Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Ironheart season 1, episodes 4-6.Ironhearthas ended with major surprises, and one of them makes the wishes ofMarvel Cinematic Universefans finally come true after a long wait. The latestMCU TV showhad a different release schedule from what has come to be expected from live-action Marvel series.WhileEchodropped all of its episodes at once,Ironheartreleased them in batches.
The first batch of three episodesset up the world of the series.Ironheart’s cast of characters, such as the Hood and his crew, Zeke Stane — the son of Obadiah Stake, aka the MCU’s first villain — Natalie, and more key characters played a role asRiri Williams was expelled from MIT and entered the criminal worldfor money.
Ironheart’s final three episodes are all about Riri facing the consequences of her actions. The new episodes also take the Natalie storyline along two different but equally shocking paths, as well asend the Hood’s threat with the debut of a bigger villain. Riri’s life is forever changed as Ironheart delves further into the MCU’s magic and supernatural corner.
Mephisto Finally Enters The MCU With A Surprising Twist
The Rumors Of The Villain’s MCU Debut On The Show Were True After All
Ironheart’s season 1 finale — which could end up being the series finale — saw Mephisto enter the MCU for the first time. While the character has only now debuted,the devil has been speculated to be joining the MCU since 2021’sWandaVision, when Mephisto debut theories were aplenty. Mephisto was also rumored forAgatha All AlongandSpider-Man: No Way Home.
Ironheartepisode 6 reveals how Mephisto made a deal with Anthony Ramos' Parker Robbins.
After a four-year wait, Mephisto is finally here, andreports that he would be played by Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) proved to be accurate. The character first showed up onscreen to explain the Hood’s backstory.Ironheartepisode 6 reveals how Mephisto made a deal with Anthony Ramos' Parker Robbins. The villain saved him from being caught in a robbery.
Mephisto is not seen in his demonic form inIronheart, only as a human.
Then, Mephisto offered to give Parker the tools to become a “king,” asking for something he would not miss in return. In the present day, Mephisto shows himself to Riri Williams, confirming he was not Dormammu as she had thought. Mephisto then successfully makes a deal with Riri,bringing the real Natalie back to life and scarring Riri like the Hood.
The Hood Is Seeking Out Help With “Heavy-Duty Magic”
Ironheart Continues Marvel’s Post-Credits Scene Tradition
After the first half of the season builds him up to explode against Riri,Ironheart’s final episodes saw the Hood directly engage the hero. First, he sent his team to kill her. However, that did not end with her death.Ironheart’s final episode then featured a fight between just the two characters.Riri’s suit had been enhanced with magic.
That allowed her to be on equal footing with the Hood. Now that she had magic on her side, Riri used her genius-level intellect to outsmart the villain, beating him relatively easily, faking that her suit had been destroyed before taking him down.When Riri takes the hood away from Parker, he says it hurts. The villain remains scarred after.
Sacha Baron Cohen
Mephisto
Ironheart’s post-credits scene brings back the Hood for a surprise.He meets with Zelma Stanton at her shop to get help with “heavy-duty magic.“Based on the tease, it seems like Parker wants to either get rid of his scars or take the fight to Mephisto. His morality was played with throughout the season, so a turn could happen.
What That Twist Means For Natalie’s MCU Future
Riri Williams' Best Friend Is Back To The Land Of The Living
While Mephisto’s MCU debut is certainly the biggest talking point inIronheart’s final episodes, one of his actions is nearly as huge. At the end of episode 6, it is revealed that Mephisto brought back Natalie. At first, the impression is that it could bethe NATALIE AI, who was deleted in episode 5 after Riri’s suit bonded with magic.
However, Riri had told Mephisto when he offered her a deal that what she wanted could “not be done.” Well, the villain then showed the hero that the devil can do as he so pleases in the MCU. As they hug, which she could not do with the NATALIE AI, Riri and the audience realize thatMephisto seemingly resurrected Natalie.
That is how the show ends, withRiri bearing the same scars that the Hood does and the real Natalie back to life. IfIronheartseason 2 were to happen, the MCU series would undoubtedly further explore Riri’s deal with Mephisto and how Natalie being alive is possible. As for the NATALIE AI, the original’s resurrection makes her return chances slim.
Ironheart Gives The MCU The Successor Of The Franchise’s First Villain
Riri Williams Creates A Villain Of Her Own
Finally, Alden Ehrenreich’s Joe had been pretty clear to Riri that he would help her with his bio-mesh if it could not be tracked back to him. That backfired, withIronheartepisode 4 showing how the character’s secret was revealed to the world.Sent to prison, Zeke Stane joined the Hood to take down Ririfor what she did.
That leads to Zeke fighting Riri in episode 5, which ends with him letting her walk instead of killing her.
Since the world thinks Obadiah Stane died in a plane crash, Zeke is thought to be destroying his family’s name. At the end ofIronheartepisode 4,Zeke enhances himself with bionics. Without his knowledge, the Hood’s crew messes with the process to give the villain complete control over him.
That leads to Zeke fighting Riri in episode 5, which ends with him letting her walk instead of killing her. Zeke ultimately wants to be his own person, but the Hood forces him to be his watchdog in case Riri comes knocking. After she defeats him in the finale,Riri hard resets Zeke, which will free him from Parker.
By the end,Riri and Zeke are still not on good termsdespite her helping him and Stane sparing her life. With his secret now out in the open, his body enhanced with bionics to become a living weapon, and Riri making a deal with the devil, the characters should fight again in the future. That is ifIronheartis renewed.
