So yeah, the episode was somewhat average to me. That entire Champion acknowledgement felt hollow when only two boys did so instead of multiple people (including the announcer), the anime original setting didn't help and the fact that the race was pretty stale about capturing Pokemon at checkpoints rather than challenges and obstacle courses.
I liked the usage of regional soundtracks, this needs to be a norm for every region and not just Alola. TRio's reunion was also decent, but it should have not been done like an afterthought, in the closing segments of the episode with barely a minute of screentime, it should have happened earlier and properly (and included Morpeko). That, an Ash being given more center focus with mentoring the boys as well as using his knowledge of having dealt with Alolan Pokemon (especially Passimian).
Also, them setting up the battle in this episode itself will definitely help save screentime that they can dedicate to the battle in the next one, but giving Volkner rank 27? Why so high?
