This article contains spoilers for Marvel’s Ironheart series and the Ironheart comics.
Marvel’s Ironheart debuted on Disney+ with its first three episodes, introducing audiences to Riri Williams’ solo adventures post-Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. While the series lays groundwork for intriguing plotlines, including the introduction of the magical villain The Hood (Anthony Ramos), one particular moment in the premiere episode featuring Riri and the hooded antagonist feels jarringly out of character for the young genius and represents a significant missed opportunity for the show’s early tone.
In the opening episode, we see Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) striving to complete her prototype Ironheart suit, driven by a desire to equip first responders with cutting-edge technology after the tragic deaths of her stepfather and best friend. Her goal is noble, requiring significant funding. Meanwhile, the mystical criminal known as The Hood and his associate John (Manny Montana) are in need of technical expertise for their operations. This leads them to trick Riri into a meeting under false pretenses, luring her with the promise of quick cash via a seemingly trapped elevator.
After easily bypassing the trap, Riri comes face-to-face with The Hood. Despite his rather unconventional and, frankly, absurd appearance (more on that later), she listens intently as he lays out his proposal for her to join his criminal crew. Shockingly, Riri takes his offer completely seriously and appears genuinely tempted by the potential earnings, eventually agreeing to consider it.
Why This Moment Feels Off for Riri Williams
For viewers familiar with Riri from her memorable introduction in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, this reaction to The Hood feels fundamentally inconsistent with her established personality. In Wakanda Forever, Riri proved to be sharp-tongued, unimpressed by authority, and possessed a quick wit bordering on abrasive. Remember her interaction with Okoye (Danai Gurira), the formidable leader of the Dora Milaje? Riri didn’t hesitate to call Okoye “ashy” when she started giving orders. This is the same character who would critique one of Wakanda’s most respected warriors based on her appearance.
Given this precedent, it feels highly improbable that the same Riri Williams would encounter a mysterious “ding dong in a leather cape” (as one critic put it) and not immediately roast him for his appearance the moment he opened his mouth. Her taking his ludicrous criminal pitch seriously, rather than reacting with skepticism or outright mockery, seems to betray her established sharp, unfiltered demeanor.
The Missed Opportunity with The Hood
Riri’s uncharacteristic reaction isn’t just a character inconsistency; it’s a significant missed opportunity for Ironheart, particularly in its early episodes. The Hood, as portrayed by Anthony Ramos, looks visually ridiculous in his signature cape. While comics fans know he wields powerful demonic magic, this isn’t immediately apparent in the show’s first three episodes. For a new audience, he’s just “Some Guy™” in a silly outfit until a brief glimpse of his monstrous side appears in Episode 3.
In a “ground-level” series like Ironheart, which focuses on street-level concerns before escalating, having a character acknowledge the visual absurdity of the main villain is crucial. Riri, with her established tendency to call things as she sees them, was the perfect audience surrogate for this. Had she reacted to The Hood’s proposal with the kind of cutting sarcasm she used on Okoye, it would have:
Leveraged Riri’s most engaging character trait.
Acknowledged the audience’s likely reaction to The Hood’s appearance.
Created an instantly memorable and potentially comedic character dynamic.
Served to ground the early episodes, making The Hood’s eventual magical reveal more impactful by contrasting it with Riri’s initial, dismissive reaction.
Instead, the decision to have Riri seriously entertain his offer leaves the audience without a voice reacting to the villain’s odd presentation, potentially distracting from the narrative for the first few episodes.
Ironheart and the Broader MCU Legacy
This moment also touches upon the larger theme of how the MCU handles the legacy of characters like Tony Stark. Riri Williams is positioned as a key inheritor of Iron Man’s mantle. However, she’s not the only character with ties to Tony’s past. Another potential heir is Harley Keener, the clever kid from Iron Man 3 who helped Tony during a vulnerable time. Ty Simpkins, the actor who played Harley, has continued his career since 2013, even making a poignant cameo at Tony Stark’s funeral in Avengers: Endgame.
Some have argued that the MCU missed opportunities to further integrate Harley into the ongoing narrative, perhaps as a peer to Peter Parker or an intern at Stark Industries, to better explore the impact Tony had on those he helped. While Ironheart focuses on Riri’s unique path, the lack of a sharp, character-defining reaction in her initial meeting with The Hood feels akin to another potential missed beat – a failure to fully capitalize on an established character’s strengths in a pivotal early scene, much like how Harley’s connection to Tony could have been further explored to add depth to the post-Endgame universe.
Ultimately, while the first three episodes of Ironheart, now streaming on Disney+, offer glimpses of a promising series, Riri Williams’ strangely serious interaction with The Hood in the premiere stands out as both an uncharacteristic moment for the brilliant young hero and a clear missed chance to utilize her unique personality to great effect and better set the stage for the villain’s true nature.
