I think you are right on both accounts. Nobody knew Ronin was Clint in the MCU except Natasha (? I can't remember if it was she). And Hailee Steinfeld is excellent. She has definitely been cast to appear in the movies.
Endgame, Clint is running around as Ronin. Rhodey tells Natasha that there are reports of someone operating in Japan who's tactics sound like Clint. Guy with sword in Japan, who else could it be? She tracks him down there at the speed of plot. It was never clear that the team knew he had even escaped the snap, and it was a pretty flimsy lead. Plot-wise just a quick way to shuffle him back into the deck. Anyway, Nat was the only one who definitely knew, but Rhodey may have figured it out. "Hmm... I mentioned this guy in Japan to Nat and she shows up a few days later with Clint. Must have bumped into him at the shwarma joint on the way to the airport."
I was probably least excited about this out of all the MCU tv shows but I’ve just watched the first two episodes and really enjoyed it. I don’t think that’s just been the triumph of low expectations, it just seemed to hit the ground running a lot more assuredly than eg TFATWS (which was the one I had most been looking forward to). Still marvelling (no pun intended) at the fact that Simon Callow is now part of the MCU!
I like the variety of feel in these series and that they don't feel compelled to deliver wall-to-wall MCU style all the time. I can't find it now but there's an interview where Renner was talking about working with the Director of Photography to evoke a certain feel for New York that he was hoping to bring out.
Spoiler for an upcoming episode that was foreshadowed in the Black Widow movie. Spoiler coded for those who have not seen Black Widow. Spoiler: Upcoming episode The creative team for Hawkeye had to come up with a compelling story reason to Kevin Feige to include Yelena Belovna in the series. The end credit scene in Black Widow was conceived and produced later. https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulta...be-able-to-use-yelena-belova-in-the-show/amp/
We watched the first 2 episodes on Thanksgiving with my parents, and we all really enjoyed them. I love that Clint and his wife are shown as a couple with a good relationship and clear communication. I also think it's great they got the original actors for his older 2 kids. I would've walked out on "Rogers: The Musical" too! Hilariously terrible... until I saw Clint looking at "Nat" onstage. Ow. The LARP bit was great, if far more organized than anything I remember from back in the day! Grills was sweet and I loved his line about why people LARP. I agree that Kate's mom is probably Bad. I think Jack is too, but perhaps they have different agendas. I got a kick out of the "formalizing" of the name "Tracksuit Mafia" - practically every Russian mobster I've seen in movies and TV dress that way! THAT sucks!
I just realized that my entire conception of what LARP is came 100% from that "Lightning Bolt! Lightning Bolt!" video.
A novel I read years back had a group of the Russian Mobsters labelled as The Sportsmen because they all dressed that way. Can't recall who it was by though
I'm not sure it was even that formal (ie, using that book & rules as opposed to just mucking about), but they could've technically been playing that.
Just finished watching the first two episodes. I really enjoyed it, even if I'm not sure if the episode 2 cliffhanger is supposed to mean anything at this point. I liked the chemistry between Renner and Stienfeld, and I really enjoyed the fencing scene.
It was True Grit and The Edge of Seventeen that got me interested in Steinfeld. The reason I'm watching this series is because I think she's one of my favorite underrated actresses. This is a different role from what I've seen her in, and it's only been 2 episodes so far. Hopefully she grows into the role.
The show says that Ronin has not been seen in years, but it is now supposed to be only a year after Endgame. When was Clint recruited in Endgame?