As is regrettably too often the case when a project launches a new spin-off with a female lead 鈥 especially when that actor is a woman of colour 鈥 Marvel鈥檚 new series Ironheart already looks like it鈥檚 been the subject of review-bombing (when people deliberately bombard a project with negative criticism regardless of its actual quality).
Hours before the first three episodes had even begun streaming, Ironheart held a measly audience score of just 32% on the reviews aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes (this has now risen to 72% at the time of writing) despite viewers not actually having seen it yet, according to Collider.
Meanwhile, actual critics have spoken about the show much more favourably.
Ironheart is the latest TV offering in Marvel鈥檚 Cinematic Universe, starring Dominique Thorne as the titular hero.
Dominique鈥檚 character Riri Williams was first introduced in the Black Panther sequel Wakanda Forever, and is now stepping out on her own in Marvel鈥檚 new six-part miniseries.
While most critics agree that Ironheart falls short of Marvel鈥檚 previous highs, the reviews are still considerably more forgiving than that initial 32% audience score would suggest. Here鈥檚 a selection of what critics are saying about the MCU series鈥
The Guardian (3/5)
鈥淚t is clearly aimed at the younger end of the fan spectrum and the pace is relentless, as if the makers are desperate not to give the audience a second to look away […] To say it becomes preachy would be putting things too strongly. But 鈥榮lightly tiresome鈥 would not.鈥
The Hollywood Reporter
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 expanding on the conflict between science and magic […] or critiquing the elevation of billionaire vigilantes to hero status, this is a series with things on its mind but not necessarily the structure or platform to properly say those things. Still, despite the clumsy pilot and distracted finale, the warmth I felt for the four-episode filling of this televisual sandwich was real.鈥
Rolling Stone
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the last vestiges of a version of the MCU that doesn鈥檛 really exist anymore, featuring one of the least compelling main characters in any of these shows or movies. While it has some interesting ideas and supporting players, the execution is uneven. And the season ends on a note that鈥檚 only satisfying if there are going to be many more Ironheart adventures鈥︹
鈥淚ronheart is a compelling story about the limitations of genius, whether to overcome a lack of money or bend laws of the universe like death. It鈥檚 also a lot of other stories at the same time, none of which is as focused or affecting.鈥
Empire (2/5)
鈥淒espite some nice flourishes and big introductions, Riri 鈥 and Ironheart 鈥 still hasn鈥檛 taken full flight. If Season two does come, some serious upgrades are required.鈥
鈥淭horne embodies Riri鈥檚 gradual growth with a potent blend of juvenile bullheadedness and aching vulnerability. Her losses sit right under the surface, and even though 鈥淚ronheart鈥 is a lot of fun, it never loses sight of the wayward soul going through a particularly difficult coming-of-age in a particularly difficult world.鈥
The Telegraph (2/5)
鈥淒espite Dominique Thorne鈥檚 best efforts at making Ironheart a credible hero, as a concept, Ironheart buckles under the strain of trying to cast off Iron Man鈥檚 past. Hamstrung by an unconvincing plotline and a script in dire need of a dose of WD40, it鈥檚 only in the action sequences, too few and far between, that Ironheart comes alive.鈥
ScreenRant (6/10)
鈥淪ome annoying tropes in Ironheart may have been a result of the rushed format […] These nitpicks were not enough to ruin Ironheart for me, but they certainly brought it down a few notches. They tied into the rushed story, which could have used three or four more episodes to breathe.鈥
IGN (5/10)
鈥淒espite assured, emotive performances from Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, and Alden Ehrenreich, Ironheart never gives Riri Williams the transformative hero鈥檚 journey we鈥檝e grown to expect for MCU protagonists.鈥
Collider (8/10)
鈥淚 have to wonder why Marvel rushed [three episodes] out at once […] this is literally half the series released at once, and is a lot to keep track of. I鈥檓 sorry that we won鈥檛 get to see week-to-week speculation on the plot, or even that the series won鈥檛 have six weeks to find an invested audience. Two weeks for this much story does the show as a whole a disservice.鈥
The first three episodes of Ironheart are now streaming on Disney+, with the following three coming on Wednesday 1 July.