In Review: Ironheart (S1 – EP 4,5 & 6) – Genius, Betrayal, Magic, Isolation

Synopsis: Riri Williams thought she was in control. Armed with her Ironheart suit, a genius-level intellect, and an AI named N.A.T.A.L.I.E. modeled after her late best friend, she believed she could face anything. But as she dug deeper into the origins of The Hood’s supernatural powers, the world around her began to unravel.

The Story

Picking up from last week’s episodes, Riri Williams—Ironheart—is reeling from her own decision to betray her former friend, Zeke Stane. In Episode 4, titled “Bad Magic,” Riri realises that by turning Zeke over to the authorities, she may have delivered him into even darker hands: those of Parker Robbins, a.k.a. The Hood. As she investigates the strange energy signature from a fragment of Robbins’ magical cloak, Riri seeks out help from her mother’s old supernatural contacts. Their findings are alarming—this isn’t just dark magic. It’s cosmic-level black magic, and it doesn’t belong to this universe.

Unbeknownst to Riri, Parker Robbins isn’t just looking for revenge—he’s playing a much deeper game. He breaks Zeke out of prison, then implants him with high-level tech designed to strip away his autonomy, turning him into a living weapon with one goal: kill Riri.

In Episode 5, “Karma’s a Glitch,” Riri finds herself completely exposed. The Hood’s crew launches a full-scale assault that ends in catastrophe—her Ironheart suit is destroyed, and with it, the N.A.T.A.L.I.E. A.I. hologram that once guided her. Left without her tech or her trusted digital companion, Riri is forced to regroup. She begins designing a new Ironheart suit from scratch, but salvaging any trace of N.A.T.A.L.I.E. proves impossible. For the first time, Riri must face her enemies—and her trauma—alone.

In the final episode, “The Past Is the Past,” all roads converge. Riri, now suited up but without the assistance of an AI, must confront Zeke, who’s still under Robbins’ control. Using her brilliance, she finds a way to disrupt the neural tech linking Zeke to The Hood’s system, effectively freeing him.

That victory clears the path for the final showdown. Riri battles Parker Robbins and ultimately seizes the cloak from him, breaking the magical connection. But it’s not a clean win. In the aftermath, Mephisto himself appears—offering Riri the thing she wants more than anything: Natalie, her best friend, not as a voice in her head, but alive in the flesh.

Riri, weary and desperate, accepts the deal.

Natalie is returned to life… but she’s a stranger. No memories. No bond. Just a shell of what once was. Riri gets what she asked for—but like all deals with the devil, it comes at a deeper cost. And somewhere in the shadows, the real consequences are just beginning.

The Acting

Dominique Thorne continues to impress as Riri Williams, anchoring the series with intelligence and heart. The supporting cast are solid across the board, but special mention must go to Sacha Baron Cohen, who brings real menace and charisma to the role of Mephisto—the supernatural villain behind Parker Robbins’ rise, and the devil who tempts Riri with an offer she can’t refuse.

Overall

The series wraps on something of a cliffhanger, thanks to Mephisto’s deal with Riri. Whether or not Ironheart gets a second season remains to be seen, and Disney+ releasing all six episodes over just two weeks doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. That said, I rather liked the show. I didn’t love it—but I liked it well enough that I wouldn’t turn my nose up at a second season, if one were to come.