Echo's Reception and Impact
The reviews for Marvel Studios' new Disney+ TV series, Echo, have sparked a debate among critics and audiences. At present, critic ratings have a slight edge over audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, revealing a divide in the reception of the show.
Maya Lopez in her final Echo costume in series finale
Echo marks Marvel's first Marvel Spotlight installation, aiming to engage both newcomers and long-time fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Despite its standalone nature, the series fits into the MCU timeline, which may have influenced viewers' expectations, particularly given the presence of familiar characters from the Hawkeye series.
Brie Larson's Captain Marvel in 2019 and 2023
While not poorly rated, Echo's performance on Rotten Tomatoes has left some viewers and critics unconvinced. Critic ratings currently stand at 73%, slightly higher than the audience ratings at 69%. Concerns have been raised about the brevity of the show and its perceived lack of connection to the larger MCU timeline, indicating that the Marvel Spotlight initiative may not have resonated as intended.
Factors Influencing Ratings Disparity
The disparity between critic and audience ratings for Echo raises questions about the factors influencing this divide. While review-bombing is a possibility, the reviews may be more indicative of audience expectations and sentiments towards the MCU.
Recent additions to the MCU, such as the 2023 film The Marvels, have faced similar reception, suggesting broader frustrations within the fanbase. The introduction of Marvel Spotlight reflects the studio's efforts to address viewer concerns, yet it appears that the initiative may have backfired or requires more time to gain traction.
The absence of strong connections to previous MCU characters and events in Echo may have left some viewers wanting, contributing to the disparity in ratings.
Comparing Echo to Other MCU Releases
It's noteworthy that several MCU films have exhibited a similar trend of higher critic scores than audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes, with Captain Marvel (2019) and Black Panther (2018) standing out as examples. The divide between critic and audience ratings appears more pronounced in Disney+ TV shows, as demonstrated by the reception of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022) and Secret Invasion (2023), which experienced significant disparities in ratings.
In contrast, some Disney+ shows, such as Ms. Marvel (2022), Hawkeye (2021), and What If...? (2021), have achieved more balanced ratings, reflecting the diverse reception of MCU content on the streaming platform. Notably, earlier shows like Loki (2021), The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021), and WandaVision (2021) garnered consistent acclaim from both critics and audiences.
