‘Echos’ Recap: ‘Die Unsichtbaren’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Echos’. To revisit the series premiere, click here.

Normally shows that feature a devastating and unsolved event in their opening chapter, use that as storytelling leverage for the rest of their season and rightfully so. After all, who doesn’t love a good hook? The kind that engages an audience and commands their attention so that the grand payoff for their time is the answer to that all important burning question, who or what did it? But some stories are keen to surprise their audience and take their tale in a vastly different route than traditional storytelling might dictate and one particular show that meets such criteria, is Echos on Sundance Now.

For the second chapter in this already fascinating saga, actually wasted little time in informing us as to who was responsible for the fire on that fateful night. Because we were quickly given a more in depth look at the life of Tyler, the young woman we saw at the end of the series premiere, and this de facto leader of the underground citizens living in the city’s tunnels, was beyond disgusted with the privileged having a party in her tunnels, in her home. So, that motivated her to set the fire in question and get people the hell out of there. But unfortunately for her, her acts didn’t go unnoticed since Max and his buddies caught her in the act and that led to their eventual capture and current situation.

But while that was satisfying to learn and indeed the end of a grand mystery here, it does beg another question about this series. Specifically, what then is the focus of this tale? For if the big reveal is over, aside from bringing Tyler to justice, what else do we have to stick around for? Well, the good news is, plenty. After all, Max is still a prisoner in this place and isn’t safe in the slightest since there are others in the tunnels that are eager to remove him from the equation, and the land of the living, post haste. And by removing the fire mystery, Nellie’s search for him takes on a new life and creates conflict and danger. Especially after meeting Tyler, since she will do whatever it takes to keep her decision a secret. But Nellie is determined and intelligent and knows deep down that her brother is alive and will do the same to find him.

Plus, there are some shady mysteries that need to be solved as well. Such as why Officer Kaltbrunner is obsessed with Max and the case she’s clearly not supposed to be working on, and we cannot forget that Nellie’s mother is someone that has taken part in some wildly illegal acts, judging from how quickly she is working to keep her conversation from the series premiere quiet and resolved and of course… there’s plenty to suspect with Lisa as well. Since she clearly had some kind of romantic encounter with Max along the line and her obsession with keeping the project going at work, despite the setbacks… leave one to wonder what agenda she’s pushing and why it is so important for her to see the company succeed at this particular project over anything else in their portfolio.

Which means it is those mysteries that are driving us forward now, since we must know how all of this connects and who will face justice for their actions and why they are doing what they do, and of course… we are dying to know whether or not Max will make it home. Especially after that terrifying closing image we were ‘treated’ to and well, this episode just goes to show that this particular series, really is quite the breath of fresh air. For it offers up unpredictable twists and turns and its story isn’t from the beaten path either. It’s original and deep and full of so many layers and well, that definitely compels one to continue to the journey post haste, to earn the answers to the field of burning questions that this episode presents to us. Until next time.     

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