‘Ironheart’ Does Dominique Thorne Dirty, And That’s A Shame

Ironheart, the MCU’s latest television offering, has now run its course. I wanted to like it so much more; I really did. Unfortunately, my main takeaway is this: Dominique Thorne (Riri Williams) deserved so much more than she got from the show’s writers. That’s not to say the talented actress didn’t perform admirably. To the contrary, she played the character perfectly, as Riri was written. The problem was that the writers made her so damn unlikeable that nearly every other character in the show outshined the show’s namesake.

Riri Williams’ Ironheart in the show starts off as an arrogant, amoral thief. Sadly, it only gets worse from there. Blackmail. Crime. Manipulation. And eventually, murder. Granted a character is supposed to have an arc, one in which they grow, evolve. The problem with this series, though, is that by the time they try to turn Riri’s arc towards one of redemption, we’ve already developed such disdain for the character that we no longer care. And when she sells her soul to Mephisto with barely a thought, well… that tracks.

Ironheart fails Dominique Thorne

[See our full series review HERE.]

Again, don’t read this as a critique of Dominique Throne. She nailed the character as it was written. But… other characters, often with more personality and zest, simply stole the show. Three in particular stood out as much more compelling, and frankly likeable, than Ironheart herself. The first is the unquestionably fabulous Shea Couleé (Slug), who dominates every scene in which they appeared. There wasn’t a scene that featured Slug that wasn’t captivating.

N.A.T.A.L.I.E. (Lyric Ross), however, emerges as the true star of the show. As Riri’s AI, taking the form of Riri’s deceased best friend, “Natalie” serves as both comic relief and the moral compass of the show. Ross’ presentation and delivery were spot on throughout the six-episode Ironheart run.

Lastly, and most certainly not least, is the adorably awkward and affable Zelma Stanton (Regan Aliyah). Aliyah’s portrayal of Zelma, a Strange Academy student, breathed effervescent life into the show’s later episodes. One part Wednesday Adams and two parts Darcy Lewis, Zelma was perhaps the brightest light of the entire series.

Where does Riri go from here?

Riri falls to Mephisto’s charms and his dark magic to resurrect the “real” Natalie, but at what cost? We saw what the hood did to Parker. As evidenced in the show’s last official scene, the dark magic is already taking a hold on Riri. How far will she descend?  The mid-credits scene, however, is what intrigues me the most. Will Parker get a truer redemption arc that Riri? If it means more of Regan Aliyah’s Zelma, I’m all in.

There have been no specific plans for the future of Ironheart, but the setup is indeed there. Should we see Riri Williams again, I hope the writers do Dominique Thorne more of a solid the next time around.

All episodes are now streaming on Disney+.