Just finished it, and it is not bad by any means. The story wasn't my favourite, but it did what it wanted to do, and I can appreciate that. I enjoy the trope of dead loved ones haunting the MC in some ghostly form, and the hologram AI of Riri's best friend ticks that box. There's just something so fascinating about seeing someone be so confronted by a visual representation of a past they are trying to run away from.
Most MCU projects are a hero's hourney of some kind, but Riri isn't a hero. She doesn't even try to be a hero. Unlike Tony Stark, the event that pushed her to make the suit did not push her on an altruistic path. She made the suit because she was traumatised from the shooting that killed her stepdad and Natalie, and the suit was meant to give her the power to defend the rest of her loved ones. I think that's totally fine and I actually like the differences between her and Tony:
Tony wanted a suit of armour around the world, and pursue ventures that would actually build a better world. Riri has an obviously different origin, and thus has no reason to be a hero. She's got no motivation towards that role.
I kind of like how another Stane is kind of her nemesis, but because of their wholly seperate relationship, Joe doesn't actually want to kill Riri and I'm guessing if they ever do a season 2, they'll eventually reconcile. I mean, I hope so because Joe doesn't seem that bad of a guy and Riri did accidentally screw him over.
Instead of using an Arc Reactor, she uses magic? That's awesome, and the way the runes show up on her HUD in the suit was cool as fuck.
BUT!
I can't believe she shook Mephisto's hand. She just saw what the hood did to Parker and she shook his hand anyway. This whole season, it's about Riri's life spiraling out of control because she believed herself to be so powerless without the suit that she turned to a life of crime. By the end, you'd think she'd learn from making sketchy deals, but no! What the hell? What did she learn then? What arc does she go through? She reconciles that she loves N.A.T.A.L.I.E. She reconciles with her mother that the only reason she built the suit was to feel powerful enough to protect the loved ones she had left. But she doesn't reconcile that she shouldn't make deals with strange individuals in the interest of her loved ones?
That's a little disappointing for the season finale, especially the way it was handled. The main character essentially loses, and did not learn enough lessons. You can have a devastating ending like this, but first: why so abrupt? Right when the audience realises something is wrong, we see Riri shake his hand, while we scream at the screen for her not to do that, and less than a minute later the show ends. That's too sudden.
Why the triumphant music? Maybe it wasn't meant to be triumphant, but it feels like the show is kind of celebrating this reunion between Natalie and Riri. We see the main character look so relieved, like she won....but she didn't win. We know Mephisto is playing her.
I just don't think this direction was all that satisfying, seeing the main character get played so easily, especially after watching 5 episodes that taught her to know better. The audience just leaves with this sudden and abrupt uncertainty.
Overall, still a good show. Would love a season 2. I just wish the ending was handled differently.
(And I hope she builds a better suit. Ngl, I did not like the final suit design. The one she wore right before it looked wayyyy better.)