This post contains details from the finale ofMarvelStudiosEcho.
DEADLINE: This is a lot of story packed into five episodes.
How did you manage that?
EchoChuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios
AMY RARDIN:When we were in the room, we werent really thinking about the constraints of time.
We just wanted to tell the best story we possibly could.
To really not have to think about the time was great.
So, in terms of the pacing, it was just where the story led us.
And thats kind of how we approached that in the room.
RARDIN:Yeah, thats pretty much what it was.
Thats the beauty of getting to do things onstreamingis you let the story dictate that.
That was really great.
RARDIN:I feel like when youre writing, you always want to expand on everything.
Very few writers turn in short drafts.
You want to just keep going and going.
I feel like I could watch the Kingpin and Maya relationship forever.
I think that the two actors are very dynamic together.
I really, really loved telling their story.
DEADLINE: Yeah, I am fascinated by that entire time period.
But yet, he loves her in his own way.
But when she sees him, she isnt scared.
She runs up and kicks the ice cream man as well.
That reveal is very heartbreaking.
How did you develop that scene?
RARDIN:I actually really remember the day that we were talking about that in the room.
As soon as we came up with the scene, it really never changed.
I think that is the defining moment of their relationship.
I mean, children are always watching, and shes watching this man that she admires do that.
Then she does it just like him.
Shes facing that head on.
Can you talk more about crafting that scene and its importance?
[Maya] hadnt seen [Chula] since she was a child.
That is the beginning of her getting to do that with her grandmother.
People dont always make the right decisions when theyre in an emotional state.
DEADLINE: In the finale, the scene with Maya and her mom is so emotional.
How did that scene come about?
Thats her big trauma, seeing her mother die in front of her.
It still makes me cry, too.
Kingpin has the capacity for love in his very twisted way.
And so its her not giving up on him at the end.
He just cant do it.
DEADLINE: We also have to talk about Bonnie.
I love every scene shes in.
In the finale, she serves as the go-between for Kingpin and Mayas conversation, which feels so manipulative.
What went into that decision?
They still have those family bonds.
DEADLINE: I would love to see Bonnies backstory.
How has she handled all of this trauma, which like Maya, was not of her own doing?
RARDIN:First of all, Devery [Jacobs] is amazing.
We talked a lot about Bonnie in the room and that she had been in this town without Maya.
Maya left and went to New York, and Bonnie stayed in this small town.
DEADLINE: I was curious whether Daredevil might make another appearance, and he doesnt.
What made the writers want to include that fight early in the series.
So we knew that we were going to want to use him in a specific way.
The fight between Daredevil and Maya was very important to Sydney [Freeland].
We talked a lot in the room about consistently keeping the story from Mayas point of view.
Because we know how excited everyone is about Daredevil.
We were excited about Daredevil.
But really what that fight is about is Maya going from student to practical.
Its the first time she kills someone.
Its the first time she proves herself to Kingpin.
She took on one of his biggest rivals.
Its her coming into her own in Fisks operation.
So that is how we approached that fight.
RARDIN:Sydney was an amazing collaborator.
Steven Paul Judd, one of our writers, is Choctaw.
So he was a great resource in the room.
We had a lot of input from the Choctaw Nation.
I think its really important to be as specific as possible, but yet tell universal emotional stories.
So the consultants from the Choctaw Nation were on set with us.
They were literally sitting next to me in video village.
So they were right there.
We could ask any question.
They were watching all the scenes.
I mean, from down to the food on set.
Most of those outfits from the powwow were peoples personal outfits that they brought with them.
RARDIN:Origin stories are great.
And as a writer, I thought that was really exciting.
I think that [Marvel spotlight banner] gave us the freedom to do that.
So it was very creatively freeing for sure.
