Hawkeye S01E05 “Ronin” (2021)
Written by Jenna Noel Frazier
Directed by Bert & Bertie
Starring (in this scene): Hailee Steinfeld (Kate Bishop/Hawkeye), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova, Black Widow)
Chef’s Note: There are so many layers and details here it is hard to know where to begin. Might as well go in order, shall we?
So let us start with Kate’s impressive aim with a bottle of hot sauce. If Yelena were not a highly-trained combat specialist, I think she’d have gotten a nice imprint of the Sriracha logo smack on her forehead.
And Yelena, being the tactical expert she is, turns this hostile gesture into one of hospitality. Having just made the macaroni and cheese, all she really needed was to find some hot sauce and lo! here’s Kate with a helping hand. How kind and generous of her – thank you! Let’s have some mac & cheese!
Those familiar with Yelena’s background will understand her fondness for mac & cheese.
Although, as Kate notes, one does not need nostalgia to appreciate it’s deliciousness.
And so, after some well-deserved chastisement concerning cutlery: Dinner with the Enemy! What?
While Kate never really lets her guard down, the offer of food and her accepting it allows Yelena the opening to be actually honest with her and to provide a context that challenges a lot of what Kate thinks she knows to be true.
An excellent example of utilizing the happy chemicals et al that pasta produces to de-escalate conflict and facilitate communication. Tactical expert, indeed.
Chef’s Note: Happy Macaroni & Cheese Day!