Heads will roll in Echo. And get bashed in. And explode. The first trailer for the upcoming MCU series Echo is full of violence, blood, and a whole lot of goodness. The trailer for this five-episode special event honestly looks amazing. Both Alaqua Cox’s Maya Lopez and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk are delivering. This truly looks like an MCU series like none other, and we kind of love it. Take a look at Echo‘s first trailer below, if you dare.

We first met Echo in the Hawkeye series, which carried a very different tone. And we feel thrilled to see her coming into her own in this outing. It is incredible to see a Marvel show center on a deaf and Indigenous character and for it to have taken care to support this representation in front of and behind the camera.

A logline for the series revealed with the trailer shares more about the show, noting:

No bad deed goes unpunished on Jan. 10, 2024, when Marvel Studios’ “Echo” launches on Disney+ and Hulu. The five-episode streaming event spotlights Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) as she is pursued by Wilson Fisk’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) criminal empire. When the journey brings her home, she must confront her own family and legacy. All five episodes will stream on Jan. 10 on both platforms. They’ll be available on Hulu until April 9. This marks the first Marvel Studios series to drop all entirely bingeable episodes at once. 

The relationship between the MCU’s Kingpin and Echo is fraught, as we’ve seen before and see again in this trailer. But when the chips fall, will Echo end up as much a monster as her mentor? Only time will tell. At one point, rumor had it that Charlie Cox’s Daredevil would also appear on the Echo show. And though he is not mentioned in any official materials so far, we caught a brief glimpse of Daredevil in a montage of shots featured in Echo‘s trailer. Very exciting.

As the description of the series mentions, there are a few interesting aspects of Echo‘s release. Firstly, the series will run on both Hulu and Disney+, likely an homage to its grittier nature. Echo also has the distinction of being the MCU’s first series rated TV-MA. And, of course, all episodes of Echo will land at once. Disney+ has never shared a series in this format before, so it will be interesting to see how it impacts viewership. We can only hope that it helps.

All five episodes of Echo will be available to stream on January 10.

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After meeting Echo—a skilled fighter and former member of the Tracksuit Mafia—in Hawkeye, fans wanted to see more of her. The MCU is telling a wider array of stories from different backgrounds in its latest offering. And that will continue with this character, who is Deaf and Native American. Now it’s time to focus on Maya Lopez, a.k.a. Echo’s, story in Echo, a series heading to Disney+.

Here’s everything we know about Echo so far. 

Title 

The title of this series is Echo (more formally Marvel’s Echo.) 

Echo’s Plot 

We don’t know a lot about the plot right now. But Marvel’s synopsis does give us a bit to work with: 

…the origin story of Echo revisits Maya Lopez, whose ruthless behavior in New York City catches up with her in her hometown. She must face her past, reconnect with her Native American roots and embrace the meaning of family and community if she ever hopes to move forward.

Behind the Scenes 

Several of the show’s creatives are Native American, including directors Sydney Freeland (Navajo tribe) and Catriona McKenzie (Gunaikurnai tribe). Executive producers include Kevin Feige (obviously), Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Stephen Broussard, Richie Palmer, Marion Dayre, and Jason Gavin (Blackfeet tribe). Echo’s co-executive producers are Amy Rardin, Sydney Freeland, Christina King (Seminole tribe), and Jennifer Booth.

Echo’s Cast 

Alaqua Cox will return as Maya Lopez/Echo. The Echo TV show also stars Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Cody Lightning, and Graham Greene in roles that aren’t clear yet. Zahn McClarnon will portray William Lopez, Echo’s father. And, we are getting some familiar MCU faces in the form of Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio as Matt Murdock/Daredevil and Wilson Fisk/Kingpin respectively. 

Echo’s Release Date 

The Echo series received an official release date of November 29, 2023, but reportedly it will now release in January 2024. And, in an unusual move for the platform, all episodes of Echo will drop at one time. That means we can view the season all at once, which of course, we enjoy doing. Some series are better suited to this format. We just hope that’s the case for Echo and the reason behind this choice.

Originally published in 2021.

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Loki season two will soon arrive on Disney+. It promises us a romp through time as glitches and resets send our main characters in many different directions. But Loki isn’t the only Disney+ series dealing with shifting timelines. Disney+’s upcoming slate of MCU series is seeing a serious calendar shuffle. The result is that only Loki season two will arrive in the fall of 2023. All the other Disney+ MCU shows we planned on seeing soon are heading further down the line. And some of these series seem to have been removed from the calendar altogether.

The Hollywood Reporter shared this news about the shift in release date plans for Disney+ MCU shows. Here’s what was revealed.

Firstly, What If…? season two has shifted from its original early 2023 release to a Christmas 2023 release. Echo, which had a release date of November 29, 2023, appears to have moved to January 2024. All episodes will still drop at once, an unusual move for Disney+. X-Men ’97, meanwhile, originally planned to release in the fall of 2023, will arrive in early 2024. The Agatha series, which The Hollywood Reporter notes has yet another new name, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, will shift to the fall of 2024. In unfortunate news, Disney+ appears to have removed Ironheart from the schedule for now. The Disney+ series will focus on Riri Williams, a delightful inventor introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Daredevil: Born Again and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Wonder Man also do not have clear release windows at this time.

The latest Disney+ MCU series release date calendar shift is unsurprising, given that the studios continue to refuse to pay their actors and writers, forcing the WGA and SAG strikes to continue. In addition, although Disney+ shows seemed to be a highlight of Marvel Studios’ strategy for a while, it feels like they are now less in vogue. Still, some of these shows have been in the works for several years now. So, hopefully, they can come to light just as soon as those who made them receive the respect they deserve.

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Any news out of the MCU is a big deal. But this latest casting tidbit is sure to reverberate. A new report says Daredevil‘s Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio will reprise their Marvel roles as Matt Murdock and Kingpin in the upcoming Disney+ series Echo. Here’s what we’ve learned about this Daredevil and Echo crossover.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cox and D’Onofrio have joined the cast of the Hawkeye spinoff series Echo. The show, currently shooting in Atlanta, will follow Alaqua Cox’s character Maya Lopez. Hawkeye introduced the character to the MCU and saw Maya shoot her former boss and friend, Kingpin. The series also marked D’Onfrio’s first time appearing in the MCU proper after he originally played the notorious crime boss on the Netflix Marvel series Daredevil. That’s where he famously went up against Cox’s attorney/superhero Matt Murdock.

Like D’Onofrio, Cox also made his MCU proper debut last year. He appeared as Peter Parker’s Blind lawyer in Spider-Man: No Way Home. (Where we saw why he’s a very good attorney.) Since then all of the former Netflix Marvel shows have found a new home at Disney+.

If this report is true it would answer our question over whether or not Kingpin actually died in the Hawkeye finale. However, it does not tell us whether or not the Daredevil characters are the same exact versions we’ve seen in the MCU. The original portrayals might now be Variants from a parallel world. And while another rumor about the show won’t do much to clarify that, it will make fans of The Defenders happy.

THR says that on Echo, Cox will be looking for a former ally. And according to The Weekly Planet Podcast, that ally will be none other than Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones. If that’s the case, it makes perfect sense why all of these performers will be joining Echo. The show will reflect some of the best Marvel characters who made their mark outside of the MCU.

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Production is officially underway for Marvel’s upcoming Echo series. Marvel Studios announced the news with our first look at the series. Disney+’s Hawkeye originally introduced us to Maya Lopez. Lopez, also known as the hero, Echo, was hell-bent on revenge on Ronin/Clint Barton. And now, we’re thrilled to catch our first glimpse of her in her very own show.

An article on Marvel.com reveals more about the series. It notes:

Streaming exclusively on Disney, the origin story of Echo revisits Maya Lopez, whose ruthless behavior in New York City catches up with her in her hometown. She must face her past, reconnect with her Native American roots and embrace the meaning of family and community if she ever hopes to move forward. Echo also stars Chaske Spencer (Wild Indian, The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Stumptown), Devery Jacobs (FX’s Reservation Dogs, American Gods) and Cody Lightning (Hey, Viktor!, Four Sheets to the Wind), with Graham Greene (1883, Goliath) and Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds, FX’s Reservation Dogs).

Alaqua Cox returns, of course, to play the titular hero. And judging by our first-look image at Echo, she means business. Although not mentioned as part of Echo‘s cast, we do have to wonder if we’ll see Daredevil‘s Charlie Cox in the show. An appearance by Matt Murdock would make a lot of sense considering Echo’s connection to Wilson Fisk.

But any speculation aside, we can’t wait to see Echo’s origins as she connects with her community, embracing her past to find her future. We’re glad to hear that Marvel is making a strong commitment to honoring Maya’s Native American roots, both in front of and behind the camera. In addition to the synopsis, the article further notes that episodes of Echo are “directed by Sydney Freeland (Navajo) and Catriona McKenzie (Gunaikurnai).” Jason Gavin (Blackfeet) serves as an executive producer. And Christina King (Seminole) is a co-executive producer on the show.

As the world of Disney+’s Marvel series continues to expand, we’re excited to see more from Echo. Echo will release in Summer 2023.

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Marvel’s infinite multiverse means anything and everything can and does happen in parallel worlds. Peggy Carter can get the super soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers in one, while the Avengers turn into zombies in another. But while we have yet to open the door to alternate dimension ourselves, we can imagine what the biggest franchise on the planet might look in other planes of existence. The MCU could have been very different in infinite ways. Like how the original plan for Moon Knight had Hawkeye‘s Echo as Marc Spector’s main love interest.

Moon Knight‘s head writer and executive producer Jeremy Slater recently appeared on The Ringerverse’s “House of R” podcast. During the interview (which we first heard about at TVLine), he said the original pitch to Marvel executives included Maya Lopez as Moon Knight‘s love interest. Their relationship comes from the comics. But Slater said her inclusion in their initial concept had to do entirely with Marvel wanting to introduce the character into the MCU.

Slater said Echo “didn’t work at all for the story” they wanted to tell, though. Fortunately, much to his own relief, Marvel execs agreed. They also believed the character made more sense for another Disney+ series, and that’s where she appeared. Alaqua Cox introduced Maya to the MCU on Hawkeye, and she’ll reprise her role on her own standalone series, Echo. Meanwhile, May Calamawy has starred as Marc’s estranged wife Layla El-Faouly on Moon Knight. Her and her character’s backstory have played vital roles and the series would be fundamentally different with Echo.

This “what if…?” of Echo being in Moon Knight instead of Hawkeye isn’t even the only major change Slater mentioned. Originally Marc’s unseen partner, Bushman, the one who killed Layla’s dad, was meant to be the main villain. Instead it ended up being minor comic book character Arthur Harrow. But as Slater also said, “There were a thousand things that were radically different about that initial pitch.”

That’s true of everything in the MCU. Plans chance and people make decisions that completely change what we see. Those choices shape and reshape entire movies, shows, characters, and stories. And if the studio had made others decision along the way the franchise itself might be totally different. How much different, though? And would the MCU be as successful if it took different paths along the way? We’ll have to unlock the door to our own multiverse to know for sure.

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Oh to be a mid-twenties, arrow wielding athlete teaming up with your favorite Avenger. In the third episode of Hawkeye, Clint (Jeremy Renner) and Kate (Hailee Steinfeld) are still in dire straits in the grips of Echo (Alaqua Cox). That conflict allows us to dig into Echo’s past and get one of the best chase scenes in the history of the MCU. And of course there are a whole bunch of fun Easter eggs in Hawkeye episode three. Let’s dig in!

The Origins of Echo

In an echo—pun intended—of the opening episode, we get Maya a.k.a. Echo’s origin story. In the comics, she was created by David Mack, Joe Quesada, and Jimmy Palmiotti and debuted in Daredevil #9. Here we see her as a child placed into a hearing school even though she’s deaf. Although her teacher didn’t know the best way to teach her, Maya excelled, teaching herself lip reading and showcasing her impressive intelligence. During an inspirational chat with her father William (Zahn McClarnon), who’s a member of the Tracksuit Mafia, he tells her she needs to live in two worlds by “watching,” which is a hint at her Taskmaster-like comic book powers. In the comics, Echo can replicate any power or fighting style just by watching someone.

“Dragons Live in a Different World”

While sweet baby Maya is at home with her dad, he’s telling her stories. They get into a conversation about dragons during their chat and she asks if they’re real. While he explains to her that they might be, he says “dragons live in a different world.” This is on the surface just a nice thing that he says to his daughter to inspire her imagination, but after Shang-Chi we know that it’s also absolutely true in the MCU.

Kingpin !!!?????!!

Yep, after our very own Dan Casey suggested it might happen, we get our first glimpse of Kingpin in the core MCU. That man in the suit who strokes Maya’s face at her martial arts lesson is definitely Wilson Fisk. And that makes sense because in the comics he raised her after the death of her father. While we don’t think that’s the case here, the fact that she has a connection to him means that we could definitely see him play a bigger part this season.

Fat Man’s Auto Repair

The most obvious answer for this Easter egg is that it’s a front for Kingpin, which would make sense after we saw the big man just appear for the first time since Daredevil. But this also seems like another West Coast Avengers nod. In issue #18 of the series, a time traveling West Coast Avengers battled Fat Man, a Kid Colt villain from Marvel’s western comics. And guess who took him down? Well, Hawkeye, of course. Not only is his name directly mentioned here but it also continues the trend of time travel / timey wimey stuff that this series has subtly been leaning into.

That Bloody Handprint

In a change from her comics origin, as Maya breaks into the auto shop we see Ronin on a rampage. It’s clear that we’re in the past here and Maya is looking for her father. But Clint as Ronin is killing the Tracksuit Mafia and she sees him murder her dad. In the comics, it was actually Kingpin who killed her father, who in the source material was named Willie “Crazy Horse” Lincoln. As she holds her dying father, he leaves a bloody handprint on her face. It’s an allusion to Echo’s comic book costume where she has a handprint obscuring her face.

That Parking Lot

This Hawkeye episode three Easter egg gives us our first hints at a vital comic issue. In the parking lot of the abandoned KB Toys, there’s a cherry red ’72 Dodge Challenger, which features in the aptly named story “Cherry.” Then, of course, there’s that Trust a Bro van, which is an allusion to the Tracksuit Mafia / Tracksuit Draculas’ favorite catchphrase, “Bro!”

KB Toys

The fact that Kate and Clint are in an abandoned KB Toys might seem like a bit of simple nostalgia. It also works on the level that K and B are Kate Bishop’s initials. But there’s also a deeper Marvel connection here. During Marvel Comics’ turbulent business troubles in the mid-90s, Toy Biz (owned by Ike Perlmutter and exclusive to Marvel) greatly expanded their offerings in an attempt to stave off bankruptcy for the company. Many of those action figures were exclusive to KB Toys. When the inevitable happened and Marvel Comics went bankrupt, it was Perlmutter, Avi Arad, and the toy side of the business that took control of Marvel as a whole and put Joe Quesada at the head of the publishing side, which turned its fortunes around. A nice Marvel history egg there!

A Familiar Voice

This is a great little fun fact. Piotr Adamczyk, who plays Tomas, has actually been in the MCU movies before. So who did he play? Well only a certified AVENGER! Yes, in the Polish dubs of any movie starring Ant-Man, Adamczyk voiced Scott Lang!

Clownin’ on Hawkeye

The interior of the KB Toys is very carnivalesque, once again leaning into Hawkeye’s carnival origins. He even jumps on a trampoline while the pair escape the Tracksuit Mafia. So don’t be surprised if we do see some more canon allusions to Hawkeye’s circus past.

That Awesome Car Chase

Hawkeye #3 comes into play again here in an epic car chase that is one of the MCU’s best action set pieces yet. The tracking shot scene is taken from the beloved issue and showcases both Clint and Kate’s unbelievable archery skills. It’s also filled with some of Hawkeye’s weirdest trick arrows from the comics. Kate is excitedly exploring all the fun explosive arrows she can, and eventually we get a Pym arrow. It’s one of the coolest and most “out there” moments in a very grounded episode as the arrow strikes another, causing it to grow to an enormous size, destroying a Tracksuit Mafia vehicle that’s tailing them.

Who Is Uncle?

One thing we learn from this episode is that Kazi and Maya were raised together. The pair are close and have an enjoyable banter, but according to the credits we see child Kazi in her flashback sequence at the beginning. This would also explain why he says “I hope Uncle doesn’t find out” as if they share an uncle… who could that be? Well, we’re guessing it’s probably Kingpin, seeing as he was at the dojo and was clearly very close to Maya.

A Comic Book Costume

As Kate and Clint bond over coffee, she tries to help him with his branding. This comes in a very cute sketch of what is essentially his comic book costume. It’s a nice nod to his comic book past and leads to a vulnerable moment where Renner / Clint gives a little confession about not being a role model, which is very appropriate on both counts, to be honest.

Pizza Dog Is Born

During their snacks and bonding, Clint decides they need to name their dog. After a few very funny options like Little Caesar, Kate offers up Pizza Dog, which their canine friend seems to really, really like. So there it is, he’s now officially that very good boy, Pizza Dog.

“Someone Above Maya, Someone You Don’t Want to Mess With”

While walking their four-legged friend, Clint mentions that Maya isn’t actually the leader of the Tracksuit Mafia. Though that would have made sense as her dad seemed to be the head of the gang before her, Clint’s ominous threat that “there’s someone above Maya you don’t want to mess with” seems like another allusion to Kingpin. With only three episodes left, it would make sense for us to see him in the last couple of episodes. From there it seems natural to have him as a major player in Echo’s solo series. And yes, of course, we’re hoping that the icon Vincent D’Onofrio returns to the role.

Breaking and Entering

In a very Kate Bishop move that honestly Clint should know better than to follow, the pair break into her mom’s apartment. Their plan is to look up Kazi on the Bishop Security database. Soon they discover he’s connected to a company called Sloan LTD. There are a lot of Sloans in Marvel history, but we think the most likely is Jason Sloan. He was a partner at the law firm of Broderick, Sloan, and Cranston, which Attorney Matt Murdock eventually joined. It was later revealed that Cranston and Broderick were both bad guys, most notably Cranston who was the supervillain Mr. Fear. This could be another strong Daredevil/Kingpin connection.

An Overdue Reunion

In what is maybe one of the biggest cliffhangers we’ve had in an MCU show—well, if you are a fan of Hawkeye’s origin—the episode ends with Clint getting caught in Eleanor’s apartment by none other than Swordsman himself, Jacques / Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton)! So the big question is whether or not the pair will recognize each other in the next episode. If they do then it will tie into Hawkeye’s proper origin where Jacques was his circus mentor. But if not we’ll be very interested why they included the classic Hawkeye villain in this series…

Thanking Those All Important Creators

No new names this week, which is especially interesting if that really was Kingpin. Sometimes if they’ve already thanked creators elsewhere, they won’t do it. But also it could be because he wasn’t actually named. Either way, expect to see Stan Lee and John Romita Sr. getting some thanks very, very soon.

Featured Image: Marvel Studios

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Wow, it seems like only a few minutes ago you were reading our Hawkeye episode one Easter eggs piece! That’s because it probably was. Yes, our benevolent overlords at Disney+ bestowed two episodes of Hawkeye on us. So this is our second round up of Easter eggs for the debut! This time around there were some MCU nods and some comic book bits. There was even some meta-commentary on Hawkeye’s popularity or lack of it! So let’s jump in.

“Some people call me the world’s greatest archer!”

As Kate geeks out and tries to impress her hero Clint, she drops this very cute line. Not only is it actually legitimately a fair estimation of her skills but it’s also a cool little comics nod. During his time as a circus performer, Clint created an act that he named “The World’s Greatest Marksman,” so this is a little wink at that piece of Hawkeye history.

Kate’s apartment looks familiar

While we got a glimpse at Kate’s cool NY digs in the first episode, we really get to see them here. And on closer examination it seems like her humble abode is heavily based on Clint’s apartment from the 2012 Aja and Fraction Hawkeye comics. Not only is it a cool NY loft style space but it’s filled with training bits and bobs for archery. It makes sense as a visual reference too, as Clint’s apt became a famed Marvel location during the series. But in the MCU Clint doesn’t live in NYC, so this way the show can nod to it by having Kate live there. Though probably R.I.P. to that apartment thanks to the Tracksuit Mafia and their molotov cocktails.

Whatever happened to Avengers Tower?

When Kate asks if the newly connected on the run heroes are headed to Avengers Tower, Hawkeye says a swift no. As he reminds Kate that Tony actually sold the Tower a few years ago. Sadly, he doesn’t confirm who Tony sold it to, but our favorite theory is, of course, that whoever Tony sold the building to was called Baxter. Why? Well, the Baxter Building is the name of the Fantastic Four’s headquarters. And we’re expecting Marvel’s First Family to arrive soon, so don’t be surprised if you hear the name Baxter come up soon.

The West Coast Avengers are coming!

There are a bunch of hints at the West Coast Avengers in these first two episodes. But it’s when we are introduced to the apartment of Kate’s on screen aunt Moira Brandon that we really get confirmation they’re headed to the MCU. In the comics, Brandon is a famous actor—just like in the show—who donates her Rancho Palos Verdes estate to the heroes. Seeing as Brandon now exists in the MCU, we’re pretty sure that part of her story will come to life soon.

Hawkeye is the least popular Avenger in the MCU

While Kate lectures Clint on branding, there’s some fun metacommentary on his lack of popularity as an Avenger. Clint complains about not selling costumes and toys, and of course he’s talking about within the world of the MCU. But he could easily be talking about the real world too. Clint has always been one of the least well known and least popular heroes. And apparently this is reflected in his standing in the world he lives in too.

Grills!!! It’s good to see you, buddy

In an unexpected but very entertaining LARPing sequence, Clint goes to retrieve the Ronin costume from a fantasy battle reenactor. After agreeing to lose to him during trial by combat, the pair connect as they pack away their stuff. It’s here that the man introduces himself as Grills. Fans of the 2012 Hawkeye comic series will immediately recognize the name. In case you’ve yet to read it, here’s what you need to know: Grills is Clint’s neighbor and friend. While Clint doesn’t live in NYC in the MCU, we could still see Grills turn up again as an ally. Or maybe this was just a nice nod to the comics the show takes from so heavily.

Oh, that Detective Caudle

Another character from the Kate Bishop Hawkeye series pops up in this episode too. After Kate’s debut as Ronin, she gets a call from a police officer asking to meet her. He introduces himself as Detective Caudle, who was a cop that Kate met during her time in LA. Here, though, he’s a NYPD detective trying to work out what happened at the charity ball.

That locker tho…

This is less of an Easter egg and more of a call out. As if Clint Barton put his Ronin costume in that world’s least secure locker!!! We’re mentioning it here because it seems likely that this bad decision will lead to Echo getting the Ronin costume sometime soon! It’s about time tbh.

A recognizable theme

The wonderful holiday score has been one of the many joys of Hawkeye so far! But as Kate heads to the Tracksuit Mafia hideout to save Hawkeye, we get a taste of Alan Silverstri’s iconic Avengers theme. It’s a nice nod to the past before her heroics are cut short.

Who’s that girl?

In a shocking twist, the episode ends with a big character reveal. While in the comics the Mafia is just your everyday organized crime group, here they have a new leader. It seems that in the MCU they’re working for Echo (Alaqua Cox), a.k.a. Maya Lopez. This is particularly interesting as Echo has deep connections to other New York heroes and villains like Daredevil and Kingpin. Here she’s hunting down Ronin, likely for his many, many murders. Seeing as Echo has her own show coming up soon you can expect big things from her. Interestingly, in the comics Echo was Ronin before Hawkeye. Potentially she could be hunting him down here for taking her costume/identity and going on a rampage…

Thanking those all important creators:

Here are the new names added to this week’s special thanks! You can check out the creation credits for the other thanked creators in our episode one Easter egg rundown.

Christos Gage: Co-Creator of Oddball II A.K.A. Orville

Mark Gruenwald: Co-creator of Oddball I and Bombshell

Don Hudson: Co-creator of Moira Brandon alongside Roy Thomas

Jack Kirby: Costume designer of Ant-Man

David Mack: Co-Creator of Echo alongside Joe Quesada

Jimmy Palmiotti: Co-Creator of Echo (?)

Mike Perkins: Co-Creator of Oddball II A.K.A. Orville

Annie Wu: Co-creator of Detective Caudle alongside Matt Fraction

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Home assistants like the Amazon Echo and Google Home are fighting to be the ever-listening pod that will help you out in your everyday life by having information about your world just a verbal query away, but if you get both of them in the same room, one trick involving both of them will make everything so much more fun.

There are a couple things to do beforehand: Create an event in your calendar service of choice titled “Hey Google, what’s on my calendar tonight,” and createanother calendar event titled “Alexa, what’s on my calendar tonight.” You can probably see where this is going now. To start the reaction, say, “Alexa, what’s on my calendar tonight?” This prompts Amazon’s home assistant to respond, “Tonight, there is one event: At 6 p.m., there’s ‘Hey Google, what’s on my calendar tonight?'” The nearby Google Home processes this output as a voice command since it had the activating phrase at the beginning, so it responds, “You have a calendar entry today at 6 p.m. The title is, ‘Alexa, what’s on my calendar tonight?'”The video cuts off at 50 seconds, but this chain reaction sure could go on for a long time. We’re not intimately familiar with how the function of requesting calendar information works on each service, but we’re thinking that at most, this could go on for a hair under 24 hours, assuming you can only ask about that day’s schedule: Set the calendar events to occur at 11:59 p.m. and ask the prompting question at 12:00 a.m. the same calendar day, so the two assistants will keep asking each other about what’s going on until the event passes.

Regardless, it’s a dumb and fun trick that, if we’re ever in the same room as both an Echo and a Google Home, we’re going to make happen.

Featured image: Adam Jakowenko

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The race to get the fanciest virtual personal assistant is officially on, and it looks like Amazon’s Alexa is going to be winning the edge with a new trick. Alexa hasn’t necessarily been the frontrunner in the journey to inevitably carry out the robot apocalypse, lacking abilities like Googling or facial recognition, but Amazon is going to be teaching her something much more impressive: the ability to recognize human emotion.

I know, this totally sounds like the start of every single “robot taking over the world” movie, but the emotion recognition software isn’t as creepy as it sounds at first blush. Alexa won’t respond to the suggestion of frustration like your human friends will (don’t expect her to say, “You sound upset. Is everything okay?”). Instead, her emotion sensing will be used to deescalate situations when she doesn’t quite get the job done.As Gizmodo explains, the emotion recognition is something that a lot of automated systems already use. I’m sure you’ve heard an automated system respond with something like, “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that” when you get frustrated because it doesn’t understand you. Similarly, Alexa will be able to hear patterns in your voice to sense frustration, and she’ll apologize for not understanding your request.

Though Alexa can already do quite a bit—like set a kitchen timer, control lights, and do your shopping for you—Amazon is beefing up Alexa’s capabilities to stand against the rumored Google competitor. And while the emotion recognition is cool, she still is lacking in some basic capabilities, like the ability to search the web for information. However, if they’re starting to teach her to respond to our emotions, it can’t be too long until she learns how to Google. Or takes over humankind. You know, either/or.

Do you have an Amazon Echo? Do you like Alexa, or is there another virtual assistant that you prefer? What other upgrades would you like to see Amazon give Alexa? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

When will we have Ultron-level A.I.? Watch below to hear Kyle Hill speak on the subject.

[brightcove video_id=”4204592208001″ brightcove_account_id=”3653334524001″ brightcove_player_id=”2bfa565b-5412-4cfd-9211-6269880b8a5e”]

Featured Image: Amazon.com

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