Nearly 3 years after Ironheart finished filming, the series finally arrives on Disney Plus this week. The project has become a running joke with Marvel Cinematic Universe fans, given how long ago it was announced and how long the show actually took to release after wrapping production.
Some speculated that the show was so bad that Marvel was waiting until they had nothing left to release to quietly drop it, not helped by the lack of publicity leading up to its release on Disney Plus.
Ironheart is a unique project when it comes to the MCU, the specifics of which will be covered down the line in this review. But as a baseline, it explores the complex relationship between talent, power, and respect, especially how it relates to those in marginalized communities. This is bolstered by the unique blend of tech and magic presented in the Disney Plus series, a fusion not often found in sci-fi stories of this scale.
Dominique Thorne makes her long-awaited return as Riri Williams after her debut as the character in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Even though the actress is young, being only in her mid-20s at the time of filming, she proves to everyone that she has the chops to lead a project like this on her own.
In a genre where characters can often feel like caricatures of themselves, and the best actors are often praised for transforming into a larger-than-life persona, Ironheart takes a much different approach when it comes to how they adapt Riri Williams. Dominique Thorne provides an incredibly nuanced and realistic performance as the leading heroine. If there is anyone in the latest crop of MCU actors to watch in the future, Thorne should be at the top of anyone’s list.
Alden Ehrenreich also makes his MCU debut in Ironheart, marking his second role in a Disney blockbuster franchise following his outing as Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story. There’s not much that can be said about his character, Joe McGillicuddy, without some major, major spoilers. But when it comes to Ehrenreich’s performance, there’s nothing but praise to be laid at his feet.
Surprisingly, the weakest member of the cast is Anthony Ramos as Parker Robbins, aka The Hood. This may seem odd, as he was seen as THE big star attached to the Disney Plus series following his breakout role as Usnavi in the film adaptation of In The Heights.
The Hood is far from the worst villain in the MCU’s catalogue. In fact, if one is to count every antagonist in the Disney Plus roster, Parker Robbins probably lands in the upper half. But Anthony Ramos feels remarkably stiff compared to Dominique Thorne and Alden Ehrenreich, and it really takes some time for his story to hook the audience.
The show also has a refreshingly unique tone for the MCU. Whereas most projects in the franchise take the form of rather culturally sanitized action comedies, Ironheart leans into the roots of both Riri Williams and showrunner Chinaka Hodge. It shows a clear love for the people and places found in underprivileged neighborhoods, which makes sense given Hodge’s history of writing on subjects like gentrification.
While it might seem like an odd thing to focus on in a review, Ironheart’s use of youth culture feels incredibly refreshing in today’s streaming landscape. The MCU has tried to capture “the youth” before, with Cassie Lang in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania being a prime example — where many felt her character fell flat due to a lack of depth.”
Unlike Quantumania, Ironheart doesn’t rely on surface-level attempts to make the story feel “cool” or “trendy.” Instead, it’s clear that the team behind the Disney Plus series genuinely understands and knows how to weave these elements into a story that feels real. These aspects never feel forced; they’re just there because they belong.
Most modern comic book projects, especially those in the MCU, can often feel ashamed of their more off-the-wall mythos. It’s not uncommon to see a unique cast solely created for a live-action film, only for them to be ditched in sequels as the creative team leans further into what made the character beloved to begin with.
Ironheart takes the opposite approach. The Disney Plus series has such a rich, complex cast of original characters. However, the project also seems to jump at any chance it can to tie things to the broader MCU or characters from Marvel Comics. While this could be interesting, providing a textured tapestry of influences, the execution of these integrations leaves them feeling like nothing more than hollow lip service for clickbait YouTube channels.
That’s not to say that any character in Ironheart is bad. One might go so far as to say that it has the most well-realized cast of any Disney Plus series, with even characters that appear for a single scene feeling like warranted additions to the supporting cast.
For comic book fans familiar with the characters that appear in the show, there might be a feeling that these characters would have been better as original creations for Ironheart. That way, the strong characters could have fresh takes in the comics, while still leaving space for the established ones to make their appearance later in the MCU.
Perhaps the most tragic thing about Ironheart is that, a decade ago, the series would have been something truly special. The project has a scale, depth, and budget that simply couldn’t be achieved in the golden age of network television. It’s a show that perfectly fits the mold of “Event Television.”
However, in an age where it seems that every series on the air is an event that takes five years to put out half a dozen episodes, the things that would have made Ironheart exceptional in the past now make it painfully average.
So is Ironheart “must-see TV”? Probably not. But is it by any means bad? Far from it. It’s certainly worth the six hours it asks of the audience if they enjoy this style of storytelling. It simply isn’t bringing enough new to draw in people who aren’t already inclined to like it.
However, the execution of these foundational elements of modern streaming shows combined with the unique cultural lens the series presents likely means it will be someone’s favorite Marvel entry on Disney Plus, even if it’s not for everyone.
Score: 7/10
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