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Glad to see you're up and about. Seeing how you've often said Alien Force seasons 1-2 were the peak of the franchise, what exactly were your thoughts on how they handled Kevin's redemption since that's a topic many are split on with several considering it rushed and forced? How did the new Omnitirx aliens stack up?
Kevin's rushed redemption is one of the few valid criticisms of Seasons 1 and 2 of Alien Force, and personally I'll name it as the biggest flaw of the Highbreed Invasion Arc.
But at least it led to Kevin being more utilized and developed as a character down the line.
Sure, he was a threatening villain with a tragic backstory in the Original Series, but he only appeared in-person four times (the fifth was a dream appearance) and his history wasn't really delved into. He felt more like a Silver Age comic book antagonist than a three-dimensional Tragic Villain.
As for the new Omnitrix Aliens, the starting 10 in Alien Force are just as good and as classic as the aliens in the Original Series.
Nanomech is cool, and he's introduced at the last point in the franchise where Ben is written consistently well.
Lodestar had a lame introduction and was introduced in one of the lamest episodes (from Season 3, no less). Though I do like him when Ben's using him seriously (see his smackdown of the Forever Knights in Ultimate Alien during the Ultimate Kevin Arc).
Rath, even though he's a bit overrated (you can't take him seriously in a life-or-death battle), he deserved a better season to be introduced in, and not the mess that was Season 3.
Looking at Kuro pointing all the opportunities Zs'Skayr had to possess Ben - yeah, that's the thing, if you have completely broken powers like possession you will make dumbass mistakes like that. A classic example, basically every single ghost-powered character heavily underutilizes their invisibility which, combined with intangibility would be completely broken.
I guess it's part of the villain mentality. Villains aren't allowed to say "I'm going to shoot you now or you'll escape like the last thirty times" because that would require them to say "you've beaten me before like thirty times". You just have to act overconfident and brush off past defeats as "he got lucky".
On this week's Episode Breakdown, Kuro discusses "The Visitor", featuring the appearance of Max's notable telekinetic ex Xylene.
I'd wish someone would properly utilize the Ben 10 concept and make it better than what CN and Man of Action did. Sure, they might get accused of being a shameless copy but I'd imagine that criticism will get mitigated if the major flaws of Ben 10 aren't as present and take the concept in a different direction.
Edited by Afrovenator on May 18th 2021 at 8:30:25 AM
Scar himself looks like foreign, weak, and with very female moves.
The amusing thing is that Ben 10 itself is likely derivative of Dial H for Hero (and IIRC, Alien Force had a crossover with it in comic form).
I do agree though, since I feel the franchise hasn't really ever managed to escape being anything beyond decent.
I'm aware that Ben 10 has some roots in Dial H for Hero but I'm talking about the "person shapeshifts into powerful beings" concept. Like you said, Ben 10 is average while Dial H is pretty obscure.
On a sidenote, my personal headcanon is that Azmuth was inspired to create the Omnitrix by the Bible. It seems farfetched but think about it. The Bible is the most printed piece of media in history. Sir George could've given one to Azmuth as tribute for Ascalon as well as giving him a piece of knowledge.
Azmuth would've very likely taken the Noah's Arc story and use it as a template, especially when Azmuth directly compared Ben and the Omnitrix to Noah and the Arc respectively.
Edited by Afrovenator on Feb 5th 2023 at 5:04:11 AM
Scar himself looks like foreign, weak, and with very female moves.
I like that theory.
Looking back on Ben's character, I feel like Ben's would've worked better as a Paragon/Static Character. Instead of Ben getting development, he instead inspires development in other characters. This would at least gotten rid of the annoying habit of the main continuity of constantly regressing Ben's character "arc". And considering that the Omnitrix is meant to inspire unity amongst sapient beings, that would've infinitely improved the show as you could've explored some interesting stuff. Not all protagonists need Character Development to be interesting.
Edited by Afrovenator on May 26th 2021 at 1:03:06 PM
Scar himself looks like foreign, weak, and with very female moves.
I disagree, part of what make intersting is the fact he is a kid, he is like shazam who often do silly thing because well....is what he does, making him the paragon would probably make him bland and swich the atention to everyone.
Problem is ben being a pranskter have become IS defeaut personality and cant get better as result, he a lot like sonic in that regard.
"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
Becoming The Paragon actually works for Ben as he grows up, and it definitely would have solved the constant regressing of his character.
Also, the franchise is in dire need of branching out focus to other characters in the cast.
Avatar: The Last Airbender and Thomas the Tank Engine didn't just focus solely on the Avatar's journey and on Thomas' adventures, respectively, and that was for the better. And in the latter's case, the franchise fell into ruin because of increased spotlight on Thomas at the expense of everyone else.
Modern Shazam starts out silly and immature, but he grows as a person and becomes another Paragon / Cape.
Middle road here, guys.
Ben can start off as a self-centered kid, but as he gains experience and age he should definitely become the Big Good / The Cape / The Paragon.
Character Development can be great and interesting, but it's all for nought if it doesn't actually stick long term.
Edited by BrightLight on May 27th 2021 at 10:01:27 PM
@Afrovenator Not Paragon but by Omniverse, I've felt like Ben became Static Character. It felt like everybody had something going for them, everybody but Ben. Rook, his family, Vreedles, Gwen, Kevin, Baumann, Blukic and Driba, Argit... There are plenty of episodes where Ben feels like a side character in his own show while more wacky characters hog the spotlight.
Well my post applies to post Original Series Ben, since that's where the regression comes from.
The problem isn't the concept, it's the execution and Omniverse's skewed priorities. The best Ben 10 episodes (To Catch A Falling Star, Above and Beyond, Store for example) focus on other characters besides Ben. Even the bigger storylines like the Alternate Bens arc mostly focuses No Watch Ben and that story is universally praised among the fandom. Like I said previously, it's down to execution. Not to mention still learns lessons in Omniverse (like being a teamplayer or not abusing the Omnitrix) so he's not exactly Static.
Edited by Afrovenator on May 27th 2021 at 1:38:27 PM
Scar himself looks like foreign, weak, and with very female moves.In light of Kuro's Ben 10 Breakdowns going on hiatus to focus on the tangentially-related 5 Years Later, here's another review that should pass the time.
After reviewing the OG series and Race Against Time, Y2K reviewer Billiam dives into the direct sequel, Alien Force.
- Billy appreciates teen Ben finally internalizes the weekly lessons of Grandpa Max, in light of his disappearance, playing into his doubts. It makes OG Ben's Aesop Amnesia tendencies retroactively work towards his character. (6:53)
- Though Billy prefers the original 10 aliens, he's grown to liking the more dynamic abilities of the new set, while still being familiar. Along with trading the 10 minute time limit for "small charge" changes before losing power. (7:56)
- Kevin being the new balance among the trio is a welcome change, compared to his bratty 11 year old self.(11:24)
- Notably, Kevin restraining Ben after he verbally lashes out at Gwen in a heated moment. (12:55)
- Still, he also appreciates Kevin having his edge due to his background, which adds conflict and allows the Tennysons to keep him in light in return. (13:40)
- The change to a Buffy/ Smallville direction is welcomed to the more serialized nature. Likewise, the original series' road trip nature worked for its episodic format.(15:50)
- As a personal note, it was amusing for Billy to describe Packmar and Mr. Baumann's running gags in Omniverse without realizing it. (17:13)
- Relationships are handled very well here between Kevin x Gwen and Ben x Julie. "Save the Last Dance" and its paralleling story between them serving as a great example. (19:20)
- The "Highbreed" arc is a highlight. (23:15)
- Billy likes Ben having his punchable ego back in the "second half" of Alien Force. He finds AF Ben being characterized as "always does the right thing, but has as an ego as a occasional character flaw" as a palatable execution. This compared to OG Ben's "mostly a jerk, but a heroic traits as a redeeming quality". (28:22)
Smallville/Buffy is a good comparison. I always thought that Highbreed arc was the closest thing to what Ben 10 live action would look like.
Our regularly scheduled Ben 10 Breakdown returns with the episodes "Perfect Day" and "Divided We Stand".
Man, looking back, Ultimate Alien had a lot of Idiot Ball moments.
Scar himself looks like foreign, weak, and with very female moves.
This Ben 10 Breakdown is for "Don't Drink The Water" and "Big Fat Alien Wedding".
Edited by jessicadicicco610 on Jun 12th 2021 at 2:31:19 AM
Rewatching the part where Bigchill fights the Esoterica in the Flame Keepers Circle episode really bothered me. Like dude, go intangible. You didn't even need to go Ultimate Bigchill to beat them. Another case of Forgot About His Powers.
Edited by Afrovenator on Jun 14th 2021 at 5:15:46 AM
Scar himself looks like foreign, weak, and with very female moves.
Most people with intangibility powers use their powers like a dodge move rather than stay constantly out of phase or they would be too powerful. See also, every time Ben fights an Ectonurite.
Today's video is part 1 of the breakdown for Secret Of The Omnitrix.
Here's another video, being part 2 of the breakdown for Secret Of The Omnitrix.
Yeah, Secrets of the Omnitrix still contains one of the many flaws of the franchise; Aesop Amnesia and All There in the Manual.
Scar himself looks like foreign, weak, and with very female moves.
Today's video breaks down the last few small scale adventures before heading into the big stories.
