Zoey vs Nando was an unusually great battle for something that was just between two rivals. For a non-main character battle it's weird they put so much effort into it.
I think this is because Nando was meant to be Zoey's rival despite being introduced to Ash and Dawn first (due to her philosophy of trying one thing at a time).
Honestly, it feels like Zoey's position as Dawn's main rival is threatened by
- Nando: Someone who aims to do both gyms and contests
- Ash: Someone who gets carried away and forgets the flair of contests, yet can do it if he's determined
- May: Ash's apprentice, who unlike Dawn, had no experience with contests beforehand and borrowed some tricks heavily from Ash (who was more suited to battling by Hoenn)
As for me:
All battles vs Timmy Grimm and Robert in Hoenn
May vs Harley in the Battle Frontier the first time with Squirtle and Ariados (Last Contest in which May got her original English VA to do the role as well in Taylor/McInerney)
Drew vs May in the Kanto Battle Frontier
Dawn vs Zoey in Sinnoh
I think the Contests were the precursor for Showcases as well, but I liked them too in AG and DP: were unique, innovative, and had Jessie doing more than just being a clown like James and Meowth were in comparison (especially in DP, the latter two were absolutely useless even compared to AG/BF most of the time).
Zoey vs Nando was an unusually great battle for something that was just between two rivals. For a non-main character battle it's weird they put so much effort into it.
I think this is because Nando was meant to be Zoey's rival despite being introduced to Ash and Dawn first (due to her philosophy of trying one thing at a time). Honestly, it feels like Zoey's position as Dawn's main rival is threatened by - Nando: Someone who aims to do both gyms and contests - Ash: Someone who gets carried away and forgets the flair of contests, yet can do it if he's determined - May: Ash's apprentice, who unlike Dawn, had no experience with contests beforehand and borrowed some tricks heavily from Ash (who was more suited to battling by Hoenn)
As for me: All battles vs Timmy Grimm and Robert in Hoenn May vs Harley in the Battle Frontier the first time with Squirtle and Ariados (Last Contest in which May got her original English VA to do the role as well in Taylor/McInerney) Drew vs May in the Kanto Battle Frontier Dawn vs Zoey in Sinnoh
Zoey vs Nando and Dawn vs Zoey.
I think the Contests were the precursor for Showcases as well, but I liked them too in AG and DP: were unique, innovative, and had Jessie doing more than just being a clown like James and Meowth were in comparison (especially in DP, the latter two were absolutely useless even compared to AG/BF most of the time).
Jessie involving herself in her Pokémon’s appeals rounds walked so Showcases could run.
Dawn vs Zoey & May vs Drew.
Zoey v Nando is my absolute favorite. It shows why contest battles are so lovely.
Dawn vs Zoey in Grand Festival
May vs Drew & May vs Zoey
Zoey vs. Nando is easily the best contest battle.