>>43745129They were basically trying to repeat May's early character arc just longer this time, but then made the opposite mistake of not giving Serena more agency outside of her interest in Ash at first as well as not being given more things to do.
Some people say May got into Contests/pokemon so quickly that it feels rushed, but I dunno, I feel there's decent time with it since we see her trying and failing to battle with Torchic, capturing a Wurmple, battling that other trainer with the Mudkip, then seeing a Contest before being in one herself...then the whole Dewford arc where she gets Beautifly...etc...all before her first Contest