor intervenes, but Jack is intrigued, and they start setting up to spar in the lobby. However, Jack appears to be taking it easy, leading to Kate’s consistent victories. When she asks him why he’s not fighting back, he remains tight-lipped. Kate accuses him of hiding something, and he humorously admits to Eleanor that he was downplaying his expertise. Following that exchange, Kate asserts to her mother that she has enough evidence to suspect Jack is being deceptive.

This sequence in Hawkeye episode 2 seems to foreshadow a significant revelation regarding Jack, while Eleanor expresses disappointment over Kate’s treatment of him. Kate further emphasizes the oddity of Armand III’s death by sword on the same night he threatened Eleanor in Hawkeye episode 1, questioning the annual sword-related deaths in New York. Eleanor acknowledges the peculiarity but trusts the police will investigate, urging Kate to refrain from further probing. Though Jack enters at that moment, Eleanor implores Kate to focus on her own future plans of graduating and working at Bishop Security full time, which makes her visibly unhappy.

Also seeFrom Hawkeye to Dhamaka, What to Watch in November

[IMAGE_4]

Tony Dalton as Jack Duquesne in Hawkeye episode 2
Photo Credit: Disney/Marvel Studios

Finally, Eleanor instructs Kate to apologize to Jack, which she cleverly disobeys. Jack then hands her a butterscotch candy, imprinted with “Armand III,” reminiscent of the one Kate saw in Armand’s residence during Hawkeye episode 1. This gesture raises suspicions that Jack may have links to Armand’s demise. This subtly hints at Jack’s potential role as a significant antagonist as the series progresses.

Hawkeye episode 2 then focuses on Clint, who has intentionally allowed himself to be captured to trace the Tracksuit Mafia’s hierarchy. Meanwhile, Kate, having left home, attempts to contact Hawkeye. When he doesn’t answer the first time, she grows anxious and calls again, only to have someone else respond, suggesting he might be in danger. Unfazed by this, Clint has successfully infiltrated the Tracksuit Mafia’s warehouse, leading to a humorous scene where they attempt to interrogate him, but he remains entirely unbothered by their threats.

Clint’s sarcastic comment about their location being “nice” prompts a defensive reaction from one of their number, who bemoans the difficulty of securing such premises as they discuss gentrification. The tension escalates when the boss, Ivan (Aleks Paunovic), demands to know Kate Bishop’s whereabouts. Clint responds that he is unfamiliar with her, insisting he merely wants to speak with their leader. The mafia members assert their control, but Clint easily frees himself from his restraints, revealing their incompetence.

As the Mafia members draw their weapons on him, Clint appears wholly unaffected. However, just as the scenario is about to evolve, Kate crashes in from above, crashing through a window, clumsily highlighting her lack of experience. The Tracksuit Mafia members delight in having captured both Clint and Kate, restraining them again as Kazi (Fra Fee) from Hawkeye episode 1 approaches.

Meanwhile, Ivan steps into another room to confront his boss (Alaqua Cox), who appears to have hearing difficulties, communicating through sign language and feeling the vibrations of a speaker. Hawkeye episode 2 concludes on her enigmatic face, leaving her identity unclear. However, knowledge of her character, Maya Lopez, and her moniker, Echo, is available to viewers through the episode credits. With the ability to mimic anyone’s movements akin to Taskmaster in Black Widow, and with Marvel announcing a spinoff based on her, it’s apparent that Maya will play a pivotal role in the remaining episodes, further clarity of which will come with Hawkeye episode 3 next week.

Hawkeye episode 2 is currently streaming on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar, with new episodes released every Wednesday at approximately 1:30 PM IST / 12 AM PT.

Also seeHawkeye to Release on Disney+ Hotstar in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English