Ironheart ending explained: The Devil makes his entrance

The Ironheart finale, Episode 6, The Past Is the Past, finally answers all the burning questions we had about the cursed hood. Firstly, the finale confirms that Mephisto, or the devil, is indeed canon to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Turns out the hood seen in the series does belong to Mephisto, who hands Parker Robbins the hood. However, it seems that he may have abandoned Parker by the end of the finale.

The Ironheart finale ends with Riri making a deal with Mephisto, which hints at a darker future for her in the MCU. This makes Riri the first Marvel hero to make a deal with the devil.

Mephisto's Ironheart role explained

The first time we meet Mephisto physically in the MCU is in the opening act of Ironheart Episode 6. In that scene, Parker Robbins is running away from the guards of the mansion he is out to rob. As the guards close in on him, Parker encounters a hooded figure, who uses magic to open a door to Desperito’s Pizza, the place that would serve as the headquarters of the gang.

After saving him, Mephisto interacts with Parker and asks him what he wants, which is to be richer than his father (Arthur Robbins, the CEO of Artworks). Hearing this, Mephisto promises Parker the tools that he will require to become wealthier than his father. One of the tools that the devil bequeathed to Parker Robbins is his red hood.

Now that Parker has successfully driven his father out of the company and mansion, he still feels empty and demands that Mephisto give him more. The devil, on the other hand, abandons him, but lets Parker keep the hood. Mephisto hints that he is going to abandon Parker for someone more receptive. Then Riri flies into the headquarters, and subdues an enhanced but under-Parker's-control Zeke Stane.

After freeing Zeke from Parker Robbins' control, Riri, in her new Ironheart armor, goes to confront Parker to take the hood off him. After a difficult fight, Riri manages to take the hood off Parker, and, as she is about to exit the gang's headquarters, she encounters Mephisto, played by Sacha Baron Cohen.

Mephisto and Riri Williams have a conversation in Ironheart Episode 6

Mephisto tries to convince Riri to make a deal with him. However, she is skeptical about him for a while and mistakenly calls him Dormammu. This is when the bearded man in front of her corrects her and reveals his identity as Mephisto. It is only when Mephisto shows Riri the possibility of resurrecting a possibly human Natalie that she makes the deal.

This move makes Ironheart one of the most daring shows in the MCU as it ends with the hero doing something morally questionable. Ryan Coogler, who is an executive producer in the series, explained to Variety why Riri making a deal with the devil makes sense:

“When we first met her, the government wanted her. Talokan wanted her."

Then, suggesting Riri might have piqued Mephisto's interest by combining magic and technology, the Black Panther and Sinners filmmaker went on to say:

"MIT don’t want her. But she was always wanted. She was always desired by people who knew [her potential]. That, for me, just says so much.”

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