Marvel’s Ironheart isn’t just a superhero origin story — it’s a grounded, gutsy, tech-meets-magic ride anchored by Chicago grit and one breakout performance by Dominique Thorne. With the series now streaming on Disney+, Ironheart is the kind of Marvel Television entry that refuses to be overlooked. It’s not just another chapter in the MCU; it’s a story with heart, ambition, and a deep sense of place.
Thorne reprises her role as Riri Williams, the M.I.T. dropout turned armor-building genius introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. But here, she gets to show layers. Her Riri is driven, grieving, stubborn, and brilliant—a young Black woman trying to define her own legacy outside of Tony Stark’s shadow. Whether she’s reverse-engineering tech in a South Side garage or squaring off against magical forces, Thorne commands the screen.
Set and shot partially in Chicago, the series makes the city more than a backdrop—it’s a character in its Set and shot partially in Chicago, the series makes the city more than a backdrop—it’s a character in its own right. From freight tunnels to Hyde Park corners, the locations lend Ironheart an authenticity that’s rare in Marvel’s globe-trotting fare. It feels lived-in and real, a world of steel and struggle where ambition often collides with morality. Like The Chi, One Chicago, and The Bear, Ironheart is a series Chicagoans should proudly claim.
The six-part miniseries, created by Chinaka Hodge and produced in collaboration with Proximity Media, leans into that collision. The central conflict between tech and magic is embodied in the complicated relationship between Riri and Parker Robbins, also known as The Hood (played by Anthony Ramos from The Heights).
While Ramos brings charisma and a grounded backstory—growing up in Humboldt Park, raised by a mother tied to the activist Young Lords—his arc feels underbaked. There’s weight to the character’s motivation, but the writing doesn’t fully match Ramos’ potential.
Still, the supporting cast is full of standout moments. Lyric Ross is a revelation as Natalie Washington — not just in flashbacks, but as N.A.T.A.L.I.E., the in-suit artificial intelligence Riri codes from her late best friend’s memories. Ross balances warmth, wit, and digital eeriness with remarkable depth. Her performance adds a bittersweet complexity to Riri’s grief, serving as a literal and emotional co-pilot for the journey ahead.
In Episode 1, “Take Me Home,” we meet Riri at her lowest—expelled from M.I.T., grieving her loved ones, and pulled into a morally murky alliance with Parker Robbins. The episode ends with Riri reluctantly joining Parker’s crew, her desperation outweighing her distrust.
Episode 2, “Will the Real Natalie Please Stand Up?,” dives into N.A.T.A.L.I.E.’s unexpected evolution and Riri’s makeshift mission to sabotage a corrupt infrastructure project. It’s also our introduction to Ezekiel “Zeke” Stane (Alden Ehrenreich), a character with a haunting family legacy and a surprising gentleness.
In Episode 3, “We in Danger, Girl,” the stakes rise as Riri begins to question Parker’s magical powers. A tense heist reveals cracks in the crew’s loyalty and ends in a deadly confrontation that forces Riri to confront her role in the chaos.
Matthew Elam, Anji White, and Manny Montana all shine in key roles, while Shea Couleé’s Slug, Sonia Denis’ Clown, and Cree Summer’s Madeleine Stanton provide colorful, chaotic energy to Parker’s gang. Ehrenreich adds pathos and presence to Zeke, one of the MCU’s more nuanced “legacy villains.”
If anything holds Ironheart back, it’s a slight imbalance in character development. Parker Robbins and his crew get less time than they deserve, especially given how compelling their mission and motivations could be. But this is Riri’s show, and when the spotlight’s on her, it blazes.
It’s also groundbreaking. Marvel’s Ironheart is the first Black female-led superhero series on television, a long-overdue milestone that brings with it the hope of real-world impact. The show has the potential to inspire a generation of young Black girls to see themselves not just as heroes, but as inventors, engineers, coders, and creators. We already know they possess “Black Girl Magic” — now they can see that magic fused with science, armor, and agency.
The first three episodes of Ironheart are streaming now on Disney+, with the final three releasing July 1. Don’t sleep on this one.
BOTTOM LINE: Ironheart thrives in its refusal to simplify. It’s about grief, legacy, ambition, and identity. And at its core, it’s about a girl from Chicago who builds more than a suit—she builds a future. It’s a REEL SEE.
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