The following tropes are associated with this episode:
"Could Have Avoided This!" Plot: Ash, Dawn, and Brock all tell Froslass that she could've simply told them to save Snorunt instead of having to trap Piplup (and Meowth) as a hostage. Meowth would then reveal that Froslass did that because she simply doesn't trust humans enough to ask them outright for help.
Enemy Mine: Ash and friends decide to form a temporary truce with Team Rocket in order to rescue Snorunt for a Froslass that had taken Piplup and Meowth hostage.
Epic Fail: Team Rocket, at the end of the episode, attempt to steal Pikachu... only to slip on snow and go tumbling down the mountain blasting themselves off.
Even Evil Has Standards: Even Jessie and James are disgusted to hear that the poacher is only trying to capture Snorunt just to sell for a quick profit.
One-Man Army: The poacher that appears in this episode, despite only using Glalie as his Pokemon, holds his own very well against Ash, Dawn, and Team Rocket and all of their Pokemon. He only lost once Froslass showed up to assist them.
Well-Intentioned Extremist: Froslass reveals she only holds Piplup and Meowth at hostage just so that Ash and friends and Team Rocket could find her friend Snorunt (noting she doesn't fully trust humans). At the end of the episode, she apologizes for her actions and gives the group directions to town.
