Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: Alaqua Cox, Cody Lightning, Chaske Spencer, Graham Greene, Tantoo Cardinal, Morningstar Angeline, Dannie McCallum, Vincent D’Onofrio, Thomas E. Sullivan, Andrew Howard, Zahn McClarnon, Isabella Madrigal, Katarina Ziervogel, Darnell Besaw, Wren Zhawenim Gotts, Wes Jetton, Setth Allyn Austin, Omid Zader, Alejandra Jaime, Charlie Cox, Tatanka Means, Jana Schmieding, Leander Suleiman, Donn Lamkin, Dallas Goldtooth, Tina Lameman, Juwan Lakota, Braydee Cardinal, Panther Tiwa, Thosh Collins, Jeff Wolfe, Donte Walkr, Sabrina Saleha, Buzz, Alexis Capozzi, Dionicio Virvez.
Until the limited Marvel series Hawkeye became the inevitable hit of the winter of 2021, most people would have been forgiven for not knowing of the existence of Maya Lopez, one of the few deaf characters in the comic universe; indeed, unless you were a dedicated fan of heroes such as Matt Mardock/Daredevil or of the Ronin, then David Mack’s and Joe Quesada’s marvellous creation is one that may have come as a terrific and bountiful surprise.
Echo though was a stirring addition to the MCU’s television catalogue, and despite it taking two years to come to fruition, the five-part series that stars Native American actor Alaqua Cox, who is deaf and an amputee, is one of high intensity and drama, one that is completely unafraid to extend the need for representation on the screen in every direction possible; creating a hero out various factors that at one time would be a by word for villainy; and it is in this intuition, of parallels between a world of criminal underworlds and the way that the Native American existence has been one of down trodden, near eradication and subjugation, is perhaps most telling.
It is not virtue signalling to thrust the character of Maya Lopez/Echo into the limelight, it is one of overcoming suppression. That a deaf woman who happens to also be an amputee, and to whom her Native American heritage plays such a prominent part is not only welcome, but also utterly tremendous, and there can be no doubting just how well Alaqua Cox handles herself in every scene.
This is the type of series where Marvel excel, where they take perhaps what could be considered as a supporting character and broaden, amplify her presence to the point of exceptionalism is staying true to the ethos of Stan Lee’s heart when he and Bill Everet created the blind anti-hero of Daredevil, someone to whom disability is to be a celebration of the different ways people raise themselves to overcome societal stigma and prejudice, as well as meaningful looks of pity; and in Echo the sense of subversion, of playing on every emotion is one that takes the viewer by storm.
By adding Native American lore and tradition into the narrative, by framing the sensitive nature of fighting back against the white supremacy detailed in the magnificent return of Vincent D’Onofrio to the role of Wilson Fisk, and with super support from actors such as Cody Lightning, Graham Greene, Chaske Spencer, and the exceptional Tantoo Cardinal, Echo is a field of talents combined by superb insightful writing, and that most deliberate operation that Marvel has in abundance, creativity.
What could have been a test for Echo is in fact a groundbreaking and positive experience in which surely the viewer will rush to have extended.
Ian D. Hall