Echo is the latest series entry in the popular Marvel Cinematic Universe. The series is a spin-off of Hawkeye that follows the story of Maya Lopez, a.k.a. Echo (Alaqua Cox), as she returns to her hometown of Tamaha, Oklahoma. The series sees Maya struggling with her past as an enforcer for her adopted uncle, Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin (Vincent D’Onoforio), and reconnecting with her family and Choctaw heritage. The series dropped all five episodes on Disney+ and Hulu on Jan. 9, 2024, and has been a change of pace for Marvel Studios, being the first TV-MA entry in the franchise and the beginning of the Marvel Spotlight banner.

One of the series writers, Amy Rardin, sat down with MovieWeb for a one-on-one interview to break down all five episodes of the series. This includes the change in Maya’s powers, what Maya’s future could be in the MCU, and her favorite element about the series. Rardin herself has an impressive resume, having written for popular series like Greek, Selfie, and Jane the Virgin, and was one of the creators behind the reboot of Charmed on the CW. These were all very different projects from Echo, but she was more than up for the challenge. “It was a great experience, and I feel very lucky to have worked on this show and have the opportunity to tell these amazing stories,” Rardin said.

Maya Lopez
Echo Release Date January 9, 2024 Seasons 1

Maya Lopez made her debut in Daredevil #9 in December 1999; she was created by David Mack and Joe Quesada. One of her most prominent roles in the comics was as a member of The New Avengers, where she adopted the mantle of Ronin. In the comics, Maya Lopez was one of the most prominent Native-American characters in comics (in which she was of the Cheyenne Nation), and while her creation was well-intentioned, the character would often be an amalgamation of different Native-American cultures in one character.

While Rardin herself is not of Native-American descent, she did speak about how important it was to have Native-American writers working on the series as well as how much the Choctaw Nation helped out with the series.

“We were very fortunate to have a lot of Native-American writers in the [writers’] room, including Steven Paul Judd, who is Choctaw. We also had the collaboration of the Choctaw nation, and that was incredibly valuable. When we were on set, there were literally consultants from the Choctaw nation sitting next to me on set, so if I had a question or concern or if they had questions or concerns, we were that close to one another and that collaborative. To have that kind of access as a storyteller was incredible, and I’m very grateful.”

This also extended into Maya’s powers for the series. In the comics, Maya has the ability to copy the movements of anyone she sees, while later comics would give her the powers of the Phoenix Force, the cosmic power commonly associated with the X-Men. While she remained a non-powered character for Hawkeye, they decided to upgrade her for her own series. “The powers evolved over time, and we talked about it for a long time in the room. Ultimately, what we wanted to do was tie her powers to her emotional growth and her story, so as she discovers her past and confronts her past in New York with Fisk and her past in Oklahoma with her family and learns more about who she is as a person, she comes into her own power.”

The Meaning Behind Echo

Maya Lopez’s codename, Echo, was tied to her ability to copy fight moves in the comics, yet with the series changing the power, it also required a change to the name. Here, the name is tied to her powers, as Maya’s abilities are able to echo the skills and powers of her ancestors. The idea that people’s impact echoes across time was important to Rardin. “I think we are all beholden to the past. We are only as good as the people before us. Speaking to the idea of how much we owe to our past and our ancestors and people who came before us and how they give us strength.

In one of the show’s most striking moments, Maya activates her powers in her fight with Kingpin, and all of her ancestors, whom fans have seen in flashbacks throughout the series, appear alongside her to share their power with her. It is a great way to visualize the echo theme and that came from a great combination of writers and directors working together. “Sydney Freeland, the director, very much wanted to see the women behind her. That was very much her idea, and as soon as she said it, we all thought that it was so powerful to see those women standing behind her and bringing those actresses to the set. I think that was a genius idea on her part.”

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

Maya’s Fleshed-Out Family

Part of the branding of Marvel Spotlight has been not needing to have seen previous MCU series to enjoy it. Yet, Echo seemed like an interesting series to do this with, as not only was it a spin-off of Hawkeye, but it also would feature Kingpin and Daredevil, two characters from another MCU series, Daredevil. While some have criticized this as a contradictory stance by Marvel, Rardin does think the series works on its own terms. “There are things that, if you know the story of Fisk and Maya from Hawkeye, it can add another layer, but I do think it is a standalone story. […] We had a lot of those flashbacks as well, so if you were not versed in the Kingpin/Maya relationship, you could see that build without having to have seen the previous show.”

While Kingpin and Daredevil are certainly big draws for some viewers, Echo also establishes its own corner of the MCU with original new characters. Primarily those of Maya’s family, which is filled with three-dimensional characters that help Maya grow throughout the series. Rardin had two answers when asked which of the supporting characters was her favorite. “Biscuits is easy to love. He is so funny and Cody [Lightning] was so funny playing that part. But the one I like the most has to be Chula, [Maya’s] grandmother.” said Rardin. The relationship with Chula and Maya was dear to Rardin’s heart as she said, “I was with my grandmother my whole life, and I thought that was a very important relationship. The grandmother/granddaughter relationship can be very formative.”

Will Echo Return?

Part of the fun of the MCU has always been seeing different characters interact with one another. Be it seeing the science bro duo of Tony Stark and Bruce Banner or seeing Kamala Khan meet her hero, Carol Danvers, character interactions and crossovers are some of the best parts of the franchise. Maya has already crossed paths with Daredevil, so what characters would Rardin want to see Maya interact with next? “I feel like I could watch the Maya/Kingpin show for more seasons. I know they interact a lot in this series, but I think the two of them together there are endless storytelling possibilities, so that is what I would love to see more of.”

Related: Echo Review: The MCU Gets a Gritty Crime Drama with a True Anti-Hero

The ending of Echo sets up a major role for Kingpin in the MCU. It hints at him running for mayor of New York City, a plotline that will certainly carry over into Daredevil: Born Again. Yet where does that leave Maya Lopez? Her series ended with her seemingly finding a happy ending away from a life of violence, one where she can spend time with her family. At the moment, there have been no announcements made for when Maya Lopez will appear again in the MCU. Rardin is hoping that Maya and her entire family make a return to the MCU. “In my heart, there is hope. I would love to see them again; I think we just scratched the surface on these people, so my hope is we see them again.”

Things We Never Got Over

Rardin is certainly busy. Shortly before Echo premiered on Disney+, it was announced she would be the showrunner on Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming series, Things We Never Got Over, based on the book of the same name by Lucy Score, published in 2022. “We just started and are in the very early stages,” Rardin said. “I’m very excited, and obviously, Lucy Score has a huge following, and to have the privilege to do that series because I love series.”

Tonally, Echo and Things We Never Got Over could not be more different, even if they do have a similar starting premise of a young woman returning to her hometown, but that certainly is where similarities stop. The new series quickly becomes a romantic comedy about a woman needing to take care of her niece while in a small town and falling for a handsome local. “It is very different from Echo. That is what is so fun about being a writer. Especially as a female writer, you get pigeonholed into certain things. To get to do Echo and tell this complicated, violent emotional story that is very dark and then get the pleasure of working on Things We Never Got Over, which is pure rom-com, light-hearted romance, is a really exciting aspect of being a writer because getting to move to different genres is very fun.

Rardin’s Favorite Aspect of Echo

With the Marvel Cinematic Universe being so vast, there is certainly a lot to talk about. One element often overlooked is what the writers and directors bring to these projects. Much of the series, both praise from fans and criticisms from others, tends to be directed at Marvel itself as an entity. While the franchise certainly has its highs and lows, it would be dismissive to ignore the talented people working both in front of and behind the scenes on these shows. Particularly after a massive strike that saw writers fighting for better wages and more acknowledgment for their contributions, it is important to highlight their hard work.

That is why we wanted to ask Rardin what her favorite aspect of Echo was.

“My favorite aspect of the show is getting to see this complicated woman build on her trauma. I think we all have complicated pasts and childhoods, and I think you can build on that and make you stronger, or you can go the way of Fisk. It was very important for me personally to see her build on that and use that as a source of strength. I think that is a very empowering journey for her.”

All episodes of Echo are streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.