The Wrath

**The Wrath** is the seventh episode of the first season of NBC's *Iron Man*. It premiered on November 7, 2011. It was directed by Joss Whedon and written by Shalisha Francis. It was also the seventh episode of *Iron Man* overall.

## Synopsis

When Tony's face in the Iron Man suit is leaked out, Rhodey has to help him clean it up. Pepper begins to realize why Tony has been acting suspicious this entire time. In flashbacks, Tony and Yinsen try to protect the newest prisoner from the terrorists' wrath.

## Plot

### Present Day

Tony, Pepper, Stane, and the other board members try to decide on which employees to let go due to their stocks dropping. However, just as they are the news comes on, Rhodey watching in the base, Olivia and Jarvis also watching at the house, and a reporter reveals a photo of Tony in the Iron Man suit has surfaced. The entire building looks at Tony, who leaves to make a press statement. He tries to tell the public he is not Iron Man, and that it was photoshopped. However, Detective William Marshall still has to investigate Tony, who is being put on trial. Olivia and Craig are having lunch at a diner when she is swarmed with journalists and reporters about what she thinks of her brother being the Iron Man. She tells them there is no way he could Iron Man, but they still don't believe it. Jarvis manages to get them out of the diner as the reporters try to follow them, but fail.

Pepper realizes the reason Tony has been acting so suspicious since he got back is because he is the Iron Man, and he was just wanting to protect his secret. Tony continues to tell her he is not the Iron Man, though she refuses to give up. Rhodey tries to clear the photo from the New York City database and everywhere else it has gone, but it is nearly impossible without a hacker's help. Tony decides to go to court and prove to the city he is not Iron Man, even though he is. Tony's favorite attorney Jack Benson helps him with the case and finally, after a convincing statement and a polygraph test, Tony is found not guilty of being Iron Man. Tony goes home and Rhodey tries to tell him that the city loves Iron Man, Tony should just come out of hiding. However, Tony cannot bring himself to reveal he has been lying for the past six weeks.

### Flashbacks

Tony and Yinsen meet Anton Vanko, the newest prisoner in Raza's prison. Anton recognizes Tony and asks him who he is. Tony introduces himself as Tony Stark. Anton reveals he knew his father, Howard Stark. Tony asks how and Anton tells them they were good friends, he even had a job at Stark Industries, until he was deported back to Russia. Tony asked why they didn't stay in touch. Anton says when he was deported it was in the middle of the Cold War and they lost touch. However, Howard asked Anton that if he (Howard) died, he would take care of his kids. Tony breaks the news to Anton that his father died nine years ago. Anton apologizes after learning Howard's other, youngest child is almost an adult. Tony tells him that when they get out of here he will take him back to New York and make amends. Raza realizes the missile hasn't been worked on in weeks and forces Tony and Yinsen back to work by torturing Anton.

## Cast

### Starring

* Rupert Friend as Tony Stark/Iron Man
* Kate McKinnon as Pepper Potts
* Edi Gathegi as James Rhodes
* Sarah Hyland as Olivia Stark
* Maxwell Caulfield as Edwin Jarvis
* Dave Legeno as Obadiah Stane

### Guest Starring

* Kenneth Branagh as Anton Vanko
* Naveen Andrews as Ho Yinsen
* Jack Falahee as Mark Benson
* Sebastian Stan as William Marshall
* Evan Peters as Craig
* Oded Fehr as Raza Pike

## Trivia

* This episode takes place on February 27 and November 7 and 8.
* This episode achieved 13.46 million U.S. live viewers.
* The episode received mixed reviews. It scored 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, a 74 out of 100 on Metacritic, and a 5/10 on IGN.
* This episode is rated TV-14 for D-L-V.