Consider me among the people who wasn’t sure if an Echo spin-off series as a great idea. I enjoyed the Hawkeye TV show probably more than most people, and Echo was a fine antagonist in that series, but she wasn’t exactly a showstealer. And her character isn’t exactly all that popular or well known in the comics. But Marvel do what Marvel do, and we got ourselves an Echo TV show!

TV Show Rating: 6/10 – Pretty Good

In a change from the normal Marvel show on Disney+, all five episodes of Echo were released on the same day. Ultimately, this was a great idea, because those episodes were not meaty enough to warrant week-by-week release. I was able to binge the whole thing over a few nights and I can say I’m pleased with the final product. It’s not as bad as I feared, though it also didn’t do much to warrant existing. Still, there’s more good than bad in the first season of Echo and I wouldn’t mind seeing more — especially guest starring elsewhere.

Join me after the jump for my review and full thoughts on the Echo TV show! Expect SOME SPOILERS for the show, and feel free to share your own thoughts in the comments below.

6. Fine little show

I liked Echo. It’s a fine little 5-episode mini-series about a specific corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the people that inhabit that corner. It’s not the best of the Marvel shows, and it’s not the worst. There is a lot of talk of some behind-the-scenes shakeups, but they don’t impact the show too much. It’s a short, quick little story that gets resolved with some fun fight scenes, character development and action choreography. Nobody is going to remember this show in the long run, but I had fun while watching, and that’s what counts.

Echo found its niche quickly in being focused on a Native American community, its people, its histories and its celebrations. And that worked wonderfully to give the show its own, unique flair. Production worked hand-in-hand with the Choctaw Nation, and it really shows, and it really adds a lot to the show.

5. Characters and world-building were great

The strongest part of Echo was the characters. Echo herself, played by newcomer Alaqua Cox, was awesome! The actor did a great job inhabiting the character and making her even more of an individual than in Hawkeye. The sign language did not hurt the viewing at all, and just serves to make her a more interesting character. She’s great. And the supporting cast is super fun as well. Chaske Spencer was superb as Uncle Henry, a local crime middle man, who did a great job juggling speaking and sign at the same time. Graham Greene was a hoot as the older statesman, and Cody Lightning was perfect as the comedy relief sidekick. The whole cast created a fully lived-in world.

4. Story felt rushed

The cast and characters were great, but the story itself felt rather rushed, heavily edited and almost too low key. Why does Maya return home in the first place? Why do all these people have such reverence for her when she left 20 years ago as a young child? Why does her plan to become the new Queenpin of Crime start in Oklahoma, of all places? And why does that plan stop so suddenly when Kingpin returns? The main character’s motivations weren’t all that great throughout, and then we really rushed into the superhero stuff in the end. She had no time to really learn about or understand her powers. And the costume was especially jarring.

3. Kingpin was obviously great

Obviously, Vincent D’Onofrio returning as Wilson Fisk was a real standout part of the show. He was just as menacing, larger-than-life and perfect as he’s been in everything. Dude is great, Kingpin was great, and it served as a perfect connection to the rest of the MCU, especially the Daredevil corner. What more needs to be said? Other than the Daredevil cameo was also perfect, and wish we got more. Now we just need to wait for Daredevil: Born Again and all will be well in the world.

2. Shoulda had the white handprint

This is a minor nitpick, but such is the point of my blog, right? When Echo suits up in the final episode, why didn’t she put the white handprint over her face like her comic book counterpart? That’s Echo’s logo, essentially. Was there a cultural problem with the white handprint? Was it not really Choctaw? They had facepaint in the flashbacks and at the powwow, so why not give Echo some facepaint? Any facepaint? It would have been really cool.

Also, the costume bugs me. I feel like a lot more work could have been put into its very existence. For one thing, why did the grandmother make it? She didn’t know Maya was coming back. Personally, I feel like she was making it for herself to wear to the powwow, and then Maya took it for herself, then grandma was surprised to see Maya wearing it in the rescue. Also, I feel like the show could have gone a little meta in exploring Maya getting powers and becoming one of the superheroes, complete with a costume.

1. I want Echo to meet other heroes

Like I mentioned, Echo herself was one of the best parts of the show, and now I want her to team up with other superheroes in the universe. I don’t really expect a second season, but she would be great in Daredevil: Born Again as a cameo appearance. She’d be great teaming up with other heroes like Shang-Chi or Moon Knight. I wouldn’t mind another encounter with Hawkeye in an actual superhero capacity. She might be too old for the Young Avengers that Ms. Marvel and Hawkeye are building…but I would still love to see her interact on a larger Avengers-level going forward. Keep her in your rolodex, Marvel, and put her to work!

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