While traveling in Ghana (a country in West Africa), Virgil and his family encounter local hero Anansi when the latter is chasing the villainous Leopard. Virgil decides to help as Static.
Tropes for this episode include:
- Africa Is a Country: Inverted. While the episode is called "Static in Africa", the Hawkins family explicitly go to Ghana to get in touch with their heritage. West Africa is also mentioned as its own region, distinct from the rest of the continent.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: After Osebo knocks down Sharon, Virgil yells, "Stay away from my family!" and proceeds to attack.
- Badass Bystander: Mr. Hawkins and Sharon do their best to trip up the Leopard. Virgil in civilian identity tackles him with a suitcase.
- Continuity Snarl: Virgil states he wished there were more black super heroes in the United States. This is the same universe as the Justice League, where there are plenty of black superheroes including John Stewart, who is the most prominent of the Green Lanterns.
- Cool Old Guy: Dr. Anokye is an archaeologist and ally of Anansi. According to Anansi at the end of the episode, he'll be starting a new expedition soon.
- Innocent Bigot: Some of Virgil's comments about being black can come across as insensitive. Such as when he comments about feeling like a kid in Africa and asking if this is how Richie feels like back at home. Richie, being the Token White in the show, clearly feels uncomfortable answering that question.
- Mandatory Line: Richie briefly appears when Virgil calls back home to talk about what happened on the train.
- Never Heard That One Before: "I am not that kind of spider," Anansi says when Virgil tells him to flick out web-shooters.
- Not So Above It All: Robert just can't contain his excitement over finally taking a long-planned vacation to Africa.Robert: Oh, children, just look at it!
Virgil: Yo, Pops, it's an airport.
Robert: Yes, but it's an airport in Africa! - "Rediscovering Roots" Trip: This episode sees the Hawkins family travel to Ghana to get in touch with their roots. Virgil himself teams with an African superhero called Anansi as they work to stop a villain named Osebo from looting a archaeological site.
- Secret-Keeper: Anansi finds out that Virgil is Static when the latter tells him about the tracer that he planted on Leopard.
- Shout-Out: Virgil tells Anansi to shoot a web only to be told he's "not that kind of spider".
- So Proud of You: When Virgil says he wishes there were more heroes like Anansi in the United States, that are black like him, Anansi says there is one and that "he's my hero too."
