Echo's season premiere introduced Maya's personal history, starting with her youth on the Tamaha Reservation. However, the episode's quick pace and lack of time for key moments, such as her mother's car accident, can leave viewers questioning the importance of certain characters or events. The episode succeeds in its casting and action, with Aqua Cox commanding attention with her stoicism and vulnerability. The rest of the cast, including Zahn McClarnon's William Lopez, Tantoo Cardinal's Chula, and Graham Greene's Skully, establish key character dynamics and traits that will likely inform Maya's journey. Vincent D'Onofrio and Charlie Cox also make short appearances as Kingpin and Daredevil, respectively. The episode's action features a punchy fight involving Maya and Daredevil, which serves as a tone-setter for the rest of the series. While some comic book flair is thrown in, it doesn't distract from the rest of the action. Echo, a Disney Plus series, has been released, and the first episode has shown that it is a slow-moving, cobbled-together mix of action and drama. Alaqua Cox, the lead star, appears bored and awkward in most scenes, which may be indicative of the audience's feelings. Her ability to not emote is impressive, but she seems to want to be anywhere but in front of the camera. The rest of the season seems to focus heavily on flashbacks to flesh out Maya's past and her ancestry and lineage. While the trailer made it seem like a dark, gritty action thriller, this show has fared poorly and may not save the rapidly declining MCU anytime soon. In Episode 1, a group of strange men and women emerge from underground pools of water, causing their hands to glow orange. They circle around an ancient pool, causing the place to shake and crumble. Despite their efforts, they are teleported out into the wilderness, where their skin cracks to reveal Native Americans underneath. Chafa leads their people forward, while Maya (Echo) and her cousin Bonnie discuss their origin story. In Oklahoma 2007, a family sits together signing. Echo and her mother get into a car accident, leading to Maya's death. Chaula blames William, while Maya blames herself for the accident. Maya is taken away from the house and separated from Bonnie and Chula, heading to New York. William wants Maya to have a better life than what he has, but some of this stems from shady dealings with Kingpin. In the present, Maya Lopez, a prosthetic leg-bound fighter, sparses with a swordsman who kills her men. She nearly emotes while he's dying, but Bonnie's messages don't quell her rage. Maya breaks into a bike dealership, steals a bike, and destroys a cop car. She's arrested, but the Kingpin saves her. Fisk, concerned about her rage, explains his own father's death at 12. He offers to help her release her rage constructively, with a job. Maya's rage is fueled by her past experiences, and her rage is fueled by her own father's death at 12. Maya is tasked with assisting Fisk's goons in removing a gang from his territory. However, Daredevil arrives and starts sparring with Maya, leading to a clumsy fight. Fisk is impressed and calls Maya part of his family. Maya confronts Kingpin and shoots him, prompting a five-month timeline. Maya suffers a stomach gash and is able to heal with a tight bandage. She returns to Oklahoma, where her Native American ancestors' visions begin to bleed through. Biscuits and his dog Billy Jack show up, signifying to Maya's past. Maya spies Bonnie from afar but decides not to get involved. Instead, she searches for Henry at a skate rink. As they discuss private conversations, the assistant, Vickie, asks about an alleged bounty for the "King Killer," which is Maya. The story highlights the importance of understanding the past and the impact of characters like Maya on the present. Henry and Maya spy on Fisk's Shipping business from a water tower. Maya wants a train to send a message to him. Henry refuses to bring war to their town, but Maya believes Kingpin's time is up and it's time for a Queen. She's driven by vengeance and power to avenge her father. As the episode ends, Kingpin is alive in the hospital, but has lost his eye.
2 out of 5 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
