Echo

As the first series under Marvel Studios’ new Spotlight banner, there’s a lot going on “Echo,” the series that was released at the beginning of the year. Paul Klein said in his review, “Not only is the series hoping to herald a new era of darker, more mature stories for Marvel but also looks to bring attention to a lesser known character from the comic books.”

Having made her debut in the surprising show “Hawkeye,” Maya Lopez aka Echo (Alaqua Cox) gets her own series where she looks to fight against powerful crime boss Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio).

Klein mentioned, “The first two episodes, directed by Sydney Freeland, set out the table early doors. This is going to be a grounded story, more inline with what audiences of the Netflix series got – which helps given there's a hefty dose of Daredevil lore in it.” This is also a story about disability with Maya being both handicap with an amputated let and deaf, along with dealing with Native American culture. The cast are a large number of Native actors, including veteran Academy Award nominee Graham Greene.

The cast are great, especially Greene and Tantoo Cardinal as Lopez’s grandparents. Giving a type of cultural warmth that feels both specific and universal. While Cody Lightning as Maya’s cousin Biscuits is here to give comic relief.

The most interesting aspect that is explored is the history of the Choctaw and their connection to Maya. The first episode sets up a lot, going through the history of Maya and her connection to Fisk and the second gives an opening where the Choctaw take part in a sporting event in the early 1200s that has viewers wanting to watch a historical epic about those people. Klein said, “All of this is to say that the series grounded take pays off many fold when action becomes central.”

The slow building crime war gives plenty for Cox to do, and she carries the show with her serious performance as Lopez. She controls the scenes even when acting with someone as impressive as D’Onofrio, and gives a look into the emotional connection she has with her estranged cousin Bonnie, played by Devery Jacobs.

Klein mentioned, “The action is slick and brutal, a punch-up with another costumed hero and some thugs is particularly good, giving a feeling of pain and space, and Cox is more than prepared for the role. But it's the shows quieter moments where she peels back the layers of Lopez' isolation, how she can't connect to her own family, not because of language but because of pain.”

This is where the series looks like it’s strongest, looking at what it means to be someone who is isolated, who has disconnected with both family chosen and blood family and despite the superhero necessities, the series looks to continue forth looking at what a Native Woman with disabilities means in the modern world. It’s a fantastic start to a new chapter.

This show looked like it was bringing the MCU back on track to what made it so lovable to fans. If you haven’t seen this, see it on Disney+ because you will really get into this show. This is one of the best shows the MCU has put out and I’m looking forward to if they make another season or bring Echo into the films.

Tomorrow I will be looking at a Star Wars show in “Disney Month 2024.”