'Ironheart' review: Grief and AI collide in Ryan Coogler's Marvel series

 

"Ironheart: A Promising Debut with Brains, Heart, and Grit"

Disney+'s Chicago-set miniseries doesn't skimp on mystery or hardware.

After months of anticipation, Ironheart, the latest entry in Marvel's ever-expanding cinematic universe, has finally made its debut — and while it may not launch with the thunderclap energy of WandaVision or Loki, it still manages to find its footing with charm, confidence, and a promising protagonist.

The series follows Riri Williams (played with charisma and spark by Dominique Thorne), a teenage genius and engineering prodigy who first appeared in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In Ironheart, Riri steps out of the shadows of Wakanda and Tony Stark’s legacy to begin forging her own path — both as a tech innovator and as a hero.

From the opening scenes, Ironheart balances teen drama with superhero spectacle, setting a tone that feels more grounded than many of Marvel’s recent entries. The writing leans into Riri’s world: late-night tinkering, awkward social interactions, and the pressures of being a Black teen genius in a world that doesn't always know what to do with her brilliance. The breezy pacing helps, especially in the early episodes, keeping things light without veering into forgettable fluff.

Director Angela Barnes and head writer Chinaka Hodge craft a pilot that feels modern and fresh while still playing within the familiar Marvel sandbox. There are nods to the larger MCU — mentions of Stark Tech, subtle references to Wakanda — but Ironheart wisely keeps its focus narrow, letting Riri's personal journey take center stage.

The supporting cast adds depth without stealing the spotlight. Riri’s best friend Natalie (Lyric Ross) provides welcome comic relief and warmth, while Anthony Ramos’ mysterious character, Parker Robbins (aka The Hood), injects the series with a darker, more supernatural thread that hints at where the story may be headed.

Visually, the show is solid if not groundbreaking. The effects are polished but don’t overwhelm, allowing practical sets and tech design to shine — especially Riri’s suit prototypes, which feel like a fusion of Stark’s sleekness and Wakandan ingenuity. The result is a look that feels uniquely hers.

That said, Ironheart’s debut isn’t without its kinks. Some of the dialogue can feel expository, and the stakes are still a bit low compared to the apocalyptic threats we’ve come to expect. But that’s also part of its appeal — this is a series about becoming, not yet being. Riri isn’t Iron Man. She’s not even quite Ironheart yet. She’s figuring it out, and that’s compelling in its own right.

If the show can continue balancing its emotional core with the evolving sci-fi world around Riri, Ironheart could quietly become one of Marvel’s better small-screen efforts. For now, it’s off to a solid — and refreshingly human — start.

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Ironheart gets off to a breezy and reasonably engaging start

After an introduction in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that hinted at a bright future, Riri Williams steps fully into the spotlight with Ironheart, Marvel Studios’ latest Disney+ series. It's a coming-of-age story dressed in arc reactor glow — part teen drama, part tech-fueled superhero journey — and while it doesn't immediately soar to the heights of the MCU's best, its grounded tone and likable lead give it lift.

A New Kind of Hero

Dominique Thorne shines as Riri, capturing the mix of brilliance, awkwardness, and vulnerability that defines the character. Riri is a young Black woman from Chicago with a brain that puts her in rare company — she’s building Iron Man–level suits in her dorm room at MIT — but the show wisely doesn’t reduce her to just a “teen Tony Stark.” Riri is her own person, navigating grief, identity, and the expectations of genius in a world still grappling with what to do with people like her.

Where Tony was a billionaire playboy with bombast to spare, Riri is introverted and cautious, shaped by personal loss and systemic pressures. There’s a deep emotional realism to her story — her complicated relationship with her late father, her connection to her community, and the chip on her shoulder that’s equal parts motivation and protection.

Grounded Stakes, Big Potential

Unlike some of Marvel’s recent Disney+ fare that dives straight into multiversal chaos or world-ending stakes, Ironheart starts smaller — and that’s its strength. The early episodes focus on Riri’s day-to-day life: juggling college pressures, working on her tech in secret, dealing with university politics, and maintaining ties to her home in Chicago. These quieter moments are where the series finds heart.

Still, the show doesn’t ignore its place in the larger MCU. The arrival of Parker Robbins, aka The Hood (Anthony Ramos), brings with it a strange twist — a mix of street-level crime and dark mysticism that opens the door to unexpected territory. Robbins isn’t just a petty crook; he’s dabbling in powers that could have ripple effects beyond Chicago. This blend of tech and magic sets up an intriguing conflict and a thematic contrast to Riri’s scientific approach.

Supporting Cast and Worldbuilding

Riri doesn’t carry the series alone. Lyric Ross brings humor and grounding energy as Natalie, Riri’s best friend and moral anchor. Jim Rash returns as the pompous MIT Dean Turpin (last seen briefly in Captain America: Civil War), adding some comic levity. Meanwhile, the inclusion of Alden Ehrenreich in a still-mysterious role (rumored to be a government operative or corporate rival) hints at the layers of surveillance and control that may come to challenge Riri’s independence.

The show also touches on themes of gentrification, community resilience, and the ethics of invention. Riri’s tech, like Tony’s before her, has the potential to be misused — and there are already hints that government forces and criminal players alike want a piece of it. The question of ownership — who gets to build, who gets to benefit — is baked into the narrative.

Visual Style and Tone

Stylistically, Ironheart doesn’t try to wow in every frame — and that’s okay. It leans into a more grounded visual aesthetic, with Chicago’s neighborhoods and MIT’s academic spaces serving as rich backdrops. The CGI is competent but restrained, letting the tech itself take the spotlight. Riri’s early suit designs look rough around the edges, but in a way that feels intentional and earned. She’s not a billionaire; she’s a girl with a garage and a genius-level IQ.

Musically, the series incorporates a mix of hip-hop, jazz, and orchestral cues, mirroring Riri’s own cultural and intellectual dualities. It’s smartly curated, helping to distinguish Ironheart from other Marvel series that sometimes fall back on generic soundscapes.

Where It’s Headed

Ironheart may not open with a bang, but it plants enough seeds to make you want to see where Riri’s journey leads. Will she embrace her role as a hero, or will the weight of the legacy she's inherited be too much? Can she stay true to herself while stepping into a world that constantly demands she prove her worth?

Marvel seems content to let the story unfold at its own pace, and that’s a refreshing choice. If Ms. Marvel was about celebrating identity and youthful optimism, Ironheart feels more introspective — a series about the burden of brilliance and the challenge of forging a new path in the shadow of giants.

With more layers to peel back and tensions beginning to simmer, Ironheart may not be Marvel’s flashiest debut, but it's a thoughtful, engaging one. It offers a new kind of hero — one worth rooting for, not because she’s saving the world, but because she’s still learning how to live in it.