Hmm, finally an episode in the LGPE arc that I actually really liked. Rowlet got some really
solid development in this episode, simple as that. Thank goodness Hau and Dartrix, you finally knocked some real sense into that lazy owl and pushed it to work hard. Rowlet's callous loss to Dartrix first time really stirred it up, and Rowlet finally shook off its laziness and started training and working hard for a rematch.
The training part of Rowlet trying to learn Seed Bomb was ok, with it practising hitting targets with taking a pebble in mouth and aiming via spitting it up, and eventually happening to learn and master Seen Bomb but....seriously, at the end of the episode it sort of seemed like Rowlet needs that pebble as a compulsory object in order to use Seed Bomb, even after it had mastered the attack, the way it picked up the pebble from the ground in a real hurry. Really? That means Rowlet's Seem Bomb attack entirely depends on that object. Yeah, that looks quite BS to me.
The rematch was OK, Rowlet was really put at a disadvantage and it showed good enough tenacity and toughness to tank that many direct hits, but the finishing move being the Z-move Bloom Doom....looked a bit cheap way to get victory for me. Seriously writers, keep the type effectiveness in mind, Dartrix freaking 4x resists Bloom Doom.
But Rowlet getting some really solid development is all that matters for me at this point, and that part was done really well, no doubt. Dartrix is a really good rival for Rowlet, being the total opposite of Rowlet, unlike Rowet's lazy and sleepy attitude, it's really lively and active. It really gave Rowlet solid development by defeating it hard first time and helping Rowlet to brush off its laziness.
Hope to see more of you in the future Dartrix, you are just the kind of rival Rowlet needs, Rowlet needs you to get better!
Lastly, having Rowlet's family, a.k.a. the Pikipek family here was nice as it gave subtle continuity reference to the early part of SM.
Overall, 8/10.