Recap / Avengers Assemble S 1 E 16 Bring On The Bad Guys

When MODOK and Skull hack into JARVIS and gain access to Tony's strategic software, Skull must do the impossible - convince the Cabal to trust him as their leader.

---

• A.I. Is a Crapshoot: JARVIS is a relatively sentient person but he's still a computer program, and ends up being hacked by MODOK.
• The Bad Guy Wins: The Cabal manages to solidify their bond as a functioning team and also recruit Hyperion to their ranks.
• Benevolent Boss: Skull realizes that he must improve his skills at this as part of his team-building. He takes the time to compliment MODOK for his work and it seems to genuinely work.
• Even Evil Has Standards: Played for Laughs.
  Dracula: The repugnant one does have a point. They're called utensils, try them!
• Insult Backfire
  Dracula: We will do our part, Skull. If you fail us again, there is nothing in this world nor any other that will stop me from feasting upon your soul.
  
  Skull: That would be terrifying, vampire... if I had a soul.
• Let's Get Dangerous!: The Cabal members, when alone, have proved to be dangerous but manageable on their own (as the Avengers defeated all of them on nonconsecutive occasions). Here, it's shown that they're an actual threat when they're united.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: When confronted with both Hulk and Thor, Attuma stops his blustering and alerts Skull in a dead-serious tone of voice that they're here, hinting at Skull's long-game plan.
• Spotting the Thread: Steve recognizes that Skull wouldn't be half as dumb or desperate as he seems to be throughout the first half of the episode.
• Villain Episode: The episode focuses more on the Cabal than the Avengers, and shows how, when they work as a team, they are a much bigger threat that any one could have thought.
• Villains Out Shopping: We first see the Cabal as a group having dinner together.
• Villainous Friendship: Most of the episode focuses on Skull building trust between his squabbling teammates. By the end of the episode, they've significantly improved and can actually work as a team, and even Dracula admits Skull is a competent leader.
• Villain Protagonist: The episode revolves around Skull trying to form a competent, coordinated army out of the Cabal.
• Wham Shot: It's revealed what the real goal of the Cabal was: to break Hyperion out of jail and recruit him. He joins immediately.
• When He Smiles: MODOK actually has a heartfelt smile when Skull compliments him.