Warning: This article contains  SPOILERS for the Hawkeye season 1 finale.

Though the post-credits scene for Hawkeye episode 6, “So This Is Christmas?” would offer. Unfortunately, the results were greatly different from what MCU audiences had come to expect, thus prompting a wave of disappointment.

There was certainly no shortage of options for what the Hawkeye season finale’s post-credits scene could have entailed. It was already previously confirmed that Maya Lopez, a.k.a. Echo (Alaqua Cox), would be getting her own MCU spin-off series. That said, the Hawkeye end-credits scene could have offered a more direct and less ambiguous set-up. Equally, the return of Vincent D’onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin, marked the start of the Marvel/Netflix shows somewhat intersecting with the main MCU. Therefore, Hawkeye’s post-credits could have continued that trend with a Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Related: Hawkeye: Is Kingpin Really Dead?

By Hawkeye’s end, Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) and Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) finally enjoyed Christmas with his family. Afterward, the post-credits instead treated viewers to an extended reprise of Rogers: The Musical. Unfortunately, the word “treated” was kind of a misnomer. While many undoubtedly appreciated it, it was largely viewed as underwhelming and a disappointment. That was, in no way, a reflection on the actors playing the Broadway versions of the MCU heroes. They each gave it their all and delivered it well. It was simply devoid of a point. This was largely due to the fact that the MCU’s post-credits scenes usually tease or directly set up the franchise’s future. In the case of the Easter egg-packed Hawkeye episode 6, “So This Is Christmas,” it brought things to a screeching halt despite its uplifting message.

Hawkeye Rogers Musical continues hawkeyes phase 1 insult

Of course, not every MCU post-credits scene has been about setup. The one in Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) somewhat played such a foil role in the Hawkeye show.

Instead, Hawkeye’s post-credits return to Rogers: The Musical went for earnestness over anything else. Even that, however, could have been elevated by such as Yelena or even Old Cap (Chris Evans) shown to be watching, with a distinctly separate reaction to Hawkeye and his family. All in all, it ended up being a missed opportunity at best and self-indulgent at worst. The only cameo it offered was one that very few would recognize without taking to Google and the like.

Making matters even worse was the fact that most of the scene had already been glimpsed weeks prior to the ending of the Hawkeye show, thus adding to its redundancy. The offering of an extended version seemed very much a case of “well, we filmed it, so may as well use it.” That was always inevitably going to be disappointing, especially compared to the alternatives. As such, Hawkeye’s post-credits undermined an otherwise fitting conclusion (and perhaps even perfect one befitting a Christmas classic). It will no doubt be frequently skipped during most future MCU rewatches.

More: Hawkeye Season 2: Everything We Know

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