Well the training episodes vary. I do admit I enjoy focus on training and earning boosts over just DEM-ing it all the time. I think the issue is that the way they train for a move isn't always as entertainingly set up. SM015 was a good exception because it revolved around a unique technique by Ash and also had a lot of cute bonding throughout, it was another cool example of 'Ash taking any random junk and making it fun by sheer character', which is something they should try more. It shown an eccentric funny technique that few but Ash would think of and I think that strengthens his competence as a trainer.
A few episodes are kinda generically set up however, just the Pokemon repeating and spamming moves until they get it right. Litten's Flame Charge episode pretty much just recycled the 'butt shake' montage from SM015, if to almost parody levels of over the topness to make it a funny rehash. Some of the 'senpai' episodes in SM are rather cute in handling though, eg. the bubble training with Popplio to control Hydro Vortex.
I suppose Litten's Fire Fang training was an okay compromise, in that we saw him trying to master it through the course of two episodes, both through interactions with either Stoutland or his new trainer, but he mastered it during the crisis that made the main bulk of the last episode (emphasis on 'mastering' it, it wasn't a DEM).
