Ben Tennyson deals with some familial issues.
Mr. and Mrs. Tennyson find out about their son's secret and ground him from the field of battle.- Anti-Smother Love Talk: Ben's parents find out that their son has been acting as a superhero. They find it so disturbing that they attempt to prevent him from returning to the field of battle, even going so far as to ground him and take away his technology so he can't be involved with the battle even remotely. Ben initially sticks to their rules (albeit with some use of Loophole Abuse), but when Kevin is in trouble during a battle, he tells his parents that he has to do this — after all, they taught him to do the right thing. When he gets back, they agree to let him continue with the superheroics, but caution him to please be careful.
- Big Damn Heroes: Ben's parents save him with a bazooka right when the Highbreed's about to finish him off.
- Bullying a Dragon: Ben's parents are lucky that he loves and respects them enough to go along with their wishes, because he could easily use the Omnitrix against them if he wanted. Or, as Ben puts it:You can't ground me! I'm a super-powered alien!
- Calling the Old Man Out: When they repeatedly prevent him from helping Kevin even though his life is in danger, Ben snaps, insists that he needs to save his friends regardless of their orders, and breaks out of the house to help.
- Clingy MacGuffin: The Omnitrix, easily. After hearing from Ben that the Omnitrix cannot be removed, his dad takes it as a challenge. Several worn-down files, blunted sawblades and snapped bolt-cutters later..."...Okay, it's not coming off."
- Death Glare: Sandra gives one that Ben dubs “the mom look”.
- Guilt by Association Gag: When Ben's parents find out that Gwen is involved as well (after they make Ben crack), they call her parents and she gets grounded as well. Needless to say, Gwen is not happy when she finds out Ben squealed on her, and to make matters worse, it means Kevin is on his own now.
- Mama Bear: While Mrs. Tennyson isn't armed with any weapons, she still accompanies her husband in the task of backing up their son.
- Nothing Is the Same Anymore: Ben's parents find out his secret.
- Papa Wolf: Mr. Tennyson blasts a Highbreed threatening his son with a BFG.
- Parents as People: While it doesn't justify their actions, Carl and Sandra—two normal parents not caught up in any of this Plumber business—just found out that their son is capable of turning into an alien and fighting galactic threats on a regular basis. Had their disappointment in their son for keeping all this a secret from them, Carl's resentment towards Grandpa Max for neglecting the family in favor of his Plumber duties, and overall being this worried about their son all not won out, their acceptance might have come sooner. In short, this is all new territory for them.
- Play-Along Prisoner: At first, Ben goes along with his grounding out of respect for his parents, even though he could have easily used the Omnitrix to overpower them and break out at any time. It's only when the danger Kevin is in is too much to ignore does he finally do this.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: When the situation proves too much for Kevin to handle, Ben openly defies his parents, goes Humongousaur, and busts out of the house to help him out.Ben: I'm sorry. I love you guys. You're awesome parents. You raised me by example and time after time, I've seen you put other peoples' needs first. I can't obey you now without disobeying everything you've ever taught me, about life, the world and responsibility. [...] So when I get back, punish me however you want but right now, I have a friend who's in trouble!
- Skewed Priorities: While their worry about their son is understandable, Carl and Sandra still refuse to let him use the Omnitrix out of fear for his life even though Kevin's life is in danger and the Highbreed threaten the entire world. Eventually, they come around.
- The Stool Pigeon: Ben becomes the Lacerated Larry type when his parents make him tell them about Gwen's involvement.
- Threat Backfire: To get Ben to comply with his grounding, Sandra threatens to reconsider a lifelong aversion to corporal punishment. As he goes up his room, we can hear the Tennysons reveal that they don’t have anything that could be used to enforce it.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Gwen is annoyed that Ben ratted their alien hunting activities to his parents, resulting in her getting grounded by her parents.Gwen: (furious) You ratted me out?
Ben: I can explain.
Gwen: What's to explain? My parents read me the riot act when I got home last night. [Imitating her father] "How dare you help Ben deceive your aunt and uncle, young lady?" Why did you tell them? You've gone nose to nose with Vilgax without blinking.
Ben: Vilgax never gave me the mom look.
