REVIEW: ‘Ironheart’ Episodes 1-3 Deliver an Astounding First Arc

Ironheart Episodes 1-3, the latest Marvel superhero action drama, premieres and wastes no time carving out the show’s rightful place within the Marvel Universe. Samantha Bailey and Angela Barnes direct the series, and Chinaka Hodge is the head writer and created the series for television. The series is backed by Marvel Television and Proximity Media, with executive producers Ryan Coogler and Kevin Feige guiding the show’s production.

Dominique Thorne reprises her role as Riri Williams/Ironheart alongside an ensemble cast of characters that features Anthony Ramos as Parker Robbins, aka “The Hood”. Other supporting characters include Lyric Ross as Natalie, Shea Couleé as Slug, Alden Ehrenreich as Joe McGillicuddy, Sonia Denis as Clown, Zoe Terakes and Shakira Barrera as Jeri and Roz, aka the “Blood Siblings”, Manny Montana as Cousin John, Matthew Elam as Xavier, and Anji White as Ronnie Williams.

Following the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,  Ironheart, aka Riri Williams, the young Black genius engineer, determined to leave her mark on the world, returns to her hometown, the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago. Riri’s ultimate goal is to build her suit, which requires a lot of funds, which she does not have. Riri’s pursuit to further develop her suit at any cost leads her to cross paths and combine forces with the enigmatic, charismatic Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, and his band of tech-savvy thieves. Desperate for the money, Riri agrees to join The Hood’s crew, but soon learns she may be a few heists over her head. 

Ironheart Episodes 1-3 gradually ramp up the story with drama, emotional weight, and action. The show also focuses on character growth and worldbuilding to help craft the story’s mood and environment. The directors, Bailey and Barnes, and head writer Chinaka Hodge prioritize the series’ creative vision and specificity rather than a formulaic approach, allowing the story and characters to grow at a natural pace.

Domnique Thorne is pure perfection as Riri Williams.

Dominque Thorne helps bring back a grounded, magnetic presence to the titular character and show. For fans who loved or were at least intrigued by Riri in Wakanda Forever, Ironheart Episodes 1-3 gives a deeper exploration into the character’s motivations, personality, and origins, which is not rushed and feels earned.

As a character, Riri is not just a young genius; she is a young Black woman who does not believe in limitations and is unapologetically driven to achieve her goals. It is great to see a character like Riri, who knows her worth and does not feel the need to hide her brilliance. She does not need anyone to validate and tell her how smart she is; she just owns it. However, Riri’s brilliance can sometimes blind her to the consequences of her decisions, especially when her pursuit of innovation pushes the boundary between what is right and wrong.

The tension between progress and responsibility, between grief and detachment, is the emotional core of Ironheart Episodes 1-3. The series’s writing is remarkable and captures the emotional stakes perfectly. Ironheart Episodes 1-3 writing makes the show’s dialogue feel grounded and relatable, with lived-in experiences. In particular, Riri’s interactions with her mother, Xaiver, and AI assistant N.A.T.A.L.I.E. are so well-scripted that it is easy to forget that one of those characters isn’t even a living human. 

Speaking of N.A.T.A.L.I.E., also known as Neuro Autonomous Technical Assistant And Laboratory Intelligence Entity, which Riri creates to help enhance her suit, but accidentally makes the AI in the image and likeness of her deceased best friend. The AI’s unique presence introduces one of Ironheart Episodes 1-3’s more quietly devastating themes: the ethics of using technology, specifically, the ethics of using technology to reanimate the dead, even when it is done unintentionally. Initially, Riri is visibly triggered by the AI’s resemblance to her childhood best friend’s personality and mannerisms. However, as she spends more time with N.A.T.A.L.I.E., she seems to develop some attachment and bond with the artificial intelligence. 

Ironheart Episodes 1-3 have only scratched the surface of exploring the ethical implications of technology.

In contrast, Riri’s mom, Ronnie, is excited to see and hear Natalie’s voice and personality live on through the AI. This leads to a heartwrenching exchange when Ronnie asks if Riri could build a similar AI of Gary, her deceased husband, who was also killed in the same drive-by shooting as Natalie. Riri’s refusal to create an AI of Gary is quiet but also resounding.

It draws a line that Riri is unwilling to cross, whether because the act would be too painful for her to make an AI of her beloved stepfather. Or because she feels some moral qualm creating another AI whose purpose would be to comfort her grieving mother, but is it okay to make something like that when it’s unclear whether or not the real Gary would have wanted it?

Seeing how the theme and narrative of the ethical implications of technology like AI play out in later episodes will be interesting, especially with the added layer of Xaiver, Natalie’s brother and Riri’s friend, with whom Riri has not yet shared N.A.T.A.L.I.E’s existence. This secret alone will complicate the show’s emotional and moral terrain further.

One exciting dynamic in Ironheart Episodes 1-3 is Riri working for The Hood.

Right from the jump, The Hood recognizes Riri’s potential and connects with her. Sure, he wants her skillset and suit on his team, but he can relate to Riri’s struggles on some level. In contrast, Riri knows working with The Hood and his crew is dangerous and illegal, even if they only seem to target exploitative tech elites. Nonetheless, Riri overlooks the risks, thus blurring her moral lines.

Riri’s curiosity and dogged desire to understand The Hood’s powers land her in trouble, which leads to a disastrous outcome. Eventually, the consequences of Riri’s actions catch up to her by the end of the third episode. Ironheart Episodes 1-3’s cliffhanger ending further highlights that Riri’s dogged ambition can sometimes lead her into deeper trouble than even her genius mind knows how to handle.

Ironheart Episodes 1-3 deliver a promising start to an emotionally and narratively charged show. Ironheart lays the groundwork for a deeper, more intimate story that centers on Riri Williams’ coming-of-age tale. The show does an excellent job of fleshing out Riri’s character and origins further, while also balancing a poignant thematic exploration of the moral implications of technology and the pursuit of one’s goals. If the rest of the season follows through on what the first three episodes have built, Ironheart has the potential to be one of the MCU‘s best shows to date.

Ironheart Episodes 1-3 premiere exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu on June 24, 2025.

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