‘Echo’ Season 1 Review: “A Shift in MCU Television”
Now more than ever, the Marvel Cinematic Universe needs a course correction. Marvel Studios has started to seemingly buckle under the weight of its continuity as more projects kept adding to the vast lore, especially in their television productions. Whether that lore is compelling or not is up for debate. A change of pace is needed for the MCU and its projects to remain relevant and engaging, shedding a different light on their stories and making them individualistic rather than part of a machine.
There’s a sense of urgency in the air when watching Echo. This newly minted TV-MA series is significant not only because of its tonal shift but also its structural difference compared to other Disney+ projects. From the first 3 (of only 5!) episodes, Echo plays out much more episodically than the “six-hour movies” or “six-part event” series that came before it. As engaging as WandaVision or The Falcon and the Winter Solider were at times, the way they were written and edited sometimes led the so-called “series” to drag like a poorly paced movie instead of the television show it should’ve been.
When you factor in the lack of writers’ room, series bibles, or showrunners, it’s clear where the problem lies. Thankfully, Echo feels like a shift in the future of MCU television. Each episode has a similar structure with cohesive openings and endings that never feel out of place. Under the new “Marvel Spotlight” banner, Echo tells the story of Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) fresh out of the events of Hawkeye. Unfortunately, that’s when Echo puts some of its shortcomings on display.
Much of the first episode is dedicated to recapping; thus, a lot of the runtime is reused footage from different episodes of Hawkeye. It’s not the worst thing, but the haphazard splicing of old footage between newly shot scenes by an entirely different creative team makes the premiere episode tonally jarring. However, there’s still plenty to appreciate in the new content. Maya’s family is at the heart of Echo and makes more of an impact than any TV-MA rating would.
READ: ‘Reacher’ Season 2 Review – Reacher is Back with a Bang
Despite the tonally jarring reuse of footage from a previous series, Echo uses it to reinforce themes regarding the sins of the father and the reckoning of Maya’s own sins all coming to a head at once. Instead of the streets of New York, Echo moves its setting to Tamaha, Oklahoma. With a mythical and provocative opening scene that reels viewers in, Maya’s homecoming story embraces Choctaw culture in its imagery and soundtrack.
One of the most significant aspects of Echo’s marketing campaign was its TV-MA rating, which I feel isn’t as integral or essential as Maya’s heritage and the incredibly charming supporting cast. While there are fewer punches pulled and a lot more blood, it doesn’t change the structure or tone of the story if the project were instead TV-14. Echo shines greatly in other aspects of the production with its impressive fight choreography and excellent sound design.
Maya’s hearing impairment plays a big part in the series’ sound design, giving viewers her perspective in the series’ most intense scenes. The sound of silence is used to great effect and helps to grip viewers and make them grow closer to Cox as Maya.
Speaking of Alaqua Cox, her lead performance is the one strong constant that helps keep the show afloat, along with her excellent chemistry with the rest of the cast. Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Cody Lightning, and Devery Jacobs all play off of Cox impressively. Moreover, the emotionally intimate moments between them hit all the harder as the series emphasizes their familial ties that were cut too soon.
The familial ties put in place of Maya’s real ones are much more sinister and unhealthy. Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk is a welcome return with as menacing performance as ever. What makes his turn as the character this time so different is his deeply emotional ties to Maya and his investment in her. It all makes for, at times, disturbing television as Fisk takes advantage of Maya’s impairment to hide his deeds and put himself in a better light to her.
Overall, Echo is a significant improvement when compared to previous MCU television projects. However, there are still some issues with the story due to the short episode order that the writers were working with, resulting in some relationships feeling more strained and less resolved than they should be when all is said and done. Even some odd editing choices stand out in later episodes of the season.
Still, the series has impressive action, a great cast and lead performance, and poignant themes about family. Add to that the diverse representation and the way the story embraces Choctaw and Indigenous culture with its mythical throughline, which is compelling and rewarding. Hopefully, Echo lays the groundwork for future MCU television shows- TV-MA or not- to have a more consistent flow and structure with its own distinct story. – Ernesto Valenzuela