Ironheart Recap: Only Baddies Make Their Names Acronyms

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Riri seems unwilling to acknowledge the reality of Natalie’s physical form, but I personally find her captivating. There’s a discussion about whether she’s truly existent, and Natalie often contemplates this deep question: “What is genuine, in truth?” This is a thought-provoking query that we’ll revisit as we delve deeper into the relationship between Riri, Natalie, and their unique bond.

Riri suggests not referring to her new holographic AI function as ‘Natalie.’ Instead, she proposes the name ‘Neuro Autonomous Technical Assistant and Laboratory Intelligence Entity,’ but finds ‘N.A.T.A.L.I.E.’ easier to say.”

Or simply: “Riri suggests using ‘N.A.T.A.L.I.E.’ for her new holographic AI, as it’s simpler to pronounce than the full name.

In 2025, inventing technology similar to her friend wasn’t on Riri’s list of plans. Instead, she aimed to create a holographic tech like what she had witnessed in Wakanda. It’s possible she overlooked the fact that an essential aspect of Wakandan communication involves connecting with the Ancestral Plane. Unconsciously, Riri designed the ancestor she needed most. This idea is truly a reflection of Wakandan philosophy.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve noticed that Riri seems quite secretive, and it’s adorable yet puzzling how she insists her secrecy is about hiding a romantic interest – be it a boy or a girl. This could possibly hint at Riri identifying as bisexual. So far, our only love interest has been Xavier, Natalie’s brother, but now I find myself intrigued by the possibility of other suitors! The diverse cast of this series boasts many attractive individuals, and I can’t help but wonder who might capture Riri’s heart next.

In my own words, I shared with Natalie that she should keep her identity hidden from Ronnie or anyone else, as the complexity of explaining her existence is overwhelming, and even I’m left feeling uneasy by the eeriness surrounding it all. As I was heading out for work, Xavier approached me and invited me to a Saba concert – a quintessential Chicago courtship ritual, if you will.

In the hideout of Hood, the gang gathers around to watch an advertisement showcasing a novel subway system called TNNL. Riri arrives late to their strategy meeting, yet she makes amends by providing bagels for everyone, so her tardiness is overlooked. Hood then officially introduces each member of the team. Slug (Shea Coulee) serves as their hacker, while the Blood Siblings, Ros and Jerry Blood, are skilled in back alley combat and offer physical strength to the group. Clown specializes in pyrotechnics. John, Hood’s cousin, is also present, acting as HR, a recruiter, mechanic, and an expert with knives. The rest of the team seems more vibrant compared to Parker himself, who aims for mystery but comes across as more of a puzzle instead.

Parker inquires about the location of Riri’s iron suit, to which she replies it’s at home recharging. Given its appearance, one might question if this suit could withstand even a gentle breeze without falling apart. Natalie assists Riri in identifying who Stuart sourced his spare parts from, revealing a man named Joe. Seems like these characters are going for the common, unremarkable names – John, Joe, plain and simple. As it turns out, Joe is a suburban weakling whose fragile persimmons burst through his flimsy paper grocery bag whenever he accidentally bumps into Riri outside his house. He attempts to hide his genius in biomechanics, but Riri coerces him into aiding her by threatening to expose him.

On their way to his secret parts store, Joe bemoans the frequency of his blackmailing incidents. Riri suggests he could benefit from some spine reinforcement. And then they blast Alanis Morissette’s tunes in the car.

At Riri’s home, Natalie chooses to assert her presence, referencing the iconic line “Nobody puts baby in a corner.” She then steps into Ronnie’s ongoing artwork on the canvas. One might expect Ronnie to be taken aback, but she instead warmly welcomes Natalie, no matter her current form. This acceptance is likely due to her being the mother of a tech prodigy, perhaps having encountered unusual occurrences like Natalie’s before, on her devices, walls, and even ceiling.

Joe parks his dusty Subaru station wagon outside his hidden bionic junkyard, unlocking it with a retinal scanner. A “Live, Laugh, Love” neon sign illuminates as if trying too hard to show affection. He confides in Riri that the underground shelter reminds him of his dad, and they share a moment mourning their deceased fathers. However, the conversation soon shifts to less emotional topics.

The metallic armor. One wonders why Riri constructed it if she intended to employ it in a life of criminal activity. “Because I could,” is her usual response. There’s constant debate about the ethical uses of technology and whether Riri is making the right choices as an inventor. However, aside from her speech before being expelled from MIT, we haven’t seen her struggle much with doing what’s right. She joined forces with Hood’s group of mercenaries far too swiftly for us to believe she’s truly conflicted about this situation.

To demonstrate his high moral standards, Joe chooses not to handle the magnetic repulsion field he’s constructing for Riri, as the temptation to misuse it might be too great. He’s also concerned about potential future implications, given that fingerprints could link him to the device. However, when Riri persists, Joe eventually gives in, his eyes sparkling with a thrill of the field’s power. So, Riri isn’t a poor influence on ethics, is she?

She takes off in her working suit to join her criminal associates, and I’m confident that blasting Chaka Khan’s “Nobody Can Stop Me Now” as she departed hints at her short-lived career as a lawbreaker. Chaka’s talents should be put to noble purposes.
In the meantime, Hood mysteriously appears in the TNNL CEO’s vehicle – one of his abilities includes the power to vanish and reappear at will. He convinces her to accept an arrangement that grants him and his team a share of TNNL. She signs the agreement. This could be due to Anthony Ramos’ charm, but also because it’s a safer choice than succumbing to Hood’s threat of an underground explosion.

Despite Riri’s mission being disrupted when Natalie jailbroke the iron suit and caused a distraction, they managed to return to street level with minimal damage. However, their moment of relief was short-lived as a nervous security guard pointed a gun at them. Riri attempted to de-escalate the situation, but if it weren’t for Natalie’s sudden malfunction, it might have worked. Do holograms experience PTSD?

The guard threatened to shoot, but Parker acted first, bending the bullet so that it struck the guard instead. This could have been a moment when Parker shifted from mysterious to terrifying, but Hood merely appeared bored. One wonders if the most frightening thing about him might be his acceptance of things.

Riri is attempting to understand Parker better, so she queries Clown about him genuinely. All Clown has learned is that he once glimpsed him without a shirt on, and it was an extraordinary sight. I completely agree! What she’s saying is that his back is covered in scales. John advises them to focus on the work they are being paid for. Parker proposes a toast to Riri and her newfound family. Everyone responds with a glass lift without delay, except Riri, who hurries out of Hood’s base as quickly as possible.

In her local area, she places an imaginary version of herself, Nat, onto the sidewalk next to her, and interrogates her about why she malfunctioned at the crime scene. However, Nat doesn’t dwell on that topic because she’s preoccupied with thoughts about Parker. A strange feeling, almost negative, enveloped her when the suit approached his cloak. Despite trying to decipher it, she couldn’t identify the source of the energy.

There appears to be some playful banter happening between Rihanna and Xavier during the Saba concert, but I’m hesitant about them as a potential couple at this point. They both seem deeply affected by their mutual friend, Natalie, who has recently passed away. It seems their shared grief might be the strongest bond between them. Xavier expressed his longing to communicate with Natalie once more. Should Rihanna share her secret with him?

In the meantime, Parker is in severe pain due to his back issue. John encounters him inside his refrigerated Hood Vault, and it seems like dark veins or scales are appearing on Parker’s back. They appear to be expanding rapidly. John mentions that he can no longer hide the damage with tattoos. Parker accepts this as the cost he has to bear, saying “For what he did to me.” Now, who is “he” remains a mystery.

At home, Riri receives praise from Ronnie for designing N.A.T.A.L.I.E: “It’s as if you resurrected her essence.” She wonders aloud if she could revive Gary too, and it’s sad to understand that Ronnie has been nurturing such a wish throughout the day. Meanwhile in the suburbs, Joe discards his Live, Laugh, Love knickknacks, storming towards his neighbor who doesn’t pick up after her dog. He trims her flower bushes to the rhythm of Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know,” while our cinnamon roll gets charred in the process.

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2025-06-26 03:54