Inclusive universe

Gurnaaz Kaur

This is the first series under the Marvel Spotlight banner about a relatively lesser-known character from Marvel Comics, Echo. The show follows Maya Lopez (played by Alaqua Cox), a deaf Choctaw woman with a prosthetic leg and exceptional combat skills. She is also the first disabled actress to be cast in a leading role in a Marvel Studios production.

The story begins with a young Maya enduring a life-altering tragedy as a child. She is later orphaned, but despite the challenges and her physical disabilities, she grows up to be a fierce crime boss under the influence of Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin.

The story of Maya’s origin and character are fleshed out in depth, as is her relationship with Kingpin. Vincent D’Onofrio reprises this role and manages to deliver a stellar performance in his limited time on screen.

In the backdrop of poor performance by multiple Disney shows and movies last year, ‘Echo’ delivers an average watch, but is fun in parts. The series deftly recaps all the relevant bits of the earlier series ‘Hawkeye’, without delving too much into them, again a thing of appreciation.

From the start of the series, we have a fair idea about other characters, like Maya’s grandfather Skully, grandmother Chula and cousins Bonnie and Biscuits. But we discover much later why her grandma ghosted her during her growing up years. The story slowly unfolds several other whys. For instance, Maya’s relationship with ‘uncle’ Kingpin, how he lures her with the promise of a place, purpose and family.

Though the first episode is fast-paced and slick, the later episodes meander through a somewhat disjointed storyline, forced emotional scenes and lacklustre dialogues.

The writers stick to the ‘healing’ rather than violence as is the message in the end. Maya is seen connecting with her Native American heritage, family and community.

There is a definite matriarchal theme throughout the series as power is handed down from one female to another. They are all connected through time with each other and watch out for the family in times of need.