I'm just going to copy and paste what I thought of the episode from another thread. Slightly edited for content.
And alas other trainers of course don't get to use Deus Ex Machina, as that only applies to the protagonists. So whatever.
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I am not pleased with this battle, personally I think it's a bunch of bull, but no one would agree with me.
6-2 is just bull, even with Paul's reserves, Ursaring was caught at the start it was just ridiculous that it couldn't be knocked out. I mean dear god how many hits did it take before going down.
And Electabuzz, oh so what Dig isn't a ground type move, therefore super effective. The flame body and the thunderbolt/Electric Attack paralysis was way too convenient for Paul. I mean why don't they make more use of it, why just randomly put it in just because it could happen that way.
And even after Blaze, Monferno couldn't knock out Electabuzz.
Writers if you're going to portray someone as powerful, you better do it from the beginning, none of this pulling crap out of your hat just because its convenient for you.
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And again of course it doesn't matter what I say, because nothing would come of it from complaining.
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If I have to find anything good about this battle, it's the animation and Monferno vs Electabuzz (before Monferno lost). I was actually pretty pleased with the battle, until Monferno had to go and get knocked out.
Poor Ash, falls victim to the writers' schemes all the time.