Episode Review: Ironheart Episode 5 - "Karma's a Glitch"

Welcome back to the blog readers. Ironheart (2025) is far from the best show on television right now, but there are some things that are in this show that have been keeping me engaged, such as the performance of Dominique Thorne and the magical elements that have been introduced thus far. Now that we are nearing the run of this show, we are running out of time to get us to a place where I can say I love an episode. Would it be this one, titled "Karma's a Glitch," written by Cristain Martinez, and directed by Angela Barnes? Stick around to find out.

NOTE: I will be using spoilers for my thoughts, so DO NOT read ahead if you have not seen the episode.

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This is the penultimate episode of the show, and this is really going to be the tipping point of the show for me in terms of if this show can be considered a success or a failure. Now, I have not been totally blown away with what has been presented to us, and this series has left a lot to be desired, but I thought this episode was basically nothing special. Yes, I like the action and some story beats, but some things really irked me.

The one thing that did not irk me, however, was the performance of Dominique Thorne. Her version of Riri Williams may not be the best version we have ever gotten (and like I would know), but Thorne is absolutely giving her all to this character. And there was not a moment where it clicked for me more than it did in this episode. This is the moment where I will so declare that Dominique Thorne has become Riri Williams to me. Not only is she able to deliver on all the "cool" moments in the brief action we do get in the beginning of this episode, she is able to really sell the deeper and more emotional moments near the end of the episode. And it was at that point where I really began to understand this character and feel for her, all because of the work and effort Thorne has put in to make the character her own. And I know she will never get any Emmy love for this performance, she at least deserves her flowers for what she has done.

And now I want to talk about the story of this episode, because it seems to me like we are getting a real clash between technology and magic going into this finale. The episode begins with N.A.T.A.L.I.E. in Riri's suit watching old videos of Riri and the real Natalie, learning how to emulate her after it flew away from Riri at the end of last episode. It is suddenly snatched off the roof of the building it has been sitting on top of and put in the back of a truck that Slug is driving. Meanwhile, Riri and Zelma are sitting in a White Castle further discussing magic and its role in the Hood's motives. Zelma speculates that Dormammu is the one behind the cape and bases her theory on what happened with Kaecilius back in 2016. The two deduce that Dormammu is using Parker's ambition to return to this dimension. Suddenly, the Blood Siblings arrive at the White Castle and force everyone out.

The Blood Siblings are looking to take out Riri since she is the one Parker assumes killed John. After playing a cat-and-mouse game with the siblings where she reveals she can hold her own with them, Riri is able to trap them in her shield watch that Xavier threw back at her last episode. Next up, Clown is able to make her way into the restaurant and Riri reveals to her that Parker killed Stuart (or as he would like to be referred to: Rampage). In the chaos, Riri is able to knock Clown out and escape the restaurant. Slug locates Riri and tries to run her over, but N.A.T.A.L.I.E. is able to saw the suit out of its magnetic lock, burst out of the truck, merge with Riri, and take out the truck. Slug runs for their life as Riri begins to ascend to escape, but an electrical burst shoots her out of the sky. She crashes through the White Castle sign to see Ezekiel Stane, who has implemented bionic implants to be able to shoot electricity. He swears vengeance on Riri while lamenting about his father and his need for power. Before Zeke delivers the final blow (and while he is ripping her suit apart), Riri begs for her life and he relents, allowing her to walk away but warning Parker will not be so forgiving when he finds out he let her live. Clown sees Zeke let Riri live.

Riri arrives home and despite her mother lambasting her for the events that transpired the previous day, she breaks down in Ronnie's arms and says she needs her help. She comes clean about everything that has happened thus far and expresses her desire to leave Chicago due to not being safe. Ronnie and N.A.T.A.L.I.E. are able to convince her, however, that she cannot run from her problems. She did it once in Cambridge, but Ronnie will not let her do it here. She also asks her why out of all the things Riri can build she chooses an iron suit. Riri responds because she can, but Ronnie digs to get the truth: Riri admits she froze and couldn't do anything the night Gary and Natalie were gunned down and she feels as if she could not protect them. She is hellbent on the suit to ensure she will never allow a loved one to be taken from her again. With a new understanding of her daughter

She takes Riri to Gary's garage but Riri begins to break down because all she can see is where Gary and Natalie were killed. It is all too much for her, but N.A.T.A.L.I.E. begins to play back a memory of Riri and Gary when she was younger. She is moved but turns the video off. N.A.T.A.L.I.E. tells her that focusing solely on the bad will stop her from remembering the good times and she allows for the memory to play out, in which the two are dancing around the garage and she falls, leading to a wrench falling on her head. Gary gave her the nickname "Ironhead" that he later infused into the wrench. Ronnie has one final surprise for her: she bought back the car that they were working on the night Gary and Natalie were killed when she learned Riri was back in Chicago. Infused with a new purpose, Riri begins the process of building a new suit.

Meanwhile, Parker and his gang celebrate their latest victory. Zeke tells Parker that Riri is dead, but Parker asks him to give details on how he did it. He begins to panic because he did not kill Riri and Parker begins to get suspicious until Clown covers for him. Parker believes her and Zeke is safe for now. However, Clown is beginning to doubt Parker and even asks Slug if they can hack into autopsy reports. Parker extends an offer to Zeke to join his crew, but Zeke declines by stating his purpose is fulfilled. The next day, Parker tries to get his crew ready for the next job but Clown confronts him with Stuart's autopsy report and makes him admit to killing him. He will not but he does kick her out of the group. He begins to assault her and the other members try to break up the fight, leading him (under the hood's influence) to kick all of them out, claiming he does not need them.

Riri begins the process of creating a new suit out of Gary's car with some help from Ronnie and N.A.T.A.L.I.E.. She also enlists the help of Zelma because she knows she cannot defeat Parker and possibly Dormammu without magic. She is having trouble finding a power source that will not wipe out the grid. Xavier reads the note that Riri left him when she gifted him the new headphones and he shows up to the garage to help. He notes that while he may not agree with what Riri did, he understands her. Meanwhile, Parker has taken control of Zeke's body modifications and goes to rob the mansion he tried to in the cold open of last episode. It is then revealed that the mansion belongs to his estranged father. The business that Parker stole from are connected to his father and now he has come for everything he owns. Parker's father initially resists, but Parker notes that he was abandoned by him and he is now here for revenge. Parker threatens magic on his father, who relents and gives his estranged son everything. Back at the garage, Zelma warns Riri that magic always takes something in exchange. She connects the power source and watches in horror as N.A.T.A.L.I.E. begins to be erased.

Ironheart starts to pick up some real steam, but some real lazy story decisions drags this penultimate episode down from the heights it could be reaching. Thank you all for reading, and I will see you for the next post.