Plot hole: When Mandarin is using his power rings to see the different kinds of suits that Iron Man has built, all the footage is clips of Iron Man using different suits in previous episodes. Assuming the rings had the power to do that, then they should also be able to show Mandarin that Iron Man is Tony Stark, because if they have the power to show Iron Man using different armors down to the most minute detail, then they should also be able to show him removing his armor to reveal Tony Stark underneath. Not to mention that H.O.M.E.R. frequently refers to Iron Man as "Mr. Stark" when communicating with him.
Hulk Buster - S2-E11
Continuity mistake: When Leader is saying "Nonetheless, I have spared her valueless life," his right hand is raised with the middle and ring fingers touching. When the shot changes, the two fingers are suddenly separated. (00:13:26)
Hulk Buster - S2-E11
Continuity mistake: After Julia is vanished by the light beam, her binoculars land next to a rock. A couple of shots later, the rock has disappeared. (00:02:00)
The Armor Wars: Part 2 - S2-E9
Continuity mistake: When Iron Man is disarming the bomb, the sclera and irises of his eyes are incorrectly flesh-colored and white, respectively. (00:18:23)
The Armor Wars: Part 2 - S2-E9
Other mistake: When Nick Fury is overseeing the cleanup of Iron Man's attack on Firepower, his fingernails have been drawn on his gloved hands. (00:10:38 - 00:11:03)
The Armor Wars: Part 2 - S2-E9
Continuity mistake: When War Machine emerges from the ocean, the bluish-gray section of his armor is incorrectly colored dark blue. (00:06:11)
The Armor Wars: Part 2 - S2-E9
Continuity mistake: When Iron Man is saying "Maybe I'm working alone these days," the sclera and irises of his eyes are incorrectly flesh-colored and white, respectively. (00:04:16)
The Armor Wars: Part 1 - S2-E8
Factual error: When Blacklash and Blizzard have hijacked the airplane, all the passengers are wearing their oxygen masks, indicating that the plane is at a high altitude. When Iron Man crashes through the window of the cockpit to take out Blizzard, there is no corresponding depressurization. (00:12:59 - 00:13:29)
The Armor Wars: Part 1 - S2-E8
Continuity mistake: When H.O.M.E.R. begins speaking to Iron Man during his fight with Crimson Dynamo, he is appearing on a monitor on Iron Man's right gauntlet. When Iron Man is then shown flying downwards towards Crimson Dynamo, the monitor is now gone. (00:02:02)
Hulk Buster - S2-E11
Other mistake: When Hulk throws the ring into the volcano, it is rapidly approaching the lava before Iron Man dives after it and successfully catches it before it lands in the lava. At the rate the ring was falling, it would have landed in the lava well before Iron Man could swoop down and catch it. (00:09:08)
Other mistake: When H.O.M.E.R. is bringing up the map to show where MODOK's likely location is, the states are so crudely drawn that they shouldn't be considered to be a legitimate map. The four corners of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona don't line up, Utah is almost entirely square-shaped, Nevada looks like it has been smashed between California and Utah, and the eastern part of New Mexico has been elongated. (00:08:52)
The Armor Wars: Part 1 - S2-E8
Other mistake: In both establishing shots of the wellness center, the water on the fountain in the background is not cascading down. It is just hanging over the edges of each level, resembling icicles. When Iron Man knocks Controller into the fountain, the water is moving properly. (00:08:47 - 00:11:25)
Hands of the Mandarin: Part 2 - S2-E13
Other mistake: When the mountain bandits are galloping towards Rhodey, they get about 10 feet from him when he raises his War Machine armor above his head, spins it around a few times, and then knocks a couple bandits off their horses with it. Given the short distance the bandits were from Rhodey combined with the speed at which they were approaching him, they would have reached him before he could have begun spinning his armor around. (00:08:58)
Hands of the Mandarin: Part 2 - S2-E13
Continuity mistake: When Hawkeye is lamenting over Rhodey's apparent death, he has at least six arrows in his quiver. A few shots later, there are only four. (00:03:18)
Hands of the Mandarin: Part 1 - S2-E12
Continuity mistake: When Mandarin blasts off a piece of Iron Man's armor, it leaves his left arm and shoulder and half of his chest exposed. When Mandarin is removing Iron Man's helmet, his right arm is exposed as well. (00:19:05 - 00:19:36)
Hands of the Mandarin: Part 1 - S2-E12
Continuity mistake: When Iron Man is leaving Hong Kong, Hawkeye has four arrows in his quiver. A couple of shots later, there are five. (00:16:40)
Hands of the Mandarin: Part 1 - S2-E12
Continuity mistake: When the gust of wind tears through the wing of Hawkeye's jet, the length of the tear varies depending on the shot. (00:08:14)
Hands of the Mandarin: Part 1 - S2-E12
Character mistake: When the power is going out across New York, Julia quips "Holy blackout of '68," referencing the Great Northeast Blackout. However, that occurred in 1965, not 1968. (00:03:39)
Hands of the Mandarin: Part 1 - S2-E12
Continuity mistake: When Rhodey is towing Hawkeye in his jet into Manhattan, Hawkeye has seven arrows in his quiver. A few shots later, there are only five. (00:06:48)
Answer: Gleaned from the Internet: Some critics criticized the premise of so many one-off battles that were introduced and concluded within one or two episodes. Others felt the first-season plot lines were overly simplistic and never progressed or developed through the season. Also, the rivalry between Iron Man and the Mandarin also failed to capture viewer's attention.
raywest ★