One thing I notice that has changed between "Contests" and "Super Contests:" every contest in Sinnoh has been more boring than the Hoenn contests. Super Contests apparently grade on how well the Pokemon itself is shown off, as everyone keeps telling Dawn, but the Hoenn and Kanto contests were graded on how well the Pokemon used its moves and how creatively the moves were used.
In Hoenn, we got to see amazing combinations of moves and the Pokemon's physical abilities, which, when combined, were visually impressive and exciting to see. For instance, when May's Beautifly used Silver Wind to lock up Medicham's fists, then charge it in between the twin cyclones, that was real strategy being used in a contest battle. Beautifly pulled off something amazing, that just doesn't happen in normal battles. And of course, there plenty more examples besides this one.
But in Sinnoh, the only thing we've been given is the same old moves being used with no combination use in the same old way. The Super Contests seem to be all about using your moves and nothing else. I'll admit today, some of the Pokemon and trainer's final poses were very well-done, but the appeals were simply boring. Let's review Ambipom's Double Hit, shall we? All Ambipom did with ouble Hit was wiggle its arms around; it wasn't even using the leftovers from the Ball Seal to make fireworks (something the Super Contests have overused repeatedly). Super Contests have taken strategy out of the contest altogether, and twisted the meaning of "combination" to refer to making a move look bigger and flashier than usual, rather than combining two moves or a special physical characteristic to make a whole new action.
I loved watching this particular episode, if only for the throwbacks to Hoenn and Johto and the chances to see Pokemon doing cool Pokemon stuff (which I'm always happy to see), but it's convinced me that Sinnoh Super Contests are just not the same thing as Hoenn/Kanto Contests. I'm really starting to miss the spectacular Pokemon Contests from the other regions. Sinnoh just isn't shaping up.