Ironheart “The Past Is the Past” Review

Season 1 Episode 6 – Riri builds her most powerful suit yet, but she’s unsure if it’s enough to beat Parker and The Hood.

Please note, our reviews are based on likes and dislikes. These contain significant spoilers. If you haven’t already watched the episode, we recommend that you click off the article and come back once you have watched the episode. Enjoy!

What I Liked

1. Mephisto finally makes his debut. At the same time, my own knowledge of him is fairly limited, mostly from Midnight Suns and the WandaVision rumors. It was exciting to see him introduced. We get insight into how Parker got the Hood and why, which was important context. That said, this scene would’ve landed much better had it come earlier in the season.

2. Riri vs Ezekiel in the confined space was an interesting fight. It’s rare to see an Iron Suit in such tight quarters, and while Ezekiel was still under Parker’s control, Riri cleverly reset his bionics with a brutal hit to the Crown Jewels. Not the best action sequence ever, but it was enjoyable for what it was.

3. Even though I’m not fully on board with Riri using magic, the final fight with Parker was solid. As Parker’s rage builds, he becomes less and less human, genuinely terrifying. The best moment comes when I paused the episode after her suit was seemingly destroyed, and started writing a dislike about how quickly it was. Then, boom, Riri outsmarts him using projection tech. Genius play. Totally caught me off guard.

4. In the end credits, Parker confronts Zelma at the shop, hinting that he’s looking for someone “experienced” and “supreme.” Whether it’s Wong or Strange, that direction is intriguing. If they continue down this path, and Mephisto becomes a bigger MCU player, it could pay off if they capitalise properly.

What I Disliked

1. I get that Riri needs something more than tech to face a Parker-Mephisto level threat, but the use of magic feels… off. Iron Man faced some serious villains, even Thanos, all through the tech he built himself. I know Riri isn’t Tony Stark, but the integration of magic doesn’t sit right. It doesn’t blend naturally with her arc.

2. Is Riri stupid? Genuinely, is she? After everything she saw Parker go through, fully aware Mephisto was behind it, she still made a deal with him. She’s supposed to be a genius. I get the emotional pull of possibly reviving Natalie as a real person, but the entire sequence was painfully dumb.

3. The series ends right after Riri and Mephisto strike their deal. Sure, we get an end credits scene, but it was such an abrupt, weak finish. The pacing has been jumpy all season, and the finale follows suit. Rushed and underwhelming, a letdown.

Favorite Moment

Mephisto going full British and calling Shakespeare a “twat” was absolutely hilarious. It was so unexpected and added a sharp edge of humour to his introduction, instantly giving him a memorable and mischievous personality.

Standout Character

There wasn’t a true standout performance this week, but Mephisto takes the spotlight simply for finally being introduced. It’s a surprise to see him here after years of speculation in and around WandaVision and Multiverse of Madness. Whether this was the right project to debut him is up for debate, but I still enjoyed seeing him in the flesh.

Verdict

A lacklustre finale that failed to deliver on the season’s big buildup. It didn’t feel like a proper send-off and continued the rushed, inconsistent tone that’s plagued the series. Riri’s writing remains problematic; she hasn’t developed meaningfully, and her decisions this episode were baffling. Despite Mephisto being a welcome reveal, it wasn’t enough to save this episode or elevate the series overall. This show had glimpses of potential but ultimately adds very little value to the wider MCU.

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Rating 6.4/10

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