It’s always exciting when a supporting character gets their own time to shine. We get to delve into their past, understand the experiences that shaped them, and follow them as they pick up the pieces and plot their next move. This is why Echo landed on most people’s most anticipated series list. After waiting patiently, the five-episode limited series has finally dropped. Marvel’s Echo is a gritty drama packed to the brim with an immersive story centered on Maya Lopez and her grief-stricken path toward vengeance.
Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) was first introduced in Marvel’s Hawkeye series as the head of the Tracksuit Mafia, a gang run by her father. In that series, Maya fights Ronin (Clint’s identity when he was rogue) to avenge her father’s death. In the fight, Ronin removes his mask, revealing his identity, and informs Maya that he did kill her father but was ordered to do so by her boss, Fisk, aka Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), who is like an uncle to her. At the end of the Hawkeye finale, Maya confronts Kingpin and leaves him for dead after shooting him.
Echo opens with a flashback to Maya’s childhood with her family in Oklahoma. Then, we’re moved through what we witnessed in Hawkeye to the present. With Maya assuming Kingpin is dead, she exits her revenge route to pursue power, starting with taking down the Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) criminal empire. But there’s a price on her head for killing the king. Now, with the trouble that’s followed back to her hometown, she has to stick around to face her family.
This close look at Maya illustrates how Kingpin manipulates a mourning daughter and bends her grief for his gain. He saw her pain and rage and used it to enlarge his territory. This was easy to do with all of the things Maya had lost. Blinded by rage, Maya can’t always see straight. Yet the moment she arrived home in Oklahoma with her family, her sight became clearer.
When she arrives in Tamaha, she starts to have visions rooted in her Choctaw Nation heritage. In these moments, the grounded series leans more into the fantastical. I loved cruising through Maya’s ancestry, which was riddled with women who were strategic, cunning, ferocious, and loving. This is where Maya’s return home proved a true treasure. Discovering her roots proved to be a perfectly timed revelation.
“Generations are echoing, reaching out to us at a time when we need them the most.”
Chula
What’s most impressive about Maya Lopez’s character is the representation she provides on-screen. Echo provides visibility for indigenous representation, deaf representation, and amputees. When studios argue whether or not they can find people to fit a specific niche role, Alaqua Cox is proof that those people are out there.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Cox’s portrayal of Maya is remarkably nuanced. Her ability to transition between a tough, hardcore fighter and a fragile, heartbroken child deserves commendation. For Maya, the true strength lies in her ability to let go. I can’t wait to see where her new path will take her.
Another gift to viewers new to the MCU is that you don’t have to watch any other show or film to dive into Echo. The series quickly lays the foundation by giving you all the info you need to invest in Maya’s story, care about what she’s going through, and root for her success.
All in all, the series starts with a bigger bang than its conclusion. The finale seems a smidge rushed, and the audience is left wanting much, much more. Still, Echo is easily one of the best series within the MCU. This grounded mafia drama pounds with more story than it has room to tell. Cox and her co-stars blend seamlessly and deserve more time to expand their roles within the MCU.
All episodes of Echo are now available to stream on Disney+.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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