It took me awhile to gets used to it (although ash could still get an improvement because everyone else from previous look the same example: mom, Jesse, James, meowth, prof oak) but overall its ok. It just started so its not that exciting yet. But it does have some moments that make me enjoy like The Jesus beware scene.
So there's still some development needed in order for the plot to advance. Apparently from leaks ash's journey around the islands for the island challenge starts at episode 9 in two weeks where he fights the Kahuna in the festival.
His team speculation: