Note: the following contains spoilers for the first three episodes of Ironheart, and potential minor ones for this half of the series. Major spoilers will be marked beforehand.
Disney+’s Ironheart series is already over, and wow does it end on a doozy. But before we get to that, let’s be clear: it’s a solid show, well-written, acted, shot, funny, poignant, surprising, like most MCU projects — it’s a low bar, but it avoids that feeling you may have had after Secret Invasion or Jessica Jones season three, of simply not wanting to ever speak about it again. If you’re just someone who wants any excuse to dismiss the MCU, then fine, but based on how this season ends, a follow-up would be a lot more interesting than it sounds.
Admittedly, the decision to release the show over two weeks makes more sense after watching this half: the fourth episode, “Bad Magic,” has surprisingly almost no action, focusing instead on the emotional blows Riri, Parker Robbins, and Zeke Stane face after the failed heist in the previous chapter, with Zeke having the especially ironic predicament of being accused of disgracing his father’s memory. (Who’d have thought him bonding with Riri over a shared appreciation of Alanis Morisette would turn out to be foreshadowing?)
Zeke’s arc was a big concern going in, but he thankfully remains a complex character, who’s understandably angry, but still uninterested in joining the Hood; his nature as a reluctant villain winds up providing some of the biggest laughs. The Hood himself remains surprisingly sympathetic, as his quest for power ultimately alienates all of his crew, and confirms his worst suspicions about himself, proving he was the right main foil for Riri, although they sadly don’t face off enough.
These episodes also introduce Zelma Stanton (Regan Aliyah), who’s a likeable and charming presence as Chicago’s resident arcane expert, helping Riri uncover the source of the Hood’s power; although she can’t help but be overshadowed by her mother, Madeline (Cree Summer), if only because Summer is such a charismatic actress — it was absolutely a joy to see her distinctive voice tower over everyone else in a live-action project for once.
Riri’s arc in these episodes sees her relationships with her mother, Natalie, and Natalie’s brother Xavier (Matthew Elam) reach breaking point, and then piece them back together, just as she builds her final suit for the show. It feels slightly sentimental, though Riri’s remembrance of her father is earnestly shot and scored, and the way the creation of her new suit becomes a family and neighborhood affair is a fresh and distinct contrast with Tony Stark, reflecting how there’s no such thing as a self-made person in real-life.
Major spoilers begin now…
Where things start to fall apart is Riri’s decision to fight fire with fire, implementing magic in her final suit to take down the Hood. I can understand Ronnie being on board, given how she embraced Natalie’s AI resurrection, but Xavier’s apparent lack of objection despite his issues with Riri’s digital necromancy is questionable, and reflects how contrived it is that Natalie’s existence becomes the price paid for the final armor’s enchantment make-up.
That leads us to Riri meeting the Hood’s benefactor (Sacha Baron Cohen, whose devilish performance makes the finale worth watching alone, even if he initially resembles Nandor from What We Do in the Shadows.) He offers her a deal, which shockingly, she takes to resurrect Natalie… who in typical demonic fashion, turns out to be the original, not the AI. It’s odd Riri wouldn’t see such a twist coming, or doesn’t offer to return the Hood’s cloak to seal the deal, but the greater problem is how the show simply ends on that note (barring a mid-credits scene following other characters); we don’t even get additional closure for the likes of Zeke or the Hood’s crew, nevermind anyone else reacting to Natalie’s return.
Major spoilers end now.
Abruptness aside, this apparent ploy for a second season feels odd given where Ironheart is likely to wind up next, namely a Champions*/Young Avengers series co-starring Kamala Khan, Kate Bishop, America Chavez, Cassie Lang, Billy & Tommy Maximoff, Eli Bradley, and Teddy Altman. Yes, Marvel are moving towards standalone, yearly shows like Daredevil: Born Again, but knowing about the Young Avengers, and that there’s no guarantee Riri’s own show could continue, it’s so bizarre Ironheart’s creators decided not to make this season stand completely on its own merits. Perhaps this is an overreaction to the prospect of whoever oversees the Champions project getting saddled with too much, but more worryingly, it might be something they’re forced to gloss over completely.
Still, even with its perplexing and truncated final episode, Ironheart is solid TV, and hopefully we’ll see the cast again in the MCU soon. Based on this, and Sinners, executive producer Ryan Coogler should really take a lead creative role on the third Doctor Strange film, on top of returning to direct Black Panther 3, and hopefully more projects that aren’t directly tied to the world of Wakanda – he seems to really love the macabre, so he should have a greater say on what happens in the supernatural corner of the MCU ie. Ghost Rider, Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night et al. if he doesn’t already.
Don’t forget this series was shot THREE YEARS ago, back when they thought there’s be an endless flood of MCU series on Disney+ as opposed to the trickle it’s become.
Right, but regardless of whether the final scenes were reshot or not, I’m still surprised this is how the final product ends. Reflecting on it now, it’s funny a show centered around the theme of ambition ultimately falls short because it’s ambitious enough to figuratively ask Feige if a second season is possible. Anyway, thanks for reading!
I also thought of Nandor first (but enjoyed the portrayal overall and hope to see more).
I feel like my opinion of this show’s ending hinges on whether or not we get a second season, or if the subplots otherwise are continued elsewhere in the MCU. The idea of a third Dr Strange incorporating these subplots (and maybe some from Agatha All Along) is an exciting proposition. I understand why the MCU is pruning back but it seems inevitable the storylines and characters I am most interested in will be the ones on the chopping block. Alas.