Actually, the dub didn't bother me. It was the writing of the Japanese script.
As everyone knows, Lilycove City is the biggest city in Hoenn. Full of shops, the Magma/Aqua main base, and the contest hall. They were barely there for the Contest and that's it. No other depth into the other dimensions of the city. Conversely, the Kanto equivalent, Viridian City, had what? Three episodes to it? And if not, look at the other Hoenn cities, Rustboro had three episodes, covering the Gym, the school, and Devon nicely. Dewford...plenty, 13? Although since Slateport (which covered Magma's attack on the Museum and that's it), they've been skimping on the cities' other dimensions, Fortree is quite noticable of this, with the treehouses. We don't go in them, and observe the uniqueness but focus on a do nothing carnival, and being Lilycove is the largest city of all and focus on only one aspect of it, just infuriates.
And now they go to Mossdeep without any exploration? Sighs.
That rant aside, the episode is adaquate, Jimmy (voiced subtly by Darren Dunstan) is interesting in that his luck doesn't fuel any ego problems. He seems happy go lucky, as idiotic as that may sound. And nice to see the three Kanto starters again, curious they do not all evolve and pour on the Rocket abuse, since the series loves to abuse them Rockets.
Nice mechanics issues too: The Cascade Badge is a nice treat and could have been nice foreshadowing but oh well. The Rockets' Poke Ball mecha is reminicent of Oak's tri-Poke Ball setup at the beginning of the series. The school played an aspect we don't get in depth much, Pokemon judging.
Plus Ash and Brock battling, been a while to see such a treat. Ironic Brock is using water Pokemon, considering that's how Ash beat him in their Gym match.
Although the title is misleading with the overlooming Groudon/Kyorge showdown and that title should be fitting for the one of the two parter.
Not a season finale (the previous one would have been a nice way to end the season) but a decent followup and would have been a nice premiere.
7/10.