It's all about timing and with this episode. Ash and Pikachu are separated and they're in a forest (To my understanding at least). Is it a reach, absolutely but in these 11 episodes there has to be closure to certain plot lines. With Butterfree being done already, I don't like how that one was done but at least Ash saw Butterfree again so I'll at least give it a pass.
He has to see Pidgeot again, it's not a matter of if or want. He has to. In the same vein as Primeape and Larvitar but not to the same extent as Pidgeot. Butterfree itself wasn't spoiled, so I for sure don't expect Pidgeot to be spoiled either. As if they forgot about Pidgeot it's something that the fans would honestly be at a fever pitch.
3 Plotlines in question.
Ho-oh
Pidgeot/Primeape/Larvitar (Primeape and Larvitar are more or less for just a simple re-appearance). Pidgeot's different, Pidgeot is/was and forever will be a promise).
Team Rocket/Giovanni