Echo

So apparently they shot 8 episodes but then it wasn't good enough and it got rewritten/reshot/redited down to just 5. Maybe that's why none of it makes much sense. The family connections don't make sense. The lack of communication with her cousin, uncle etc don't make much sense. How her mother's death was her father's fault wasn't made clear. The relationships in the community make no sense. The end showdown is totally incomprehensible. The only things that almost work are the scenes in the roller rink. Really disappointing when I was so hoping for great things based on how Echo was introduced and how well I thought HawkEye worked as a series with multiple interactions between characters from different parts of the MCU. Heartbreaking, to be honest. It promised to be a great showcase for indigenous culture too, but I learnt nothing. There was so much that needed to be said and done for it to really work. Either that or they could've had more action, at least? It just wasn't gripping dramatically or emotionally engaging enough, and it just felt like it had a plan that somehow went vastly wrong and they gave up and threw it out at us poorly poorly finished. Such a shame as some of the actors really deserved to be better respected for their talent.

Much like Secret Invasion before it, Echo was hyped up to be a dark, gritty and mature series like no MCU series before it. It even had the TV-MA rating to go with. However it ends up being a disappointment.

The main actress isn't terrible, she just struggles due to the weak writing and Kingpin is absolutely wasted in this. None of the supporting characters are likable or memorable.

The plot is in shambles, and with only 5 episodes, some of which are only half an hour long, it leaves very little time for much character development.

There were so few actual violent scenes that it could have probably gotten away with a TV-14 rating. There were no real stakes, and nothing significant even happens by the end.

5/10 - Mediocre.

Marvel's trajectory in the realm of superhero entertainment has been on a discernible decline, and "Echo" serves as the final nail in the coffin for my interest in their offerings. The show, which attempts to inject vitality into a waning narrative landscape, falls remarkably short of the mark. The utilization of a character like Kingpin, portrayed by Vincent D'Onofrio, is a prime example of this shortfall. Instead of enhancing the show, this move undermines D'Onofrio's previously lauded performances and diminishes the character's legacy.

The overarching narrative of "Echo" is emblematic of the issues plaguing recent Marvel productions. There's a palpable lack of originality and depth, which results in a viewing experience that is both uninspiring and tedious. The show's reliance on established, well-regarded characters to salvage its storyline only highlights its inherent weaknesses. This strategy, rather than adding substance, feels like a desperate attempt to draw in viewers through nostalgia and familiarity.

Furthermore, "Echo" struggles significantly with narrative coherence and character development. These fundamental aspects, which are crucial for engaging storytelling, are noticeably absent, leading to a disjointed and unsatisfactory viewing experience. The show's failure to effectively leverage its source material, combined with a lack of innovative storytelling, exemplifies the creative rut that Marvel seems to be stuck in.

In summary, "Echo" not only fails to live up to the standards set by earlier Marvel productions but also exacerbates the growing sense of disillusionment with their recent endeavors. The show's inability to stand independently, relying instead on the reputation of established characters, is a clear indicator of Marvel's current creative stagnation. For me, this represents a turning point, solidifying my decision to disengage from Marvel's future superhero projects.

The trailers made this seem like the first step into more gritty, adult content ala Netflix's Daredevil and Punisher series, but apart from 1 or 2 overally choreographed scenes it felt more like the worst episode of Iron Fist stretched into 5 episodes.

The concept itself isn't bad, but the writing was atrocious, with no real sense of character development or depth whatsoever. The only real standout being Vincent D'Onofrio's excellent portrayal of Kingpin, but even that is tarnished by the writing and a limp wiltering flower of an ending.

Echo also suffered from bad editing with the pacing and storyline feeling like they were all over the place.

The show had so much promise and I did appreciate the efforts made to honour the native American and deaf communities, but it didn't have to be at the expense of a coherent and gripping story.

I now fear what they're going to do with Daredevil, but hopefully with Dario Scardapane in the driver's seat there may be at least a small glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe...

I'm sorry to say this show was, as other reviewers comment, really boring and badly written. (Or maybe it was the editing). There were some good scenes but not many. The story was alleged over the place. The actors had really rubbish dialogue. But, for me it was the missed opportunities.

The audience could have been given more immersion in how the world seems to this deaf hero. She cannot hear assailants so how does she cope with the traditional kung-fu multi attacker fight. We only have got a couple of "quiet " scenes demonstrating her deafness.

Maya is deaf and relies on sign language. Sign language users have tons of shortcuts and body mimes when communicating. It is not like subtitles with hand movements. More like moving emojis.

As regards her crime fighting artificial leg. More could be made of this. Para athletes will tell about the difficulty of fitting and wearing specialist limbs. We have a hero who wears one. Yet we never see the limb care and difficulty riding a motorcycle which has foot controls.

These were wasted opportunities to get show triumph against outnumbering foes.

As for the terrible script. Don't get me started.