What's streaming this week: 'Ironheart' on Disney+, the intensity of 'Smoke' on Apple TV+
The Marvel Cinematic Universe and its ancillary television properties have been missing something in a lot of recent iterations.
Has the cash cow grown stale? That depends on point of view, but from this corner, the emotional impact has been missing – some of that returned with the recent release of “Thunderbolts*” and there is reason to continue to hope that the franchise is on the right track with the release of the six-episode miniseries “Ironheart,” which debuts three installments on Disney+ June 24 (Tuesday) with the final three streaming on July 1.
In this story of genius MIT dropout Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), a character introduced in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” who designed and constructed her own version of Tony Stark’s Iron Man suit. Here she returns home to Chicago conflicted and confused.
In many ways, she’s a typical Gen Z member except with an exponentially higher I.Q. and the ambition that goes with it. That’s the problem. Patience isn’t her virtue. She wants to do great things, but isn’t willing to allow things to come to her organically. She is, however, willing to take a shortcut to the cash and resources she needs to realize her vision of the perfect iron suit, which leads her to Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos), a mysterious guy who leads a crew that extorts and blackmails the movers and shakers of Chicago. No, she does not fit in, but they are a means to her end, so she rationalizes her participation in their crimes.
After she returns, she continues working on the suit as her tragic history unfolds, including the death of her stepfather Gary (LaRoyce Hawkins), whom she credits with helping channel her genius into creation, and her best friend Natalie (Lyric Ross), who was killed in a drive-by shooting. Amidst her tinkering with the suit and its artificial intelligence, it takes on the personality, mannerisms and memories of Natalie.
There’s plenty of action in “Ironheart,” but the most interesting aspect of this miniseries, the final TV production in Phase Five of the MCU, is the relationship between Riri and her virtually reincarnated friend. It provides the heart in the series and allows the series to explore some interesting plot twists on the way to an ending that will dovetail into the next phase of the MCU, which begins in theaters with the release of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” next month in theaters and “The Eyes of Wakanda” on Disney+ in August.
‘Smoke’ is as much character study as mystery
Whether “Smoke” is to a viewer’s particular tastes will be totally dependent on whether they have a willingness to take heaping gobs of character study with the mystery involving two serial arsonists. The first three episodes drop on Apple TV+ Thursday, June 25. Those cases involve some interesting twists and turns as arson investigator Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton) and Det. Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett) investigate.
Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett in "Smoke," premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.
However, this series from award-winning writer Dennis Lehane, who also serves as showrunner, is at its best when it delves into the lead characters’ backgrounds — what makes them tick and how smoke and fire, both metaphorically and literally, shape their lives.
Just as importantly, are the ancillary players that inhabit the story. Everyone, in some respect, gets burned. Those characters include Capt. Harvey Englehart (Greg Kinnear reminds everyone of just how good an actor he can be) along with Espisito (John Leguizamo) providing not just dramatic heft, but comedic relief.
The cast, on a whole, gives outstanding performances, but on the periphery look out for Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine in an absolutely chilling turn.
In case you missed it: ‘Echo Valley’ on Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is the place for thrillers in recent weeks and this one starring Julianne Moore as a mother dealing with a drug-addicted daughter (Sydney Sweeny) and directed by Michael Pearce is a compelling weekend watch. It examines what it means to be a mother and questions the lengths any parent would and should go through to protect a child.
Moore, as is usually the case, is at the top of her game. Sweeney is terrifyingly raw. Watch out for a chilling performance from Domhnall Gleeson.
Julianne Moore, left, and Sydney Sweeny star as mother and daughter in "Echo Valley," streaming on Apple TV+
Streaming is king over cable and network TV
For the first time ever, streaming beat cable and network television in combined consumption for an entire month. What turned the tide? Apparently older viewers have made the leap via free ad-supported television (FAST) channels such as Tubi and Pluto TV, according to reports.
Of course, it helps that in the cable television world, the powers that be behind those stations are content to air “The Big Bang Theory,” “Friends” and game shows 24-7. Welcome to the new age.
‘Frozen: The Musical’ currently streaming from the stage to Disney+
The adaptation of the Walt Disney Studios stage production of the animated film “Frozen” made its way to Disney+ June 20. As to be expected from a Disney stage production it is a spectacle and special effects extravaganza. When it stopped at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square on tour in 2022, it dazzled my niece. There’s the qualifier, the kids will likely be mesmerized.
‘Andor’ ends its two-season run on a high note
The return of “Andor” after more than a year off screens was worth the wait as the “Star Wars” universe series completed its two-season run by topping the charts for original streaming series.
Here are this week’s Top 10 original series for the week ending May 18:
- “Andor” (Disney+), 931 million minutes
- “You” (Netflix), 779 million
- “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” (Hulu), 680 million
- “Forever” (Netflix), 671 million
- “American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden” (Netflix), 552 million
- “The Four Seasons” (Netflix), 549 million
- “Poker Face” (Peacock), 492 million
- “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu), 491 million
- “MobLand” (Paramount+), 385 million
- “Secrets We Keep” (Netflix), 318 million
George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: What's streaming this week: 'Ironheart' on Disney+, the intensity of 'Smoke' on Apple TV+
