This was a better episode than the last few for me because there was less story. The story has been bothering me for making no sense, and it still does bother me and makes no sense here, but at least we see some fighting which gives us a break.

That said, WTF is wrong with Riri’s support system? Her Mom is like ‘This is our home!’: c’mon! Get the fuck outta town! You’re gonna lose your daughter! You lost your husband to street violence and you clearly don’t get how this works! Get to safety! The solution to all these problems is not more powered armor! And Xavier: how did he come around on the Natalie AI? He’s right! Riri is wrong! Why are the writers of this taking her side??

Lastly, my biggest issue: the portrayal of Zeke when he finds out he’s been turned into a drone is… a choice. They went with comedy? He’s issuing apologies while his body is used to kill people? This is the greatest form of violation. It reads like the old 80’s comedies like Porkies or Revenge of the Nerds back when writers rooms seemed to think non-consensual sex was a great source of comedy. I don’t get how the writers chose to go this way, and the director, and the actor. No one at any point said, ‘This isn’t gonna play on screen. This is pure distilled horror and the character is reading as embarrassed instead of desperately wanting to be dead.’

I will finish the show and keep hoping for a better version of this character. I like Ironheart and I like Dominique Thorne, but this show is killing me slowly.

I didnt like this episode. Pacing feels like “oh shit we still have to do stuff before the last episode”.

Also, this show has some of the worst action scenes in all of Marvel. What is that fighting choreography? Riri beating up the siblings in hand to hand combat makes no sense whatsoever after he have been shown that those two can take out tons of security guards. Ridiculous.

“I will run down the street to escape the truck trying to run me over, instead of getting back onto the footpath behind all those parked cars”

I like that Landon came back – but seriously, what did Riri do with his wagon? Left it at Joe’s place?

Poor Joe became a prisoner in his own body :( his arc in this episode and the gang leaving Hood I actually have no issue with.

The suit can work with technology and magic, but not have AI and magic at the same time? That makes absolutely no sense and is just weak writing.

The first 15 minutes out this episode where everyone is trying to kill Riri felt like it was supposed to be a whole episode. The Ezekiel turn just feels way out of place and unearned.

However the rest of the episode, where it’s clear someone made a decision “it we only get six episodes, we’re keeping Riri rebuilding and The Hood losing everything (else).” was a great choice.

I’m makes it more clear that Ezekiel just made a deal to get out of prison. The rest of the gang turns on The Hood. He then uses his admin powers to control Ezekiel. It works much better by the end.

Also siphoning power from Dormammu/The Dark Dimension is such a terrible idea, I’m a huge fan. Also the cost, I didn’t see that coming. I hope the AI stays “dead” but now that character can be used to tempt Riri.