Despite solid feedback from critics and audiences upon its highly-anticipated debut, Echo sets an unwanted early mark for Marvel Cinematic Universe shows.
Per Rotten Tomatoes, Echo is the second-worst-rated MCU Disney+ TV show of all time following its Jan. 9 premiere, currently boasting a 73% critical rating on the popular review aggregator website at the time of writing. Despite being rated “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes, only Secret Invasion, the first Phase Five series in the MCU (53%) has a lower score than Echo. Audiences, meanwhile, have given Echo a slightly better score of 75% after watching the Disney+ title in the early going.
Echo Is Marvel Studios’ First Truly Prestige TV Series
Echo is the first MCU TV show of 2023, starring Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez. Though a superhero story, Echo has all the hallmarks of prestige television.
Echo Had Early Praise Ahead of Release
Many critics have had high praise for Echo in the lead-up to the series premiere and that goodwill has carried over since all five episodes of the Hawkeye spinoff dropped simultaneously. As one critic from RogerEbert.com, Kaiya Shunyata said, “Something here has clicked. Despite its truncated length, it’s as if the heart that has been sucked out of the post-Avengers: Endgame MCU has slowly trickled back into the bones of a franchise trying to rebuild itself anew.” Other critics have also showered the series with praise for its Native American representation and hard-hitting action. However, others have criticized Echo‘s slow build and character depth, with Empire Magazine’s Sophie Butcher calling the show “inconsistently paced” and “lacking in character development.”
Echo is the first show under the Marvel Spotlight banner, focusing on “grounded, character-driven” stories with its series and films while going away from the MCU’s big-budget model. Starring Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez/Echo and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, the show sees Maya return to her hometown in Oklahoma as she traces her native roots and connects with her family. However, Kingpin tracks down her former Tracksuit Mafia henchwoman following their fierce confrontation at the end of Hawkeye, leading to the two forming an uneasy alliance to take down a common enemy.
Marvel’s Echo Leads Right Into Daredevil: Born Again, Reveals Vincent D’Onofrio
Kingpin actor Vincent D’Onofrio reveals the upcoming Hawkeye spinoff show, Echo, will lead directly into the events of Daredevil: Born Again.
Despite being the main protagonist, Maya is described as the “villain” of the Echo series as she struggles to move past her nefarious actions during her time aligned with Kingpin. The show also features tie-ins to the upcoming MCU series, Daredevil: Born Again, with a recent teaser plugging a key showdown between Daredevil and Echo, which received mixed reviews from fans. It’s expected Maya will feature in Born Again, with Echo featuring direct connections to the upcoming show.
Echo marks a new direction for the MCU as it’s the first TV-MA-rated show ever in the cinematic universe. The show was created by Marion Dayre and directed by Sydney Freeland.
All episodes of Echo are now available for streaming on Disney+.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
Echo
Maya Lopez must face her past, reconnect with her Native American roots and embrace the meaning of family and community if she ever hopes to move forward.
- Release Date
- January 10, 2024
- Creator
- Marion Dayre
- Cast
- Alaqua Cox , Zahn McClarnon , Vincent D’Onofrio
- Main Genre
- Superhero
- Genres
- Superhero , Action
- Rating
- TV-MA
- Seasons
- 1
- Franchise
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney+ , Hulu
