Captain Planet and the Planeteers stop Hoggish Greedily from destroying a wetlands reserve, but are shocked to find out that what he's doing is legal. As a result, they are arrested. It gets worse after Greedily tricks the Planeteers into leaving while keeping Captain Planet behind bars, then frames them for escaping. The kids must now work to clear their names and prove who's the real criminal.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Batman Gambit: The Planeteers work with lawyer Larry Richards to expose Greedily. Richards has Rigger sign some papers with a gold pen, which he steals while Richards wasn't looking. What Rigger didn't realize that in doing so, he inadvertently bugs himself with a wire as the pen had a built-in microphone. Richards had anticipated Rigger would be greedy enough to steal the golden pen for himself. Bonus points in that Larry Richards was also voiced by Kevin Conroy of Batman: The Animated Series fame.
- Brought Down to Normal: The Planeteers are bereft of their powers since Captain Planet is in jail and won't break out or split back into the rings.
- Clear My Name: The Planeteers get framed for breaking out of jail and are made fugitives. They're forced to find evidence to prove their innocence and Greedily's guilt.
- Engineered Public Confession: During the Planeteers' trial, thanks to the use of a microphone pen, Rigger winds up bragging about his boss's plan to destroy the wetlands for his illegal building right on the courtroom's speaker system.
- A Fool for a Client: As the trial begins, Wheeler announces he's going to represent himself and his teammates. The judge is not pleased.Judge: Have mercy! Another TV-taught would-be lawyer.
- Oh, Crap!: Wheeler, Linka, and Gi when they see a wanted poster of themselves.Wheeler: What the!?Linka: The poster says we're wanted! For breaking out of jail!?Gi: And there's a price on our heads!
- We Need a Distraction: Wheeler formulates a plan to distract Greedily and his men from his office in order to find evidence of his illegal building plans.
- Willfully Weak: Captain Planet refuses to break out of jail even though he has more than enough power to do so because as a superhero, he can't break the law.
