>>52578121The writers failing to meet a reasonable expectation of the audience without a good reason for it is bad writing indeed. This is no either-or, you could have Ash becoming the literal best battler in the entire planet being treated as such AND an episode dedicated to the farewells with the seasons's friends. They even had an entire episode dedicated to him being a big deal in Alola, it makes absolutely no sense that him having won the world championships, half of the climax the entire show built up to, is being the object of what is essentially lip service.
God, this series is such an unsalvageable mess.