REVIEW: 'Ironheart' Forges A New Icon's Legacy Out Of Fire & Ash

Moriba Forde
Jun 24
4 min read

Marvel Television's Ironheart is a satisfying reintroduction to the MCU's Riri Williams. The new series on Disney+ gives her the room to lead her own adventure and show the world the iron she is made of.

Following the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ironheart takes us to Chicago with Riri/Ironheart, where she is dealing with the unfortunate fallout of her business deals. Her brilliance and desperation land her in the hands of a supernaturally gifted criminal mastermind known as The Hood. She joins his crew to further her ambitions in the harsh world but quickly regrets it as sinister forces become increasingly present in her life. The Hood may be the face of evil, and Ironheart can't live with herself if he hurts her loved ones. Completely out of her element, our girl Riri must figure out how to fight magic with science before it is too late.

Ironheart is a pleasant surprise that succeeds in delivering a fresh, rich story about science versus magic. The writers juggle science fiction with supernatural fantasy in one hand and superhero shenanigans and heist action in the other, never losing focus on our hero's journey. Dominique Thorne radiates charisma, confidence, and unapologetic pride as Ironheart. She commands the screen with purpose and grace, with a magnetic ensemble cast behind her.

Ironheart Behind The Armor

The series stands out among Marvel Television's offerings on Disney+. Coming to think of it, the series stands out among superhero titles in general. Ironheart is not a hero with the immediate desire to fight for the greater good, a brooding anti-hero out for vengeance, or a reluctant hero refusing their destiny. She is a young, brilliant black woman who aspires to make a name for herself and make her family proud. Society's prejudice towards her can motivate her to work harder and smarter, but it also provokes her to make questionable decisions.

Aside from family, her intellect is her biggest motivation. If she stumbles on a problem, her immediate resolve is to solve it. The series progresses naturally along with her thought process, gradually reflecting life in Chicago as a Black woman to someone who needs to find a way out of a catastrophic situation. The superhero element that pits technology against magic is not only icing on the cake but a testament to what she is capable of, and a masterclass in subverting expectations.

There Is Dark Magic In The Air

To think that Riri went from helping Wakandans protect their kingdom from Talokanil, to fighting a criminal lord wearing a magic hood is crazy to think about, but this is the MCU. Stranger things have happened. Jokes aside, the clash between technology and sorcery raises goosebumps.

By the time you see the second episode, you realize that the superhero show is also a supernatural thriller dipping its toes deeper and deeper into horror. Anthony Ramos as Parker Robbins, aka the Hood, is terrifying. In the course of the season, he descends from charismatic to insane, then completely demonic. His acting, complemented by the writing, editing, and VFX, is enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.

Ironheart's tone gets darker as the story progresses, unraveling the true nature behind Hood's power. The buildup pays off in a climax guaranteed to leave MCU fans speechless, until they go on Twitter.

There Is Brilliant Magic In Ironheart

You may wonder why there is no mention of Iron Man in this review. That is because he is still dead. The series is not concerned with introducing "the next Iron Man" because that is not what the story is about, and Ironheart is not intended to replace him. While the show does treat Stark's influence with dignity and delivers surprises to please Iron Man fans, the spotlight is on Riri to let her own her identity and be a hero on her terms.

Ironheart is a production of love and perseverance, with Dominique Thorne front and center as the dynamic Riri Williams, and Anthony Ramos as the maniacal Hood. The conflict between technology and magic carries an underlying theme of power at any cost, and the price we may pay to get ahead. We had to wait a long time to watch this series, but ultimately, it is worth the wait.

Rating: ★★★★☆

About Ironheart

Premiere Date: 06/24/2025

Episode Count: 6

Creator/Showrunner: Chinaka Hodge

Executive Producers: Chinaka Hodge, Kevin Feige, Ryan Coogler, Louis D'Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Zoie Nagelhout, Sev Ohanian, Zinzi Coogler,

Writers: Chinaka Hodge, Francesca Gailes, Jacqueline Gailes, Malarie Howard, Cristian Martinez, Jim Starlin, Amir Sulaiman

Directors: Samantha Bailey, Angela Barnes

Production: Marvel Television, Proximity Media

Distribution: Disney+

Cast: Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam, Anji White

Based On: Marvel Comics' characters created by Brian Michael Bendis & Mike Deodato Jr.

Synopsis: Set after the events of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Marvel Television’s Ironheart pits technology against magic when Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne)—a young, genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world—returns to her hometown of Chicago. Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious yet charming Parker Robbins aka “The Hood” (Anthony Ramos).