The Avengers finally get around to freeing the Incredible Hulk (finally!) against all of General "Thunderbolt" Ross's protests — but the otherwise simple errand goes pear-shaped when Bruce Banner immediately Hulks out and lashes out at them. Help comes from a completely unexpected yet conveniently timed place, in the form of the Red Hulk, who goes all out to ingratiate himself to the team and all of society. Which of course means something weird's going down, and Captain America's the only one who'll even explore the possibility — but will he be enough?
Tropes:
- Berserk Button: Literally with the device Ross stuck on the back of Hulk's head to trigger Hulking Out on command.
- Brick Joke: When Iron Man gives Hulk a new ID card, Hawkeye assures him it is nanite-free.
- The Bus Came Back: The Hulk finally returns after being absent for thirteen episodes since his arrest, but he puts himself back on a bus in the end.
- Crazy-Prepared: Iron Man made Red Hulk's ID card out of a special nanite compound that could envelop him. After too many betrayals, it's nice to see Tony has wised up and planned ahead.Iron Man: A little insurance just in case you weren't the lovable boy scout your PR was selling.
- The Easy Way or the Hard Way: Red Hulk's ultimatum to the Captain America freeing Banner.Red Hulk: You can surrender peacefully, or you can resist. Please... resist.
- Hulking Out: Ross made sure to have a trigger to Banner's transformations with a neural implant, as part of his plan to frame the Hulk.
- Hypocrite: Ross publicly denouncing Hulks as dangerous loose cannons is this in light of his secret goal to create an army of Hulks for the military. Then you find out he is the Red Hulk himself. While being led away by prison guards, he insists that he is different and not dangerous.
- Ironic Echo Cut: Amidst the debate about Red Hulk joining up, Iron Man suggests the team just hold a vote on it, to which Cap reluctantly agrees. We then cut to a press conference, where Iron Man says, "While it might not have been unanimous..."
- It's Personal:
- Cap takes this whole situation personally because it was the Skrull impersonating him that screwed over Banner and the Hulk.
- When he's exposed as a villain, Red Hulk wants to take on the whole team. Hulk stops him, saying this is between just the two of them.
- Irony: Ross continually spouts that the Hulk should be locked away, but when he's exposed as the Hypocrite he is, Ross is shown being locked in the exact same cell Banner was earlier in the episode.
- Laser-Guided Karma: After kicking dogs and committing outright villainous acts in every appearance, Ross/Red Hulk finally gets his comeuppance by being defeated in battle by his archenemy, exposed to the world as a hypocritical, lying, monster, and imprisoned in the same cell Banner was in for his crimes.
- Little "No": Red Hulk when he realizes the implant isn't in Hulk anymore.
- Mandatory Line: Averted. Vision and Ms. Marvel appear briefly and neither of them gets any dialogue.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Hawkeye and Iron Man when Hulk gets ready to smash a powerless Red Hulk.
- Iron Man has a more comical one when he scans the neural implant and realizes it's based on technology he previously sold to the military.
- Pet the Dog: Played straight with Red Hulk's PR.
- Plot-Mandated Friendship Failure: Only Cap is willing to give Hulk the benefit of the doubt.
- The Power of Friendship: The main theme of the episode.
- The Power of Trust: Iron Man trusts Cap had a reason for breaking into Banner's cell and freeing him. He just hopes it's a good reason.
- Properly Paranoid: Cap doesn't buy Red Hulk's Nice Guy routine for a second. It turns out Iron Man didn't, either.
- The Reveal: The Red Hulk was "Thunderbolt" Ross the whole time.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Hulk is understandably upset about the other Avengers leaving him in captivity and barely trying to help him, and chooses not to return to the team full time until he can sort out what happened.
- Spotting the Thread: Once again Captain America's experience saves the day when he realizes the Red Hulk has had military training.
- Title Drop: "Congratulations, Captain. You've just freed the deadliest man alive."
- Unstoppable Rage: Subverted. When the Hulk learns who the Red Hulk really is, he's ready to pound him into a paste, but Cap talks him down, and Hulk gives us this surprising line:Hulk: Hulk knows a real monster when he sees one.
- We Used to Be Friends: Banner attempts to talk some sense about the Avengers and their forced transformation, but Hulk doesn't want to hear it.Hulk: WE TRUSTED THEM!
Cap: [appearing] I know you did, and I'm asking you to trust us again. Let us help you.
Hulk: I don't need any help from you.- It's implied that Hulk's behavior may have simply been him under the influence of the neural implant that caused the forced transformation, as the moment it gets removed from him, he's far more willing to listen to reason.Hulk (to Cap): It… wasn't… you. You didn't betray me, did you?
- It's implied that Hulk's behavior may have simply been him under the influence of the neural implant that caused the forced transformation, as the moment it gets removed from him, he's far more willing to listen to reason.
- We Will Meet Again: Hulk wants time to sort things out, but he tells the others to contact him if they need him.
- What the Hell, Hero?: During a discussion about leaving Hulk in captivity.Wasp: You saw him, Cap.
Cap: I did. And you, Wasp, of all people, should know better. We don't give up on friends. - The Worf Effect: Normally a
Game-Breaker, the Vision winds up pimp-slapped by Hulk. - You Are Better Than You Think You Are: "Hulk, we know you're not a monster. Let him go."
- "You!" Exclamation: "It was you! ALWAYS YOU!"
