'Echo' Review | Alaqua Cox's stellar performance in Marvel series leaves viewers eager for more
Spoilers for 'Echo'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Disney+ and Hulu have just dropped all the episodes of Marvel's mini-series 'Echo'. American actress, Alaqua Cox plays Marvel's first deaf superhero in its tenth television series.
Echo was first introduced in the 2021 series 'Hawkeye' that featured Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld in the lead.
What is the plot of 'Echo'?
'Echo' follows the story 'Hawkeye' where Maya Lopez shoots her uncle Wilson Fisk/Kingpin upon learning that he was behind her father's murder. She then leaves New York and goes back to Tamaha, Oklahoma after 20 years. During her stay, she traces her Native American Choctaw roots while executing her strategy to take over Fisk's empire.
The five-episodic series with an average run time of 40 minutes gives glimpses of Maya's past in Tamaha and New York. The death of her mother, abandonment by her grandmother, and her life in isolation and violence after Fisk took her under his wings, such frequent flashbacks into Maya's traumatic past establish a strong premise.
Fisk recovers from the gun wound and follows Maya to Tamaha. He is ready to forgive her and also offers her to be the 'Queenpin'. Meanwhile, Maya realizes that she has been manipulated by him over the years and declines his offer.
Fisk kidnaps Maya's cousin and grandma to get to Maya. During the final face-off, Maya realizes her superpower and helps Fisk overcome his traumatic memories. Maya emerges more than a warrior with special powers bestowed upon her by her Chocktaw ancestors.
From Alaqua Cox's edgy action sequences to Cody Lightning's comedy, 'Echo' delivers stellar performances
Alaqua Cox, who comes without an acting background, delivers a stellar performance. After her debut in the 2021 series 'Hawkeye', she nailed her own spin-off to emerge as a superstar for indigenous and underrepresented communities.
Alaqua's physical disabilities don't come in the way of her performing edgy action sequences. From being a trained warrior to exploring her vulnerable side, Alaqua does justice to Maya Lopez's character arc.
Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin has already proved his mettle in 'Daredevil'.
Chaske Spencer as Henry "Black Crow" Lopez, Tantoo Cardinal as Chula, and Devery Jacobs as Bonnie deliver healthy performances while Cody Lightning as Biscuits comes out as a comic relief.
Brownie points to 'Echo' for apt usage of ASL
For the regular Marvel audience, the first two episodes come out as a bit too slow. However, for those who haven't followed the previous MCU releases, the makers set enough premise to understand Maya and Kingpin's background.
The sound design, switching between silence and sound during the fight sequences, gives the audience a chance to have Maya's perspective on the situation. The use of American Sign Language (ASL) has never been so smooth in a mainstream film/series which gives the makers some brownie points.
The action is edgy but limited. The narrative is just limited to Maya experiencing the mysterious visions and trying to establish a connection with her present.
With the series being wrapped up in just five episodes, the possibility of developments around other characters (like her mother and grandmother) gets limited.
Marion Dayre, the creator of 'Echo', surprises you as the story unfolds. The climax is unusual, something that you wouldn't have expected.
Overall, the series will keep you invested till the end. Moreover, don't miss out on the fascinating action encounter between Echo and Daredevil.