To Rule Atlantis plunges the Avengers into a story about power, pride, and the fragile balance between worlds. The earthquakes tearing through Europe and the United Kingdom are not just natural disasters — they are symptoms of a deeper fracture between land and sea, between nations that mistrust one another, and between rulers who fear losing control. The episode explores how quickly suspicion can ignite conflict, and how easily old wounds between Atlantis and the surface world can be reopened when catastrophe strikes.

At its core, the episode examines leadership under pressure. Namor, proud and volatile, believes his kingdom is under attack, while the Avengers must navigate diplomacy in an environment where every misstep could spark war. The tension between them becomes a study in how rulers respond when their people suffer: with anger, with fear, or with the courage to seek truth beyond their own assumptions.

The true threat — Attuma — embodies the danger of ambition without restraint. His desire to claim both land and sea exposes how power can twist loyalty and turn a nation against itself. Through him, the episode asks whether strength lies in domination or in unity, and whether a kingdom can survive when its greatest enemy comes from within.

By the end, To Rule Atlantis becomes a meditation on cooperation in the face of disaster. Atlantis and the Avengers must set aside pride and prejudice to prevent a catastrophe that would devastate both realms. It is a reminder that leadership is not about ruling through fear, but about recognising when alliances must be forged, even with old rivals, to protect a world that belongs to all.

A wave of violent earthquakes strikes across Europe and the United Kingdom, shattering regions that should be geologically stable. As Janet departs for London to assist with the relief effort, the remaining Avengers trace the source of the tremors to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean — directly beneath the kingdom of Namor the Sub‑Mariner. Travelling in a specially modified Quinjet, the team descends into the oceanic gloom, only to be ambushed by Atlantean guards who believe the surface world is responsible for the devastation.

Atlantis itself has been ravaged by the quakes, and Namor, convinced the Avengers are to blame, orders their imprisonment. But the true architect of the chaos is Attuma, a ruthless Atlantean warlord who seeks to claim both land and sea. Working in the shadows, he manipulates Namor’s people and uses a powerful dynamo to trigger the quakes, hoping to destabilise both realms and seize control.

When Attuma unleashes another tremor, the Avengers break free and confront Namor with the truth. Realising his general’s betrayal, Namor joins forces with the team to stop Attuma and protect his kingdom. Together they defeat the warlord, but the dynamo powering the quakes overloads, threatening to tear apart the ocean floor and devastate the surface world. Namor attempts to topple the device alone, but it takes the combined strength of Atlantis and the Avengers to finally bring it down.

With Europe safe once more, Namor casts the remains of the dynamo into a lava pit and offers Wanda a flirtatious farewell, promising friendship when next they meet. As the Avengers depart, Ultron watches from the shadows, observing the team’s unity — and the Vision’s growing, conflicted feelings for the Scarlet Witch.

More variant armour is on display, this time an underwater version.

Tigra, as a cat, has an overpowering fear of water.

Namor is animated identically to his appearance in the Fantastic Four cartoon. He also flirts with Wanda, who takes the Invisible Woman’s place in his affections – seemingly bringing out jealousy in the Vision.

Command Decision | Shooting Stars