Why That Major Hawkeye Episode 4 Cameo Is So Significant - /Film

Although the reveal should not have come as much of a shock considering her casting was announced in the trades over a year ago, today's fourth episode of Marvel Studios' "Hawkeye" brought back everyone's favorite ex-Black Widow Yelena Belova, as played by the always amazing Florence Pugh ("Midsommar," "Little Women").

Given Val's murky agenda it's uncertain exactly what her aim is in siccing Yelena on Clint, but based on her brief appearance in episode 4 it might not be as cut-and-dry as an assassination.

This may simply be Val's circuitous way of initiating an alliance between the two of them, as evidenced by the fact that a master assassin like Yelena didn't simply take Clint out.

It's even possible that Yelena has done her homework on this already and is merely testing Clint in this episode, but what happens once she inevitably becomes one of the good guys? 

Clearly Marvel has been positioning Pugh to take up the ScarJo mantle as the new Black Widow, and even Barton refers to her as a "Black Widow assassin." It is entirely possible that after the big explosive showdown of the "Hawkeye" series that she and Kate Bishop could become new besties (after Kate compliments her vest, naturally) and start forming up a female-centric Young Avengers-type squad alongside forthcoming heroes She-Hulk, Ms

That seems extra likely given the symbolism of all those characters following in the footsteps of more established Marvel heroes like Iron Man, Hulk, Captain Marvel, Black Widow and, of course, Hawkeye. She could also become an actual bonafide Avenger, in whatever post-Tony Stark form that winds up taking