If Bureaucracy Be Thy Death!

"If Bureaucracy Be Thy Death!" is the fifth episode of the first season of M.O.D.O.K.. It premiered on Hulu on May 21, 2021.
==Synopsis==
M.O.D.O.K. and Monica reluctantly team up to overthrow GRUMBL's control of AIM.
==Plot==
MODOK shows up to the Melter's funeral, where he creates an interruptive ruckus with his sales on Venmo and ignoring Melter's wife, who is crying during the eulogy. Having brought his kids, rather then take them to school, Melissa chastises her father for ignoring them while Lou gives a positive insight on what he would do for MODOK's funeral. Upon hearing how Melter never got to accomplish any of the things he wanted to do, MODOK finally begins to think about his own mortality. He takes the stage and announces his intent to rule the world and then has the other Bar with No Name villains "bury" Melter in the "traditions of old", which means to simply incinerate his body with their weapons, much to Melter's widow's shock.
Empowered from the funeral, MODOK announces his plan to Monica his intent to use their black hole gun on Iron Man. When Monica attempts to enter her lab to work on her manatee soldiers project, she is stopped by Austin, who tells her that the budget she has to work on her project has been called into question and that they have been moving things around. MODOK attempts to get the black hole gun from the armory but is told that he needs to speak to Doris to be allowed it and needs to make a pitch. MODOK pitches the use for the gun in a very dramatic way that wins his A.I.M. associates over, but is told that he needs to get approval from GRUMBL offices in order for the plan to go through, which will take three months.
Austin confronts Monica about her work. He reveals to her that she has three months of vacation that she needs to spend immediately. She agrees to finish up her work for the day, but he tells her that she needs to take a five-hour seminar on workplace socializing due to her fiery personality. When MODOK arrives, he is told that he too needs to take the seminar. MODOK and Monica lament how things have changed since GRUMBL took over. In a flashback to 2009, Monica excitedly prepares herself (in an 80's power suit) for an interview at A.I.M. to work for her idol , MODOK. The interview goes well, and she is hired, declaring herself a fan. In the present, MODOK and Monica agree to team up to resolve both of their issues.
To avoid going to the seminar, Monica creates silicon-based jelly people that vaguely resemble her and MODOK, though the agents of A.I.M. are not smart enough to tell the difference. Next, MODOK messes with an important meeting between Doris and her fellow employees in a conference call and has Gary offer a distraction by "pretending" that it is his birthday (it actually is his birthday). MODOK and Monica manage to break into Doris' secretary's office so that MODOK can remove all of Monica's vacation hours and be granted access to the black hole gun. MODOK and Monica escape through the ventilation system before anyone sees them, despite the fact that MODOK comically stretches the ventilation shafts.
As MODOK leaves to destroy Iron Man, he is confronted by Monica, Austin, and the rest of A.I.M. Monica convinced Austin that MODOK acted on his own accord. In flashback, Monica successfully killed an Avenger (who it is is not shown), which impresses MODOK. However, he takes the credit away from her, claiming that it is for the best. In the present, Monica tells MODOK that A.I.M. is worse because of him, and that she wants to be in control to make things right. The two have a battle that takes them through the A.I.M. lab and back outside. Austin is convinced by his superiors that Monica is the key. Monica defeats MODOK, and Austin demotes him while he promotes Monica as the new Scientist Supreme.
MODOK goes to Avengers Tower and angrily taunts Iron Man, who comes down, only to be put off by him and leaves. To her displeasure Monica discovers that all of her projects have been cancelled and must now work solely on the silicon life forms, which Austin dubbed Jiggalos. As she looks through her things, a flashback reveals that she was going to quit, but MODOK came and showed support for her projects, despite his selfish act. She happily suggests the black hole gun, which approves, and gives her the Avenger's skull as a keepsake (and possible apology), which Monica still ironically appreciates. Austin is revealed to have promoted Monica to distract her and his superiors are revealed to be Hexus, the Living Corporation.
==Cast==
*Patton Oswalt as George Tarleton/M.O.D.O.K.
*Aimee Garcia as Jodie Tarleton
*Melissa Fumero as Melissa Tarleton
*Ben Schwartz as Lou Tarleton
*Wendi McLendon-Covey as Monica Rappaccini
*Beck Bennett as Austin Van Der Sleet, Jose
*Sam Richardson as Gary
*Jon Hamm as Tony Stark/Iron Man
*John DiMaggio as Rodney
*Lennon Parham as Doris
==Trivia==
*Monica's poster, depicting MODOK sitting in front of a TV that is loudly blaring at him, is a parody of Maxwell's "Blown Away Guy" advertisement.
*Monica is revealed to have killed an Avenger prior. For comical effect, it is not revealed who it was.
Category:M.O.D.O.K. episodes