Ironheart was made during the "quantity over quality" era that former Disney CEO Bob Chapek imposed on the studio, but Marvel is hoping to move past it (the series ended shooting at the end of 2022). Perhaps because of this, the six-episode series doesn't tell a very compelling plot, but the majority of the characters in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sequel more than make up for those shortcomings. Despite not being a masterpiece, Ironheart solidifies Riri Williams as one of the most interesting new characters in the MCU.

If the Black Panther sequel provided a fascinating preview of Dominique Thorne's Riri, Ironheart builds on that and creates a fully realized young superhero who strikes a balance between her brilliance and her fear, which is not unlike what Tony Stark experienced in iron Man 3.  Although those scenes are masterfully handled, they highlight the main problem with the production.  There aren't many novel or inventive concepts in it, and the core notion is this:  After being expelled from MIT and joining a terrible gang to pursue her goal of making an armored suit, Riri finally realizes that The Hood and his team must be stopped. 

Thankfully, that is somewhat compensated for by the character work.  That's where Ironheart shines, whether it's Joe McGillicuddy's battles with his legacy and aspirations to be more, Riri's developing friendship with N.A.T.A.L.I.E., an AI unintentionally modeled after her deceased best friend, or The Hood's quest for vengeance.  It's a pleasure to watch Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Alden Ehrenreich, and Lyric Ross play brilliantly and significantly improve the material.  That's not to say Ironheart's plot is horrible; it's just cliched and lacks the elements that made superhero tv series like WandaVision, Loki, and Daredevil: Born Again so amazing. 

However, the blend of science and magic turns out to be a highlight and leads this series in unexpected ways.  Using a suit fueled by Dark Dimension energy to fight The Hood's demonic abilities is a brilliant move that takes Riri to many exciting places.  It ends with a fantastic ending that introduces a significant character to the MCU who has the potential to transform the franchise as we know it, even though it raises many more questions than it answers. It is also a satisfying watch.  We won't reveal who plays them, but let's just say that they are absolutely amazing and that we want to see a lot more of them in the future. 

Ironheart's extensive post-production work is evident.  The visual effects are flawless and of movie grade.  The action sequences are appropriately amazing, and there isn't a single weak point in those images.  The show mostly follows the tried-and-true pattern of saving the big fight and new outfit for the very end, which is a grating cliche that we hope Marvel television will eventually abandon.  On the plus side, that confrontation is satisfying, as Ramos creates a powerful, terrifying, and frequently complex antagonist in The Hood for Riri.  

Ironheart is far superior to Secret Invasion, a series that had a great beginning before collapsing, and it isn't as forgettable as Echo.  As a show that isn't the MCU at its best, it ultimately lies somewhere between Ms. Marvel, which never lived up to its potential, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which is a must-watch for MCU completists but a story that few fans are raving about.  When all is said and done, there are many things to like, such as the leads' travels and some deftly used title cards.
For more interesting updates wa click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel

Find out more:

Iron Heart

G GOWTHAM

25/06/2025 10:24 AM