Over the past couple of years, Marvel Television has proved a few things. Character driven stories with street level heroes, compelling villains, and supporting ensemble casts with strong emotional ties to the lead resonate with viewers. Striking the balance between tethering elements to the larger MCU and honoring comic source material with infusing fresh standalone takes on renowned, rookie, and deepcut characters alike produces small screen magic. And, it is never too late to explore a story, as long as it is done with tact and care. We saw this quite recently with Agatha All Along, and we get this with a gem that I hope folks don’t sleep on: Ironheart.
Nearly three years after Dominique Thorne’s debut as Riri “Ironheart” Williams in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ironheart is hitting Disney+. As a diehard fan of Eve Ewing’s Ironheart comic run, I admittedly went into the series with some deep trepidation. I didn’t dislike Riri in Wakanda Forever. But there simply wasn’t enough of her in that narrative to really gel with me. And the Ironheart trailers didn’t give me a ton of confidence either. How would this show would handle Riri’s MCU origin story? Still, I always trust in Ryan Coogler, who executive produced the series, and that instinct has yet to fail me.
Ironheart is a culturally and emotionally nuanced epic that navigates the pitfalls of socioeconomic strife, the loneliness of genius and grief, and the magic of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with loads of heart and wit. From its well-crafted storylines and stellar performances to its interweaving of sinister sorcery and innovative tech, Ironheart quickly finds its footing and fires on all cylinders. Creator and head writer Chinaka Hodge’s love for comic Riri blends with her unique creative liberties to build something lovely.
The series follows a dejected Riri Williams, who is back home in Chicago after an unsuccessful stint at MIT. A stubborn, anxious, and often one track minded young woman, Riri laser focuses on building an iron suit that can change the world and help others in crisis. She also wants to make her mark on the world and feel like she matters, which is a lofty mission.
While her genius rivals Tony Stark, her social and financial circumstances serve as barriers to her dreams. Ironheart digs deeper into the tragedy and subsequent anguish that spurs her relentless dedication to this mission. It reveals that she’s actually not a Stark fangirl who wants to follow in his footsteps, but instead wants to take his creation to different heights. This frees her to be who she truly is, which is certainly not a “girl Iron Man.”
All of these elements drive her into nefarious territory alongside Anthony Ramos’ Parker Robbins, whom we know as the Hood. Armed with childhood trauma, charisma, and a crew of misfits, Parker is the other side of Riri’s coin. They are driven by and towards similar things, but he’s willing to get demonic and deadly to achieve his goals. This along with other mysteries puts Riri into a swirl of inner conflict. It pushes her towards choices that threaten to ruin her life before it really starts. It’s a pretty clear mirror for the familiar pressures of gang life in a quest to achieve importance, money, and perhaps loyalty through found family.
Ironheart cleverly weaves in lesser-known comic presences and grounds itself in the MCU. There are connections and references, but they don’t bog down its well-paced story for Easter eggs and fan service. Even the reveal of a highly anticipated, previously unseen Marvel character feels like a natural addition to this MCU story versus a ham-fisted grab for attention. There are many ways that bringing sorcery and tech together can go wrong. However, Ironheart pulls it off, thanks to some fantastic tertiary characters.
Thorne brings an intellectual richness and emotional resonance to Riri’s messy and morally askew trajectory. Her command as the series lead provides a solid foundation for her storyline to soar. There isn’t a single person she doesn’t play well with onscreen, from her mother Ronnie (Anji White) to her “friend” Xavier (Matthew Elam). But the chemistry and camaraderie between Riri and Lyric Ross’ Natalie is pure beauty and Black Girl Magic. Their connection transcends generations and strums up the nostalgia of being attached at the hip to your childhood homegirl. What a feeling! Through their friendship, Ironheart examines AI from several viewpoints, all of which are valid and worth exploration.
Ramos’ Robbins could’ve showed his teeth more as the show’s most visible antagonist. But there’s a lovely marriage of vulnerability and duplicitousness that adds to his intrigue and the show’s gritty tone. He is just a man, after all, and not some evil entity or wizard. And I must say I’m down with his plan to gather a group of intelligent yet underprivileged folks so they can stick it to rich jerks and make some cash. Does he find a way to screw it all up? Of course. It wouldn’t be a good show if he didn’t.
Ironheart explores what it means to build a legacy, what we lose from accessibility barriers and unjust rejection, what we gain from processing our emotions, the ever-looming temptations that threaten to shake our morals, and the power of writing your unique story in a world that aims to silence you. Yet it also doesn’t shy away from what we’d expect from an MCU offering: fun, action, and delightful surprises.
It takes some bold swings and hits the mark, giving viewers believable stakes, satisfying payoffs, and one hell of a setup for the future of several characters. This series marks the end of bumpy Phase Five and gives me hope for a more focused and intentional Marvel future.
Ironheart is currently streaming on Disney+.
Content shared from nerdist.com.