Here’s When & Where ‘Echo’ Takes Place – Timeline Explained

‘Echo’ marks the twenty-third television series directly linked to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and serves as the inaugural release under the Spotlight banner. Contrary to initial speculation that watching previous MCU installments might not be necessary, ‘Echo’ is intricately connected to the broader MCU narrative. Despite some fans initially thinking otherwise, the show extensively references events from the ‘Hawkeye’ series and includes details that only viewers familiar with Netflix’s ‘Daredevil’ series can fully grasp. This establishes a clear placement for ‘Echo’ within the MCU timeline, and today, we’re here to unveil it.

How far apart are ‘Echo’ & ‘Hawkeye’?

The first episode of the series does a less-than-ideal job of establishing the precise timeline, as it kicks off with flashbacks spanning thousands of years ago, focusing on the creation of Chafa, the first Choctaw. Subsequently, viewers are inundated with additional flashback scenes leading to the early 2000s, delving into Maya’s childhood, her mother’s demise, and her subsequent relocation to New York with her father. He had been ostracized by the family due to blame cast by her grandmother, Chula, for her daughter’s death—an accusation that proved correct.

While the exact years of these flashback sequences remain elusive, it becomes apparent that they occurred in the early 2000s. This deduction is supported by references in the show, with several characters noting that Echo hadn’t been seen in Tamaha for nearly two decades.

Subsequently, the narrative unfolds to depict the events of ‘Hawkeye.’ Maya, wrongly accused of pursuing Ronin, believes he is responsible for her father’s death. Eventually, it is disclosed that Kingpin orchestrated the demise. This revelation becomes a pivotal reference point for the ‘Echo’ series, as these specific events occurred in December 2024, according to the official MCU timeline.

In a pivotal moment, Maya shoots Kingpin at point-blank range, seemingly eliminating him. Following this, she returns to her hometown of Tamaha, Oklahoma, aiming to send a message to Kingpin’s associates. In Echo’s own words, this occurs five months after the ‘Hawkeye’ events, placing the first season of ‘Echo’ in May 2025.

The show’s events transpire over a span of a few days, encompassing Maya’s return to Tamaha, the disruption of a weapons shipment bound for New York, her abduction, and the discovery that Kingpin is still alive after all.

The majority of ‘Echo’ unfolds in Tamaha, Oklahoma

Now that we’ve established when it’s time to delve into where. The show commences and concludes in Tamaha, Oklahoma, with the majority of significant events unfolding in this locale. This aligns with the logical choice, considering Tamaha is Maya’s ancestral town and the place where she spent her childhood before being brought to New York.

However, the majority of flashbacks occur in New York, including the initial segment of the “present timeline,” as Echo is observed traveling to Tamaha later on.

Is ‘Echo’ set before or after ‘Daredevil: Born Again’?

Based on our analysis, ‘Echo’ is undoubtedly set before ‘Daredevil: Born Again.’ Supporting this prediction is a flashback fight featuring Daredevil in his previous costume. The key aspect reinforcing our forecast is the post-credit scene where Kingpin is observed watching a political show. During the discussion of the New York mayoral race, commentators highlight the absence of a brawler-type candidate, indicating that this event occurred before the events depicted in ‘Daredevil: Born Again.’

Kingpin is observed contemplating the decision to enter the mayoral race, and this is likely to play a significant role in ‘Daredevil: Born Again.’ It has been disclosed that both Matt and Kingpin will be seeking ways to reinvent themselves while simultaneously serving the people of New York.

Matt aims to leave his past behind and initiate a new law firm, while Kingpin’s specific plans remain undisclosed. However, there’s a strong likelihood that he will run for Mayor of New York, using extensive manipulation to secure victory. It’s important to note that these predictions should be taken with a degree of skepticism, as the show underwent a complete change in its creative team due to executive dissatisfaction with the initial portion of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ that was presented.

Is ‘Echo’ considered part of the official canon?

Although categorized under Marvel Spotlight, ‘Echo’ is unquestionably part of the official canon. Additionally, the show’s release has also established Netflix’s Defenders Saga as canon, marking the inclusion of beloved street-level superheroes into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for the first time. Despite the events of the ‘Defenders’ Saga being largely overlooked by the mainline movies, their integration into the official MCU timeline opens the possibility of further exploration and references in future projects.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!