I think the whole point is that origins was meant to be short special, so they tried to make red learn a lot more, but with ash that series has been going on for decade+ now, and they need to drag it out to make a season, if it took ash an episode to reach the next town or to get the next gym badge, it'd be over in like 8-10 episodes. Rather then the 70-90 that they have.
There's a difference between knowledge and rushing.
Zohaib is talking about how Red caught on stuff more quickly how he is all around more intelligent than Ash.
Ash is just the same old ignorant brat as he was the first episode.