While fans loved newcomer Hailee Steinfeld and her portrayal of Kate Bishop in the Hawkeye series, there were some big cameos that got fans pretty excited. Not only was the big bad of the series confirmed to be none other than Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk (aka Kingpin), but Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova made several appearances in the second half of the series.
Both cameos were incredible in many different ways, causing fans to struggle with choosing which cameo was their favorite. While fans would have also loved a Spider-Man or Daredevil cameo, seeing Yelena again was a lot of fun, and introducing Kingpin has some major implications for the future of the MCU.
8 Yelena Belova: Her Personality Is So Much Fun
Despite being a Russian spy, Yelena has a radiant personality with a fun sense of humor. Fans enjoyed her in Black Widow for her clever quips, amazing skills, and interactions with the other characters, and her cameo in Hawkeye was no different.
Even though she was only in the series to try and kill Clint, fans loved every minute of Yelena's screentime because she's such a unique person that can deliver excellent moments of comedic relief. Even when she was interrogating Kate on Clint's whereabouts, Yelena's personality bled through while asking about the sights to see during her first time in the city, all while excitedly dousing the mac and cheese pot with sriracha.
7 Kingpin: He's Poised To Be A Major Villain In The MCU
While Kingpin's threat to Kate and Clint appears to be over, he's still a powerful figure who's expected to be the head of the MCU's criminal underworld – not only in the United States, but potentially in other places like Madripoor, the former Sokovia, and even Wakanda. The MCU has left plenty of loose ends to be tied up by Fisk (or at least Fisk's involvement) in certain situations.
If Marvel decided to make Kingpin Sonny Burch's mysterious benefactor or even reveal him as the true Power Broker, this would situate Mr. Fisk within the MCU as a previously existing overarching threat. While fans are unsure of what happened to Fisk in the finale, they're all but sure they'll see Fisk's looming figure in future properties.
6 Yelena Belova: Her Chemistry With Kate Bishop Has Fans Excited
Almost every interaction between Kate and Yelena had fans smiling, which was mostly due to their hilarious banter. Not only did they have great conversations, but they made pretty good sparring partners as well, even if they were likely both holding back.
Kate and Yelena appear to be on different trajectories when it comes to what new superhero team they may join. However, even if they end up on different teams, fans are expecting more interactions between these two. Considering the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy came together to defeat a common foe, it's expected that future teams will come together on multiple occasions, providing fans with more incredible scenes featuring Kate Bishop and Yelena Belova.
5 Kingpin: D'Onofrio Brings The Same Intensity To The Character That He Did On Netflix
While it's still unclear whether or not the Marvel Netflix series is going to be retconned to become MCU canon, Vincent D'Onofrio's portrayal of Wilson Fisk in Hawkeye is as intense and unsettling as it was in Daredevil. According to D'Onofrio, he is playing the same character regardless of what's considered canon and fans certainly appreciated the intensity he brought back to the role.
Even during calm scenes where Kingpin was simply having a conversation with Kazi or Eleanor, the tension in the room could be cut with a knife. The topics being discussed were sensitive as they dealt with murder and racketeering, although D'Onofrio could have made a conversation about ice cream seem intimidating the way his Kingpin controlled a room.
4 Yelena Belova: Keeps Natasha & Her Sacrifice Relevant
Even though half of the original six Avengers are dead and/or gone, they are still kept alive in the MCU through other means. Having Yelena around is a great way of reminding fans how important Natasha was in the MCU, while also continuing to add depth to Yelena's character and story.
The heart-to-heart conversation between Yelena and Clint in the series finale really pulled on the heartstrings of MCU fans, especially Black Widow fans. Perhaps Yelena finally knowing the truth and understanding the sacrifice her sister made will put her on the path to becoming a true hero.
3 Kingpin: He Opens The Door To Plenty Of Other Characters & Stories
Wilson Fisk was a compelling villain for Hawkeye and Kate. However, Kingpin is more commonly associated with several other characters from the Marvel comics taxonomy. Two of the biggest characters Fisk is often thwarted by are Daredevil and Spider-Man.
Considering Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Marvel appears to be setting the stage for these three to interact. Even though no one knows Peter is Spider-Man, Spider-Man is still fighting crime in New York City, where Fisk appears to be headquartered. There have also been rumors swirling around about a potential Season 4 of Daredevil, which would surely provide Fisk with plenty of opportunities to fight his favorite foe.
2 Yelena Belova: Her Flashbacks Provided Additional Perspective On The Snap
Almost every property in Phase 4 has provided additional information on the events of the Snap. During a flashback scene in Hawkeye, fans are shown how Yelena processed being dusted and then being returned in real-time. For her it was instantaneous, but she quickly noticed the room around her shifting and changing from what it was when she left to was it became before she returned.
This incredible scene of cinematography provided fans with a new perspective on the Blip that they really hadn't been seen before. While fans saw Monica Rambeau rematerialize in the hospital in WandaVision, she was too concerned about her mother to care about what was happening around her. Yelena's Blip experience was a wild one and fans are certainly hoping for more blanks to be filled in as Phase 4 continues.
1 Kingpin: He Was A Terrifying Villain Despite Being (Presumably) Only Human
Wilson Fisk is a villain, and as such, he should be feared by the common folk. However, he's even feared by his own lieutenants and underlings, most likely due to his short fuse and penchant for revenge. Part of the fear is likely a result of his radiating intensity, but he's also an insanely strong person.
Not only did he toss Kate around like a ragdoll – and presumably survive a gunshot to the face – but he also got hit by a car and a "way too dangerous" arrow, yet walked away relatively unharmed. Fisk's ability to endure tons of damage while dishing out massive blows makes him an incredibly terrifying villain. Pair that with his vast resources and his army of underlings and he makes for a truly sinister foe for the future heroes of the MCU.