An Aesop: Sagwa learns that something new is only scary if you don't know it very well. Once she got a better look at Poa-Jun the Porcupine and got to know him better, she stopped seeing porcupines as monsters.
Face of a Thug: Played with. Sagwa views the porcupine as a monstrous, kitten-eating being with sharp teeth. But the second time she looks upon him, she realizes he doesn't look nearly as intimidating as she thought he looked the first time. Sure enough, the porcupine (Pao-Jun) turns out to be a helpful and kindly soul who generously gives one of his quills so Cook can cure the Magistrate's toothache.
Here We Go Again!: The episode ends with the Magistrate's toothache cured. Hooray! ...except that in all the excitement, he accidentally stubbed his toe exceptionally hard, putting him in pain just as before. Tai-Tai is not wrong to bemoan she won't be getting beauty sleep anytime soon.
Not So Above It All: Although Dongwa likes to believe his sister is a scaredy-cat for being afraid of his story of the porcupine, he himself is spooked when he meets the porcupine in person.
Sheegwa And The Blizzard
Easily Forgiven: When Sagwa learns that Sheegwa was inside the palace the whole time instead of out in the blizzard, she's seemingly about to lose her patience for the wild goose chase her sister unwittingly incited. But at seeing her baby sister is safe and sound, her temper quickly fades away and is instantly replaced with gratitude that Sheegwa's fine.
My God, What Have I Done?: Sagwa keeps pestering Sheegwa on how to play with a top "the right way", to the point that Sheegwa decides to find some place to play alone. When Sagwa points out she knows all of Sheegwa's hiding places, the little kitten declares she'll go outside if it means having some peace. Later, when the blizzard arrives, Sagwa realizes that her sister possibly made good on her promise and is outside in the freezing cold. When she sees a Sheegwa-shaped figure covered in snow, Sagwa is devastated that she's the reason her sister has allegedly frozen to death.
Oh, No... Not Again!: Sheegwa running away because of Sagwa's bossiness has clearly happened many times before.
Sagwa: Sheegwa ran away... again.
Mama Miao: Oh, Sagwa, you weren't bossing her around, were you? Again?
"Shaggy Dog" Story: The better part of the episode is about Sagwa trying to search for Sheegwa, believing her little sister is somewhere outside. When she returns to the palace, she learns Sheegwa never did go outside into the blizzard and instead took a nap.
