First Reactions to MCU’s ‘Ironheart’ Are In, Can It Match the Success of ‘Agatha All Along’?
The release of Ironheart is upon us, marking the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Serving as the final chapter of Phase Five, the series continues the story of Riri Williams while introducing a unique magical twist to her journey.
Dominique Thorne returns as Riri Williams, aka Ironheart, following her debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She stars alongside Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam, and Anji White.
The series was first announced in December 2020, with Thorne’s casting confirmed at the time. In April 2021, Chinaka Hodge joined as head writer, and additional cast members were revealed in February 2022. Directors Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes came on board in April 2022.
Filming began in June 2022 at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, before moving to Chicago in October. Production wrapped in early November.
Ironheart is set to premiere on Disney+ with the first three episodes dropping at once. The final three episodes will follow on July 1.
The first reactions to the show are in. People are really enjoying Ironheart. They say Dominique Thorne is amazing as Riri Williams and brings a lot of emotion and depth to the character. The show is not just fun and exciting, it also shows the tough side of being a teen superhero.
The story is powerful and emotional, showing Riri dealing with things like grief and anxiety while still being a genius inventor. Viewers say the series feels important and has a big impact on the future of the MCU. Many are calling it a must-watch.
IRONHEART warmed my heart. Dominique Thorne brings Riri Williams to life with layers that make her so much more. She’s still our incredibly smart girl from Chicago but there is a lot of depth to Riri’s story and the show has a truly emotional arc and an iconic vibe to it.
Rachel Leishman
#IRONHEART is a sincere look at what the life of a teen genius superhero would be like. It’s fun & exciting but also hard & heavy.
Dominique Thorne is a true STAR & the perfect Riri Williams. This series has massive implications for the future of the #MCU. MASSIVE.
POC Culture
#Ironheart is a superhero epic rooted in Black genius and emotional truth. Dominique Thorne shines as Riri Williams, a brilliant teen inventor navigating grief, anxiety, and growing up. This show earns every moment it’s given, so be sure to watch from start to finish.
iammichaeljlee.bsky.social
But not all reactions are good. Some viewers were disappointed with Ironheart Episode 2. They felt the story moved slowly and didn’t have enough action. Riri didn’t feel like the main focus, and her smart ideas didn’t feel natural.
People also didn’t like the suit, saying it looked like a copy of Iron Man’s but not as good. The villain wasn’t strong, and the story felt too predictable. But keep in mind that both the positive and negative reactions are collected from an extremely limited sample on social media, and we should likely just wait to show to form our own opinion.
Ironheart Ep. 2: more vibes, more setup, less spark. Riri feels like a side character in her own show. Hoping the slow burn pays off, but I miss the fights. Review:
Sarah G. Vincent
Ironheart’s a letdown—Riri’s genius feels forced, and the suit’s design is just a clunky Iron Man knockoff. The story drags, leaning too hard on predictable tropes without earning its emotional beats. Weak villain and forgettable action don’t help. #Ironheart
Tyler Disney
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