Doctor Doom has previously rejected an invitation to Red Skull's Cabal, and the Hydra leader is not happy. With the villain sending his cohorts after him, the ruler turns to the Avengers for protection as he makes plans for the United Nations.
But can he truly be trusted?
- Blunt "Yes":Steve: The Skull wants you destroyed? I would've thought he'd have offered you a membership.
Doom: He did. I refused. - Call-Back: Hyperion has joined the Cabal full-time after the events of "Bring on the Bad Guys."
- Chess Motifs: Starting with the beginning and how Doom is playing chess with himself, claiming he has no one else who could actually challenge him.
- Diplomatic Impunity: This is the crux of the episode. Doom is still the legitimate sovereign ruler of a country and thus has a right to speak at the United Nations with protection.
- Everyone Has Standards: J. Jonah Jameson can't breathe without going after Spider-Man in his usual wrongful crusade, but even he admits to being repulsed by Doom and the law protecting him.
- Evil vs. Evil: Doom is still a villain but wants nothing to do with the Cabal.
- Extended Disarming: When Iron Man points out that Doom brought weapons with him to the UN, he begrudgingly does this trope, removing a huge pile of lethal weapons from his armor and cloak.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: When Doom makes it to Avengers Tower, Skull decides to cut his losses and call a retreat.
- Mass "Oh, Crap!": Everyone from both the Avengers and the Cabal is shocked when Doom actually takes a blast meant for Steve.
- Not Me This Time:J. Jonah Jameson: Trouble at the United Nations where crowds of angry protesters have gathered to protest a controversial speaker. And no, it's not Spider-Man. This time.
- Out-Gambitted: Doom's scheme to plunder Avengers Tower fails as he receives a virus that cripples his own technology and loses his diplomatic immunity for taking stolen Stark property back to his home country.
- Pet the Dog: Even though he had ulterior motives, Doom suggests he has a bit of sincerity in taking a hit for Steve.
- Resignations Not Accepted: Or rather, denials of membership not accepted. Skull didn't take Doom's refusal to join the Cabal well and has put a hit on him.
- Save the Villain: Because Doom is the leader of a country and thus allowed within the UN, he has diplomatic immunity that prevents the Avengers or SHIELD from arresting him. To make matters worse, he asks for Captain America as a bodyguard from the Cabal.
- Worthy Opponent: Doom feels this way about Steve, demanding that he and no one else be his bodyguard. He also is forced to concede that for all his scheming, the Cabal is a legit threat he's taking seriously.
- Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Doom takes a hit towards the start of the episode, and is seemingly coughing a weak for a majority of it. It's proven to be a ruse to draw out the Cabal's members when he quickly grabs Cap's shield to block an attack from the Skull.
