Ironheart Series Review
review
✦
review ✦
After years of franchise-building and multiverse chaos, Ironheart offers something refreshingly grounded: a coming-of-age story with brains, tech, and emotional depth. And generally speaking, Ironheart succeeds thanks to clever writing, emotionally charged performances, and even a few standout supporting characters who steal nearly every scene they’re in.
Ironheart (2025), Property of Marvel Studios and Disney+
Riri's Story Feels Personal—and That's the Point
From the start, Ironheart makes it clear this isn’t about building the next Avenger. It’s about Riri Williams (played by Dominique Thorne), who is a brilliant MIT student still grieving the loss of her father, caught between genius and expectation. And after making her Black Panther: Wakanda Forever debut, Thorne delivers a layered performance that lets Riri be sharp, sarcastic, vulnerable, and occasionally selfish. She’s not perfect, and that’s what makes her such a compelling lead.
Furthermore, the show takes its time building out Riri’s inner world. Instead of throwing her straight into a sky-splitting showdown, it gives us smaller, more intimate conflicts. Riri’s relationship with her mother is strained. Her loyalty to friends is tested. And her ability to trust is constantly challenged—especially when it comes to her unlikely allies and enemies.
In doing so, Ironheart draws a more complex portrait of heroism than we’re used to seeing in the young-skewing MCU. This is a character who doesn’t have it all figured out—and isn’t afraid to ask whether she even should be doing this in the first place.
Natalie is a New MCU Icon
Of all the show’s creative risks, the AI companion “Natalie” might be the most effective—and the most emotionally rewarding. Portrayed with wit and restraint by Anika Noni Rose, Natalie isn’t just Riri’s digital sidekick. She’s a character in her own right: perceptive, protective, and increasingly self-aware.
What makes Natalie work is how the show plays with the emotional residue of loss. Named after Riri’s late best friend, Natalie begins as a tool—part homage, part coping mechanism. But as their conversations deepen, the AI develops a conscience. There are moments where Natalie questions Riri’s choices, offers comfort, or even makes mistakes. It’s subtle, but powerful—and it helps anchor Riri emotionally when no one else truly can.
In an era of smart assistants and self-learning tech, the Natalie-Riri relationship walks a fascinating line between grief, invention, and companionship. It’s quietly the heart of the show—and one of its best creative decisions.
Alden Ehrenreich Delivers Big as Zeke Stane
While Riri brings the firepower and Natalie brings the soul, Alden Ehrenreich’s Ezekiel “Zeke” Stane adds the necessary chaos. The son of classic Iron Man villain Obadiah Stane, Zeke could have easily been a generic legacy antagonist. Instead, Ehrenreich plays him with unpredictable charm and bruised ambition. He’s funny without being goofy, threatening without being cartoonish—and his chemistry with Riri is unexpectedly great.
What elevates Zeke is how Ironheart uses him as both a foil and a mirror. He’s also a genius. He also lost someone. He also has a complicated relationship with power. But where Riri pulls back, Zeke leans in—and that tension fuels some of the series’ most dynamic moments. Their interactions constantly shift between banter, battle, and mutual understanding, making every scene between them feel alive.
It’s also a testament to Ehrenreich’s performance that he doesn’t just play a morally torn character—he complicates him. And in a show that thrives on moral ambiguity, he’s a perfect fit.
A Dynamic Hero With Real Questions
What makes Ironheart stand out isn’t just the tech or the suit—it’s the questions it asks about what it means to step into power. Riri isn’t just building armor. She’s trying to decide what kind of hero she wants to be, and whether being a hero is even something she believes in.
The show isn’t afraid to let her make mistakes, get hurt, or hurt others. At times, she reacts before thinking. Other times, she freezes when action is needed. But these moments feel intentional—and they help Riri feel more fully formed than many of her MCU predecessors did in their first outings.
The themes here—grief, invention, legacy, ethics—are woven thoughtfully through the story, without ever feeling forced. And while not every episode hits the same emotional high, the arc as a whole leaves Riri in a far more complicated place than where she started. That’s a good thing. And let’s not forget about that last-minute twist, the character cameo to end all cameos, and plenty of setup for future storylines—all while feeling like a contained story.
Score: 7.5/10
Ironheart may not be the flashiest Marvel series, but it’s one of the most character-driven and emotionally grounded. With strong performances, a standout supporting cast, and a willingness to explore moral gray areas, it offers a fresh and thoughtful origin story that feels long overdue.
