Echo Marvel: Show on Disney+ is different from other Marvel stuff I’ve seen. It’s rated TV-MA, so it’s for big kids and grownups.
There are these raw, bloody fight scenes that remind me of those older Marvel shows on Netflix like Daredevil. The show is about a deaf Native American chick named Maya Lopez who we first met on Hawkeye.
In Echo, we get to find out more about Maya’s backstory. The actor Alaqua Cox is so awesome as Maya – she nails the action parts and the emotional acting too.
Echo Marvel adds more diversity into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with its minority characters and mature themes. One minute there’s a touching family moment, the next there’s a fierce brawl.
It gives us a taste of what could be a super exciting future for Marvel Studios. It shows edgy superheroes fitting into the bigger Marvel world. It takes chances and shows minorities in a respectful way. This groundbreaking show opens up new options for the whole Marvel universe.
Marvel Echo Review
The fight scenes in Echo are super intense and bloody – way different than other Disney+ Marvel shows I’ve seen.
Echo doesn’t hold back when it comes to showing the traumatic stuff that shaped Maya into who she is. We see how she lost her dad when she was just a kid. And how getting revenge became so important to her.
Since Echo is rated TV-MA, they can show more graphic stuff than usual for Marvel. There’s lots of punching, kicking, and guys getting tossed around in gnarly ways.
The action is choreographed so well. The way the characters move seems so real, like they are actually fighting. Alaqua Cox is a total boss at all her own stunts as Maya. She slides between guys’ legs and takes them out with her crutch.
The sound design makes the fights feel even more realistic. Maya is deaf, so the show makes all the background noise go quiet and you just hear her heartbeat. Then it smashes back to loud sounds.
Close-up shots show exactly what it looks like when Maya stomps someone’s face or breaks their bones. It does not hold back on the blood and injuries.
The mature rating means Echo can go full throttle on fight scenes. It’s the first time I’ve seen this level of intense, bloody action in a Marvel Disney+ series. The combat in Echo is thrilling but also super cringe-y.
Echo Marvel Connection to Broader MCU
Vincent D’Onofrio returns as the crime boss Kingpin, just like he played him in the Netflix Marvel shows. So that links Echo back to those older, more mature series.
Charlie Cox also shows up briefly as Daredevil, which makes me pumped for the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again show.
There’s a mid-credits scene after the Echo finale that hints at future stuff coming up in Marvel. I won’t spoil it but it’s an exciting teaser.
Echo is the first Marvel series on Disney+ with the “Spotlight” label. That could mean we’re going to get more R-rated, grownup-level stories from Marvel told in this darker style. That would be awesome.
By bringing back Netflix characters like Kingpin and Daredevil, Echo bridges the gap between the family-friendly MCU we’ve seen so far and its edgier roots. I hope this means we get more of these gritty, street-level heroes joining the larger Marvel universe.
Exploration of Maya’s History and Culture
A big part of Echo is all about Maya’s Indigenous background.
They use a lot of the Choctaw language that Maya grew up with. It was cool to learn about traditions like the Ghost Dance.
We meet Maya’s grandmother, uncle, and cousins who give her a connection to her Native American roots.
The family moments go deep exploring how Maya feels torn between them and her violent criminal life.
Alaqua Cox is so dynamic as Maya. She can go from being a total warrior taking down ten guys at once to being emotional in a heartfelt scene with her grandmother.
Seeing Maya sign with her family made me realize what a key part of her identity being deaf is. The way Echo shows deafness and Maya’s disability feels really natural, not forced.
Echo does a great job showing Maya’s culture. The mythology of the Tulpa connects to her ancestor’s struggles. Maya’s path is shaped by her Choctaw heritage.
Getting this in-depth look at an Indigenous Marvel hero’s origins makes Echo stand out. It’s not explored as just a cool battle ability but part of who Maya is.
An Intriguing Future for Marvel Studios
Echo makes me think we’re going to get more graphic, R-rated type stories from Marvel on Disney+ in the future.
The show balances gritty fight scenes with truly touching moments between the characters.
Echo really captured the vibe of the old Marvel Netflix shows. It was cool to revisit that part of the Marvel universe again.
Bringing back Charlie Cox as Daredevil gives me hope we could see more street-level superheroes like Jessica Jones or Luke Cage come back too.
Marvel has mostly stuck to family-friendly stuff up until now. But Echo proves they can tell darker stories in an awesome way while still keeping the heart.
Seeing how Echo combines brutality and emotion so well makes me excited to see what else Marvel Studios might do. This mature approach could open the door for the MCU to take even more risks.
Echo shows this is just the beginning of expanding what a Marvel Studios series can be. The future looks bright for more boundary-pushing, nostalgic, gritty adventures on Disney+!
Wrapping Up
Echo takes the Marvel world in a bold new grown-up direction. The risks it takes feel totally refreshing to me.
The show cuts an electrifying path for Disney+ and Marvel Studios. There’s so much potential to keep exploring edgy, street-level adventures.
Maya Lopez is a groundbreaking hero as a deaf Native American chick. Echo shows this in an authentic way, not a fake pandering way.
We get to dive deep into Maya’s backstory, family, and Indigenous roots. It makes for an awesome intro to this badass new Marvel character.
It expands what’s possible in Marvel-land in all the right ways. The fight scenes appeal to big kids while keeping the heart.
This show is a total game-changer for the MCU. I’m hyped to see where Echo’s combo of maturity and excitement takes Marvel next on Disney+! What a wild ride.
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