Marvel's latest series reintroduces us to Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox), aka Echo, whom we first met in Marvel’s Hawkeye. The fearless deaf streetfighter is back on our screens after her confrontations with Kingpin. The extensively reworked show strives to delve into Maya’s background, roots, and ongoing battle against Kingpin's henchmen.

While not essential, I highly recommend watching Hawkeye before diving into Echo. Though crucial scenes are recapped briefly, the viewing experience is far more engaging if you have seen Hawkeye beforehand.

One commendable yet predictable aspect of the show is its structured narrative. Each episode unfolds in two parts: the past and the present. The past sequences delve into Maya's family heritage, a significant but somewhat tedious story arc that could have been condensed into a single episode. Alas, by stretching it into a prominent aspect of every episode, these story beats can feel a bit like a chore. Unfortunately, a prevalent issue with the show is the feeling that much of the time, nothing truly relevant occurs. Mundane conversations and the introduction of new characters contribute to this sense of stagnation. The few crucial plot points in this show could have been explored in just one or two episodes, which begs the question: what would have they told in those originally planned seven or eight episodes? 

The show stands out in two episodes, primarily due to commendable fight sequences — a feature regrettably scarce throughout the series. The highlight of the entire show occurs when Maya is confronted by Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio), who flawlessly reprises the role he previously excelled in on Netflix's Daredevil. The script excels during these interactions, offering deep, meaningful, and intense conversations. The excitement scenes with these two provide are sorely lacking in the rest of the show. Most of the other characters are fairly forgettable, with the exception of Maya’s cousin Biscuits (Cody Lightning). He brings a touch of levity to the show, contributing humor and positivity to various situations. His light-hearted and sweet demeanor serves as a refreshing break in the episodes. However, it's important to note that his character is predominantly comedic and does not introduce an added layer of intensity to the overall storyline or Maya's life.

With the action falling flat in the other three episodes and the story largely failing to captivate, the overall tone of the show feels unclear. Is this supposed to be an action-drama show, a thriller, or something in between? This tonal ambiguity persists even after completing the series.

Visually and in terms of production value, the show appears decent, but that's precisely the issue—it's merely decent. A Marvel series, or any series for that matter, should strive for excellence. In terms of performances, Cox, D’Onofrio, and Lightning emerge as the most compelling actors in the show and easily outshine the rest of the cast. And while the script provides a deeper understanding of Echo and contains some story progression, it lacks significance and loses focus from time to time.

In summary, the show isn't necessarily bad, but it falls short of being truly good. It simply exists, joining the ranks of previous Marvel shows like She Hulk, Falcon and Winter Soldier, or Secret Invasion as part of a collection of mediocre content on Disney Plus. 

6/10