Yikes, my review for this episode doesn't stand a chance against some of the others. Well, I'll do what I can (and take Brock's advice not to hold my breath for someone to declare this post a winner-don't think I'll be as lucky as Croagunk, though).
Okay, since my last review, nothing significant has happened despite some quality episodes inbetween. dp 29 was a pretty standard episode on Dawn's and Ash's problems in teaming up for the first time in a double battle (they team up for another double battle later on during the Jhoto advertisement arc, and I like that episode a lot more). dp 30-32 are a trilogy of episodes about a girl COTD's search for enchanted honey. These episodes also introduce the 2nd gym leader, who challenges Ash to an unofficial battle and defeats him. But it's not anything you take too seriously because the loss doesn't bother Ash too much (unlike with Fantina later on, who leaves Ash constantly wondering about what strategy to use against her).
So we start this episode in dramatic fashion as Ash and the gang are in some sort of contest hall, getting ready to watch a pokemon dress up competition. This is totally out of the blue if you're coming straight from the last episode, and it creates an exciting atmosphere. Well, before you know it, Ash wants to compete, and then Dawn and Brock say okay, too. Dawn explains what the rules are, and that's a neat touch since it gives the competition a distinct Sinnoh feel (she provides this effect in other episodes as well). The rest of the episode is just full of fun. My favorite scene is Pikachu preventing Ash from despairing over which pokemon to choose by scolding its trainer with a "Pi, Pi, Pi" and a shake of its finger. Brock ends up winning the dress-up competition, and he receives a pokemon egg as his prize.
This competition is the first of 3 "side" competitions that Ash, Dawn, and Brock participate in. I want to analyze the other 2, and so I didn't feel it would be fair if I skipped this one. This episode is a fitting way to describe Brock in Sinnoh; it's a funny episode, but in terms of actual character development, there isn't much.