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I think the next series after Alola takes a lot of goodness from it while still mixing things up. It keeps a lot of the episodic pacing, but pairs the action down to just two characters, Ash and Go, giving their relationship a lot of time to develop. There is a genuine sense of fun and warmth between the two that gives the exact vibe of the Alola gang, but expedited. It's not always the best, but there are parts of Alola that definitely live on in Journeys. The way Ash got so invested in the lives and goals of his friends carries over to the way he devotes himself to helping Go reach his seemingly impossible goal of catching every Pokemon. You get a sense that these two really want to see the other succeed in more than just a basic supportive friend sense. They really get fired up for each other's goals.
SM's more wacky japanese humor is dropped in favor of more grounded character gags, but some of the DNA still exists with the funny faces and wacky scenarios. Animation definitely took a hit during covid, so there isn't as much fluidity for a chunk of the show's run, but the music, cozy settings, and sense of friendship carry Journeys to be as good as Alola for me.
