Jouto sucked because of a decision by the higher-ups to put Celebi in the fourth movie, while the whole GS Ball arc was taking place. The original plan was for Celebi to be involved in the GS Ball arc. This change (in the middle of the arc!) derailed that plan; the producers decided to drop the arc...which, as we saw, turned out to be a bad decision (but then again, they probably didn't put much thought into replacing it with another arc, likely out of fear that this new arc would also be derailed).
Personally, if I had been the main producer of the show, I'd have utterly ignored the Executive Meddling and gone with the original plan. But then again, I'm not involved in any way with the show's production, let alone the main producer, so...
Of course, to me the biggest problem is that aside from the first movie, every single film is out of continuity, and we've been told that. The first movie was integrated from the start with hints being dropped left and right. The Mewtwo Returns OVA likewise fits with the show. All the other movies have Ash literally saving the world, and nobody in the show references it! All we get is the occasional flashback running down the Legendary Pokemon from the movies.
Would you have cared if Celebi was both in the GS ball and in the fourth movie? I wouldn't have cared one bit. Thanks to time travel you could even claim it was the same Celebi, too.
If Dawn wins the Sinnoh Grand Festival, I hope we get word of May winning the Johto Grand Festival. You know, just to keep things fair. That way I won't have to consider Dawn a Wesley.
And for Ash to win the Sinnoh League and finally be dropped? Oh Lord, we can only hope.
edited 13th May '10 7:38:50 PM by ManwiththePlan
Actually, the movies are canon, but there's really no reason to reference them at all in the show. The only exception I can think of is the two-part Riolu special, which references the eighth movie.
Is anyone else sincerely hoping that Ash is able to win against Paul in the Sinnoh League and finally wipe that smug look off of his face? Seriously, he's got an Infernape and a Torterra now. That ought to be enough to knock out Paul's Ursaring. Seriously, Paul never got Chimchar close to evolving! Also, hope Buizel does well. My personal favorite of Ash's team in Sinnoh.
I'm hoping he beats Paul twice.
- In the league, with his current team
- In a rematch afterward, with Ash using his biggest guns (Charizard, Sceptile, Snorlax, etc.).
If I had my way, the second battle would not only happen, but would also be of the curb stomp variety.
edited 17th May '10 3:50:29 PM by Matic
"Is anyone else sincerely hoping that Ash is able to win against Paul in the Sinnoh League and finally wipe that smug look off of his face?"
I think everyone (other than Paul's Misaimed Fandom) is hoping for that. But again, to me Paul's defeat is less important than the Villainous Breakdown I'm hoping he'll have when he realizes that Ash suceeded where he failed in making Chimchar stronger.
"The winner of the Grand Festival, in an amazingly animated and rather close match is...Zoey!"
And thank goodness! That was the outcome I was hoping for. Dawn got to prove to Zoey and her own mother how much better she's gotten but still didn't win her first Grand Festival against her slightly more experienced rival. Now I can be perfectly happy with the way this Grand Festival ended. [smile]
If Ash loses to Paul in the League I swear I will make heads roll. We know Ash will lose though. The only question is to whom. Probably Mr "Hey I am a character that you just met and far better than you!".
A corpse should be left well enough alone...Yeah, Ash always faces The Rival and then The Nice Guy Who's A Good Sport But Defeats Ash By A Hair.
I'm really excited about the Buizel-centered episode coming up. He learns Ice Punch and gets Character Development!
edited 24th May '10 3:45:13 PM by theLibrarian
If they ever end the series, I would like to see an epilogue that has Dawn winning the Grand Festival against Zoey
A corpse should be left well enough alone...Ash's Cyndaquil will evolve in DP 182. It should have evolved during Johto, but now's better than never.

The B-Button League episode makes up for any other weak episodes Sinnoh ever had.
edited 12th May '10 8:06:55 PM by Magus