A major development at Marvel Studios in recent months has been the shift in their approach to TV content. Moving away from six-episode miniseries that felt like stretched-out films was a well-judged move. Separating the television projects from the larger movie narratives also proved to be a smart decision. Ironheart, which wrapped production nearly three years ago and is only now seeing release, serves as a clear example of why this new direction makes sense.
Riri Williams’ solo series was first revealed back in 2020 when Kevin Feige announced Ironheart as part of Marvel’s Phase 5 slate. At the time, he confirmed that the show would link directly to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. Let’s hope that connection holds true and Riri plays a key role in the broader MCU.
Following her appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Williams (played by Dominique Thorne) returns to MIT, but her time there is short-lived. Her side hustle is selling high-tech inventions to fellow students. That ultimately leads to her expulsion. In a final act of defiance, she takes her finished armor suit and leaves campus, heading back to her hometown of Chicago.
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Without a doubt, Thorne is the best part of the series, delivering a strong and captivating performance that brings a perfect blend of intelligence, determination, and vulnerability to the character. Her portrayal makes Riri feel authentic and relatable, elevating the show with its compelling and heartfelt depth.
But Thorne is not the only one who deserves credit. Lyric Ross plays her late best friend Natalie. Albeit with a twist. She is brought back in the form of N.A.T.A.L.I.E. (Neuroautonomous Technical Assistant and Laboratory Intelligence Entity), an artificial intelligence created by a glitch in Riri’s brain-mapping suit programming. This AI mirrors Natalie’s mannerisms, memories, and personality, which initially creates tension as Riri struggles to cope with this digital version of her best friend. This storyline echoes the Iron Man legacy. Much like Tony Stark’s AI J.A.R.V.I.S. evolving into Vision, a concept embraced but rarely explained in the MCU. It’s only when Riri accepts the mystery behind N.A.T.A.L.I.E.’s existence that their emotional bond deepens, allowing Dominique Thorne and Lyric Ross to bring humor and heart to their interactions.
From the start, the show seems eager to highlight Riri’s place within the larger Marvel universe, particularly when compared to Tony Stark. As a young Black woman from modest beginnings who dreams of creating something truly “iconic,” Riri stands in stark contrast to Stark, who had wealth and opportunity handed to him from the beginning. This contrast had real potential to explore how two very different individuals pursue similar ambitions through entirely different paths. However, the series never fully commits to this idea. While the creative team may have aimed to distance Riri’s journey from Tony’s legacy, his influence is hard to ignore.
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That’s not to say Ironheart isn’t breaking new ground. One of its boldest moves is merging the mystical and technological aspects of the MCU, something previous projects have mostly kept separate. This fusion comes through in the form of Parker Robbins, a.k.a. The Hood, played by Anthony Ramos. Though his introduction feels abrupt, with the show jumping straight into his story, Robbins and his crew of outcasts target the ultra-rich for personal gain. While their motives aren’t particularly complex, there’s a darker, more sinister force hinted at in the hood Parker wears, something supernatural that seems to be influencing him from within.
Anthony Ramos brings a smooth confidence to his role as the Hood, but the narrative leaves the origins and mechanics of his mystical cloak underexplored. There’s little consistency in when or why the hood is used, which makes its appearances feel somewhat arbitrary. While Parker’s crew members each have specific functions within the group and contribute to the plot, they aren’t developed enough to inspire much emotional connection from the audience.
If the series had more than six episodes, the supporting cast might have had room to grow, but once again, the common flaw of Marvel’s shorter shows comes through: there’s just not enough time to fully develop its characters. This is especially true for Alden Ehrenreich’s Joe, a tech ethicist whom Riri consults for help with her suit. While Ehrenreich is entertaining in a role that plays against his usual type, his character feels thinly written. The third episode twist hints at a deeper relevance, but it remains to be seen if it will really pay off.
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Ironheart leans heavily on its stylish touches, like the music and the authentic Chicago backdrops. The show looks mostly impressive when it chooses to, and the visual effects are generally strong. Scenes featuring Riri’s suit stand out as particularly well-executed, probably thanks to the use of a practical suit during filming. However, some of the bigger settings, such as the high-tech underground tunnels, come across as less convincing. Due to a tight budget and some unusual editing decisions, none of the action sequences manage to feel particularly thrilling.
Overall, the cast delivers confident and emotionally grounded performances, but despite that, Ironheart falls short of giving Riri Williams the kind of transformative hero arc typical of MCU leads. The first three episodes are weighed down by uninspired plots and a jaded tone, making it hard to truly connect with most of the characters. While the energetic heist moments bring some excitement, the armored action scenes feel underwhelming by comparison.
‘Ironheart’ Episodes 1-3 Review: Riri Williams Takes Flight
Overall, the cast delivers confident and emotionally grounded performances, but despite that, Ironheart falls short of giving Riri Williams the kind of transformative hero arc typical of MCU leads. The first three episodes are weighed down by uninspired plots and a jaded tone, making it hard to truly connect with most of the characters. While the energetic heist moments bring some excitement, the armored action scenes feel underwhelming by comparison.
