WARNING: The following contains spoilers for the first four episodes of Hawkeye, now streaming on Disney+.
The fourth episode of Hawkeye, "Partners, Am I Right?" takes a turn as Clint Barton deals with the grief of his past. Kate Bishop is reminded of the value of family and has a bonding session with Clint, and their discussion of his past makes plenty of references to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the comics that inspired it. The episode also marks the return of a highly anticipated character from a previous film.
From flashbacks of previous films to memes about Thanos, here are all the references and Easter eggs in "Partners, Am I Right?"
Jack Thanks Clint for Saving the World
Episode 3, "Echoes" ended with a cliffhanger when Jack Duquesne caught Clint in the Bishops' apartment. While Eleanor Bishop is questioning Kate about her relationship with Hawkeye, Jack interrupts to thank Clint for saving the world. He doesn't specify which world-ending disaster Clint helped prevent, but he is most likely referring to the events of Avengers: Endgame.
Eleanor Brings Up Black Widow's Death
Eleanor isn't too happy about Kate putting her life in danger to help an Avenger and pulls Clint aside to discuss her worries with him. Clint mentions that Kate is "good at this stuff," but Eleanor reminds him that Natasha Romanoff was highly skilled as well and still died on a mission.
'Thanos Was Right' Coffee Mug
The "Thanos Was Right" slogan has become a recurring Easter egg in Hawkeye. It first came up in the pilot episode when Clint saw the phrase written on a bathroom sink. It appeared again in Kate's aunt's apartment on a purple mug that Clint drinks from in multiple scenes. The popularity of the slogan could hint that many people agreed with Thanos' motives, or just have a dark sense of humor.
Boomerang Arrows
Kate has become fond of Clint's trick arrows, and her suggestion of making a boomerang arrow is a reference to a conversation between the two characters in the comics. In Hawkeye #4, Clint was the one who favored the boomerang arrow while Kate found the idea a bit silly. Their stances on the arrow were swapped around in the show.
The Budapest Operation
Clint and Natasha both brought up their time in Budapest in previous MCU films, and the mystery behind the mission was revealed during a flashback in Black Widow. Clint speaks about it again when Kate pesters him about the best shot he ever took. Clint states that the best shot is the one he didn't take, referring to his decision to recruit Natasha when he was sent to kill her.
Clint's Family Got Blipped
During a heart-to-heart with Kate, Clint speaks about the tremendous loss he felt when his wife and children disappeared during the Blip. He reveals that his transformation into the ruthless vigilante Ronin was his way of dealing with the pain. Up until this point, Clint had managed to avoid telling Kate that he was the Ronin.
Flashbacks to Avengers: Endgame
Clint has been reflecting on the loss he experienced as an Avenger, and this episode of Hawkeye takes a detailed look at his grief through flashbacks. The episode features footage from Endgame, including the moments before Clint's family disappeared, the Ronin attacking criminals in a van and Natasha's last words to Clint before she died.
Kate's Space Dog T-Shirt
Kate sports a t-shirt with the Russian name Laika on it and a graphic that references the dog who went to space. In Matt Fraction's Hawkeye run, Kate can be seen wearing the same shirt with her purple sunglasses. The show has made numerous references to costumes from the comics, and Kate is often dressed in purple clothing to match Hawkeye's color scheme.
Kate's Fall Mirrors Black Widow
Natasha's fall was referenced again in the episode during the fight scene with Echo and the masked assassin. Kate attempts to help Clint fight off his attacker, but she is pushed off the roof of the building. Clint then runs to save Kate and sees her hanging off the side of the building by the rope of his grappling hook. The moment was reminiscent of his attempt to save Natasha when she sacrificed herself by jumping off the cliff on Vormir.
The Return of Yelena Belova
Florence Pugh confirmed that she would make an appearance in Hawkeye months ago, and her character was finally revealed in this week's episode. Clint unmasked the mysterious assassin that attacked him and revealed it to be Yelena Belova, Natasha Romanoff's adoptive sister. Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine recruited Yelena in Black Widow and told her that Clint was responsible for Natasha's death. Her appearance in Hawkeye means serious trouble for Clint, who knows just how dangerous the Black Widows can be.
New episodes of Hawkeye premiere on Disney on Wednesdays.