'Ironheart' Episode 4 - 6 Spoiler-Free Review
Image Source: Marvel on X.com
With the episodes “Bad Magic,” “Karma’s a Glitch,” and “The Past Is The Past,” Ironheart came to an end yesterday evening. It will prove exceedingly difficult to discuss this finale without revealing spoilers due to just how much happened and how much builds on key details from earlier in the show. Despite the show’s long struggles with finding a release date suggesting Marvel’s concern about how the story would land with fans, we think that Ironheart is an enjoyable ride, even if some of the narrative choices will surely lead to vociferous fan discussion alongside a key reveal that will confuse, delight, and intrigue many in the know.
Perhaps the biggest critique that will be leveled at the show will be the direction Riri Williams’ story takes across all six episodes, but particularly these final three. This has nothing to do with the acting, which is spectacular, but instead the narrative choices regarding the character, as well as her future outside of this series. Riri makes some key wrong choices, such as a situation where her talking to all of the people she is fighting might have led to less of a drastic outcome. Some choices will doubtlessly make her unlikable to portions of the audience, and further pull her away from her more roguish charm as seen in Black Panther 2. All of this provides a great degree of complexity to Riri, but there comes a point where the proper resolution for these events will be a cost that is either hand-waved away in a future MCU installment, or will need to take up a considerable period of time, possibly bogging down whatever story it is connected to.
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Image Source: Marvel on X.com
Moving on from this element of the story, though, the wider narrative across these three episodes was enjoyable. There is a surprise introduction of an element the show long teased and discussed in the run-up to its release, alongside a new character who will surely come into play in a bigger way when Marvel next explores a particular aspect of its world.
There is also great integration with pre-existing MCU elements, be that characters or concepts, that show just how far MCU Earth has come with all manner of exotic and strange occurrences leading to a host of sources of knowledge. Riri is incredibly smart, so perhaps these references are exclusive to her, but their presence and other links in the wider show knit the wider universe together in some great ways. The acting for all of the characters continues to be excellent as well, from smaller roles and side characters to the heavy hitters and the villains.
Another thing to praise is the action scenes. While the CGI is a little wonky at times, unfortunately, the choreography and setting for each is still enjoyable, making use of spaces familiar from within the course of the show and from wider, everyday life. Riri’s suit continues to have a solid visual depiction despite a few hiccups with the CGI, and it will be impressive to see cosplayers hopefully exploring the suit’s various redesigns, alongside the improvements made in future examples of the suit’s depiction.
With a solid expansion on the MCU and the introduction of several interesting characters into the universe, the finale of Ironheart brings the rollercoaster ride to a satisfying conclusion, even if there are some bumps along the way and elements that not everyone will enjoy. Hopefully, whoever is next in the writing and directing chairs for Riri Williams’ future MCU appearances will be able to fully tackle the complexity the character is now left with after the show’s stunning finale.
Cumulative Rating: 8/10
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Source(s): Ironheart
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