Ironheart Episodic Coverage: “Bad Magic”

“Bad Magic” Takes Too Long To Get Its Plot Going

I was so concerned during the first half of “Bad Magic.” Nothing seemed to be happening. Riri was sitting in her trauma, and getting increasingly paranoid, but I was genuinely worried that nothing would push the plot forward until the next episode.

But then the second half of “Bad Magic” kicked in, and suddenly the story is pure superhero. A cascade of tropes that I like and references other Marvel things I like. As soon as they started going to a magic shop, I was hopeful that we might get a cameo from Agatha All Along. And though that didn’t happen, I am—apparently—always excited to learn more witch lore. And even when that scene sort of just ended for now, I didn’t have time to be disappointed, because interesting stuff just kept happening.

“Bad Magic” Evokes Several Fun Superhero Ideas

Riri is now in conflict with basically everyone around her, unwilling to admit the stuff she’s done. Her mom and she had an honestly devastating argument. And even her love interest is disgusted with the secret he now knows—though that one isn’t really her fault, exactly. Ironheart isn’t a show about secret identities (even if, technically, that causes some barely excused plotholes), but we still get all the angst of one. Riri can’t tell the people around her what she’s doing, and it’s driving a wedge. As I alluded to before, I love the secret identity trope when it’s balanced correctly.

I also love a good “hero makes their own supervillian” trope, and I’ll admit, I didn’t see that coming at all with Ezekiel. I assumed that he would become Riri’s sidekick of sorts. But N.A.T.A.L.I.E. is Ironheart’s designated sidekick, and we’ve got someone now upgrading themself with illegal tech that I don’t think Marvel has given us many benchmarks for what that can do. He could be really overpowered. Considering Ironheart is supposed to be a new generation version of Tony Stark, it’s lots of fun—in a very classic, pulpy sort of way—that a Stane is rising up to attack.

The Show Is Clearly Trying To Evoke The Old Films

Oh, and of course, now a crew of people is after her. I had expected a more dramatic turn for that, but “Bad Magic,” I guess, just wanted to pile on the problems quick and fast. And boy, did they. Riri cannot catch a break. Now there’s a magic user with slightly unknown levels of power, and a ton of people who are experienced fighting against tech, all seemingly fine with trying to kill her.

I said this before in my review of “We in Danger, Girl,” and I honestly still don’t know how Riri will get out of this one, but I am excited to find out. For an episode that left me cold for so long, I’m a little astonished how it turned out to just be gathering its momentum before barreling forward. “Bad Magic” would’ve benefited from some reworking, maybe giving a little more action or big twists earlier, but between a very cool camera spin for Ezekiel’s downfall scene and some tense moments of Riri being on edge, it kept me interested enough to get to the good bit. Let’s hope the next episode continues with even more excitement.

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