Summary

Early reactions to the Marvel series Echo praise the brutal fight sequences and Alaqua Cox’s performance as the titular vigilante. Echo is favorably compared to Netflix’s Daredevil for its unflinching and street-level approach to the MCU story. However, some early reactions mention pacing issues in Echo.

Kevin Feige addressed Echo’s position as a new direction for the MCU, sharing his view on the dark and “adult” show. Speaking during the premiere of Echo, as shared by Marvel Studios on X (formerly Twitter), Echo is the “darkest” Marvel show to date, and one that could only be done by venturing into TV-MA territory. Feige said:

“The greatest thing about Disney+ for us, we can do all different types of shows, and we’ve been able to do a Christmas show and a time travel show and a black & white sitcom. This is a TV-MA show. This is an adult show that, just like the Marvel Knights comics where Echo first started, goes much deeper and much darker in ways that we could only do with a TV-MA rating, so I am excited for people to see, as readers of the comics know, the different tonalities that we’ve been able to do in all of our shows and this being the darkest one yet.”

Early reactions to Echo praised the brutal fight sequences and central performance from Alaqua Cox as the titular vigilante. Echo following the arrival of all five episodes of the series on Disney+ last week, the reaction has mostly continued to be positive for the series, even if it has not been a runaway success.

While some of the reactions highlight a slow start for Echo, most heap praise on the unflinching approach to this street-level MCU story, favorably comparing the series to the likes of Netflix’s Daredevil.

And speaking of Daredevil, Echo will see Charlie Cox return to the role following his introduction into the MCU in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Echo director and executive producer Sydney Freeland has also revealed that the series will take some major inspiration from The Man Without Fear, particularly where the fight scenes are concerned.

“I dunno if I can say this, but I love the Netflix Daredevil, it’s great. And so we certainly took, obviously the Daredevil fight, it was a little bit of a nod to that series … But then also we wanted very adamantly to show that these are people in our show. They bleed, they die, they get killed, and there are real-world consequences.”

RELATED: Exclusive: Echo Director and Producer Discuss First TV-MA MCU Series

Echo Sees Daredevil & Kingpin Return to the MCU

The return of Daredevil and Kingpin will no doubt be a major draw for fans. So, how do Daredevil and his arch enemy The Kingpin fare in their triumphant comeback?

However, while it does sound like Echo will be worth watching for any Marvel fan, the series is not without its flaws. A few early reactions called out the pacing and some of the creative decisions on display.

Created by Marion Dayre, Echo revisits Maya Lopez following her introduction to the MCU in 2021’s Hawkeye. Now being pursued by Wilson Fisk’s organization, her 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 if she ever hopes to move forward.

Echo stars Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez, aka Echo, Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, and Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, as well as Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Graham Greene, Cody Lightning, Devery Jacobs, and Zahn McClarnon. Check out the trailer for Echo below: