Personally, I like SM better than others. I LOVE character development and interactions, and continuity is always a resource on the series, due to the "no-traveling" thing, basically every character has 2-3 appearances, even some character that would be seen just once in OS-XY. Battles not appearing in every episode, isn't a thing that a lot of people enjoy, but I like that decision, now they can make the characters grow better, I mean, look at Lana, she was not only weak, but also kinda stupid, now, she is very strong, and not only that, because she now is really strategic and her mind is really cold in battle. Look at her in first episode, and look at her in her battle against Mallow or Guzma! Even if she loose, she used what she alredy knew for battling both Guzma and Mallow, she was prepared for Grass-type and teached powder snow? blizzard? an Ice-type move to Primarina, she was prepared for First Impression and when she can't use Sparkling Aria, she just decided to use other moves.
Sophocles also grew a lot, now he don't have Nychtophobia anymore, and he uses his knowledges for winning in battle. Sure, he's weak, but he didn't battled a lot before so...
Kiawe... I don't know, he's almost the same as his first appearance, but he's smarter in battle, more secure? and something else, i guess.
Lillie grew A LOT, and all of you knows it, she was so scary and insecure, and now, she's helping to find her dad! She's one of the 8 best of all Alola trainers and is very mature now.
Mallow now is stronger, and more mature, she accepted hers mother death and stuff...
Even Ash grew! not a lot, but he's now a little more "talking than battling", not that much, but he is... he is now just good at battles and training, and he's not the best in everything like he was in XY.
