And that's the reason which make everything so contradicting and implausible. The more the Anime insisted this is part of a single giant unique continuity, the less I can continue to suspend my disbelief.
Besides, if a story is well-written and well-constructed with events logically flowing one after another, why does it requires any past reference and nostalgia elements in its plot? I can't help but have this feeling of SM could do just fine on its own without mentioning any past events of Ash and without returning of Misty and Brock. In fact it was those nostalgia elements that urged me to markdown SM.
But yet, I wasn't viewing SM that negatively. Besides the above criticism, I still appreciate the Pokemon Anime attempted in a story format that was completely different from any previous sagas, which makes any future events unpredictable, hence somehow tempting the audience to sit through the show continuously. Despite exaggerated facial memes and vulgar gag slapstick comedy is not my cup of tea, it does make me think what is the most appropriate genre this show could be. Battle and adventure and evil-VS-good heroic story was done in the past, but does this mean that is the only thing Pokemon Anime should do in future for eternity? I always doubted it, hence I appreciate the staffs this time in having the guts in such big change of direction where trying something outside-the-box. Though, of course, it is still a debatable controversial issue whether such intensive change is good or not.