Set during the holidays, Hawkeye plays into its theme in a number of subdued ways, both physically and emotionally. In the finale of this six-episode series, the Christmas tree is almost the third main character. Because, after all, a Christmas tree stands before everyone and everything else. If I were an overly sappy person who loves corny metaphors, I'd say that the tree is a beacon of hope (and light) for those who look up at it, much like a lighthouse would for the boats below. In the dark of night, it's always there. But then suddenly, the tree falls. Oh, and the tree also happens to be the tree—you know, the one smack dab in the middle of Rockefeller Center.
In the series' short run, it has established a pretty solid following and has been received extremely well, with a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an overall feeling from fans that the series is just nailing everything perfectly. The rapport between Barton and Bishop is natural, as it never seems like a forced pairing between the two. Sure, they're very different in terms of their personalities, but each person's differences end up elevating the other.
In this episode specifically, it's easy to tell that Barton doesn't view Bishop as just some girl who's good at shooting arrows—there's more to her than that. In that sense, he begins to view her more so as an equal rather than as a kid.