I know. But why did Riolu go through all those development with Bea and evolve random here?
Same with Raboot.
Lets be fair, this is all being rushed as hell - or not done at all (looking at Dragonite/Gengar/Farfetch'd).
The least we can say that Riolu at least got spotlight as a Riolu in its battles vs. Bea. As opposed to say.. Dragonite having a few episodes as a Dragonair before evolving. Or Farfetch'd having some meaningful moments before evolving (one loss doesn't really constitute much does it?).
And evolving to save a region isn't really random. I mean Charmeleon evolving to be able to better fight an Aerodactyl is far more random.
In all honesty, if it weren't for the rushed Cinderace.. I wouldn't even object to Lucario happening this fast. It's just a single evolution - and it's one that doesn't even require a certain level to reach, but friendship (and daytime). So with that little threashold holding a Riolu back from evolution in the games, seeing it have had meaningful battles - and enough screentime to assume that it and Ash have a decent bond - and a desperate situation being the catalyst. I have no problems with it.