‘Ironheart’ Review: Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ Spinoff Finds Its Voice Between a Clumsy Pilot and a Frustrating Finale

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Ryan Coogler was presented with an almost insurmountable challenge while directing “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”: he had to honor the past by acknowledging the late Chadwick Boseman and his unforgettable portrayal of T’Challa, create a gripping current narrative, and lay groundwork for expanding the “Black Panther” cinematic universe in the future.

In my opinion, Coogler executed the initial part of his job competently, providing a space for mourning Boseman and allowing Angela Bassett, her fellow cast members, and viewers to grieve. However, when it comes to creating a self-contained narrative and expanding upon the Black Panther universe, Wakanda Forever fell short significantly. It failed to invest time and attention into developing new characters or providing them with meaningful roles in the present, nor did it establish intriguing subplots that could be delved into further.

This version attempts to maintain a natural flow while clarifying the meaning of certain phrases for better understanding.

The main challenge for Disney+’s fresh six-part series “Ironheart,” produced by Ryan Coogler, lies in its focus on Dominique Thorne’s character Riri Williams. Unlike some other characters, Riri made her debut under relatively overlooked circumstances in a film that was released about three years ago. The strengths of “Ironheart” don’t seem to rely on an inherent narrative urgency or demand for screen time.

The TV series “Ironheart,” produced by Chinaka Hodge, is an unusual mix, presenting itself as such. It begins with a lengthy introduction and recap of 40 minutes or more, followed by a disappointing, climactic ending that seems overshadowed by a prominent guest star. However, sandwiched between these less appealing aspects are four episodes that I found myself quite enjoying. Featuring engaging performances and entertaining moments of sophistication (not related to the show’s flying suit), “Ironheart” reaches its high point in its fifth episode with an extended action scene/product placement that I found surprisingly enjoyable, even comical.

If you’re not familiar with Riri Williams, Ironheart takes time to bring you up to date. She’s a talented MIT student with a knack for mechanical engineering who is captivated less by academic studies than by creating her own Iron Man-like suit. After being expelled from school due to circumstances that aren’t crucial, she goes back to Chicago (or “Chicago”, as portrayed by second unit photography and Atlanta.)

Being at home provides Riri with an opportunity to rekindle relationships with her mother, Ronnie (Anji White), and Xavier (Matthew Elam), the brother of Riri’s best friend Natalie’s (Lyric Ross) who tragically lost their lives in a senseless shooting that also took the life of Riri’s cherished stepfather. For Riri, Chicago symbolizes facing past wounds as well as battling the challenge of striving for Tony Stark-like genius without any resources whatsoever.

Riri isn’t the only resident of Chicago striving for success and leaving a lasting impact, struggling financially. She swiftly gets involved with a criminal organization led by Anthony Ramos’ character, Parker “The Hood” Robbins. This character is portrayed as charming but underdeveloped, wielding power from a mystical cloak that gives him special abilities at a high spiritual cost. The storyline also involves a diverse team including a former drag queen turned hacker named Slug (Shea Couleé), weapons expert Clown (Sonia Denis), and knife-wielder John (Manny Montana). Together, they aim to take down a group of tech entrepreneurs with dubious morals.

Primarily, I find myself fixated on ensuring Riri’s suit is flawless, even incorporating an AI system imbued with a unique and relatable personality. This task calls for the assistance of an unconventional black market gadget specialist, none other than Joe McGillicuddy (Alden Ehrenreich).

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but notice that Ironheart seems to follow the inconsistency that has been prevalent in recent Marvel/Disney+ series, such as Daredevil: Born Again, Echo, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. To be fair, the current phase of Marvel films has had its ups and downs too. However, the best version of the MCU felt like a captivating long-form television series – almost 20+ episodes culminating in an epic finale like Endgame. Could it be that the creators on the TV side at Marvel have lost touch with what makes a great TV show?

In essence, the Ironheart series seems to lack structural cohesion, beginning and ending rather monotonously. Although there’s a gradual escalation in the heists and moral dilemmas that Riri encounters, it’s unclear why this series consists of six episodes instead of nine like Agatha All Along or Daredevil, or even five like Echo. The narrative flow and overall structure seem to be flawed, and aspects such as Riri’s antihero persona, reminiscent of Walter White or Tony Soprano according to a producer, do not resonate as intended. Moreover, the development of the season’s antagonists feels abrupt. When Marvel can mask storytelling imperfections with grandeur, these flaws are less noticeable, but like Echo, Ironheart appears to have been produced on a notably smaller budget compared to its contemporaries.

The unique charm of Ironheart lies in its character relationships, which truly shine during the heart of the season. While Thorne portrays a relentless determination individually, the show’s ensemble performances, particularly Riri’s foils and supporting characters, significantly enhance her performance.

What makes Riri’s story captivating is that her tragic past isn’t tied to typical MCU events like “The Snap,” but instead, it stems from mysterious urban violence. This gives a sense of melancholy to most of her relationships, but there’s also humor in her exchanges with Natalie (played by Ross), a character who is deceased yet remains influential. The interactions between Riri and Ronnie (White) have a sweet touch as she tries to reconnect or avoid reconnecting with him. Ehrenreich’s Joe doesn’t debut until the second episode, but his witty banter with Riri, complemented by an appropriate Alanis Morissette song, is both amusing and well-written. However, the relationship between Xavier (Elam) seems unconvincing.

In the portrayal of the character, The Hood lacks a solid motivation and his abilities are not adequately depicted; however, Ramos effectively portrays Parker as a raw nerve of thwarted ambitions, allowing Montana to exude a greater sense of menace and Denis to present a more humorously dangerous demeanor.

The initial action sequences in the series lacked excitement until the fifth episode, which featured a White Castle scene filled with delightful chaos, thanks to creative utilization of limited resources and a joke that had me rolling with laughter. Unlike the expertly choreographed fights in shows like Daredevil, the impressive stunts seen in Hawkeye, or the mind-bending concepts in Loki, this production offers a more down-to-earth take on Marvel action. However, I found it refreshing and entertaining.

Later, the crucial moments in the finale involve an unremarkable character leisurely eating what appears to be Chicago tavern-style pizza, yet clearly doesn’t match the authentic style. Ignoring the debatable culinary authenticity, it’s a disappointing conclusion for a series that had shown promise of discovering its unique identity in the preceding episodes.

In terms of theme, it’s clear what drew the writers to Ironheart, and equally apparent where they fell short in execution. For instance, the ongoing struggle between science and magic within the MCU, which began with the first Doctor Strange film, is explored here. Additionally, the series critiques the transformation of billionaire vigilantes into heroes. However, this show has important ideas but may lack the finesse to effectively express them. Despite a somewhat disjointed pilot and anticlimactic finale, the emotional connection I felt during the four-episode run was genuine.

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2025-06-25 04:25