Pokemon Sun & Moon E07 Review: Bad-Mannered Cats

Pokemon Sun & Moon, Episode 7: Marketplace Wanderer Litten / That's Why The Litten is a Scamp

A pretty simple and solid episode, and one that I really don't have a whole ton to talk about. Ash and Pikachu end up meeting that Litten that's been quite literally lurking in the background of scenes ever since this season starts off, and finds out that Litten's a dick! Cats are mean, but Litten steals the lion's share of Ash's sandwich when Ash offers to share it to him... even though that one lady in the market is willing to give Litten some berries for free. What a dick! Of course, this Litten is apparently a huge dick because it's being bullied by an Alolan Persian, who's the epitome of all nasty cat tropes in the world, beating Litten up not to steal his food, but to destroy it. What a dick.

Ash, somewhat pushed by peer pressure from his friends, ends up making it his mission to capture this seemingly problematic Litten, especially when the others tell him that it's a Pokemon that never opens up, even to trainers. And the vast majority of the episode is more showcases of Litten stealing food and whatnot, while Ash unsuccessfully tries to chase it (not that he's really putting much effort in doing so), until, of course, we get the revelation that Litten is staying with a big, elderly Stoutland in an abandoned house, bringing food to its bigger dog-papa. The Stoutland is clearly ill, and we do get some really great animation from Litten wagging its tail and some great body language from both of them in this scene. Stoutland also trains Litten to better utilize its fire-hairball attack thing, and we get a really "awww" inducing flashback of Litten as it dreams, involving it walking through a dark forest and tormented by everyone, until Stoutland 'adopts' it and rescues it, making the skies blue and everything is okay... and then Litten gets a brief shock at the nightmarish thought of Stoutland passing away. Of course, Stoutland is actually okay, and Litten goes back to sleep, but I am genuinely surprised that we're addressing Pokemon dying of old age. It doesn't happen in this episode, but this whole sequence just made me turn around from going "Litten is a dick" to "noooo poor kitty".

Ash later sees Alolan Persian bullying Litten and nearly driving it off of a cliff, so Pikachu zaps the shit out of that asshole, ugly gray cat. And Ash basically forces the injured Litten to go to the Pokemon Center, while Litten just wants to work itself to the bone and get that berry to Sotutland, and... it's not quite as sweet as the first Stoutland scenes since Ash is a rowdy character, but the sentiment is certainly there. It's nothing super-special, but the scene where Ash falls asleep with Litten is pretty sweet.

Of course, Litten ends up sneaking out at night, and Ash and company chase after Litten... and finds out the old Stoutland in the house, and Ash quickly realizes what's going on. That asshole Persian shows up and we get a team-up between Litten, Pikachu and Ash, who actually prevents that asshole Persian from damaging Stoutland. Persian gets sent running away by Litten unleashing a huge fireball, and Ash promises to return with food... but finds out that Litten and Stoutland have abandoned that house. It's an interesting ending for sure (even if Litten does still show up in the marketplace), and something that could've been a very ordinary and slow Pokemon spotlight episode ends up getting a very powerful emotional core with the Litten/Stoutland interaction. Not my favourite episode, but definitely a good one.

Rotom Index:

• Pokemon: Pikachu, Rotom, Litten, Alolan Persian, Spearow, Riolu, Sableye, Growlithe, Makuhita, Togedemaru, Popplio, Bounsweet, Wobbuffet, Meowth, Elekid, Stoutland, Komala, Blissey, Comfey, Charizard, Luvdisc, Corsola
• Humans: Ash, Mallow, Lillie, Sophocles, Lana, Kiawe, Jessie, James, Professor Kukui, Nurse Joy

Assorted Notes:

• I don't have a lot of commentary on the Alolan episodes, huh? But I really do like the animation they use for Alolan Persian's walk in the final battle, which really looks like the sort of stilted, sassy movement that a large, mean cat might do while stalking prey. 
• Poor, poor Team Rocket make a very short appearance of having a day off and enjoying apples, but gets their day ruined by Litten. Honestly, I always feel sorry for them when they get subjected to slapstick comedy even when they're not being evil. 
• Apparently dog/cat collars in the Pokemon world are called Heliolisk Collars. 
• Kiawe's confusion at seeing Ash chase after Litten when they run out of the Pokemon Center, with his baffled "is that revenge for the croquette sandwich?", is hilarious.