Plot: Maya Lopez’s ruthless behavior in New York City catches up with her in her hometown; she must face her past, reconnect with her Native American roots and embrace the meaning of family and community.
Genre: Action-adventure; Crime; Superhero
Created by Marion Dayre
Based on Marvel Comics
Starring: Alaqua Cox, Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Charlie Cox, Devery Jacobs, Zahn McClarnon, Cody Lightning, Graham Greene & Vincent D’Onofrio.
Composer: Dave Porter
Executive producers: Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Richie Palmer, Marion Dayre, Jason Gavin & Sydney Freeland.
Cinematography: Kira Kelly; Magdalena Gorka
Production location: Atlanta metropolitan area
Editors: Chris McCaleb, Joel Pashby, Amelia Allwarden, Shelby Hall, Tania Goding.
Production companies: Marvel Studios
Channel: Disney+, Hulu
That echo miniseries was quite good.
Pros: I find it worth bingeing this series in one day. I like how Maya & Fisk’s acts intertwined with each other throughout the series. 100% of the dialogue from the main character is delivered through sign language. The drama was well executed, and this series got me to care about Maya Lopez & her journey.
Cons: Kingpin’s henchmen and other characters weren’t that impressive. There are some pacing problems closer to the end & the final confrontation between the two came off underwhelming.
Casts & Characters:
- Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez / Echo:
A deaf Native American Choctaw and the former leader of the Tracksuit Mafia, a criminal gang working for Wilson Fisk. Darnell Besaw portrays a young Maya Lopez. - Chaske Spencer as Henry “Black Crow” Lopez:
Maya’s uncle and William’s brother, who owns a local roller-skating rink and is still connected to Fisk’s criminal empire. Spencer said Henry “feels guilty” that William died and Maya’s return makes him face things he is not ready to yet. - Tantoo Cardinal as Chula:
Maya’s estranged grandmother. Cardinal explained that at the start of the series, the two’s relationship “is pretty fractured and they are not in a good place” given Chula’s anger following the death of her daughter, Maya’s mother, led to Maya and her father leaving. - Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock / Daredevil: A blind lawyer from Hell’s Kitchen who leads a double life as a masked vigilante, and is searching for a former ally.
- Devery Jacobs as Bonnie:
A “resilient and strong willed” person who is a child of deaf adults (CODA), Maya’s estranged cousin, and an EMT. - Zahn McClarnon as William Lopez: Maya’s deceased father and a former commander of the Tracksuit Mafia.
- Cody Lightning as Biscuits:
Maya’s “well-meaning” cousin, who is “fun-loving and good natured”. Lightning said that Biscuits becomes Maya’s “sidekick who provides some comic relief for her”, calling him “a big earnest puppy dog” who has a strong loyalty to family. - Graham Greene as Skully: A grandfather-figure to Maya, who owns the town pawn shop. Unlike other members of Maya’s estranged family, Skully is more willing to find a way forward in their relationship.
- Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk / Kingpin:
A crime lord in New York who is Maya’s adoptive uncle and the man responsible for her father’s death. After he was shot by Maya during the events of Hawkeye (2021), Fisk begins to wear an eyepatch on one eye, an homage to a point in the comics where he was blinded in both eyes. Despite being shot by Maya, D’Onofrio noted that Fisk is working hard to get her back in his life, saying the series shows the two in a “very father-daughter trepidatious period”.
Jeremy Renner appears as Clint Barton / Ronin in “Chafa” via archive footage from Hawkeye (2021).
I recommend watching this series on Disney+.
Rating: 8 out of 10 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident TV reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe