Echo

Maya Lopez or “Echo” is a newer addition to the MCU. So naturally, there is some hype behind the project initially. On top of that, your claim to fame comes from being on the run after shooting Wilson “Kingpin” Fisk in the face. Seems like an easy sell to me. Outside of that, we don’t know much about Maya. She is not only deaf but also an amputee mercenary who grew up as Kingpin’s niece.

Based on that small amount of information, I can’t say that I wasn’t at least a bit intrigued by learning more about her origin story. But I wasn’t running to watch this mini-series either. This is a "Marvel Spotlight," so I was interested in how they would tackle a series. I was pleasantly surprised by the approach. It felt like I was watching a silent movie.

One thing that I appreciated was how the use of ASL was heavy in series at varying levels of fluency. It felt like a genuine portrayal. The conversation between characters was more interesting to watch. The use of sign language is expressive so it felt like I was watching a play during some conversations.

Unfortunately, Maya’s character development is the latest victim of the Disney+ formula. It took a backseat to the lore of her ancestors. We had to wait until the last episode for her to stop playing the victim. She spent most of her time blaming others for her actions and refused to take any ownership. It frustrated me because it never gets addressed in a meaningful way.

After watching Echo I am left feeling indifferent about it. I enjoyed watching the show because of its unique approach but, at the same time, I am not the biggest fan of Maya.