Hey, I didn't say it was perfect or the best episode, ever. I don't mind new spins on old stuff, if done right. Besides, 30 episodes in, the stories were bound to be repetitive, so why bother complaining?
Because there are about 50 more episodes in Kanto. :P
In doing that was a bad idea. They could've put this episode at spot 15-19 of the filler between those two. But putting these two so close together, really isn't appealing.
But most kids most likely wouldn't have noticed this anyway.
Well, pacing is a difficult concept to explain, even to adult writers, at times. Although, some kids may surprise you. So, yeah, this should have been 5 episodes earlier, at least.
Episode comparison time! Full of paint edits, dialogue edits, involving the writing of a Japanese pun. Enjoy.
https://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/comparisons/kanto/ep031.html