When a teacher friend of Gi's, David King, takes a bullet during a gun battle at an inner city school, the Planeteers disguise themselves as students to investigate and solve the problem. In the process, they receive a nasty look at gang violence and Gi is pushed to her limits.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Beware the Nice Ones: Calm, idealistic Gi shows indications that she's planning to return the favor to the guy who shot her friend, and when she finally finds out who he is, she snaps and tries to drown him, only stopping thanks to Wheeler being present to talk her down.
- Cry into Chest: The team goes undercover after one of Gi's friends, King, is caught in the crossfire during a gang war. When Gi finds the man responsible (who has by this point been involved in new atrocities), she uses her waterpower in an effort to drown him. Wheeler manages to talk her out of it by saying that this kind of violence isn't her way. Afterwards, she breaks down on his chest as he tries to calm her. Unlike many male/female examples, this one contains no Ship Tease; it's strictly platonic comforting.
- Graceful in Their Element: Wheeler usually needs to have everything explained to him by the others. However, given that the current problem involves the inner city and gangs rather than the usual environmental fare, he understands the problem and the danger involved better than his teammates.
- If You Kill Him, You Will Be Just Like Him!: Gi gets called out on this by Wheeler as she attempts to drown the gangster who shot one of her friends. A fair example, as the Planeteers have never actually killed anybody, and Gaia implies in "The Conqueror" that maintaining a (relatively) peaceful approach is important to their cause.Wheeler: Gi, you don't really want to do this!Gi: Yes, I do!Wheeler: This is his way, Gi, not yours...(Gi gives up with a sigh and starts crying in his arms)
- Murder by Cremation: The same gang member who shot King ties up Ma-Ti and one of the local kids in a building and sets it on fire over them. However, the team manages to summon Captain Planet to get them out.
- Pop-Culture Pun Episode Title: The title refers to Boyz n the Hood.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Gi's unusual ruthlessness demonstrates exactly how terrible the shooting was for her.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: Ronnie and Julie (hey, don't those names look somewhat familiar...?) become close despite their siblings being high-ranked members of rival gangs.
- Swapped Roles: During the scene in which Gi tries to drown Zap, she's playing a more impulsive, violent role while Wheeler successfully tries to play the voice of reason.
- Unexpectedly Dark Episode: Most Captain Planet episodes are relatively cheerful despite the dramatic things that happen, but the backstory of this episode alone features a friend of Gi's being shot and remaining in critical condition for a while before pulling through, which has a negative effect on Gi herself.
