As for the pacing, I think it's interesting that there are people complaining about filler stuff like the sleepovers and yet there are also complaints of the pacing and story going too fast.
You don't know how happy I am to see someone point this out. It's been a giant fissure-ing contradiction with this thread, and the Anime Forum in general, know its habits.
Nothing but hypocrisy, and it's really bad when you realize that the same handful complaining about "rushing" are the same at large who are the first to criticize and bemoan anything they deem to see fit as "filler". Because that's what they would have been padding Akala and the like with: what most here refer to -- on sheer ritualistic habit by this point for some, I'm sure -- as "filler".
XYZ tended to pussyfoot around things, which was its choice and is done and in the past. Now that Sun and Moon is being more concise and "to the point", while still being no less meaningful and heartfelt in its portrayals of the stories it's telling (if not potentially mores so, depending on who you ask), it should be allowed the freedom to do thusly.
My only guess that those handful are "Stockholmed", as much as they may wish to think otherwise. They're used to things being drawn out and, perspectively, dragged out that said handful don't know what to do with themselves at what is, in reality, an example of a more balanced and evenly paced sets of stories and events.
On another topic, I wish to concur with those who admit, or self-admit, that the battle with the Totem Pokemon wasn't the point of this episode, as opposed to the context of the battle as well as the events at large in the episode being what's meant to be its main idea.
Good episode from what I could tell. I'm just glad everyone's here, sure we knew they were going to be here but after not getting involved with Lillie's abduction I've been worrying that they wouldn't do anything.
Same. They've been really amping up Ash and Lillie's interactions, as well as Lille's and Gladion's, which is much appreciated, but it feels like it's come at the exchange of Lillie and everyone else's. I'm especially missing the Lille and Mallow dynamic, which hasn't been seen much since Gladion stepped into the picture in earnest and Ash began "competing" with him for the spot of "Lille's big brother".
But even beyond that, I'd have been most displeased if they missed out on this defining journey of, as it seems, entering Ultra Space. This is the first time the Alola Gang have been so detached from the episodic goings-on, contrary to the show up to this point being generally good about giving everyone something to do in a given episode and also staying abreast of current events, even during most focus episodes (though it was never 100% about it, even as far back as Ash's first Trial and Kahuna battle).
For me, I just want to see their various reactions to what's happening, and for them to actually
see what's happening first hand.
Well game comparrisons make sense because it's important to note how the two are different although yeah that shouldn't be taking up so much of the conversation. As for Serena and the XY pictures, well a lot of people love that season but yeah again we shouldn't be comparing Serena and Lillie as much. In my opinion they've both had amazing development and they're both great in their own way.
Well, I mean, it's not really
that important to do so.
And it comes with a dangerous and nasty downside. That is, the anime isn't being watched and appreciated by its own context and merits, but always compared and "check-listed" against the games; what's more, this is often done as a means to find fault with the anime in some form or fashion, or otherwise start or perpetuate arguments.
Not that I feel doing so is wrong in and of itself, but it isn't strictly "important" as you put it, and the act of doing so and doing so habitually comes with a price tag.