‘Echo’ Review – The MCU Has Hit A Growth Spurt

Echo isn’t simply Marvel’s newest show in a long line of television entries; no, this one is big. In the midst of a ton of questions fans are (rightfully) asking generally regarding the future of the franchise, Marvel teased an answer with Echo’s viral teaser last year. Just a few months later, the series’ full release is upon us, and beyond fan-favorite returning characters, we’ve got a whole new group of people to meet. It’s safe to say that, at least as far as the first three episodes are concerned, Echo has plenty to satisfy fans’ worries about their long-loved cinematic universe.

Right off the bat, the leads are insatiable. Alaqua Cox returns in strides after her short yet impactful debut in Hawkeye, immediately commanding the first episode with a hearty main character energy; a through-line that outlines the episodes to come. Vincent D’Onforio is, of course, magnificent also. As usual, his Kingpin hasn’t missed a beat. He crashes onto the scene and operates on the edge of shadows, constantly falling in and out when things get hairy, only reappearing at the most inopportune time for all involved aside from himself. The supporting cast rules as long as they’re on screen; Chaske Spencer and K. Devery Jacobs take a bit to get involved but bring life to their characters with a seasoned ease. The cast rules, through and through.

The show begins with a sense of cautious unfamiliarity; not even the comfort of the tenured Marvel Cinematic Universe can ward off feelings of tension. A strong opening (and really, the first episode on the whole) capitalizes on this, lending itself to the heat and making a statement off the bat. It had to; as Marvel’s first mature-rated anything in this universe, it’s setting a new standard for what that sort of content (which fans have been requesting for years) will look like in the future. Echo isn’t too wild on this front, but it isn’t afraid to get gnarly when necessary, and these moments are fiery, steep moments that set it apart from anything else in the canon very early on. Echo is often straight-up mean, and in the same swing, hard not to adore.

The narrative traces layered conflicts surrounding the life of Maya Lopez (Cox), intertwining the lives of those who otherwise would have never met. Around every corner lies a surprise, and behind every door a closed fist. Maya is estranged, searching for purpose. Both sides are calling to her, and where she ends up may determine a parallel future for the MCU.

Even considering a slower, more questionable second episode, this thing is a lean effort in action entertainment even beyond the fences of Marvel entertainment. The fight scenes are expertly choreographed, with moves unique to each character embodying their styles and personalities; conversations are often as tense as the brawls, and the careful pacing rests at the crux of all the payoffs thus far. It’s just rock-solid stuff from just about every angle.

The main issues that the show does suffer derive from most of what the second episode dwells on. Thin side characters bloat a side plot that could’ve been jammed into either the prior or following episode. Taken with wishy-washy special effects, it’s the closest you’ll come in the first three episodes to checking our watch for time. Yet even then, it’s far from unwatchable.

Of course, there’s still a lot of show left to go, and there’s no telling where it’ll end up in the end. But if the first three episodes are any kind of indication, fans are in for a real treat with Echo; even that unbelievable trailer doesn’t do it full justice. Marvel fans: take this in. A breath of fresh air from a creative standpoint, and pure relief from the perspective of fans who’ve been waiting for the return of this type of content since the third season of Daredevil temporarily finished that era. Not to compare (Daredevil is still unbelievable) but Echo is the closest thing we’ve gotten under the Marvel moniker since. Rejoice.

Echo is now available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFUKnherhuw]