Marvel's TV shows remain one of the biggest strengths of the franchise, with previous wins like WandaVision, Agatha All Along and Ms Marvel showing that success can come when leaning into the individuality of each offshoot.
In the new show Ironheart, this can be seen once again. We first got a glimpse of Dominique Thorne's Riri Williams in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, where the tech genius left a huge impression on more than just Shuri (Letitia Wright). Fans who were drawn to her spirited nature will feel satisfied seeing her world unfold over the six-episode run of this action-packed new series.
Riri's desire to make her mark on the world introduces her to some sketchy characters, encouraging the morally grey side of her personality, but along the way we also get introduced to the softer sides of her life. In this regard, Riri is a brilliantly well-rounded character.
Her relationship with her best friend Natalie Washington (This Is Us' Lyric Ross) is a highlight of the viewing experience. Ross is a natural scene-stealer; she brings both a quiet sadness and a fun personality, making everything feel more real and lived-in. On top of that, Ross and Thorne's chemistry is so electric that you'll be left wanting to be a part of their inner circle.
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Ironheart's exploration of grief, and how the impact of loss can manifest, is really interesting. Riri's pain brings a rawness to her relationship with her mum Ronnie Williams (played by Anji White) and there's a strained distance in their mother/daughter bond that is as impactful as it is relatable.
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The show's biggest sticking point, however, is with Riri's overall journey. Without spoiling too much, the closer she aligns herself with the rough group, led by the mysterious villain Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos) who has been dubbed 'The Hood,' the dirtier her hands become.
Moral ambiguity is loud in the show, which in itself isn't the problem. It is the mishandling of it, which could work to sour the audience's relationship with the character, even making her a little unlikeable.
Marvel makes a half-hearted attempt to address this in the back half of the season, however it feels clumsy and disingenuous.
Of course, we're not saying that her character can't be complex. In fact, there's something nice about her not having it all figured out.
Our issue lies with the fact that Ironheart plays things in a one-note way, with a base-level selfishness humming throughout, not giving Riri the opportunity to show she can be the opposite. Whether in big moments or small she's self-centred, and this ultimately threatens to rob viewers of a reason to root for her.
The eclectic bunch of criminals, on the other hand, are really entertaining to watch. Anthony Ramos' villain takes a seductive approach, which mostly pays off despite the cheesy 'hooded bad guy' aesthetic. Clown's eccentricity sparks with unpredictability, and Shea Couleé's Slug brings an alluring, sharp-witted energy to her evil.
The action scenes also cannot be ignored. They're powerful, punchy and well-paced throughout.
The look and the feel of the show is definitely up to executive producer Ryan Coogler's (Sinners) standards – from the music that punctuates the scenes, to the hair and makeup, which are flawless.
We never get tired of seeing natural Black hair styled in something other than an afro. However it's even more pleasing when attention to detail means you get to see Black hair behaving naturally too – because of course, after a long day of building iron suits, those edges that were slicked in the morning would no longer be laid.
All in all, despite some flaws, there is more to love about Ironheart than not.
All episodes of Ironheart are available to stream now on Disney+.
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
