The ASA pressure Kara Fowdy to turn Jefferson over to the police. So Gambi and Anissa have to scramble to convince people that Black Lightning is still on the streets.
- Ambiguous Situation: While Kara is eventually fooled into thinking that Black Lightning and Jefferson aren't one and the same, it's unclear if this also applies to her ASA contact (possibly Martin Proctor himself). They may not be so easily fooled, or they may simply not care what they've done and are about to do to an "innocent" man.
- Ass Shove: Before he gets put in jail, Jefferson has to put up with a body cavity search. Humiliated, Jefferson has to suppress his powers and keep from lashing out.
- Despite the Plan: Gambi and Anissa use a hologram to try and convince the ASA that Black Lightning and Jefferson are two different people, in an attempt to force them to release the latter. It doesn't work (although it fools Kara), because the ASA doesn't seem to care. Jefferson is actually released because Henderson proves that Jefferson was framed by the corrupt deputy and an accompanying officer.
- Easily Forgiven: Played with, while Jefferson admits that he may never be able to forgive Gambi for how he got Alvin killed or his work for the ASA, he also can't forget everything Gambi has done for Jefferson and his family. He not only invites Gambi for a family dinner, he also has Gambi say grace.
- Fair-Weather Friend: Averted, all of Jefferson's friends and followers in the community believe in his innocence and know he's being framed.
- Finding Judas: Kara is reluctant to turn Jefferson over to the police, but her ASA superior ultimately forces her hand. Like Judas, she quickly comes to regret her betrayal and finds out the hard way it can't be undone.
- Frame-Up: The cops plant Green Light in Jefferson's car and office and "find" it while executing a search warrant. Luckily he's exonerated at the end.
- Friend on the Force: Henderson uses what influence he can to help Jefferson, and he is able to exonerate him at the end of the episode.
- Ironic Episode Title: The subtitle - "The Book of Crucifixion" implies that most of Jefferson's friends will turn on him in the wake of his being arrested — just as the Disciples fled and denied him when Jesus was arrested and crucified. In fact the opposite occurs; everyone stands up for Jefferson, even his students.
- The Last Straw: Jefferson being arrested on trumped-up drug charges is the final straw for Henderson; he uses the evidence he collected to bring down the corrupt deputy chief and free Jefferson in the process.Henderson: I'm embarrassed it took me this long to do the right thing.
- Mundane Made Awesome: In the end the day is saved not through metahuman powers, high technology, or people with secret links to secretive government agencies, but old fashioned police investigation on the part of Henderson.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Kara's reaction to seeing Black Lightning on TV and realizing that she got Jefferson (a man she deeply respects) framed for nothing. Even worse after her request to get Jefferson released is shut down by her ASA boss.
- Police Are Useless: When Lynn demands to see her husband, the desk sergeant refuses to let her see him on the basis of her being his ex-wife. Bonus points for being the same one in the pilot who was bitching on how "ungrateful" the community was.
- Police Brutality: Jefferson complies with all the police's demands, yet they still rough him up.
- Straw Man: Of all the people believing in Jefferson's innocence, there's an old conservative white lady who fits this role, believing him to be guilty and showing disgust on how he's called "Black Jesus" — or rather a malicious rumor on how he makes the students call him Black Jesus.
- Rank Up: After bringing down a cabal of corrupt cops including the deputy chief, Henderson is promoted to the deputy chief position.
- Running Gag: Once again, a random guy on the street mentions Anissa's ass. Possibly the same guy she complained about a few episodes earlier.
- Threat Backfire: After being arrested, the corrupt deputy chief yells at Henderson, telling him that he doesn't know how Freeland really works. Henderson counters that knowing how Freeland really works is what allowed him to prove the corruption and frame-up so easily.
