I feel like Ash's Alolan team is the one Ash most EARNED the power of by the end of the series, simply due to relying less on 'the power of really really wanting it' throughout SM.
I've never felt that trope works as a gratifying way to show a character mastering their skill, especially not in the way Pokemon handles it which just feels like a magic enducing rage, thus I like SM actually turns it down multiple times in favour of ACTUAL TRAINING for a new move, or even some cases the trope is used having it downplayed by only being MASTERED during a climax rather than it doing the whole job. Rockruff's evolution is brought about the same way as in the dex, it reaching its limit point to set it off and Ash demonstrating his loyalty in spite of the attitude change.
There is definitely still some cases of plot armour (anything related to Naganadel and Melmetal is pretty much happenstance on Ash's part) but SM wins simply by virtue that it's only SOME of it instead of nearly ALL of it like in other series.
I've never felt that trope works as a gratifying way to show a character mastering their skill, especially not in the way Pokemon handles it which just feels like a magic enducing rage, thus I like SM actually turns it down multiple times in favour of ACTUAL TRAINING for a new move, or even some cases the trope is used having it downplayed by only being MASTERED during a climax rather than it doing the whole job. Rockruff's evolution is brought about the same way as in the dex, it reaching its limit point to set it off and Ash demonstrating his loyalty in spite of the attitude change.
There is definitely still some cases of plot armour (anything related to Naganadel and Melmetal is pretty much happenstance on Ash's part) but SM wins simply by virtue that it's only SOME of it instead of nearly ALL of it like in other series.