Ironheart Recap: What happened so far in the Marvel series
Marvel's Ironheart dropped its first three episodes on Disney+ on June 24, 2025, and it's already a wild ride. If you're wondering what's going on with Riri Williams, the teen genius who stole the show in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever , this recap has you covered. From high-tech heists to supernatural capes, here's everything that's happened in Ironheart so far—no fluff, just the good stuff. Spoilers ahead, so buckle up! Meet Riri Williams: The Next Iron Hero
Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) is a Chicago-born MIT student with a knack for building game-changing tech. In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), she crafted a vibranium-powered armor to help Wakanda fend off Namor's forces. After leaving her suit behind to protect its secrets, Riri's back in the spotlight in Ironheart , a six-episode miniseries created by Chinaka Hodge. Set in Chicago's vibrant South Side, the show follows Riri's quest to become a hero while wrestling with grief, ambition, and some seriously shady allies. Think Iron Man meets Breaking Bad with a dash of magic. Episode 1: 'Take Me Home'
The series kicks off with Riri at MIT, hustling to fund her experiments by selling souped-up tech to rich classmates. Her latest project—a fusion reactor—goes haywire, blowing up a lab and getting her kicked out of school. Penniless and desperate, Riri swipes a prototype suit and crash-lands in Chicago, hiding her armor under a Cubs flag as she hops on the CTA. It's a humbling homecoming for our girl.
Back in her South Side neighborhood, Riri reconnects with her mom, Ronnie (Anji White), a struggling artist. Flashbacks hit hard, showing a drive-by shooting five years ago that killed Riri's stepdad, Gary (LaRoyce Hawkins), and her best friend, Natalie (Lyric Ross). In a gut-punch moment, Riri accidentally creates N.A.T.A.L.I.E., an AI hologram of Natalie, sparking questions about messing with memories of the dead.
Enter Parker Robbins, aka The Hood (Anthony Ramos), a smooth-talking crime boss who runs Chicago's underworld. Parker's got a heist crew targeting the city's elite, and he sees Riri's tech skills as his ticket to bigger scores. He lures her in with promises of mentorship, but his creepy cape—glowing with weird energy—hints at something supernatural. Riri, strapped for cash, joins his crew, setting the stage for a dangerous partnership. Episode 2: 'Will the Real Natalie Please Stand Up?'
Riri's settling into Chicago life, working with Parker's eclectic crew: Stuart (Eric André), the quirky tech guy; Slug (Shea Coulée), a sharp-tongued hacker; Clown (Sonia Denis), the explosives expert; and Cousin John (Manny Montana), the loose cannon. Their next target? Tnnl, a shady company screwing over local farmers, run by CEO Sheila Zanate (Natasha Forouzannia). Problem is, Tnnl's got metal detectors, so Riri's suit stays benched.
Riri's also wrestling with N.A.T.A.L.I.E., whose presence stirs up guilt over Natalie's death. A reunion with Natalie's brother, Xavier (Matthew Elam), adds emotional weight, reminding Riri of the family she's let slip away. Meanwhile, she meets Joe McGillicuddy (Alden Ehrenreich), a nerdy tech ethicist who helps fix her suit. Joe's got a good heart, urging Riri to ditch Parker's crew, but her drive to prove herself keeps her in the game.
Parker's crew isn't all smooth sailing. John's hot-headed vibe clashes with everyone, especially when he flips out over Clown touching his cape. Riri notices the cape's powers—like bending bullets—and starts digging into Parker's secrets. The episode ends with the Tnnl heist locked in, but Riri's growing doubts about Parker hint at trouble ahead. Episode 3: 'We in Danger, Girl' – The Heist Falls Apart
The Tnnl heist is go-time, and Riri's got a plan: smuggle a laser using Joe's biomesh fabric and snag a piece of Parker's cape to study its powers. Things go south fast. John, already paranoid, catches Riri acting shady and picks a fight. Her laser trips Tnnl's alarms, and the crew scrambles to escape. In a split-second call, Riri leaves John behind, and he doesn't make it out—a death that happens off-screen but hits like a ton of bricks.
Back at the hideout, Parker grills Riri, who lies to save her skin. The guilt eats at her, and her panic attacks—tied to her past trauma—kick into overdrive. Dominique Thorne nails these scenes, showing Riri's arrogance cracking under pressure. N.A.T.A.L.I.E. tries to help, but Riri's starting to see the AI as a painful reminder of her mistakes.
The episode peels back more on Parker's cape, with hints of a demonic force (Mephisto fans, start theorizing). Riri's ties to Parker pull her deeper into a moral gray zone, making her feel like Marvel's answer to an antihero. Joe's own sketchy tech deals suggest he's not as innocent as he seems, setting up a potential betrayal. The cliffhanger? Riri's family is now a target thanks to her criminal ties, raising the stakes sky-high.
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