Understanding the Echo Finale

Marvel’s gritty and intense mini series, Echo, has made its long-awaited debut, leaving fans eager to see how the season concludes. After a lengthy wait, Disney+ has finally released all five episodes of the show for streaming.

Spun off from the 2021 series Hawkeye, this show focuses on Maya Lopez, a deaf Native American and former leader of the Tracksuit Mafia, as she tries to escape her adoptive uncle Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin, while coming to terms with her complex past. Our four-star review of the first three episodes lauded the series for its darker take on the MCU and its effective introduction of the anti-hero. However, many fans are eager to know what happened in the season finale after the credits, so here's a spoiler-filled breakdown of everything you need to know.

Echo finale: Did Maya kill Kingpin?

Echo’s finale sees Maya spare Kingpin’s life as she tries to appeal to his human nature.

Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) spends the five-episode season evading Wilson Fisk's (Vincent D'Onofrio) people after shooting him in the head and leaving him for dead in the conclusion of Hawkeye. During her escape, Maya returns to her Oklahoma hometown, reuniting with her estranged family whom she had not seen in over two decades. Her mother's death in a car accident and her father William's (Zahn McClarnon) relocation to New York to work for Fisk had led to their separation.

The complex dynamic between Fisk and Maya is revealed as he serves as her adoptive uncle, but also played a role in her father's murder by Ronin (Clint Barton) during the time between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

After a tense game of pursuit, Fisk and Maya confront each other in Episode 4, where he proposes that she join him in New York in exchange for control of his criminal empire.

Realizing that aligning herself with the man who murdered her father and destroyed her family was a grave mistake, Maya decides to flee in order to protect her family. However, her plan goes awry when Fisk’s men kidnap her grandmother and cousin to force her out of hiding.

Ultimately, Maya and Fisk engage in a one-on-one confrontation during a powwow in her hometown. While it initially appears that Maya seeks revenge, she ultimately uses her inherited healing powers to address Fisk's childhood trauma, hoping to inspire positive change in him instead.

Echo highlights the importance of remembering your roots

The outcome of whether Fisk accepts Maya's offer to leave his pain and anger behind remains ambiguous, but ultimately he exits her hometown unscathed while Maya is able to reconnect with her family.

Maya's supernatural powers, displayed throughout the series, originate from her Choctaw heritage. The first episode depicts a Choctaw warrior gaining supernatural abilities after drinking from a celestial pool of water. Although she is not classified as a mutant in the comics or within the series, Maya's unique abilities as an assassin are attributed to her ancestral connection, providing her with heightened abilities when most needed.

Disney+

The main message from the Echo finale and the show as a whole is how important it is to be connected to who you are and where you come from.

Maya’s resilience wasn't solely derived from her exceptional combat abilities or self-reliance, but also from the deep bond she shared with her family, despite the physical distance separating them. As one of the pioneering Native American "heroes" in the MCU, this narrative holds significant weight, as tribal connection and ancestral heritage are integral to Native American culture.

Echo's fate within the Marvel Cinematic Universe remains unclear, but her future appearances will undoubtedly continue to explore the important themes of her character. Stream Echo now on Disney+ and explore more content about the show in the list below.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I am thrilled with the Echo finale and the overall series. It's refreshing to see a darker and more mature take on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I appreciate the show's focus on Maya Lopez's complex character and her journey of self-discovery. The exploration of her Native American heritage and the significance of staying true to one's origins resonated deeply with me. Maya's resilience and strength, not only in combat but also in her emotional struggles, make her a compelling and relatable protagonist.

The finale's twist, where Maya spares Kingpin's life and attempts to appeal to his humanity, adds a layer of complexity to their relationship and challenges the traditional notions of heroism and villainy. It raises thought-provoking questions about the potential for redemption and the power of compassion. Overall, Echo has been a fantastic addition to the MCU, and I look forward to seeing more of Maya Lopez and her unique perspective in future projects.