Iron Man 2 has always been the MCU’s middle child, and in this episode of Psyber Conversations, that is exactly where the fun begins. In Part 1 of our deep dive, we revisit Jon Favreau’s 2010 sequel with fresh eyes and zero pressure to agree with each other. We talk about why this movie landed differently than Iron Man, why it still gets side eye from fans, and whether time has been kinder to it than its reputation suggests.

The conversation digs into Tony Stark’s downward spiral, the palladium poisoning storyline, and how much of Iron Man 2 is really about ego, burnout, and refusing to ask for help. We also tackle the big debates, Justin Hammer’s cartoonish energy, Whiplash’s missed potential, and whether this film works better as the second half of Tony Stark’s origin story rather than a traditional sequel.

With a roundtable that includes longtime friends and family, opinions vary wildly. Some loved it on release, some hated it, and some have completely changed their minds over time. If you enjoy thoughtful MCU discussions, respectful disagreements, and a little nerdy therapy for billionaires in metal suits, this one is for you.