"There! Talk about a menu substitution!"
—Cilan, after the reveal
Japanese Title: Beware of Choroneko! Nyarth and Mijumaru!!
Original Airdate: August 25, 2011
US Airdate: December 3, 2011
Meowth's already had his share of The Crying Game. He really should've known better. And warned Oshawott.
Meowth runs into a Purrloin who has apparently been abandoned by its trainer. He and Oshawott end up smitten with it. However, this Purrloin has more than a few secrets.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Exact Words: Meowth tells Ash that he's very happy at being allowed to travel with him, and Cilan comments that he doesn't think he's lying. Meowth explains later that he wasn't lying, as travelling with Ash's group was a key part of his plan, so he really was happy about it.
- Gratuitous English: In the Japanese, when the cat's let out of the bag, Cilan calls it a "bad taste". In the English dub, he calls it a "menu substitution".
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Purrloin is a manipulative thief, but seemed to only lose his way because he believe Misha, his trainer, abandoned him. When this is discovered not to be the case and Misha is in trouble he does anything to save her.
- Love Confession: At the end of the episode, both Meowth and Oshawott pull out giant bouquets of roses, begging Purrloin for a date. This leads directly to the Unsettling Gender-Reveal.
- Love Triangle: Purrloin plays Meowth and Ash's Oshawott off on each other. Subverted: Purrloin is later revealed to be male.
- Manipulative Bastard: Purrloin pretends to be female to steal from Meowth and Oshowott. He then continues the gambit throughout the episode, eventually to the ends of saving his trainer. He seems to be teasing them about it afterward.
- Noodle Incident: This is where we find out about Cilan's fear of Purrloin.
- Once a Season: Meowth once again falls in love with the local cat ‘mon, only for it not to work out. This time, it’s due to Stupid Sexy Flanders.
- Running Gag: Iris tries to catch Purrloin, and Meowth protects "her", almost getting caught himself again. Nevermind that it wouldn't have worked, since Purrloin already had a trainer.
- Shout-Out: Meowth quotes Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey when asking Purrloin out at the end, using a line from the song "Take It Easy".
- Unsettling Gender-Reveal: "You see, Purrloin's a guy."note
