Marvel’s Echo has some stumbles, but that doesn’t hold it back from delivering a heartfelt character story that’ll leave you wanting more.
Marvel’s Echo
Directed By: Sydney Freeland, Catriona McKenzie
Starring: Alaqua Cox, Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Cody Lightning, Vincent D’Onofrio
Release Date: All Episodes Streaming on Hulu and Disney+ January 9, 2024
It seems silly to have to point out, but I can’t emphasize enough the fact this is very much Maya Lopez’s story. Marketing made sure to let everyone know Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk and Charlie Cox’s Daredevil would appear. Echo is NOT about them, however, rather how they impact and shape the person Maya ultimately becomes. If you’re expecting something other than an ECHO-centric character story, well, I can’t help you…
A Great Spotlight
Echo picks up Maya Lopez’s story following the events of Hawkeye (where she initially debuted as a side-villain). Having supposedly killed the Kingpin, she returns to her family in Oklahoma in order to both heal from her wounds and plan out what she intends to do next.
As she reconnects with certain family members and enacts some (possibly foolhardy) plans, it becomes clear the threat of Fisk’s empire could put the only family she has left in grave danger. While this current day story plays out, we’re treated to some flashbacks of Maya’s past, showing how she grew up, dealt with her training, and showcased more of her work/relationship with Fisk.
I’m being purposely vague here because I’m trying to avoid spoilers. The story itself is definitely much smaller in scale than some of the other MCU shows, and “simple” for lack of a better word. As such, talking too much about it will take away the fun.
That said, Echo definitely fulfills that promise of being more grounded and street-level. It very much has the vibe of the Netflix Daredevil show in both the action and style. The result is something the feels familiar while making something new.
There are some great action beats in the show that highlight Maya’s skills (even without powers) while giving plenty of “holy shit” moments to enjoy. Where the show shines brightest, however, is in the characters. The entire cast does an impressive job. Every character has their unique quirks and personality, which makes them fully feel alive. Even minor characters we only see a couple times feel like more than simple set dressing. Their mannerisms and demeanor gives you a sense of the lives they live beyond their meager screentime.
This infuses the show with a significant amount of heart from all involved. Even when the story has it’s stumbles (more on that shortly), the characters made me invested in those action scenes on a deeper level.
For all of Maya’s stubborness and questionable deeds, it’s nearly impossible to dislike Alaqua Cox and everything she does to bring this character to life. She’s perfect as Maya/Echo and I can’t wait to see her more down the road. Biscuits (Cody Lightning), however, is probably my favorite character and manages to unseat She-Hulk‘s Madisynn (Patty Guggenheim) as the best normal/rando person in the MCU.
The Chopping Block
By and large, I greatly enjoyed Echo. I held off on reviewing the show (despite seeing the first three episodes early), because it was clear the final episodes would make or break the show overall. In this way, Marvel dropping all the episodes at once for binge-viewing, was a very smart call. It’s a simpler story that works significantly better all together.
In some ways…that’s an issue. Mostly because it’s obvious the show wasn’t always set up to be a more simple/direct story; at least not in the way it turned out. Taken on their own, the first few episodes feels like the show doesn’t exactly know what it wants to be. You can see hints of a bigger-scale story, but those elements feel at odds with the smaller character focus it’s going for. As such, it feels like you’re more than half-way through before understanding the story the show is telling.
Echo was originally announced as a six-episode series like most of the MCU shows on Disney+. Then it was cut down to be five episodes and it’s obvious to see how it was chopped up at several points.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing generally speaking, but it does make some of the overall pacing feel choppy. The first episode in particular feels like a clip show cobbled together in a way specifically designed to get audiences who skipped Hawkeye up to speed.
Culture Shock
Here’s the thing. There are definitely legit critiques to be made about the execution of certain story elements in Echo. I love it despite the imperfections. As I’ve read some reviews from some of my peers, however, some of the criticisms feel more about a cultural disconnect. Lemme, explain.
It’s important to understand, Maya’s Native heritage is the story. It’s not about what she does next, or even how she fits into the larger MCU. Echo is a show about Maya coming to understand the necessity of her true family and cultural roots. Obviously, Maya isn’t estranged from her Native heritage in the sense we typically see play out in media (the big-city kid who’s never been on the Rez trope). In following Fisk and his lies, however, she’s lost her way and deeper connection to her ancestors.
Essentially, Echo is about a Native reclaiming her family/culture from the white man who molded her into something he wanted, because he “knows what’s best.” As far as analogies go, this one can’t be more blatant. It’s not a story many would have expected, and I suspect this cultural gap might play a role in some of the complaints I’ve seen lobbied at it.
In that same vein, I think some of the issues about the story/characterizations I’ve seen going around from my peers (and others online) boil down to being a cultural thing. Not that something is necessarily an issue with the storytelling, but because it’s so rooted in Native culture, it feels off to others watching. Since I’m trying to avoid spoilers, I won’t dive into specific instances here
Sure, one could argue that’s a failing of the show in not explaining that cultural aspect, but at the same time…When do we ask other shows to do that when it focuses on non-minority groups? Is it more difficult to connect to people acting naturally on a Reservation than it is to a bunch of white people in a big city living in apartments there’s no way they could afford (just about any sitcom from the 90s)?
Stunning Native Representation
I figured it would be better to talk about the cultural elements all together in one section rather than sprinkling it here and there throughout. Mostly because this aspect of the show is so incredibly well done, it’s worth singling out.
Honestly, I’m not even sure where to begin here, as the examples are endless. Suffice it say, Echo brings the most modern/accurate depiction of Native life on the Rez in a major media franchise (Reservation Dogs would take the crown generally speaking on TV). It’s hard to put into words, but so much of the show, and how the characters interacted with one another, made it feel like I was back on the Rez myself.
The Powwow that sits at the center of the show’s finale made me immediately “homesick.” I had to miss my own tribe’s Powwow this year due to financial reasons. Seeing one portrayed in Echo made me feel like I was there; nodding my head to the songs, and even catching the scent of frybread in the air…
When it comes to the overall themes of the show, that cultural aspect proves crucial. Maya’s powers manifesting, and her acceptance of them, is a very deliberate way of showcasing the importance of ancestors to Native Americans. Different media has talk about this concept in esoteric terms, mentioned as a way of handwaving things, or even used to discredit people’s instincts. In Echo, however, we see it treated with proper gravitas as the idea—in a very literal way—allows Maya to tap into her powers.
There are a number of instances I can point to, where I found myself thinking, “That’s just like us!” Even being from a different tribe (still within Oklahoma), the similarities are impressive. My favorite example, is Biscuits. A Native with a Blue Heeler dog named “Billy Jack” is perhaps the most Native American thing that’s ever Natived. I literally have family members on the Rez who’ve had Blue Heelers named Billy Jack throughout my life.
Moments like that—and countless smaller ones—is the type of authentic representation that can only come from having people of our culture behind the scenes as well as in front of it. There’s a naturalness to all the interactions and overall vibe that simply can’t be replicated by others not of that culture.
Thankfully, this type of representation on the production side is becoming more common for minority groups in general (we still have a ways to go). The results of this are nothing short of impressive and heartening. It’s hard to put into words how it feels to hear a prominent MCU character utter the word “Choctaw” in a casual sentence. Nor, can I adequately explain the elation I felt at watching an action scene play out to the beat of a traditional Native song.
These elements make a difference for those of us finally seeing the representation play out. For something on the scale of a Marvel story (even a “Spotlight” series), it’s a chance to show our authentic selves to the masses while enhancing the story.
While I would have liked to see the overall plot to have been a little tighter with the pacing issues, there’s no denying the fun I had overall with Echo. It’s a solid kick-off to the “Spotlight” label for Marvel Studios and leaves me excited to see where they go next with it.
