Ironheart was first announced as an entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2020. It’s taken five years, and less than two months of promotions for the show to begin streaming on Disney+. Though this MCU show is only six episodes long, the wait has been worth it. Dominique Thorne reprises her role from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as Riri Williams, as she faces off against a new mysterious character called The Hood, played by Anthony Ramos.
The show takes place after the events of Wakanda Forever. Riri finds herself at odds with her school, and returns home to fulfil her mission—to create her own Iron suit. But Riri doesn’t have the money and resources that the original Iron Man, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), had. She has to make it on her own; which leads her down a dangerous path.
The characters at the heart of Ironheart
The best part of the MCU has always been the characters—they are flawed, complex, confusing, but usually compelling. Riri Williams is no different. She is singular in her mission to make an Iron suit. Her genius talent comes with a nonchalance and overconfidence that gets her in trouble. But she’s also hurting, and that emotional complexity makes Thorne’s performance as Riri a riveting watch.
On the flip side, we have Anthony Ramos as The Hood. He’s not the bombastic, larger-than-life villains we’ve come to expect in superhero properties. He seems unsure, a little too friendly. Is he even a villain? As viewers learn more about The Hood, they may be left feeling conflicted about his motivations.
The Hood leads a roster of colorful characters, each with a distinct personality and set of skills. Ironheart comes alive whenever this gang is on screen. The world needs to see more of these characters.
Another familiar face is Alden Ehrenreich, playing tech hound Joe McGillicuddy. He is delightfully hilarious, and a good foil for Thorne’s Riri.
But the star of the show is Lyric Ross as Natalie, Riri’s best friend. She is joy and light combined. Ross’s chemistry with Thorne makes every bit of Riri and Natalie’s close bond believable. And their banter is a highlight. Ross captures Natalie’s ebullience and pain so perfectly, one can’t help but be swept away by her performance. What a find!
Ironheart isn’t an Iron Man knock-off
Ironheart pays homage to Tony Stark in many ways, but the show, and the character, aren’t derivative of Iron Man’s story. Show creator Chinaka Hodge, along with the creative team, specify how Riri’s journey is different from Tony’s because she’s Black, she’s a girl, and she’s not wealthy.
The show isn’t on-the-nose with its message of racial, social, and financial inequality, but most of the choices Riri needs to make would be different if there weren’t systemic injustices in the US. Ironheart never forgets that, and neither should any viewers, especially given the proliferation of discriminatory practices in the US today.
But the social message is only part of what makes Ironheart memorable. The story is measured, written to eke out the mystery, while dropping clues and hints to the characters’ stories along the way. The viewer is kept hooked with revelations and wider connections to the MCU.
Unfortunately, because of how short the show is, some of the story and dynamics need to be guessed at. It would have been so much better to see those story beats play out on screen, rather than leaving it for the viewer to intuit on their own.
What Ironheart does exceptionally well is getting the cliffhangers right. Each episode, slickly directed by either Sam Bailey or Angela Barnes, leaves the viewer hanging, wishing for more. What’s shocking is that the show itself ends with a massive finale as well. If that isn’t a sign the series should be renewed, then what is?
Yes, anyone can watch Ironheart
Riri is a young woman who wants to realize her dreams. But circumstances make that impossible for her, so she falls in with an unsavory crowd. This is a familiar story for many, told with sensitivity and levity in Ironheart. This show is made for everyone.
We often hear people complain about having to do ‘homework’ ahead of watching an MCU property. But most of these films and shows fill in the details themselves. Ironheart is a great entry for anyone interested in watching some light sci-fi, family dynamics, and a powerful and grounded story about a varied group of characters. Even without reading the comics, or watching anything else Marvel-related, the show will make complete sense.
However, for those in the know, and especially for fans of the MCU, Ironheart does have ramifications for the rest of the universe. Now, how that will play out is uncertain. None of the actors from the show have been announced to be part of Avengers: Doomsday. In fact, almost none of the MCU connections mentioned in this show have a certain future in the MCU.
Irrespective of what the future holds for Riri and the gang, Ironheart is such a heart-warming show. The love and emotions of the characters feel so real; the stakes are personal, the tension is high, but the vibes are pretty chill. The humor will keep you buoyed, and the musical earworms will make you dance. And then there’s that finale, which will make you wonder, what happens next?