Another week is here, which means it’s time to tune in for some more entertaining content. This week, we’re delving into a movie and a show, so there’s plenty to explore regardless of what kind of content you’re looking for.
The two projects we’re discussing this week are Netflix’s original animated film Kpop Demon Hunters and Marvel’s latest show Ironheart. These two were pleasant surprises and some of the best content I’ve seen so far this year, so let’s get into it.
I first saw the trailer for Kpop Demon Hunters a few months ago, and thought it looked like a fun film, but certainly didn’t expect it to be a masterpiece. It really surprised me, though, and is so good that I’ve gone back and rewatched it.
This film is made by Sony Pictures Animation, so it’s got a very similar look and feel to the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse series. This type of animation is one of my personal favorites, so I was already excited based on the general look alone.
Kpop Demon Hunters greatly exceeded my expectations, though, with a compelling storyline, catchy tunes, emotional moments, vibrant visuals, and so much more. It’s easily one of my favorite films I’ve seen all year, and it’s such a pleasant surprise I wasn’t expecting at all.
The film follows HUNTR/X, a Kpop girl group that sings to protect the world from demons and also fights against them in their spare time. Just as they’re finally getting close to creating a perfect protective barrier around the world, a group of demons comes to the overworld disguised as a Kpop boy band called the Saja Boys.
This group starts stealing away their fans, which is the source of their power, so they must work to get them back before it’s too late. The lead singer of HUNTR/X, Rumi, is also secretly part demon, so most of the plot centers around this.
There are some genuinely emotional moments and some surprisingly solid messages you can take away from this movie. It’s a good time all around, especially if you enjoy a film that’s not quite a musical but does feature some music throughout. I haven’t been able to stop listening to “Golden” and “Your Idol” since I finished watching it, and I’m hoping to see sequels or a spin-off show in the future.
I also finally got around to finishing Ironheart this week. So far, I’ve enjoyed every Marvel show that’s been released on Disney+, but I’ve found that the ones that lean into being weird and different are always the best. My personal favorites, for example, are WandaVision and Loki.
I was always going to watch Ironheart, as I stay caught up with everything going on in Marvel, but I certainly didn’t expect it to end up being one of my top MCU shows. I had a very similar experience with Agatha All Along, which I think surprised me in a similar way.
Ironheart picks up the storyline that began in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, as we see what Riri Williams, a teen genius tech inventor who makes suits like Iron Man, has been up to since then. She ends up caught in a world of technology and magic, and must navigate through it while also grappling with some intense grief after losing her best friend and stepdad.
At its core, Ironheart is a really fun story grounded by some seriously emotional moments. Riri Williams is one of the most compelling and complex characters we’ve seen in the MCU so far, and you’ll root for her every step of the way. If you’re a fan of the comics, you’ll also love two of the characters who show up in this one. This includes (spoiler warning) The Hood and Mephisto, both of whom are absolute scene stealers.
As good as Ironheart is, I’m worried it’s going to take a while for Riri Williams’ story to be continued. This is kind of the trend with most Marvel shows, though, as iconic characters get introduced in grand ways only to have their storylines left incomplete.
Characters like Moon Knight, Kate Bishop, She-Hulk, and Ms. Marvel are examples of this, to name just a few. Hopefully, this won’t be the last we see of Ironheart, The Hood, and Mephisto, especially with the cliffhanger the series ended on. Even if it is, though, you won’t regret watching this one.
This week, I’ve also already gone back to the theater to watch Superman again because it was just that good. I’ve got tickets for Fantastic Four on Thursday night, too, and I’ve got really high expectations for that one, so hopefully it meets them.
So, Destructoid, what have you been watching this week? Have you had the chance to check out Kpop Demon Hunters or Ironheart yet, and if not, do you plan to? And is there anything else you’ve been enjoying lately? Let us know down in the comments below so we can discuss!
