#ben 10 vs the negative 10

[tiggyloo]

Aaaand done another series. Now to figure out what to watch next

[insane-mane]

Negative 10 VS Alien Force!

After multiple tests, careful planning, and extra help from unlikely sources, the Forever King has successfully created multiple pseudo-Omnitrix copies to combat the 10 year old changeling nuisance, Ben Tennyson. But an interstellar conqueror is calling the shots now, and will use his new army to claim his prize. But with the help of new allies, and new transformations, they’ll be no match for Alien Force

WHOOO boy this took a long time, and tons of concept art, some dating to 2022! Here’s some extra stuff, including Ben’s new transformation: Tenfold!

[ben-101-rewrite]

So what are the other Azmuths like in the re-write? I don't really like how in canon alternate Azmuths are "Too smart to be evil", which is a bit of a blanket statement and doesn't get into specifics.

I presume you mean the Azmuths from the different timelines I made up for the Eon Vs Ben fight, so here is a summary for what I think I might make them. Prime Timeline - You know em, you love em, good old classic Azmuth. Grumpy but means well. Gwen 10 - Similar to Prime Timeline, just now has to deal with Gwen. Ben 23 - After finally building a bridge with Ben 23 thanks to Ben Prime, Azmuth has decided to move to earth with Tetrax and Sixsix to help as mentors for the kid. While similar to the Prime Timeline, he has a lot more patience, coming across as more of a tried dad if anything. Ben 10K - Similar to Prime Timeline, and the sort of man in the chair for Ben 10K, being more involved in helping out, him and Ben having deep respect for each other. No Watch - Gave up on the omnitrix project really early, and lived life as a hermit. He's kind of just depressed, living alone without anyone, including people like Zenith or Myaxx. No Watch Ben meets him on a plumber mission. Omni Ben - Basically Omni Ben's father, being called so by Ben himself. He starts off as being rather protective, having sheltered Ben his entire life out of fair of people wanting to abuse his power, but mellows out enough to let his son stay on earth. But he does visit a lot, making sure he's living well. Jen 10 - Just a genderbent version of Azmuth, a female galvan by the name Azimuthal. Julie 10 - Him and Zenith never broke up, and instead made the watch together, living life as an old married couple. They're amused by watching the dynamic between Ben and Julie, being mentors for the both of them. Sentient Omnitrix & Ben - Similar to the Prime Timeline, just now having to deal with the omnitrix becoming sentient. Rooters Ben - An official member of the Plumbers. He's a high ranking member, originally making the omnitrix to be given to an Alpha Plumber leader, only for some chaos to lead it into Ben's hands. He does his best to be a good balance in Ben's life, wanting to make sure the kid doesn't go down too dark of a path. Eon - Dead, like everyone else in that timeline. Bad Ben - Has a reversed alignment. He's cold, uncaring, and is willing to sell anything he makes for the right price. He gave Ben the omnitrix in an agreement, using Ben as a sort of guns for hire and bodyguard when he needs it. Doesn't care about the harm he is causing others as long as he can do what he wants. Mad Ben - He had tried to send the omnitrix to Max in order to stop Vilgax, but it failed, with Vilgax now mentoring Ben as his heir. He's currently on lock down by Vilgax, knowing Azmuth is too dangerous to have running around. But the First Thinker is the prime recuse target for the resistance. Azmuth hopes that, if he can escape, he can try and bring sense to the host of his omnitrix. Negative Ben - Albedo is the first thinker on Galvan Prime. Azmuth has become washed up, sticking to the background. He is aware that Ben has the omnitrix, but he's too afraid to talk to him, blaming himself for what happened to Ben's family. Benzarro - Working alongside Vilgax, but begrudgingly. He's still hoping out on a way to unfuse Ben and Zs'skayr, but knows he might need to find a way to stop him and Vilgax when the time comes. Malware - Dead during the accident between Ben and Malware. Forever Knight Ben - Was killed by Ben when Azmuth and some of his men tried taking the watch. Fusion Ben - Never met Ben, and thus is still currently a hermit, uncaring towards what is going on with the watch. He isn't even aware it's currently broken. Ultra Ben - Kept on lockdown by Ben, who doesn't want to hurt Azmuth, but can't let him walk away, due to his knowledge on the Omnitrix. Has tried many times to convince Ben to stop, but it always fails, so now he's trying to find a way to stop him in secret. Light Magic Ben - Old wise wizard, having tutored Ben early on. He blames himself for what happened to Ben, and has been hunting down a means to 'cure' the boy if he can, even looking into some forbidden magic with Gwen.

[noodleblorbobracket]

Round One, Side A, Match 2

BEN TENNYSON (Ben 10) VS MARINA IDA (Splatoon)

Vote for whoever you like better!

NO NEGATIVE PROPAGANDA

[nellie-elizabeth]

Grey's Anatomy: This One's for the Girls (21x04)

This one's for the girls, is it? Which girls is this one supposed to be for? This girl is not particularly gripped.

Cons:

The amount of I Don't Give A Shit I was feeling when we get to that ending and Jo and Link are having twins? Godddd I don't care! I want to go back in time and make these two never fall in love, because it's putting me to sleep! Same with Teddy and Owen talking about how they need a chance to connect because work is keeping them so busy. It's not the most insufferable angst I've ever experienced from these two, but it's still not all that interesting.

Also... I didn't mind the story about Mika's sister in and of itself, but it's a bit hard to swallow when I know we'll be saying goodbye to this character soon. Is this what sunsets her off the show? She quits her job to take care of her sick sister? I mean... that's fine, I guess, but it's just a bummer to take up screen time with a new character here when we already know we have so little time left with Yasuda.

Also, no Meredith or Amelia in this episode which is sad to me personally! I've been enjoying them so far this season. Learning that Catherine's biopsy came back negative as like an off-screen detail from Richard was kind of odd too, after all the gravitas from last week. I'm still annoyed with Richard for scolding Meredith, honestly!

Pros:

I did really like the stuff with Ben coming back to the hospital, honestly. It was interesting that he had trouble with the logistical maneuvering of the hospital systems. It wasn't that he didn't know how to do the medicine pieces, he was just tripping up with the electronic system for ordering the correct test, and stuff like that. When it came time to treat the patient in the OR, Ben was a complete bad-ass. He does know what he's doing, but there's always going to be some tension on the first day back. Blue, on the other hand, had this sort of false smug confidence about being better than Ben, but then in the end Ben extended the olive branch by asking for his help during the surgery. I liked this setup! And I liked Winston warning Bailey to back off. It made total sense for his character, after what he went through with Maggie.

While I am a little grumpy about wasting time with extra stuff when Yasuda is not long for this show, I did like seeing the other interns rally around her. And the other doctors too, everyone coming together to brainstorm a good idea for how to help preserve Chloe's chance to bear children while also giving her the best chance to fight her cancer. Very sweet to see Jules go in there and hold Chloe's hand during the procedure.

Levi and James! I love how cute this is and how well everything is clicking. I'm guessing that the reveal is going to be that James has a dead husband, not that he's a big cheating cheater. But I guess we'll have to see! I loved them being so besotted and so nerdy debating their Star Trek vs. Star Wars. Levi is 100% right, by the way, being the captain of the Enterprise is WAY better than being Han Solo. Yeesh. I also loved seeing Helm ever so briefly; I wish they'd ever known what to do with that character.

This is a bit of a shorter review, because I think this was an episode that didn't totally enrage me but also didn't have a ton that I was super excited to discuss? A lot of stuff kind of fell in the middle for me. Like the patient with the BBL, and the debate about elective surgeries and the gendered aspects of making those choices. It was fine, I wasn't mad at it, I just was sort of neutral on it. I miss Amelia, I hope she's back next week...

7/10

[mirandamckenni1]

Why is Loki so Controversial? | Analyzing Loki's Myths Patreon: https://ift.tt/xeDCvEt Twitch: https://ift.tt/8erj13x Instagram: https://ift.tt/adBq8K7 Twitter: https://twitter.com/OceanKeltoi Intro Assets by: https://twitter.com/SYNJE_Grafx Discord: https://ift.tt/pMYcvWB Merch: https://ift.tt/4WPy2uh music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio Further Videos Hel: https://youtu.be/ktEdpreG2mg Fenrir: https://youtu.be/A0dNasvVewk Jormungandr: https://youtu.be/RnOrlpKDIyE The Werebear: https://youtu.be/-gah9gn0r8A Loki Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLax7iUZLpeuYdVyYpHISz2mEosQxu7rQN Do You Fear Death Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLax7iUZLpeuYfMDzf44tr2pXRDy3wP-tp Gods of Heathenry: https://youtu.be/Flb2a3W2V5A Hermodr: https://youtu.be/iU-gMUqiG5c Hodr: https://youtu.be/M6pPxdUgpTg Vali and Vidarr: https://youtu.be/od3YoVRcvRw Viking Soul: https://youtu.be/PmQb8qZk-qg Sif: https://youtu.be/PagTuagWhN4 Idunn: https://youtu.be/0sgLNVFZG9k Norse Afterlife: https://youtu.be/qKB1Gm3eV6Y Viking Heaven: https://youtu.be/_wJH33VrEPw Sol and Mani: https://youtu.be/e2YmvQUmeZ8 Njordr: https://youtu.be/6qDNTs3XG9o Freyr: https://youtu.be/N5norUmt7mE Thor in GoW: https://youtu.be/Jo3P_RbCZ3c Thor's Hammer: https://youtu.be/ck49KRxWZtQ Latent Christianity: https://youtu.be/ShvzwpsQL0c Original Latent Christianity vid: https://youtu.be/OvppWXJvPqA Further Reading - Loki in Scandinavian Mythology - Anna Birgitta Rooth - Loki and Sigyn - Lea Svendsen - Norse Myths That Shape the Way We Think - Carolyne Larrington - God in Flames, God in Fetters - Stephen Grundy - Our Troth: Volume 2: Heathen Gods - Ben Waggoner (3rd Edition) - Dictionary of Northern Mythology - Rudolf Simek - Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs - John Lindow - Murder and Vengeance Among the Gods: Baldr in Scandinavian Mythology - John Lindow - Myth and Religion of the North - EOG Turville-Petre - American Heathens - Jennifer Snook - The Pre-Christian Religions of the North: History and Structures - Jens Peter Schjødt, John Lindow, and Andrén Anders - The Poetic Edda - Edda - Snorri Sturluson - History of the Danes - Saxo Grammaticus - The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki - Eyrbyggja Saga - Gisli Sursson's Saga - The Saga of the Confederates - Njal's Saga 00:00 - Intro 00:21 - The Problem & Nature of Loki 04:00 - [The Positive Myths of Loki] 04:27 - The Blood Oath - Lokasenna 07:20 - Thor in a Wedding Dress - Þrymskviða 11:30 - Loki vs Logi - Gylfaginning 13:40 - Loki the Creator - Völuspá 17:55 - [The Negative Myths of Loki] 18:36 - Thor vs Geirrod - Skáldskaparmál, Þórsdrápa & Gesta Danorum 24:23 - Loki Hates Goats - Hymiskviða & Gylfaginning 26:16 - Baldr's Mistletoe Allergy - Baldrs draumar, Gylfaginning & Gesta Danorum 32:26 - Loki Talks Shit - Lokasenna 37:22 - Saxo's Bound Útgarða-Loki - Gesta Danorum 45:10 - Loki the Father of Monsters - Angrboða, Bera, and the Saga of King Rolf Kraki 49:00 - Ragnarok - Völuspá & Gylfaginning 54:12 - [The Grey Myths of Loki] 54:50 - Making Asgard Great Again - Gylfaginning 58:08 - You Otter Not Done That - Skáldskaparmál & Völsunga saga 01:01:25 - Sif's Bad Hair Day - Skáldskaparmál 01:04:51 - Curious Apples and Shifting Nuts - Skáldskaparmál 01:10:56 - The Character of Loki 01:18:07 - Lokeans & Modern Praxis via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Tk_vBthJE

[dunkinsthings]

Hola! I’m going to introduce myself!

Name: Dunkin or clownie

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Hobbies: Writing, sleeping, drawing

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Pronouns: She/her

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Fav artist/bands: Korn, Deftones, Foo fighters, Nirvana, Radiohead, Beastie boys, Wheatus, My Bloody Valentine, Type O Negative, Rob zombie, Plastic Trees, Rebzyyx, Hoshie Star, Roninkys, Vundbar, Gorillaz, molchat Doma, Eyedress, Saliva Palth, Pierce the veil, Skillet

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Interest: DC, Twilight, TMNT, Scott pilgrim Vs. The world, Ben 10, Scooby doo, Garfield, Sharks, bats, foxes, Naruto, HxH, Johnny Test, The hollow

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Lil abt me: I love and enjoy horror movies, and my top fav is Killer klowns from outer space. I love fall and my fav holiday is Halloween. I h8 Math & pickles, Shhawg.

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Might edit some stuff

｡:ﾟ૮ ˶ˆ ﻌ ˆ˶ ა ﾟ:｡ (≈ㅇᆽㅇ≈)♡

[princess-of-the-corner]

Two Omnitrix anon back. Decided on Charmcaster joining the heroes. She would be introduced earlier in the series through an episode that focuses on a magical McGuffin. The episode message would be about priorities or something with Ben repeatedly having to fight a one off villian using the artifact by himself and loosing because Gwen doesn't want to reveal herself to her new friend Hope. Would end with something implying Charmcaster knows her and Ben's identites. This episode woild also imply the abusive relationship with her uncle and have her say something like "Me and my uncle are on a roadtrip looking for magical stuff"

She would get a cameo in Lucky Girl. Nothing major just like in that opening scene she would be goofing off with Ben and Gwen too till Hex attacks. She would run off and not appear again in the episode.

Tough Luck wouldn't actually be changed alot other then being more emotional. Would have to actually rewatch it to be sure but like all that changes is that Gwen already knew there was something messed up with Charmcaster's living situation and so getting it confirmed and offering help only to get stabbed in the back would be more upsetting for her.

A Change in Face will need to be replaced or overhauled due to Charmcaster having no need to make another bodyswap spell after swapping with Gwen tempted to make an episode similar to Grudge Match but Gwen and her instead.

Finally like Kevin Charmcaster will not be appearing in Ben Ten Vs the Negative 10 and will be replaced by Hex as Kevin needs to stay in the Null Void and only having Charmcaster there would be weird in this rewrite.

Also Charmcaster is 13 in this rewrite. Also also unclear on if I'm changing Kevin/Gwen or writing Charmcaster/Ben.

NICE

[k-perez]

Ethics

The current state of social media ethics: what trends are happening in the industry? (5 pts)

Trends within the social media industry are always changing. Right now, lots is trending within the people. Love for the Kelce brothers, Polo shirts and 80s look for the guys, the kitten heel for the ladies. Trends always come back is what I like to say. From scrunchies, to claw clips, to bell bottom pants. These are all things that were trending 70s, 80s, 90s. I have noticed that Gen Z's favorite trend, is to bring back the old school stuff.

What are two current cases related to social media ethics? (5 pts)

Elonis vs U.S was a case in 2015 where the supreme court addressed potential threats on social media.

Outline the current code of ethics for social media by a professional organization you would be interesting in joining as part of their social media staff. (10 pts)

One organization whose code of ethics would align with these values is the Social Media Examiner (a leading organization in digital marketing and social media). Their code of ethics focuses on principles that ensure both social media professionals and the companies they represent operate ethically and responsibly.

Respect for audience, Integrity, Confidentiality, Accountability and responsibility, Professionalism, crisis management, Legal compliance, Fairness and equality

What brands are utilizing proper social media ethical practices? (5 pts)

Ben and Jerry's - Social justice and advocacy, inclusive messaging

Nike - Diversity and inclusion

LEGO - Positive online presence

Starbucks - Diversity and inclusion (highlights pride month and black history month)

Are there any professionals that you feel practice strong ethical behavior on social media? (5 pts)

Healthcare workers definitely, how their actions will affect others and avoid decisions that could cause harm.

What are some takeaways you can bring forth in your own practices? (10 pts)

Promoting inclusivity, it is so important to treat everyone with that same respect and kindness you give to everyone else. I encourage positive messaging, as it costs absolutely NOTHING to be kind. Educate others from reliable sources. Maintain professional boundaries in the workplace.

What main concepts do you think are necessary to adhere to for your own personal conduct online? (20 pts)

When considering my own personal conduct online, there are several concepts that would be essential to adhere to in order to ensure my behavior is ethical, respectful, and responsible. Below are the main concepts I would prioritize:

Authenticity, Integrity, Respect, Empathy, Accountability, Privacy, Transparency, Digital wellness, Positive social change, Collaboration, and Sustainability

What main concepts do you feel strongly against and want to make sure you avoid on social media? (20 pts)

The main concepts I would avoid on social media are :

Disinformation, Toxic behavior, Manipulation, Over-promotion, privacy violations, exploitation, excessive consumerism, and discrimination. These behaviors are harmful not only to individuals but also to the broader digital ecosystem

List 5-10 core concepts that you will follow as a practicing social media professional.

1. Authenticity and Transparency

Be Transparent: I will strive to present an authentic voice in all content created. This includes being transparent about partnerships, sponsored content, or any form of content that could be perceived as biased. Transparency builds trust with audiences and fosters deeper, more meaningful relationships.

2. Respect and Inclusivity

Respect All Individuals: I will engage with others respectfully, even when disagreements arise. I will avoid personal attacks or negative language, and work to create a safe, inclusive environment where people from all walks of life feel welcome. This includes being sensitive to cultural, racial, gender, and social differences.

3. Accountability

Own My Actions: I will take full responsibility for the content I create and share. If I make a mistake, I will acknowledge it, correct it, and learn from it. This accountability fosters trust and ensures credibility, especially when handling sensitive topics or issues.

I will be open to constructive criticism and feedback from my audience or peers, as it provides an opportunity for improvement.

4. Privacy and Data Protection

Respect Privacy: I will never share personal information about others without consent and will be mindful of how much of my own personal life I disclose publicly.

5. Empathy and Compassion

Positive engagement: I will respond to comments, messages, and interactions with empathy and kindness, seeking to uplift and support my community. Acknowledging the humanity of others in digital spaces helps to build a welcoming and supportive online environment.

Support Mental and Emotional Well-being: I will create content that encourages positive mental health practices, self-compassion, and resilience. I will avoid content that promotes harmful and unrealistic nonsense.

[hapalopus]

Question because I now regard you as like. an authority on Ben 10 watch guides sdfsdfsd I finished both parts of Ben 10 vs the Negative 10 and the site I use shows Secret of the Omnitrix and Destroy All Aliens BEFORE the last episode of the season (Goodbye and Good Riddance)? Is that really the recommended watch order or is something fucked (and are those two like, mandatory or recommended in the first place)

Goodbye and Good Riddance is non-canon, so you can watch them in any order you like! Technically Secret of the Omnitrix takes place before Goodbye and Good Riddance is supposed to happen, but imo it makes most sense to watch SotO last.

Destroy All Aliens takes place several weeks or months after the original series and SotO, so I have no idea why it'd be placed before Goodbye and Good Riddance xD

[kariachi]

Established in OS and doubled down on in AF (yes I am looking at you 'decision to hide direct alien heritage from the kids even when they already know about aliens').

'Selfishly conflict avoidant' just, describes some of Max's shit so well?

I think the secret-keeping itself probably goes back past Max in the family tree, given his nephew has an entire damn wedding where seemingly the only relatives who are invited are the ones that already know about the Plumbers (we learn later Ben and Gwen's dads did know, but also that they weren't supposed to, and we see with Cooper that that's apparently not normal among Plumbers), despite the fact the bride's family was masquerading the whole damn time anyway and also she's gonna be in the family. And that's leaving out AF stating that his cousins are themselves half-alien! That seems like the sort of thing you would get in a family tree that just, going way back figures that just hiding shit until you can't is good policy.

Going back to Max though, 'selfishly conflict avoidant' feels right along with what he does. Because he's not just keeping secrets, he's keeping secrets beyond the point of logic. Even Frank in AF, when his mother comes back and goes 'I'm an alien' goes 'yeah I knew we just didn't tell you and hoped it wouldn't come up'. But Max in OS? Feigns ignorance until he's in a corner. Max in AF? Turns out to have been keeping as basic secrets as 'btw your grandma is an alien'. AS? Turns out to have lied about Ben not being able to see a friend anymore because she moved.

And doesn't selfish conflict avoidance just explain that shit so well?

Can't tell the kids he knows about aliens and shit, then they might want him to get in touch with the other Plumbers and he'd either have to tell the other Plumbers what's going on or come up with some excuse why he can't contact them.

Can't tell the kids about the aliens in the bloodline because then he has to deal with 'why didn't you tell us' and his sons' responses.

Can't let the kids tell their parents what's up, because then he has to explain to his sons what's going on.

Can't tell Ben Elena's dad got fired and they're blacklisted because Ben's a good kid and Max would have to deal with him not having it.

Can't suggest the kids tell their adult Plumber relatives about the invasion going on because then he'll have to deal with them wanting to know why he never mentioned the damn invasion going on.

Though I've felt for a while that the latter and even some of the first are in part a matter of, how to phrase this, reliving his glory days via proxy? Like this man, from the word Plumber, is presented as a fucking golden boy. The bestest Plumber, savior of Earth, 'you're Max Tennyson's grandkid?', Azmuth made a fucking super-special watch and went 'Max Tennyson should be the one to guard this' out of the whole of the galaxy.

But come OS Max is an old man. Fit, but still old and feeling it. And his ten-year-old grandson gets the Omnitrix, immediately says 'I'm going to be a superhero'. And Max's response is...

Don't tell anyone.

Don't tell the kids he knows anything.

Encourage the grandson, Wise Old Mentor this shit. And as long as nobody knows, he doesn't have to worry they might go 'wtf Max'.

His ten-year-old grandson stands there, accepts his potential death and is ready to walk right out into it, and there's no sign he's anything but proud. (Why yes my last rewatch of Ben 10 vs Negative 10 rankled me)

Fastforward years, there's an invasion going on, he's told one person and he's about to go underground without telling even them. The last point of contact he makes before he's lured out of hiding is to contact his grandson, now fifteen, and call on him to help. He was going to anyway, it's fine, but he doesn't mention getting in touch with other Plumbers, not even the ones in the family. He mentions getting other children, more than likely with far less experience and training, and getting them to help him.

After all, if some other adult is helping out, if Ben isn't leading the charge, well is it really MaxBen's victory?

Do I think it's something he actively goes around plotting? Something comes up and he's 'how am I going to relive my days as the galaxy's Golden Boy via my grandson using this'? No. Do I think that a desire to continue to do so combined with, as you say, selfish conflict avoidance, a family tendency to keep secrets like they're fucking dragons' gold, could damn well lead a man in that direction and makes sense with what we see? Yes.

But that is, damn that's a ramble and on a perfectly succinct reblog. Sorry.

But yeah, I think you're right about Max and I think you're right that the family has just, seriously normalized not telling people shit for the kids, and not only has it already bitten the kids, but will probably continue to do so until they unlearn that shit. If they unlearn that shit.

At the very least I will hold out hope for Kenny and his sister.

Random Mid-Fic Thought: Could you draw a line between Max's secret keeping and Gwen's not telling Kevin shit during the third season of AF? Or are these distinct, separate flaws within the family tree?

[juniaships]

✨Jora Vs. The Negative 10 screencap✨

Imperfect as it is I'm really proud of how this turned out 😁 Trying to closely match the lighting gave me a challenge to play around to find a brand new palette for her. Season four is the pinnacle of her arc, changing from a shy bystander to a proactive heroine ready to take on the universe. I'm going to make more scenes of her participating in the action.

[insane-mane]

Ben 10 VS The Negative 10!

(Please Do Not Repost or Use My Art)

With some lore to go with it:

[probablyben10rpgideas]

Have the players meet a technopath

[infinite-wanders]

What do you think will happen with just Paxton and Devi in S3 either by going by the title names or some made up theories? In my opinion I don't think they'll be together for that long give it till ep 8 or 9 they'll break up..

Also it's a bit confusing that we don't have titles names yet for 9&10 huh.

Hey anons, I don't bite. Ask any of my mutuals. But it's okay, I get it.

I assume you've already read my post and are just want my views purely on Devi and Paxton's journey in s3.

While those were very much in favour of Ben x Devi x Paxton journey in s3, I'm going to give some Daxton heavy theories since you asked. Should I take it as you feel I'm a Daxton expert, as I'm really not.

Prior to the titles being leaked, I was very prepared for a very Devi x Ben season, with Devi and Paxton possibly not together by the end of s3 but still hopeful for Daxton endgame in s4.

The titles now lead me to believe they are together for majority of s3 as they explore their monogamous relationship.

In short, s1 was the foundation building of Daxton and s2 was the awkward "friendship vs romanceship" exploration. I'll elaborate in a future post I've got drafted as I started answering this ask.

Never Have I Ever ...

Written theories on leaked episode titles (Daxton Edition)

3x02 ... had My Own Troll

The episode opens to Devi waking up to more messages from instanon.

It's a photo of Paxton and Zoe making out.

Devi wakes up sweating from this nightmare.

She goes to see Dr Ryan who tries to be the voice of reason and tells her to just ask Paxton what it could mean.

Devi argues how it would upset Paxton and make him insecure.

Devi recruits her 2 besties to find out this anon.

Fabiola needs a distraction and Eleanor always loves a good drama.

They try Jonah and Ben to find dead ends. They try Eric who is revealed as Lady Whistleboy.

Eventually, Trent comes across their path, and is like, "Oh yeah. I totally forgot I sent that."

Trent: "Devi, my boy Maxi Pax has a heart of gold behind those chiselled abs. Don't go breaking it, or else."

Devi: That's not where the heart is... never mind.

Maybe Paxton finds out. Maybe he doesn't.

3x03 ... had a Valentine

Okay... so s2 never gave us a first proper Daxton date.

Let's see some growth from dates that involve the boys, Pizza and call of duty.

S3 ep 1 gives us a snippet of a pizza date but I'm sure they can do better for valentines day.

The pressure will be there and our boy may crumble, or he's going to recruit the help of Rebecca and pull something beautiful.

That is, until Trent hijacks his plans and turns it to a double date. Paxton doesn't know how to say no since Trent is no longer giving the icy shoulder.

If the writers feel like drama it up, let's get Aneesa and Ben on this date too.

I'm not going to suggest any date ideas yet as I'm currently writing some for my fic Grata as Hell.

But hey, if our long awaited Daxton pool scene happens in this ep, I may or may not cry.

If Paxton gets her a donut for Devi (with a card that reads, You look cool in that outfit), I legit will bawl. She's been wanting the damn donut since Ganesh Puja.

3x04 ... made someone jealous

Ben Gross goes to private school and it's all Nalini can talk about to Devi.

He overhears after climbing into her room (still yet to be caught, lol)

The insecurities flood him and oh Paxton, Paxton, Paxton ... green looks good on you.

While I personally don't like jealousy in my own relationship, God I do enjoy this drama on TV.

He's about to retreat back and ice Devi out, but they end up having a deep and meaningful.

She reassures him and all is well again.

UNTIL ... Paxton finds the pro/con board.

Dear lord, jealously ensues... then onto ep 5

3x05 ... been Ghosted.

I just believe this is more referring to Ben ghosting Devi rather than Paxton ghosting.

There is a different between ghosting and being iced out. When Paxton has iced her, we usually knew why. For him to ghost it could be from my unlikely theory for ep4. Also, negative to Paxtons growth with Devi.

The only thing I could think why Paxton would ghost of if tragedy strikes Paxtons family and he doesn't want to burden Devi with it. Very unlikely as he'd want her there.

3x06... had a breakdown

If it's not Andy Samberg narrated episode, and is more referring to Devi having a breakdown (compared to her losing her shit).

Paxton gets offered a scholarship to Stanford University, keeping him here in California. While Devi works towards Princeton and Ben towards Colombia.

The realisation that Devi may have to choose between Paxton, or her future, triggers a breakdown.

Devi gets waitlisted and Ben gets early acceptance (is this a thing when you're not a senior? I'm not from USA so our school system is different).

3x07 ... cheated

[404 error]

I'll elaborate another time on Devi or Paxton possibly cheating in school, as it better not be referring to relationships. I'll be hello pissed.

3x08 ... hooked up with my boyfriend

Devi and Paxton have sex for the first time.

I'm still hoping for Paxton to reveal Devi is his first because everyone assumes Paxton has had alot of sex. Maybe he has. But Daxton heart if here for extra special moments.

Beyond this I'm not ready to elaborate further.

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.

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To conclude, ep 3x09 and ep 3x10 episode titles have not been leaked as I feel they would be major spoilers. Maybe someone dies in ep 9, maybe ep 10 reveals this Daxton endgame or breakup of Daxton as he graduates.

I'm like this as all my OTP are never endgame

[alexcardellini]

Ben 10 Ultimate Alien Force is misogynist and here’s the proof

By Alex Cardellini (pen name), journalist graduated in Audiovisual and Broadcasting from Casper Libero College

     In 2016, several feminist groups protested against a poster for the film X-Men: Apocalypse that showed the character Apocalypse squeezing the neck of the character Mystique. The central claim was that it “promoted violence against women.” Six years earlier, there was the debut of the third series of Ben 10 saga, called Ben 10: Ultimate Alien. In the first season, the main female character, Gwen Tennyson, picks up severely from both her cousin Ben Tennyson (the protagonist) and her boyfriend, Kevin Levin. Unfortunately, although Gwen’s case was even more severe than Mystique’s (considering the plot of both stories), there was not even a protest against the cartoon.

     Even though Ben 10: Ultimate Alien is no longer as popular as before (although it still has many engaged fans), it is important to know the sexist character the saga has taken since Cartoon Network changed the team responsible for it. Nowadays, when the discriminatory (racist, xenophobic, etc.) face of many ancient stories is being revealed, it is crucial to denounce sexism in more recent works so that it is not repeated in the future. This article will show you why Ben 10: Ultimate Alien and its predecessor Ben 10: Alien Force is misogynistic and need to be questioned.

 1- Gwen Tennyson: from empowered heroine to rogue’s girlfriend

      Ben 10 original series was created by Man of Action in the second half of the 2000s, having as the main characters Ben Tennyson, his cousin Gwen and his grandfather Max. Gwen was presented as an intelligent, brave, clean, and gifted 10-year-old girl with many skills. Some of them were karate, doing necessary research (as in the episodes “Washington A.C,” “The Krakken,” “Hunted,” “Framed,” “The Unnaturals,” “Benwolf,” etc.), computer science knowledge (e.g., “Ready to Rumble,” “Ben 10 vs. The Negative 10,” etc.) and, from the second season, magical powers. The episodes “Lucky Girl,” “Tough Luck,” and “Gwen 10” are focused on her. Gwen was an example of women empowerment, which attracted the audience of many girls who identified with her. The heroine shows that the girls do not have to wait for the boys to save them from the villains; they can fight alongside the boys against the villains. Unfortunately, Cartoon Network did not know how to enjoy Gwen’s popularity. The cartoon’s products (toys, notebooks, games, clothes, etc.) focused exclusively on Ben and the aliens, limiting heroine to stickers and online games of little expressiveness. But the biggest problem lies in the sequels, in which the character’s development goes down the drain.

 Gwen in Ben 10 original series

      Aiming to take advantage of the commercial success of Ben 10, Cartoon Network bet on a sequel. However, it replaced creator Man of Action with Dwayne McDuffie as the developer. The new series, Alien Force, made Ben and Gwen 15-year-old teenagers and brought more “dark” storylines to the episodes. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a phase of “maturity” of the characters eventually regressed, and Gwen was the most affected character. First of all, her physique is sexualized compared to that of other female characters of the same age, such as Julie Yamamoto. In addition, her intelligence and research skills are almost ignored (except in episodes like “Paradox” and “Grounded”). Her performance in fights becomes more bodily (through her magic). With adolescence’s arrival, Ben and Gwen naturally go through new experiences and feelings, such as the first passions. And at that point, McDuffie and his team couldn’t do a good job.

 Gwen and Julie in Alien Force

      The elected to be Gwen’s “passion” was Kevin Levin. He was the second main villain in the original series (behind only the alien Vilgax). Kevin proved to be a greedy person with solid traces of psychopathy (evident in episodes such as “Kevin 11” and “Grudge Match”). In his first appearance in the sequel (“Ben 10 Returns - Part 1”), he continues to despise other people’s lives as he acts as a lethal weapons smuggler (more dangerous than Earth’s). Despite recognizing the same villain that she and her cousin fought in childhood (and who hurt her in “Back With A Vengeance”), Gwen inexplicably falls in love with Kevin. She comes to the height of storing a sweaty handkerchief from him in the episode “Kevin’s Big Score.” How does a girl who was independent at 10, clean, and wouldn’t let himself be humiliated by any man at 15, decide to keep the sweaty handkerchief of a psychopath for herself? With this, we have the first question about the message that Ben 10: Alien Force wants to convey to the public: do the writers wish to imply that girls at 15 are irrational beings who give up their judgment and personality to give themselves to the first “handsome boy” who appears? Wouldn’t that be a very sexist description of teenage girls? Certainly, Gwen’s attitude in “Kevin’s Big Score” insinuates an “intellectual inferiority” of women of women by suggesting that they do not know how to differentiate physical attraction from unconditional love. It’s one thing to find a handsome man; it’s another thing to ignore that he’s a psychopath and to idolize him so that even his excrement is considered “sacred.”

     Alien Force infers Gwen’s belief is that Kevin can change (a common feature in women with hybristophilia, “Bonnie & Clyde Syndrome”). However, anyone who has known him since the original series knows this is impossible because he is a psychopath. Episodes such as “Ben 10 Returns - Parts 1 and 2,” “Kevin’s Big Score,” “The Gauntlet,” “Simple,” and “Con of Rath” reveal that Kevin always returns to crime, even when helping the Tennysons on a mission. True heroes don’t do double play (the original series explains this in “Truth”). With her intelligence and research skills, the original Gwen would know that it’s impossible to cure psychopathy, so she can’t trust Kevin. However, Alien Force Gwen (five years older) ignores reason and lets her be guided by physical attraction. The idea that women are purely emotional and do not reason is a misogynist concept.

     In the episode “What Are Little Girls Made Of?,” when Gwen receives a proposal to live with her grandmother and enhance her powers, Ben advises her to go, while Kevin rejects the proposal and suggests that she must stay as if Gwen were his property. She kisses him and accepts his idea without realizing that his “concern” is a sense of ownership. In addition, in the name of her love for Kevin, Gwen submits to humiliations and dangers (“Time Heals”) to help him. To continue to nurture that love, she ignores her beloved one’s rudeness (“Darkstar Rising”) and his disrespect for her feelings (“In Charm’s Way”), sacrifices (also in “In Charm’s Way”), and living standards (“Save The Last Dance”). The heroine doesn’t realize her living in a toxic relationship, and the story’s course ignores this problem to suggest that there’s nothing wrong with that. One example is the middle and end of the episode “Save The Last Dance,” in which Kevin’s “concern” about taking Gwen to her school ball (which he despises at first) masks the disdain he has for the way she lives.

     Kevin is not the only nasty and sexist character who has won the heroine. She is also seduced by Michael Morningstar, a villain who wants to absorb her energy. He easily manipulates Gwen because the villain is handsome (“All That Glitters...”). At the same time, she rejects Cooper’s feelings - a boy who helped her in the original series - because he doesn’t fit beauty standards (“Undercover”). Then, Alien Force indicates that Gwen is futile and attracted to men of evil nature. Soon, the series implies that women value physical beauty over character, another sexist portrait.

     Alien Force’s sexism gains more intensity in its sequel, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien. In it, Gwen becomes a victim of physical violence against women. In the episode “The Forge of Creation,” Kevin absorbs too much energy to defeat villain Agreggor. The overdose causes an uncontrollable power thirst, and he starts promoting attacks to get more. In “The Enemy of My Enemy,” Kevin attacks Gwen after fighting the Plumbers (intergalactic agents), and the narrative suggests that the aggression only occurred because Kevin was under the effect of a “narcotic.” Compared to real life, it’s like a husband who says he hit his wife “because he was drunk.” After that, while Gwen sees Kevin as someone who needs help (as an alcoholic or drug addict who needs treatment), Ben sees him as a significant threat and, in the position of “the greatest hero in the universe,” sees no choice but to kill him. From this disagreement between the cousins, the worst case of misogyny in the saga surfaced. 

     In the fateful episode “Absolute Power - Part 1” - ironically written by a woman, Charlotte Fullerton - Ben is determined to kill Kevin. He talks and acts rudely with Gwen when he realizes that she disagrees with him. The cousins then start a fight: she uses her magic to hold him, and he initially uses his transformations to keep her away. However, it becomes more intense when Ben turns into NRG to throw lava at huis cousin (which could kill her if her magic fails). She, in retaliation, crushes him with his book when he becomes Nanomech (which could also kill him). He then transforms into Way Big, throws a ray of energy at her, and knocks her unconscious. Ben still delivers a victory speech before his cousin’s body. Afterward, Gwen appeals to her grandfather, who surprisingly stands next to his grandson and ignores her cousin physically assaulted her. From the moment he used NRG to stop her, Ben was no longer in the position of “protector” (i.e., trying to keep her away from a danger she “didn’t understand”). Ben was intent on hurting Gwen because she disagreed with him. Then, Ben promotes and justifies violence against women and sexism, placing the woman as inferior to the man and that he deserves to be hit when she disagrees with him. And what’s more troubling: this time, it’s not the “villain” who’s playing the sexist role; it’s the “hero.”

 Ben hurting Gwen in Ultimate Alien

      Gwen ends up teaming up with Morningstar to save her boyfriend, offering her the energy of her body in exchange for help (a sexual metaphor). The villain doesn’t miss the opportunity to harass her, as usual. While trying to talk to Kevin during an ambush, she is assaulted by him even more violently than Ben, both verbally and physically. In “Absolute Power - Part 2” - written by a man, Dwayne McDuffie - when Cooper joins the team, Gwen is attracted to him, who is now handsome. They can get Kevin back to normal. She kisses Cooper on the cheek and Kevin on the mouth. Ben and Kevin apologize to each other, but none of them apologize to Gwen for assaulting her, neither in the following episodes. The subject is just “forgotten,” and everyone acts as if nothing had happened. It’s like the show says to the audience, “Look, the hero of your childhood hits women, and nothing happens. It’s normal. It’s right to hit a woman because she’s weak.”

 Kevin hurting Gwen in Ultimate Alien

      In addition to normalizing the sexism of a psychopath (Kevin), the series even promotes a sexist hero (Ben) who has his acts forgiven for being the protagonist. The fight between Ben and Gwen, especially his victory speech, closely recalls the scenes from the film Enough, in which villain Mitch (Billy Campbell) hits his wife Slim (Jennifer Lopez). However, in Enough, the victim learns to face the problem and gives the deserved punishment to the aggressor. In Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, the aggressors get unpunished and are acclaimed, while the victim is ignored and devalued. It is disgusting how the series portrays violence against women, as it implies that it is the result of a choice of women themselves. Many victims carry the aggressions in real life because they do not have financial and family support to get rid of the aggressors. It’s not the case with Gwen, who is rich and welcomed by her parents. The character suffers from Bonnie & Clyde Syndrome, which the series treat as “something natural of women,” when it should be seen as it indeed is: a severe psychological problem.

     As in Alien Force, Kevin keeps despising Gwen’s feelings in Ultimate Alien. In “In Charm’s Way” (from Alien Force), besides betraying her feelings by kissing Charmcaster, he disregards the heroine’s work to help him reverse the side effects of an accident. In a conversation with Ben, Kevin accuses Gwen of not liking him anymore because of his mutant appearance, indicating that she is shallow. In the episode “Video Games” from Ultimate Alien, he demonstrates to value the car more than her, considering her an object. In “Hero Time” and “Girl Trouble,” he accepts flirtations, respectively, from Jennifer Nocturne and Sunny, even though he has a girlfriend. In both cases, Gwen prefers to threaten the mistresses than scold him. These examples prove that Kevin doesn’t value Gwen. Relationships like this are toxic, abusive, and sexist. An animated series seen by children and teenagers should fight these ideas, not encourage them. Ironically, in the episode “Couples Retreat,” Gwen tries to warn Charmcaster that Morningstar is a toxic boyfriend without realizing that her relationship with Kevin is equally unhealthy and abusive. The series allerts about Stockholm Syndrome through Jennifer Nocturne and villain Nemesis in “Catch a Falling Star,” but at the same time normalizes and romanticizes Bonnie & Clyde Syndrome through Gwen and Kevin.

     Ultimate Alien still has two episodes that expose the misogyny against Gwen. In “The Forge of Creation,” she is harassed by a younger version of Ben, who makes indiscreet comments about her butt. Kevin echoes them right away. A question for screenwriters and producers: if harassing a woman is already unacceptable from an adult, how normal can it be from a 10-year-old boy? Do you want to encourage children to commit harassment? That’s a crime. In the last arc of the series, in “The Ultimate Enemy: Part 1,” the villain Dagon reveals Gwen is the most powerful being in the universe. However, screenwriter Matt Wayne himself states that he doesn’t believe it’s true. It demonstrates that the production of Ultimate Alien does not recognize the power of women. Considering the facts, Gwen has more skills than Ben (who, without the Omnitrix, has no power at all). However, Alien Force and Ultimate Alien universe (also called Ultimate Alien Force, abbreviated UAF) have as a rule to treat women as inferior to men, especially the protagonist. So, it would be inconceivable to recognize that Gwen is more powerful than Ben.

     In the sequel to Ultimate Alien, Ben 10: Omniverse, Gwen is demoted from deuteragonist to supporting character. Although she continues to date Kevin, their relationship is no longer evidence. Indeed, Gwen has almost no room in Omniverse, as the series is entirely Ben-centric. Then, as she goes to college, she is no longer available to her cousin all the time. Although she is not ugly, it is visible that the art direction sought to make her less attractive than her previous versions (considering the patterns and stereotypes adopted in American series and films). First, the series wants to reproduce the misogynistic idea that women can’t be beautiful and intelligent simultaneously (echoed by characters from several American series, such as Damon Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries). Second, Omniverse repeats Ultimate Alien Force’s idea that Gwen is inferior to men and serves only to satisfy them. If she is no longer “useful,” she does not deserve prominence. Soon, after removing the character’s intelligence and independence, the saga now takes her last “highlight”: her beauty. 

 Gwen in Omniverse

      It is important to remember that in the original series, Gwen and Max gave lessons in Ben (in episodes such as “Tourist Trap” and “Lucky Girl”), showing the target audience (the children) that making mistakes and learning from them is part of life. Unfortunately, Omniverse producers seem to see it - erroneously - as something that “takes away Ben’s prominence,” and create plots in which he always emerges victorious, even if his conduct is not the best. Episodes such as “Mystery, Incorporeal” and “Mud Is Thicker Than Water” make a point of humiliating Gwen to convey that she needs to be below Ben no matter what she does.

     In Ben 10: Reboot, where the characters are ten years old again, Gwen loses her personality and becomes a female version of Ben. Then, she acts like a dumb, immature, and inconsequential girl, like her cousin. The only notable thing in Reboot is that one of its episodes - “Xingo Nation” - criticizes Ultimate Alien Force’s sexism. It shows a parody of this universe, in which Gwen is depicted as an irrational girl attracted to criminals. She’s aware of the danger, but she gets carried away by the attraction the same way. Not coincidentally, she is named Quinn in the parody, like Harley Quinn, the Joker’s girlfriend.

     Man of Action created Gwen as an independent and empowered female character. Their successors found it more profitable to promote sexist stereotypes (ignoring the consequence of this for the target audience: children and adolescents) and turned her into a stereotype of a dumb, sexualized woman who submits to handsome criminals. If the franchise ignored the female audience by despising the acclaimed character on the market, Cartoon Network went on to disrespect it even more by turning an empowered heroine into a portrait of male domination over women. 

 2- Ben Tennyson: from hero who does not hit woman to womanizer aggressor of women

      The original series makes a point of showing that, for Ben Tennyson, his family is the most important. The Omnitrix is just a tool. It is evident in episodes like “Back With A Vengeance” and “The Visitor” and the movie Ben 10: The Secret of the Omnitrix. The story teaches that, even with disagreements, the family is the most excellent source of love. Ben learns from his mistakes and carries on. Unlike the endings of the original series episodes, which are educational, those of Ultimate Alien Force and Omniverse imply that the protagonist is always right, promoting the character’s narcissism, not his supposed “maturing.”

     In the episode “The Alliance” of the original series, Ben emphatically says, “heroes don’t hit girls.” Unfortunately, Ultimate Alien’s production ignored it and made him hit Gwen in “Absolute Power - Part 1.” At no point in the story is Ben reprimanded for it, nor does he apologize to his cousin. On the contrary, Max scolds him just for planning to kill Kevin. The grandson justifies himself with a moralistic discourse about how he had to “mature” after thinking he had lost his grandfather (in Alien Force episode “Max Out”) as if it justified violence against women. The show’s target is children and preteens, and these are in the process of learning. They understand that something is “wrong” when the character is reprimanded and “right” when they are rewarded. From the moment Ben receives no reprimand for assaulting Gwen, the audience assimilates violence against women as something “right” or, at the very least, “normal.”

     Consequently, an “acceptable sexism” is created in their subconscious. Unlike Kevin, Ben is not a psychopath, and several later stories show that he cares about his cousin. One example is “Girl Trouble,” in which - while Kevin complains and mocks Gwen - Ben supports her and defends her in the fight against villain Sunny. Although Kevin demonstrates more violence and misogyny than Ben, attention to the hero needs to be doubled because he is the protagonist; children and preteens identify with him and may copy his attitudes. That’s why educational endings like the original series are essential for audience learning. The ones of Ultimate Alien Force are harmful because they normalize violence against women by insinuating that Ben had “good intentions” when he knocked Gwen unconscious.

       Gwen is not the only female character who spells out the misogyny of the Ultimate Alien Force and Omniverse universes. The second biggest example is Julie, Ben’s girlfriend in UAF. In the Alien Force episode “Pier Pressure,” their relationship begins innocently and is relatively undeveloped. In Ultimate Alien, it gains more prominence. However, Benlie is a couple doomed to failure, as neither has the necessary maturity to start a relationship. Ben is learning to deal with adolescence and the most dangerous challenges in a hero’s life. Julie feels uncomfortable with Ben’s hectic routine, demands more attention and availability than he can give, and proves incomprehensible to her boyfriend (seen in “Duped,” “Eye of the Beholder,” and “Greetings from Techadon”). That behavior is obsessive and portrays women as jealous, selfish, and incomprehensible beings. Julie has powers to fight enemies (through Chip, her pet), but this is misused in Alien Force (and even more in Ultimate Alien), as this would empower her, and UAF wanted to make her a “jealous girlfriend” stereotype.

     In addition, the Ben 10 saga is very much focused on the “heroic” part, and creating a loving plot proved to be unnecessary. The producers wanted to put couples in the story to appeal to the preteen audience. However, they did not recognize that they do not know how to portray healthy relationships (Kevin and Ben even ridicule the female sex while criticizing their girlfriends in “Eyes of the Beholder”). All the prominent relationships in UAF show the man as dominant and the woman as inferior. By forcing a love plot into a story that did not require it, the production implies that a woman needs a man to be highlighted, even if he provides her with a toxic relationship. Gwen and Julie are the best examples because - in addition to the cases already cited - the episode Gwen is the main character in Alien Force has the plot based on Kevin (“Time Heals”), and Julie’s appearances in Ultimate Alien reinforce sexist stereotypes.

     In Ultimate Alien, Ben proves to be unfaithful, besides being aggressive and misogynist. He almost kisses Eunice and Elena in the episodes “Transmogrification of Eunice” and “Revenge of the Swarm.” In the first case, he flirts with Eunice, and although he says he is no longer with Julie, Gwen indicates that her cousin is still dating the girl. In the second case, he lets Elena seduce him. Both Eunice and Elena are negative representations of women: the first is - literally - an object (of alien technology), and the second is obsessed with Ben, able even to commit crimes to be with him (as seen in “The Perfect Girlfriend”). However, Ben’s most glaring case of infidelity occurs in “Hero Time,” in which he accepts to be Jennifer Nocturne’s companion and even takes a hydromassage bath with her. Of course, because it’s a child-watched cartoon, they will not mention the word “sex,” but what do a boy and a girl do in a hot tub? Of course, there are second thoughts, even if he tells Julie that Jennifer kissed him. And why would a boy who has a girlfriend agree to go to the hot tub with another girl? Julie doesn’t like it, but - like Gwen - she harbors a hatred for his mistress instead of breaking up with her boyfriend. Then, the series wants to show that it is the man’s right to have as many women as wants; the defect is in women, who are “too jealous.” Although Ultimate Alien Force claims to bring Ben a “maturity,” there’s nothing “mature” about hitting women and being a womanizer.

 Ben cheating on Julie with Eunice and Elena

      Omniverse replaces Julie with Kai as Ben’s girlfriend. The character - introduced in the original series - also brings a stereotype: the woman out of herself. Kai, from the beginning, shows that he is interested in Ben’s aliens, not himself. The series gives her a Lara Croft profile to convince the audience that she would be the protagonist’s ideal girlfriend. Over time, Kai and Ben’s relationship resembles that between Ben and Gwen in the original series (with a rivalry but admiration for each other), resulting in a date. Although the stereotypes, Omniverse gives Kai the empowerment of original Gwen because it considers the heroine has regressed too much in UAF to be recovered. In Ben 10’s sequels - UAF and Omniverse - there is no young female character with whom the girl fans can identify. Gwen, Julie, Eunice, Elena, Jennifer, and Kai are all female stereotypes, made to prove Ben’s “male superiority.”* Omniverse’s episode “The Most Dangerous Game Show,” scans how much the franchise managers see women as objects by putting several of them to dispute Ben on a game show as if the best reward a woman could have in life was a man.

(*Charmcaster and Sunny (alongside other female antagonists) are not considered because, besides representing the stereotype of “treacherous women,” as villainesses in an animated series for children and young people, they are purposely developed for the audience do not identify with them.)

3- Kevin Levin: the misogynist psychopath loved by fans

      The original series is evident in describing Kevin Levin as a psychopath. He is the villain who deceives the protagonist (“Kevin 11”), as the Fox and the Cat, from Pinocchio. Then he blames him for his problems (“Framed”) and seeks to kill him for revenge (“Grudge Match,” “Back With A Vengeance”), as Captain Hook, from Peter Pan. Kevin feels no remorse for his actions and seeks to reach the hero by putting the lives of others at risk, be it his family (“Back With A Vengeance”) or ordinary citizens (“Framed”). However, UAF suggests that Kevin’s natural inclination to crime is the result of family abandonment (“Absolute Power - Part 2”) and energy addiction (“The Forge of Creation”). Gwen’s idolatry for her boyfriend and the constant mention of Kevin’s supposed “redemption” throughout UAF lead the audience to forget that he is a psychopath and to believe that he is good (only makes wrong decisions). As the franchise’s target is children and preteens, viewers are not expected to know that psychopathy is a condition independent of the environment in which the person lives. Anyone who knows the character from the original series knows that he has no cure. UAF fans are more conducive to normalizing Kevin’s misogyny and aggressiveness. However, nothing gives him the right to physically and psychologically abuse Gwen, whether his evilness’s source is his wicked trauma or a psychiatric condition. Through the submission of the heroine (narrative aspect) and Kevin’s physical beauty (visual aspect), UAF infers women themselves allow men to assault them, creating yet another “acceptable sexism.”

 Kevin betraying Gwen’s feelings in UAF with Charmcaster, Jennifer, and Sunny (in the last two cases, he was officially dating Gwen)

      Ultimate Alien Force tries to make Kevin an animated version of Han Solo (from Star Wars), as both have a mocking style and drive the vehicles. However, it can only produce a misogynist psychopath. He is the character who is willing to:

Kill innocent people for money: “Kevin 11” and “Framed” (original series);

Kill innocent people for pleasure: “Framed” and “Grudge Match” (original series);

Kill for revenge: “Back With A Vengeance” (original series) and “Revenge” (Alien Force);

Cheat: “Kevin 11,” “Grudge Match” (original series), “Kevin’s Big Score,” “Simple,” “Con of Rath” (Alien Force), and “Many Happy Returns (Omniverse);

Trade weapons: “Ben 10 Returns - Part 1” and “Simple” (Alien Force);

Make criminal associations: “Kevin’s Big Score,” “Simple,” “Con of     Rath,” “Trade Off” (Alien Force);

Steal: “Ben 10 Returns - Part 2” and “The Gauntlet” (Alien Force);

Hurt women feelings: “In Charm’s Way” (Alien Force), “Hero Time,” “Video Games,” “Girl Trouble” (Ultimate Alien), and “Many Happy Returns” (Omniverse);

Hit women: “Back With A Vengeance” (original series), “The Enemy of My Enemy,” and “Absolute Power” (Ultimate Alien). 

      In Omniverse, in the episode “Many Happy Returns,” Kevin applies a con to an alien royal family, promising to marry the princess in exchange for valuable accessories for his car. He runs away before doing his part, and his fiancée prefers to blame Gwen than admit that a criminal deceived her. The plots of UAF and Omniverse make a point of blaming the problems on women and exempting men from responsibility or punishment for their acts. 

 Some of Kevin’s crimes in Alien Force

      Ben and Kevin’s unpunished misogyny caused many saga’s fans (primarily children and preteens during the original run) to vigorously defend the characters’ behavior (including the assaults on Gwen). Currently, Ben 10 has one of the most toxic fandoms on the internet. Healthy discussions on websites like YouTube, Reddit and the saga’s own Wiki (Ben 10 Planet) are virtually impossible. Anyone who defends Gwen or points to errors in Ben’s or Kevin’s conduct is automatically target of virtual lynching. Some cases even present racist, xenophobic, misogynistic and LGBT-phobic violence. It is worrying that Alien Force is considered by many fans and youtubers as the best series in the franchise - precisely by the darker content, which gives the false impression of the characters’ maturity - when in fact, it was the gateway to the misogyny and the saga’s moral and artistic decay.

     The franchise’s producers also contribute to the toxic environment that has become the fandom. They ignore the criticism and show total contempt to the fans. One example is Omniverse’s immense disapproval compared to its predecessors. Fans did not approve of the cheaper design, cheap humor, and narrative inconsistencies, but the producers ignored their complaints. In addition to making Ben a more arrogant and immature protagonist, Omniverse tried to fix UAF’s flaws by creating even more holes in the story. They wanted to show that Gwen fell in love with Kevin at age 11 (which is chronologically impossible). Still, they forgot that at Ben and Kevin’s first reunion in Alien Force, the hero only remembers that the two were enemies, not the supposed alliance in “From Hedorium To Eternity.” Faced with his contempt for more superficial issues, it would not be a surprise if those responsible for UAF and Omniverse ignored the complaints of misogyny in the franchise.

 4- Conclusion

      Believing that stereotype and misogyny are more profitable than originality (this one that gave so much success to the series originates), Cartoon Network destroyed Man of Action’s legacy by totally modifying the story and characters of the Ben 10 saga. Fans end up being induced to normalize violence against women and sexism. These days, when discriminatory messages in movies and series are reported, Ben 10: Alien Force and Ben 10: Ultimate Alien cannot be left off the list, mainly because they’re both a show of misogyny.

     Violence against women cannot be portrayed as a personal choice of the victim and much less justified as if men were naturally superior and had the right to assault women. The fight against gender violence begins by teaching children ethical values, and programs that promote stereotypes and messages of male superiority, such as UAF and Omniverse, are a real disservice to society. Only the original series deserves our admiration. A saga destroyed by greed and misogyny only deserves our repudiation and aversion.

 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien’s target (children and preteens) are more likely to copy Ben Tennyson than X-Men: Apocalypse’s (adults) to copy Apocalypse. Combating violence against women starts early, giving youth the right role model.

Endnotes: The UAF writing team is primarily male. Matt Wayne is one of the leading writers. He wrote  “Kevin’s Big Score,” “What Are Little Girls Made Of?,” and “Mystery, Incorporeal,” the misogynist episodes mentioned. He also often makes sexist statements about Gwen and overvalues Ben.