Marvel series receives praise for its brutal, violent & dark portrayal in Echo reactions

The upcoming MCU series Echo on Disney Plus is expected to stand out from the rest, with early reactions praising its "brutal and dark" content. 2023 has been a challenging year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with its recent successes either marking the departure of key creators or bringing closure to popular characters.

Otherwise, it has been quite a disappointing time for Marvel. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania performed poorly with both critics and audiences, failing to surpass $500 million in box office earnings despite the introduction of a new major villain. Secret Invasion had a promising start but ultimately became the worst TV series in the MCU to date, and The Marvels might prove to be the franchise's biggest failure so far.

However, next year holds the potential for significant change. The theatrical release schedule has been adjusted and delayed, leaving only Deadpool 3 to excite fans. Furthermore, Marvel's television strategy is evolving, with the introduction of Marvel Spotlight, a subset of programming focused on "grounded" stories, with the launch of Echo.

Echo reactions: “Marvel remembers it can be violent”

Echo marks a significant milestone for the MCU as its first TV-MA series, surpassing Daredevil: Born Again and Deadpool 3 with its R-rating. Judging by the initial reactions, Marvel seems to have pulled no punches when it comes to the level of violence in the series.

Tom Percival, a critic, shared his thoughts on the first two episodes of #echo, noting that fans of Netflix's Daredevil may enjoy it for its violent and dark themes. He praised actress Alaqua Cox while also expressing some reservations about the creative decisions.

Emily Murray from GamesRadar also tweeted her thoughts, expressing enjoyment of the first two episodes and highlighting an impressive and violent fight scene. She also praised the sound design and Cox's performance, but noted that she found the storytelling and pacing to be shaky. Murray expressed excitement to see the rest of the series.

Just watched the first two episodes of #echo and I have a lot of thoughts. Fans of Netflix’s Daredevil will definitely appreciate the violent and dark tone. Alaqua Cox's performance is outstanding! However, I have some reservations about certain creative decisions. pic.twitter.com/qvujfoAKiT

— Tom Percival (@twpercival1) December 7, 2023

Paul Klein from Filmhounds Magazine described #Echo as a gritty and hard-hitting action thriller with a strong sense of Native American culture. After watching two episodes, he is looking forward to seeing the final three in January.

Tyrell Charles, a podcaster, shared that he has seen 3 episodes of #Echo and finds it to be a character-driven story with a focus on Maya's indigenous heritage and personal history. Though he notes that some quiet moments slow the pacing, he acknowledges that the action scenes are brutal.

Maya Lopez, also known as Echo and portrayed by Alaqua Cox, will be the central focus of the upcoming series. The show will see her being pursued by the notorious Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin and portrayed by Vincent D’Onofrio, as she returns home to confront her family and her own legacy. The highly-anticipated series, Echo, is set to premiere on Disney Plus on January 10, 2024. For more information about the series, click here.

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I am thrilled to hear about the positive reactions to the upcoming series, Echo. The praise for its brutal, violent, and dark portrayal has me eagerly anticipating its release. The return to the gritty and violent roots of the MCU is something I have been craving, and I believe it will set Echo apart from the recent disappointments we've seen in the franchise.

The fact that Echo is being described as a character-driven story with a focus on Maya Lopez's indigenous heritage and personal history is particularly exciting. I appreciate that Marvel is taking the time to explore the depth of its characters and their backgrounds, rather than relying solely on action and spectacle. The inclusion of Vincent D'Onofrio as Kingpin adds an extra layer of intrigue and excitement, as he is one of the most compelling villains in the MCU. Overall, I have high hopes for Echo and believe it has the potential to be a game-changer for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.