Ironheart Episodes 1-3 Ending Explained

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Ironheart season 1, episodes 1-3.Ironheart‘s first three episodes are out, and they end with quite a few game-changing reveals and moments for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Riri Williams showed a lot of promise when she debuted in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Now, as the star of one of Marvel’s Disney+ series, Dominique Thorne taps into that to bring back Iron Man’s MCU replacement.

The first batch of episodes from the MCU series takes a little time to explore Riri’s world. Her past starts to be delved into, while her present puts the MCU hero in a criminal group. With Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU soon as Doctor Doom, it is interesting that Marvel would attach Tony Stark’s legacy to crime before then.

Ironheart‘s cast of characters might not include Iron Man, but it does feature a character that is connected to his legacy, and it is not Riri. That player is involved in one of the big reveals of the show’s first three episodes. Ironheart completely changes the game with callbacks to the MCU’s past and a controversial decision from the hero.

Marvel Just Introduced Obadiah Stane’s Son To The MCU

The Franchise Uses Its Long History To Its Advantage

2008’s Iron Man paved the way for the MCU as we know it. While the character was never a big part of the MCU since his debut, Jeff Bridges’ Obadiah Stane made franchise history as the first main villain of the MCU. The character donned an iron suit to become his Iron Monger persona from Marvel Comics and fight Stark.

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Obadiah Stane died in the major explosion of the large-scale arc reactor. In Ironheart, it is revealed that, to the outside world, Stane never turned to the dark side. The character was believed to have passed away in a plane crash, so his reputation and legacy are intact. That reveal comes in Ironheart episode 3 through Alden Ehrenreich’s Joe McGillicuddy.

The MCU show teased in episode 2 that there was more to Joe than meets the eye. Episode 3 would confirm that with the reveal that “Joe” was a fake name, with Ehrenreich’s Marvel character being Ezekiel “Zeke” Stane, Obadiah’s son. The shocking twist comes when Riri drops a bag of ashes, which are labeled “Obadiah S.” That makes it clear.

To have black market connections, Joe would have to me more than the ordinary guy he presented himself as. The character also mentioned that he dabbled in off-the-books technology because it made him feel close to his father, whom he did not have a great relationship with. Obadiah Stane’s son is now in the MCU.

What Zeke Stane Means For The Legacy Of Iron Man In The MCU

The Character Has A Very Different Mentality Compared To His Father

Zeke Stane’s MCU debut in Ironheart is huge for Iron Man’s legacy. While Downey is not expected to come back as Tony Stark to the MCU, Marvel keeps finding new ways to tap into its first franchise. At one point, Jeff Bridges’ Obadiah Stane was supposed to survive in Iron Man. However, the studio decided to change those early plans.

In a way, Stane lives on now in the MCU through his son. However, Zeke and Obadiah are two very different people. In Ironheart episode 3, Alden Ehrenreich’s character makes it very clear that he does not want to be like his father. Zeke’s goal with technology is not weaponry, but to help people, showing he is a good man.

With Zeke commenting on how bionics are so much more than weaponry and defense, he could keep Tony Stark’s legacy going. After all, Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man went from a weapons manufacturer to one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. It would be interesting for Marvel to use the son of Iron Man’s first MCU villain to further Stark’s mission.

However, Zeke Stane’s contribution to Iron Man’s legacy could go a different way. Zeke let Riri use his bio-mesh with her word that it would not be traced back to him. However, as the Heirlum heist went sideways, she dropped the bio-mesh and forgot it. If forced to respond for her crimes, Zeke could turn to villainy, like Obadiah.

Riri Williams Kills Cousin John – And Her Betrayal Is Revealed To The Hood

The MCU’s Iron Man Replacement Killing Someone Was Unexpected

Ironheart episode 3’s ending featured a shocking moment that was even bigger than the Ezekiel Stane reveal. While some heroes have killed before in the MCU, the way the Marvel series depicts Riri Williams making such a choice was rather bleak. Sure, Ironheart is a darker series despite moments of levity, but it still felt like a tonal change.

Riri was fighting for her life against the Hood’s cousin, John, at Heirlum. With the two characters running out of air as the doors started to lock due to security measures, Ironheart‘s main character entered a fight-or-flight state. Instead of saving John from certain death, which she easily could have, Riri entered her iron suit and flew away.

In her first solo project, Ironheart left someone to die so that she could be safe. If John had lived, he would have told Anthony Ramos’ The Hood that Riri turned on them. John caught her with a piece of Parker Robbins’ hood. As such, he had to go. Still, letting him suffocate to death was dark for a young hero.

The worst part of Riri’s choice is that it was all for nothing. Ironheart episode 3 ended with the Hood asking his supernatural master why his cousin had to die. After Parker was shown what appeared to be John’s last moments, a shadow took over the screen, towering over the MCU villain.

While it could be interpreted as the debut of a new Marvel villain, with a few names theorized by fans over the past year, it was a character already on the show. The shadow at the end of Ironheart episode 3 is none other than Riri’s, as the silhouette of the Ironheart armor can be seen when the shape fully forms.

Based on that, it is confirmed that the Hood’s supernatural boss has revealed to him that Riri killed his cousin. John was Parker’s rock, and without him, the villain should unleash his full rage. Sadly, Riri should be on the receiving side of it in Ironheart‘s final three episodes.

What’s Going On With NATALIE?

Riri’s AI Best Friend Is Behaving Weirdly

NATALIE is one of Ironheart‘s most interesting characters. The real Natalie was Riri’s best friend and Xavier’s sister. She died alongside Riri’s stepfather when they were hit by stray bullets. However, the new NATALIE AI seems to know a lot about her and behave like she did. Throughout Ironheart‘s first three episodes, Riri and NATALIE’s relationship developed greatly.

By the end, there is a question of just how much of the real Natalie is inside the AI. When Riri has a panic attack, NATALIE glitches. However, after Riri leaves John to die, she has another panic attack. This time, NATALIE does not glitch. As such, it remains to be seen how much she is tethered to Riri’s brain in Ironheart.

Ironheart

6/10

Release Date

June 24, 2025

Network

Disney+

Directors

Angela Barnes, Sam Bailey

Writers

Chinaka Hodge

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  Dominique Thorne

  Riri Williams / Ironheart

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  Lyric Ross

  Natalie Washington