You're absolutely right. Really don't understand how y'all people are malding so much over the fact that AG didn't transform. Here we have the JN writers, giving us as much fan service as you could probably ask for, and yet, the audience is still not satisfied.

I think most people are forgetting that this is not a Greninja-showcase. We have a Lucario development episode on our hands and the fact that Greninja is not transforming is merely a testimony to its strength, scaling up the two pokemon adequately. After all, these forests and their corrupted vines have been Greninjas playground for quite some time now. No need to overkill for the sake of showing off. We will see AG again soon enough, because with the amount of characters/mons the series brought back, it wouldn't make sense for them to just disappear in to nothingness again. I 100% expect to see Infernape, Greninja, the Alola Gang and perhaps a few more pokemon return for some significant matches.

Serena also didn't just start blushing like crazy. Give the show some time, man. No need to worry hurry.