Ben 10: Alien Force 1 - A Review of the First Season of the Animated Series
If you are a fan of action, adventure, science fiction, and superheroes, you might have heard of Ben 10, a popular animated series that aired on Cartoon Network from 2005 to 2008. The show follows the adventures of Ben Tennyson, a ten-year-old boy who finds a mysterious device called the Omnitrix that allows him to transform into different alien forms and fight evil. But what if you want to know what happens next? Well, you are in luck, because there is a sequel series called Ben 10: Alien Force that continues the story five years later. In this article, we will review the first season of Ben 10: Alien Force, which consists of thirteen episodes that aired from April to August in 2008. We will explore the plot, the characters, the animation, the episodes, and the reception of this season, and see why it is worth watching for fans of Ben 10 and newcomers alike.
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The Plot
The first season of Ben 10: Alien Force picks up five years after the end of Ben 10. Ben Tennyson, now fifteen years old, has retired from his superhero life and removed the Omnitrix from his wrist. He lives a normal life with his parents and attends high school with his cousin Gwen Tennyson, who has developed her own magical powers. However, everything changes when Ben's grandfather Max Tennyson goes missing under mysterious circumstances. Ben decides to put on the Omnitrix again, only to discover that it has recalibrated itself and given him access to ten new alien forms. He also reunites with his former enemy Kevin Levin, who has learned to control his power to absorb energy and matter. Together, they form a team to find Max and stop a new threat: an alien race called the Highbreed, who plan to destroy all other life forms in the universe.
The Characters
The first season of Ben 10: Alien Force introduces some new characters and develops some old ones. Here are some of the main heroes and villains of this season:
Ben Tennyson (voiced by Yuri Lowenthal): The protagonist of the series, Ben is a brave, loyal, and witty teenager who uses the Omnitrix to transform into different aliens and fight evil. He has matured a lot since his childhood days, but he still retains his sense of humor and fun. He is also a natural leader who cares deeply for his friends and family.
Gwen Tennyson (voiced by Ashley Johnson): Ben's cousin and best friend, Gwen is a smart, resourceful, and compassionate girl who can manipulate magical energy in various ways. She is also skilled in martial arts and computer hacking. She often acts as the voice of reason for Ben and Kevin, but she can also be fiery and sarcastic when provoked.
Kevin Levin (voiced by Greg Cipes): A former enemy of Ben and Gwen, Kevin is a rebellious, cynical, and sarcastic teenager who can absorb and manipulate energy and matter. He has a troubled past and a criminal record, but he has redeemed himself and joined Ben and Gwen as their ally. He has a crush on Gwen, but he is often too shy or awkward to express it.
Max Tennyson (voiced by Paul Eiding): Ben and Gwen's grandfather and a former member of the Plumbers, an intergalactic law enforcement organization. Max is a wise, kind, and adventurous old man who has a lot of experience and knowledge about aliens and the Omnitrix. He goes missing in the first episode of the season, but he leaves clues and messages for his grandchildren to help them in their quest.
The Highbreed (voiced by various actors): The main antagonists of the season, the Highbreed are a proud, arrogant, and xenophobic alien race who believe that they are the purest and superior life form in the universe. They have a hierarchical society based on their genetic purity and their physical features, such as wings, horns, claws, etc. They plan to use a device called the Hyperspace Jump Gate to unleash a fleet of warships and wipe out all other species.
The Forever Knights (voiced by various actors): A secondary group of villains, the Forever Knights are a secret society of human knights who have been collecting and studying alien technology for centuries. They have a medieval-themed culture and code of honor, but they also use advanced weapons and vehicles. They often clash with Ben and his team over alien artifacts and secrets.
The Animation
The first season of Ben 10: Alien Force improves the animation quality and style of Ben 10 in several ways. The character designs are more detailed, realistic, and expressive, reflecting the age and personality of the characters. The backgrounds are more colorful, diverse, and atmospheric, creating a variety of settings and moods. The action scenes are more dynamic, fluid, and exciting, showcasing the abilities and skills of the characters. The alien forms are more creative, unique, and cool-looking, giving Ben more options and challenges in his battles. The animation also creates a darker and more mature tone for the series, using more shadows, contrasts, and angles to convey the seriousness and danger of the situations.
The Episodes
The first season of Ben 10: Alien Force consists of thirteen episodes that range from good to excellent in quality. Here are some of the best and worst episodes of the season:
Best Episodes
Worst Episodes
Ben 10 Returns: Part 1 & 2: The two-part premiere episode that sets up the plot, the characters, and the tone of the season. It features Ben putting on the Omnitrix again, meeting Kevin and forming an alliance with him, discovering the Highbreed threat, and finding out that Max is missing. It also introduces some of Ben's new alien forms, such as Swampfire, Echo Echo, Humungousaur, Jetray, and Chromastone.
X = Ben + 2: The season finale that wraps up the Highbreed arc in a rushed and anticlimactic way. It involves Ben using the Omnitrix to turn all humans into aliens temporarily to trick the Highbreed into thinking that Earth is already contaminated. It also features Ben unlocking his ultimate alien form: Alien X, a god-like being with omnipotent powers but also with two conflicting personalities that prevent him from acting.
Pier Pressure: A fun and lighthearted episode that focuses on Ben's relationship with Julie Yamamoto, a girl he likes from his school. It shows Ben trying to impress Julie by taking her to an amusement park, but things go wrong when an alien named Ship crashes into their date. It also reveals that Julie has a pet cat named Mr. Smoothy.
Max Out: A sad and emotional episode that deals with the death of Max's son Ken Tennyson, who was also a Plumber. It shows Gwen coping with her grief and anger over losing her uncle, while Ben tries to comfort her. It also features Kevin's backstory and his connection to Max.
Paradox: A clever and intriguing episode that introduces Professor Paradox, a time-traveling scientist who helps Ben and his team stop Eon, an evil version of Ben from another timeline. It explores the concepts of time travel, alternate realities, paradox es, and causality. It also shows Ben's new alien form: Clockwork, a mechanical being who can manipulate time.
Plumber's Helpers: A weak and filler episode that features Ben and his team encountering a group of young Plumbers' helpers who have been hunting down aliens for money. It shows Ben trying to convince them that not all aliens are bad, while also dealing with a bounty hunter named Sunder who is after the Omnitrix. It also introduces some of Gwen's new alien forms: Big Chill, Spidermonkey, and Goop.
The Reception
The first season of Ben 10: Alien Force received mostly positive reviews from critics and fans alike. It was praised for its darker and more mature tone, its improved animation and character designs, its engaging plot and characters, its creative and diverse alien forms, and its balance of humor and action. It was also nominated for several awards, such as the Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production for Children, the Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program, and the Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Cartoon. However, it also faced some criticism for its inconsistent pacing, its lack of continuity with the original series, its underdeveloped villains, and its controversial finale. It also had lower ratings than the original series, averaging about 1.5 million viewers per episode.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the first season of Ben 10: Alien Force is a worthy successor to Ben 10 that offers a new and exciting perspective on the adventures of Ben Tennyson and his friends. It has a lot of strengths, such as its plot, its characters, its animation, and its episodes, that make it enjoyable and entertaining to watch. It also has some weaknesses, such as its pacing, its continuity, its villains, and its finale, that make it less satisfying and coherent than it could have been. However, overall, it is a solid and fun season that deserves a chance from fans of Ben 10 and newcomers alike.
FAQs
Here are some of the most common questions and answers about Ben 10: Alien Force:
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Q: How many seasons are there of Ben 10: Alien Force?
A: There are three seasons of Ben 10: Alien Force, with a total of 46 episodes.
Q: What are the names of Ben's new alien forms in Ben 10: Alien Force?
A: The names of Ben's new alien forms are Swampfire, Echo Echo, Humungousaur, Jetray, Big Chill, Chromastone, Brainstorm, Spidermonkey, Goop, Alien X, Lodestar, Rath, Nanomech, and Clockwork.
Q: Who are the voice actors of Ben 10: Alien Force?
A: The voice actors of Ben 10: Alien Force are Yuri Lowenthal as Ben Tennyson/Alien Forms/Albedo/Eon/Young Max Tennyson/Various Characters; Ashley Johnson as Gwen Tennyson; Greg Cipes as Kevin Levin; Paul Eiding as Max Tennyson; Dee Bradley Baker as Swampfire/Echo Echo/Humungousaur/Jetray/Big Chill/Chromastone/Brainstorm/Spidermonkey/Goop/Alien X/Lodestar/Rath/Nanomech/Clockwork/Various Characters; Jeff Bennett as Azmuth/Sunder/Mr. Smoothy/Various Characters; Vyvan Pham as Julie Yamamoto/Ship; James Remar as Vilgax; Kevin Michael Richardson as Highbreed Commander/Highbreed Supreme; John DiMaggio as Aggregor/Ragnarok/Will Harangue/Various Characters; Rob Paulsen as Magister Prior Gilhil/Magister Patelliday/Various Characters; Tara Strong as Ben Tennyson (age 10)/Sunny Tennyson/Various Characters; Corey Burton as Professor Paradox; Richard McGonagle as Reinrassic III; Khary Payton as Manny Armstrong; Zeno Robinson as Alan Albright; Kari Wahlgren as Helen Wheels; Alexander Polinsky as Argit; Wil Wheaton as Darkstar/Michael Morningstar; Cree Summer as Frightwig/Lucy Mann/Myaxx/Various Characters.
Q: Where can I watch Ben 10: Alien Force?
A: You can watch Ben 10: Alien Force on various streaming platforms, such as HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play, and YouTube. You can also buy or rent the DVDs or Blu-rays of the series.
Q: Is there a sequel to Ben 10: Alien Force?
A: Yes, there is a sequel to Ben 10: Alien Force called Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, which follows Ben and his team as they face new enemies and challenges, and as Ben gains access to the Ultimatrix, a device that allows him to evolve his alien forms into more powerful versions. There is also another sequel called Ben 10: Omniverse, which features Ben teaming up with a young Plumber named Rook Blonko and traveling across different timelines and dimensions.
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