So here we are, nearly three years after the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which first introduced audiences to this iteration of Riri Williams, aka Ironheart. As someone who’s enjoyed the character in the comics, I was excited to see her again—and even more excited to hear she’d be getting her own Disney+ show. With Ryan Coogler on board as executive producer and Anthony Ramos cast as The Hood, my expectations were cautiously optimistic.
Created by Chinaka Hodge and directed by Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes, Ironheart stars Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, and Alden Ehrenreich. The story picks up with Riri returning to Chicago after being expelled from MIT. She rebuilds her Ironheart suit while dealing with financial struggles that lead her into a local crime ring run by Parker Robbins, aka The Hood. Soon, she realizes she might be in over her head.
I was surprised to see Disney drop the show in two batches of three episodes. With only six episodes total, I expected the release to be spread out more to build buzz. That said, it does make sense structurally—the first half sets things up, and the second half tries to bring it home.
Visually, the show looks decent. It’s well shot with solid sound design. Sure, some of the CGI—especially when Ironheart is flying—feels more cartoony than what we’ve seen in the films, but given that this is a TV budget, I can give it a little grace. It’s not a bad-looking show, even if it’s not up to par with the movies.
As for the performances, Dominique Thorne is solid. She gets to explore a more vulnerable, human side of Riri here, and while the writing doesn’t always give her a lot to elevate, she does the best with what she’s given. That said, much of the dialogue felt redundant—especially her conversations about anxiety, grief, and panic attacks. As someone who deals with that personally, I appreciated the inclusion, but it often felt like we were hearing the same lines again and again.
Anthony Ramos as The Hood had me excited going in. He’s a great actor, but some of the dialogue he’s given here isn’t the strongest, and his criminal crew felt more cringe than threatening or funny. The banter and humor surrounding them consistently fell flat.
Alden Ehrenreich plays a character who starts off quirky and awkward and quickly becomes a highlight of the series. He brings charm and personality, and I’ve enjoyed him more and more since Solo. However, just like with other aspects of the show, the writing sometimes betrays the character. His arc feels rushed and underdeveloped, even if the setup is interesting.
The show also introduces an AI named Natalie, played by Lyric Ross, which is based on Riri’s deceased best friend. It’s an intriguing concept—Riri grieving while interacting with a digital version of her lost friend—but I found Natalie kind of cringey, especially in the earlier episodes. Their dynamic felt repetitive, and their banter didn’t always land. It wasn’t until the final two episodes that I warmed up to her a bit more.
Overall, I didn’t hate Ironheart, but I didn’t love it either. It’s a show with some good ideas and strong MCU connections, but its six-episode structure feels limiting. Like many Disney+ Marvel series, it doesn’t feel like a real TV show or a full movie—it’s somewhere in between. It sets things up, teases future storylines, but doesn’t quite land as a complete, satisfying season.
The final episodes do introduce some exciting elements and big connections to the larger MCU. But honestly, those were the parts that had me most excited—more than the show itself.
Rating: 6/10.
SPOILER SECTION
About halfway through the show, Alden Ehrenreich’s character is revealed to be Ezekiel Stane, the son of Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) from the first Iron Man. He’s got power-based abilities that felt like a mix between Infamous and Electro, and while Ehrenreich plays him well, I wish the show gave his story more room to breathe.
And yes—after years of fan speculation, Ironheart officially introduces Mephisto to the MCU. Played by Sacha Baron Cohen, this version of Mephisto ties directly into The Hood’s storyline. Cohen brings a cool, sly energy to the role, and while his screen time is brief, it’s definitely a highlight. As a fan of the comics, I was thrilled to see him finally show up—and I’m really curious to see what the MCU does next with the hellish side of its universe.