Echo is the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but unlikely most MCU projects this story is much more street-level. The show premiered, in it’s entirety, on January 9, 2024 on Disney+ and Hulu.
Echo follows the journey of Maya Lopez, a deaf Native American woman who is being pursued by Wilson Fisk’s organization. The show’s setting is mostly in her hometown in Oklahoma, where she tries to come to terms with her past and reconnect with her roots. One thing that immediately stood out to me was the great use of sign language in the show. The dialogue was seamlessly translated, and the use of sign language felt authentic and respectful. It’s great to see a superhero show that is inclusive of the deaf community.
The show has tons of action, making it entertaining to watch. The fighting and action scenes were a spectacle, and the stunt work was impressive. Fans of street-level crime shows will definitely enjoy this one. However, as much as I enjoyed the show, it still feels lacking. It’s not as good as some of the other Marvel shows like Hawkeye or Loki. Although Maya Lopez made her debut in Hawkeye, her story in Echo didn’t quite live up to our expectations.
All in all, the show had some fascinating moments, but in the end failed to meet expectations. The show was only five episodes long, which was appropriate because the plot didn’t need more episodes. The show’s story was simple and easy to follow, which made it better for people who wanted a quick watch. But I feel like the story was missing something.
Echo is the latest show to drop on Disney+ and while it was worth the watch, it fails to live up to Hawkeye or the Netflix Daredevil series. It’s still enjoyable to watch and has an inclusive approach with its depiction of deaf culture.
Echo was created by Marion Dayre as the tenth television series in the MCU, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise, and a spin-off of the series Hawkeye. Dayre and Amy Rardin serve as head writers and Sydney Freeland leads the directing team.
Alaqua Cox reprises her role as Maya Lopez / Echo from Hawkeye, with Chaske Spencer as Henry, Tantoo Cardinal as Chula, Devery Jacobs as Bonnie, Zahn McClarnon as William Lopez, Cody Lightning as Cousin Biscuits, Graham Greene as Skully, Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk / Kingpin, and Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock / Daredevil also starring.
The entire season of Echo is available now on Disney+ and Hulu.
