‘Ironheart’ Review: Marvel Series Is Not Too Heavy, but It’s Not Too Light, Either

The first time that Riri Williams’ solo television show was mentioned, it was in 2020 when Kevin Feige announced Ironheart and Secret Invasion as well as some other Marvel Phase 5 outings. He said that the two series would bind with Marvel’s feature films. It’s true: Ironheart is connected to the biggest MCU – apart from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – and for that reason, you should watch the six episodes of the series until the end. Until the very END.

Ironheart broadcasts his first three episodes on Disney plus tonight, and will put his race on July 1. Riri returns as a gifted scientist with high goals to make the world better, but in Ironheart (and probably Black Panther: Wakanda forever), the trip is not on her as superheroes or on the coat of Iron Man. This is her understanding herself, and the technical mix of Ironheart tech-meets mysticism is interesting enough to ask you what is the next step.

Dominique Thorne returns to the role of Riri Williams, young MIT viewers’ viewers met for the first time in Black Panther 2 when she was taken in an ox on Vibranium. Inventor of genius, she was at the center of the chaos which launched the intrigue of the film, and we had a taste of her in her own Iron Man costume, when she joined the Wakandans. At the end of the film, Riri had established a friendship with Shuri, fought the Talokanil and was good at the repaired car of her late father, but she had to leave her costume dressed in vibranium behind. We have shown little on his background, in particular pieces of Marvel comics and her ties with Tony Stark.

Riri landed in his hometown of Chicago in Ironheart, and it does not take long before meeting Parker Robbins by Anthony Ramos – alias the hood. As is often the case when young naive adults meet charismatic and manipulative foreigners, it falls with the bad crowd. There is crime, there are narrow calls and there are terrible involuntary consequences. However, despite the fact that Riri deals with bad apples, trauma, pressure and typical problems in adulthood, she has a solid support system, and we see tender moments playing with her mother and friends, especially Natalie by Lyric Ross, Riri’s best friend.

Ethics and morally gray family are important themes of this show, where the main characters and the gang of hood harm sometimes do not seem to have a realistic end of part. Riri just knows that she wants to build something “emblematic”. There is a cost for that. With limited resources, how much – and what – is it ready to sacrifice?

She is Streetwise, ambitious and a little stubborn. She has authentic people in her life who care about her and find a related spirit in Joe McGillicuddy (played by Alden Ehrenreich). Thorne captures the essence of Riri as a character whose faults lead to a selfish and dangerous decision -making. Joe is intelligent, cynical and perpetually bored, and the performance of Ehrenreich balance these qualities with doses of humor.

Ramos plays the nasty hood with sweet with simplicity, but in terms of history, I would have liked to know more about the hood itself, because there was not really a rhythm for the why, the moment and how clothing, which appeared in sometimes random scenes. While the Parker crew has all its roles assigned in the team – and in global history – there is not much emotional investment as characters. Tonally, the series has violence and criminal misdeeds, but it is always a family PG watch that will probably not terrify your children or will not disturb their sleep.

That said, the action scenes are decent and distributed throughout the show, with the best sequence tanned in the trailer when an adapted Riri faces a speed truck. Cool Tech (including AI and robotics) and special effects come back without crushing each episode. The soundtrack of the show deserves congratulations, as well as the headlongs to the city of Chicago and to the black experience (there is a sharp exchange during episode 5 in the middle of a conflict). Things are the most interesting in Ironheart, however, when the magic occurs on the screen. Literally.

The hood witchcraft is not the only type we see, which makes fun twists and turns of “Hey, Marvel is it right …?” Riri has confidence in his scientific skills to the point where mystical things do not please him – until they do it. She fell into situations forcing her to have an open mind on magic, and that shakes her logical spirit and her moral compass.

By looking at this series, it would be wise to remember that Riri is not a mutant and superpowing human, a deity or established Marvel Superhero. She is an imperfect young woman who tries to find her way, to sail in a trauma and to trace her own path in a story centered on the character. Fans will have a good help from Easter eggs, Marvel references and satisfactory moments in Ironheart which will make you map your next theories for the MCU. Stay with the show through his final, and you will find that he is paying while Marvel officially closes phase 5.