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1'''As a Fridge subpage, all spoilers are unmarked [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff as per policy.]] Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.'''
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3[[AC:FridgeBrilliance]]
4* Since we're on the subject of ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben10}}'', let's talk about how the Omnitrix didn't make him change into an unwanted alien in the first 2 seasons of ''Alien Force''. It seems to be justified in season 3 of AF simply by having been screwed up at the start of the season, but this wasn't a problem in the original series. But then I realized when Ben tried using Humongosaur in one episode and he ended up being turned into Lodestar: Ben habitually uses stronger aliens. And when his ego decides to be a problem, he doesn't give much thought of strategy. The Omnitrix most likely is trying to make sure Ben's ego doesn't get in his way. --@/MasterKnight
5** WordOfGod hinted (never outright stated) that there was an artificial intelligence of sorts in the Omnitrix that kinda chose for Ben an alien that would be better suited for the job. --@/wildste
6** Okay, then what about the times when it turns into Ripjaws on dry land?
7** {{Troll}}atrix
8** Have you all noticed that the malfunctions and wrong transformations tend to happen a lot during the more light-hearted and less serious part of the show (like the Original Series or Omniverse), where Ben tends to be reckless, stupid, impulsive or immature? Maybe the wrong transformations and malfunctions could be the Omnitrix’s way of punishing Ben whenever it gets fed up with his idiocy and immaturity? In fact, remember that one time when Ben and Kevin tried to hack and modify the Omnitrix during their teenage years in the later seasons? The malfunctions and wrong transformations returned and became far more frequent after that. So, could the Omnitrix have been angry at Ben for trying to hack it, and maybe it decided that pretending to malfunction and give him the wrong aliens was a good way to get some payback on him?
9** In an episode of Omniverse, Azmuth says that the Omnitrix gives Ben the wrong alien because Ben slams down the dial instead of pressing it normally. That would basically be the equivalent of punching your phone's screen to open an app. Given that the first Omnitrix only gives Ben the wrong alien from time to time, whereas the second one does that constantly, it could be that the first one can handle hard impact better than the second one, and only gives Ben the wrong alien when he hits the dial particularly hard.
10** It’s worth noting that the idea of the Omnitrix gaining sentience or Azmuth accidentally creating sentient technology isn't all that implausible: After all, that's how the Galvans accidentally created Upgrade's race, isn’t it? And then, if we take Eunice into account, then the idea has some precedence to it. After all, Eunice is supposed to be a less advanced, flawed prototype of the Omnitrix, so if she could gain sentience, then surely her more advanced "successor" could do it too, under the right circumstances?
11* One great example of Fridge Brilliance is remember in the episode where Charmcaster and Hex take over the world. you understand why they keep Kevin alive he is their slave, can't do anything against them. But why keep Ben alive why risk it. but omniverse reveals the watch won't let him die it changes him into whatever alien is best suited to keep him alive. meaning no matter how many times they tried to kill him he would have a new form. it also explains why they would stop torturing him they don't want to risk turning him into an alien that they cant beat.
12* In the first series, Vilgax almost never tried to touch the watch on Ben's wrist, only trying to touch it to remove it from his wrist. Why doesn't he try to grab the watch more often? He probably knows about the watch's ability to collect DNA, and won't touch the Omnitrix unless it's off of Ben's wrist, because he does ''not'' want Ben to be as powerful or dangerous as him. Ben even lampshades in "Benwolf" where he says he could have gotten a "Wicked Vilgax".
13* The revelation in the finale that the previous Omnitrix was a prototype readily explains why Ben had so much trouble handling it in the original series and ''Alien Force''. In real life, prototypes usually are pretty buggy.
14** But this also leads to FridgeLogic, seeing how the new Omnitrix is EVEN MORE buggy than the original.
15*** According to Azmuth, the new Omnitrix is like that because it's touch-sensitive; The reason Ben keeps getting different aliens is because he's always slamming it.
16** Also Azmuth considered the Ultimatrix to be inferior to the original.
17* People accuse Ben of AesopAmnesia for never learning to use the Omnitrix responsibly, but take a closer look. In the first seven episodes, Ben transforms for selfish/frivolous reasons literally OnceAnEpisode. (Wildmutt in episode 1, Grey Matter in episode 2, Fourarms in episode 3, Ghostfreak in episodes 4 and 5, Stinkfly ''and'' Fourarms in episode 6, and Ghostfreak ''and'' Stinkfly in episode 7.) Episode 7 is "Kevin 11", in which Ben is treated to the harshest Aesop regarding selfishness and responsibility that he ever gets in the show. After that, with the admitted exception of a series of Season 3 episodes, Ben's selfish/frivolous transformations become quite a bit more spaced out (check it out for yourselves). Ben really does remember his lessons... sometimes.
18** Also in the first series, Ben is 10 and in the following series, he's a teenager. Science has proven that your brain doesn't finish developing until you're in your 30s. No wonder that Ben keeps backsliding; his brain is still rearranging itself for adulthood!
19* In the episode 'Ultimate Weapon', when Ben, Gwen, and Max were caught by the Forever Knights and were about to be shoved into the Pit of Despair, Enoch shoved Ben into the pit ''first'' before Gwen or their Grandpa. This makes sense because the Omnitrix was still recharging, but if it had recharged at that moment, Ben would've been able to retaliate. Ben was the ''only'' one who would've been able to strike back so it's obvious Enoch would get rid of him first before the old man and the powerless girl.
20* The mutated Kevin's powers are only 1/10 as as strong as the orignals due to being half Osmosian. Osmosians can only obtain 1/10 of an alien creature's strength when absorbing their power. This is similar to the way living things consume food. They can only absorb 1/10 of the energy food provides.
21* The multiple openings of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10SecretOfTheOmnitrix'' are neat enough on their own, but the later series' reveal about the TheMultiverse means that each version of the movie could be another universe where the "nail" would be which alien Ben chose (or the Omnitrix gave him) to fight Animo [[InSpiteOFANail (which leads to it ultimately not mattering which one was chosen as the outcome was the same)]].
22* With the comments about when Ben unlocked Artiguana and Spitter by Omniverse times, it makes a bit of retroactive sense why Ben 10,000 used them (and Buzzshock) as the only aliens Ben prime didn't have. He wanted to limit the paradox by using aliens that Ben would either get very shortly after, or he had already encountered (the Megawatts). Had Ben not been around, he'd have probably used aliens like Swampfire, Atomix, and the like. He definitely wouldn't have used any alien not in the Omnitrix like the Andromeda 5, as Ben would have automatically scanned them and
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24* A long gag of the original series was Max's odd cooking and tastes grossing Ben and Gwen out. This gag becomes a bit more funny when you remember Ben's later habit of drinking ''really' weird smoothie combinations, ones that are as liked by aliens as Max's cooking is. Ben really didn't end up all that different.
25* ''They Lurk Below'' has the Omnitrix beeping for a ''while'' when Rijpaws is trying to get back into the submersible. Now this could be just for dramatic effect...but the Omnitrix is later established to have a 'keep Ben alive' sub-routine. It is possible that in scenarios where the transforming back would kill him the transformation alarm is more of a 'move it!' alarm than a 'I will let you drown now' thing, hence why the beep is coming off as a warning and not a quicker alarm.
26* The explanation of an Ectonurite's consciousness being contained within a single strand of DNA explains how Z'Skayr keeps coming back, he can theoretically be reconstituted [[FromASingleCell from trace DNA samples]] from a place he fought Ben, such as when Viktor restored him in "The Return".
27* Why is Cannonbolt the one to destroy the Great One in spite of it wiping out Cannonbolt's species planet? None of the other members ever thought to simply curl up, roll into the body and bounce around until it was destroyed and likely just hurled themselves at it.
28* Kevin's third mutation (his main OS one): initially Kevin is transforming between alien forms without the Omnitrix, however it is implied it is unstable, for a start, he notes being unable to stay in human form for long, the 10 samples of DNA he absorbed are fighting for dominance within him, until he got angry, and it caused the samples to enter into a stable amalgam, which is why he couldn't change back.
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30[[AC:FridgeHorror]]
31* The fate of Max's partner, Phil, at the end of the second season's debut episode, "Secrets". He winds up trapped in the null-void dimension, which he had been using earlier to set up crimes by releasing aliens. When Gwen asks what'll happen to him, Grandpa replies, [[YouDontWantToKnow "There are some things about this job that are better left unheard of."]] Keep in mind the Null-void was designed to hold Extraterrestrial threats, many of which we later see in "Back With A Vengeance" are big and carnivorous, and Phil's just a human.
32** If it's any better, Ben 10: Omniverse eventually revealed that Phil was still alive and became a member of a group of rogue ex-Plumbers.
33*** Correction: Phil (rather impressively) fended off the Null Void creatures and survived in there for an unknown amount of time before being kidnapped by Khyber, Psychobos, and Malware, who horrifically experimented on him with the prototype Nemetrix and turned him into a human-Terroranchula hybrid, with the Terroranchula mind overriding Phil's human one. ''Then'' he was recruited by the ex-Plumbers group after a scuffle with Ben and Max in Omniverse. So, while he didn't get eaten, his experiences post-Null Void Projector weren't positive by any stretch of the imagination.
34* In the episode "Game Over" Ben and Gwen ''inexplicably'' get beamed into the Sumo Slammer video game. They team up with the hero Ishiyama to fight his shapeshifting nemesis Kenko. The catch? Ishiyama and Kenko are shown to be thinking, sentient beings completely unaware they're merely video game characters. And the kids leave them trapped in a loop of fighting each other forever. What exactly happens when Ben(and possibly any kid with a copy) stops playing the game?
35* Hex is called an [[AbusiveParents abusive uncle]] to Charmcaster due to his attitude toward her, but there's a little more to that. When Charmcaster is introduced, she makes a snarky comment to Hex, who responds "You will show me respect, my dear niece, or you will suffer the consequences." Immediately, Charmcaster becomes submissive, then takes out Hex's staff, saying she can't get it to work but swears she did nothing to break it. Hex takes the staff, explains it only works in the hands of a master magician, then shoots a magic blast out of it that knocks out two prison guards rushing to the doorway behind Charmcaster. But when the blast is fired, Charmcaster immediately and instinctively ''shields herself with her arms'', obviously thinking it's meant for her and that this isn't an uncommon thing for Hex to do to her. Thus, Hex's absue isn't just emotional, and [[JerkassWoobie that explains alot more about why Charmcaster became so nasty herself.]]
36* By storming off and meeting Kevin, Ben may inadvertently have saved the boy's life. Kevin was targeted by bullies despite his powers and wasn't confident enough to fight back until absorbing the Omnitrix. Had Ben been a good boy and stayed at the hotel, Kevin would've continued a lonely life of petty theft and fleeing from his enemies until he wound up dead in an alley, being a weak little boy rather than an invincible alien mutant. As horrible as Kevin's transformation was, it likely allowed him to survive far longer than if he remained human.
37* The final battle in ''Destroy All Aliens'' between Waybig, the Retaliator, and Azmuth transformed into a berserk Waybig. It takes place in the middle of a fully populated city and racks up lots of collateral damage. It's honestly a pretty awesome fight until you realize that they must have killed hundreds or ''thousands'' of people while fighting...
38* Zombozo stole from a ''brain bank''. Consider what zombies do.
39* When asked if Ma Vreedle would be scared of Toepick, one of the staff said, "Meh, She's seen worse." Toepick is a monstrous alien form so hideous it can literally incapacitate those who look at it. Just what did Ma Vreedle see...
40* Ectonurites are capable of retaining their consciousness from a single strand of DNA. They could theoretically create [[MesACrowd a civilization-sized army]] from their greatest generals.
41* At the climax of ''Don't Drink the Water'', Gwen tricks Toddler Heatblast by constantly teasing him into having a meltdown (and thereby evaporating the FountainOfYouth of which Hex is using to power himself up.) It works, but if you take science into mind (which the show tries to do at times): What will happen when that evaporated magic water condensates and turns into rain and spreads all over the planet? [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice job Gwen]]...
42** To be fair, it could simply be that the Fountain's water only has that kind of power when a bunch of it is gathered in one place. It'd be like if you dumped a bucket of salt water into an olympic swimming pool. It might potentially spread around, but it's highly unlikely that it would have any Real effect on the taste, appearance, or state of the water. Once the water is evaporated and it spreads, it might lose its potency to the point its effects are basically null.
43*** At most people might find themselves slightly more rejuvenated after the next shower.
44** In that same episode, Hector mentions that you need to keep drinking from the Fountain to remain young, and that Ben and Max would return to normal due to their lack of the water. Great for them, but what about Hector? He's been alive for 400 years. When the water finally wears off for him...
45* The entire world of Ben 10 is quite grim. Aliens are attempting to destroy Earth on a daily basis, superpowered psychopaths everywhere, and there's the fact that there are alien artifacts that are potentially abused by humans. It's like if Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica has no sense of self-awareness of how catastrophic their worlds are.
46* When Ben Transforms any condition Ben has transfer to the alien, even diseases. When Ben was sick he transformed in to Diamondhead and he still had his flu even though Tetrax said he never had a cold before. This means Ben can create new diseases for species that never had them in the first place and that is scary of all possible diseases that Ben can create.
47* Remember 4 year old Ben's temper tantrum as Heatblast in "Don't Drink The Water", presumably ''every'' Pyronite toddler does that when they lose their temper...
48** The horror lessens if we assume the Pyronite homeworld is specifically engineered to handle heat, given its citizens are, you know, made of fire. A baby Pyronite flaring up on their homeworld is probably no worse than your average screaming, kicking toddler on our world: annoying, but manageable.

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