So, now that Ironheart has wrapped its six-episode season, I’ve had some of time to sit with it, and I’ve got thoughts.

The first half had me cautiously optimistic. It wasn’t perfect, but it had charm, a unique point of view, and Dominique Thorne completely holding it down as Riri Williams. It felt like Marvel was testing something a little different: a grounded, grief-fueled tech journey with hints of Tony Stark.

But then episode 4 hit and suddenly, boom magic. Like, a front and center.

I mean sure, magic was there from the jump, The Hood and his whole vibe was mystical but subdued and then Zelma (played beautifully by Regan Aliyah) enters the story fully, it shifts even more. Honestly? She kind of stole the show. I know Riri’s supposed to be our lead, but Zelma had that It factor for me (but to be honest I’m partial to magic), and I would totally watch a spin-off with her as Marvel’s magical fixer-upper.

Riri, meanwhile… whew. I love her, but this girl makes some dumb decisions for someone we’re told is a genius. I get it, she’s young in grief, has trauma, anxiety, but come on, even with all that, some of her choices made me want to shake her. Still, Thorne’s performance? No notes. She brings every bit of Riri’s pain, confusion, and fire, even when the plot stumbles around her.

And yes, the plot does stumble. The second half is packed with compelling ideas around trauma, morality, power, and loss, but the execution is messy. There are big emotional moments that happen offscreen or get brushed past. It’s like the show wants us to connect the dots without giving us enough of them in the first place. That said, they nailed some things: Riri’s new armor with some extra humph was absolutely stunning but love the idea of what it could do. But the fact that it came with a gut-punch of a consequence? Loved it.

Let’s also talk about Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos). I didn’t love him early on, but once we get his backstory, the pieces start clicking into place. He’s not a classic villain; he’s stunted, broken, and honestly, kind of pathetic but in a way that makes sense. Ramos makes him watchable, if not terrifying.

And then there’s Sacha Baron Cohen, quietly killing it as M. Yes, THAT M we’ve been waiting for. I didn’t even catch the spoon reflection thing until someone pointed it out, but once I did? Loved it, the devil is in the details. Subtle Marvel details like that are always a treat. Also, Alden Ehrenreich? Brilliant. Can we give that man more weird dude roles please?

In the end, Ironheart is not Iron Man 2.0, and that’s the point. Riri isn’t Tony. She’s not trying to be. She’s messy, morally gray, and doesn’t even realize it. And I love that. Her final decision in the season finale? Absolutely awful but also completely fascinating in the context of the MCU.

People who hated the show probably wanted a legacy replacement for Tony Stark (or they have a problem with her gender and complexion since that’s always a thing). They did not expect a messy young woman trying to survive grief, trauma, and supernatural chaos in Chicago. But that’s what we got, and honestly, I’m into it.

It’s not perfect. The tone wobbles. The pacing dips. But the potential is there. Riri Williams is a complicated, deeply human addition to the MCU, and if the writers can smooth out the storytelling, this could be something really special.

Until then, I’ll be waiting.

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