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Reviews WesternAnimation / Ben 10 Omniverse

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Theokal3 Since: Jan, 2012
07/26/2022 08:39:27 •••

Not totally bad, but rather disappointing.

I have been a fan of Ben10 since the beginning. Unlike many fans, I enjoyed the sequels, especially Ben 10 Alien Force, and, while Ben 10 Ultimate Alien had its flaws, I kept watching it, and appreciated the season finale. When I heard a fourth installment was coming, I was rather glad. I got disappointed when I saw the redesign they did for Ben, since I loved his AUF look, and felt it was an error to change it. Since I consider the plot to be more important than the designs, however, I still tried watching. Now, I just reached 14 episodes, and I think I can fairly say that, so far, the show disappoint my expectations...

Don't get me wrong, there actually are good stuff. The series does a lot of Continuity Nod toward the original show (including flashbacks) and the sequels; it has an actual plot, with, I admit, a good twist, and an acceptably threatening Big Bad Ensemble. The humor is good, especially in the dialogues, and Ben finally has a competent Sidekick, Rook, who I believe deserves entirely his Ensemble Darkhorse status.

Now for the bad side.

I know I already said that, but the artstyle tend to be just horrible. I know, it worked with Transformers Animated quite well. But thing is, Transformers was a 80s show, and the designs had not evolved much, so simplifying them actually was a good thing. Ben 10 is a 2000s show, and had great designs to begin with; as a result, this just feel like a BIIIIIG regression. Some designs are good, like Ripjaw; others, like Alien X, are just awful. Moreover, the show is, to my opinion, just trying too hard to be funny and like the original show. This has led to retcon that are just as confusing as the infamous one in Alien Force, as well as a Denser And Wackier approach. The original show sure WAS comical, but it knew when to stop goofing around. Omniverse, on the other hand... last episode I saw, especially, was just non-stop unfunny gags with a ridiculous villain I wished they had never come back. In the end, what the show lacks, to my opinion, is depth; Ben is reduced to being a Jackass with Crouching Moron Hidden Badass tendencies, we no longer get Character Development that would make him a more interesting character. Say what you want about AF/UA, at least they did try to give him some depht in the Hightbreed story arc and other episodes. This show just reduces him to a moron for the sake of humor.

marcellX Since: Feb, 2011
12/16/2012 00:00:00

Their trying to make Ben be more like his character from the original, the problem is that Ben now looks childish and immature in an almost literal sense. I haven't been able to watch many episodes so I can't make a concrete opinion on it yet, but I think my only real concern is how Ben has been reset. He's learning things he already learned before, I mean it's too late in the game to make Ben learn a teamwork Aesop, or how to fight without the omnitrix, which he had to do at one point or another in 30% of the first season's episodes.

Theokal3 Since: Jan, 2012
12/16/2012 00:00:00

Exactly. I didn't note that because I lacked the place, but he did already learnt all of this, and he has already become perfectly competent. This regression is especially irritating considering Ultimate Alien ended with Azmuth recognizing he had become worthy to have the new Omnitrix. This is the same kind of regression than Ultimate Spider Man. When will those people understand that the protagonist being an immature moron ISN'T necessary to make him fun ?

Digi99 Since: May, 2021
07/26/2022 00:00:00

\"Ben is reduced to being a Jackass with Crouching Moron Hidden Badass tendencies, we no longer get Character Development that would make him a more interesting character. Say what you want about AF/UA, at least they did try to give him some depht in the Hightbreed story arc and other episodes. This show just reduces him to a moron for the sake of humor\" Bet this didn\'t age well lol.

Theokal3 Since: Jan, 2012
07/26/2022 00:00:00

... Actually, it did. I admit my opinion of OV mellowed out by now, but on this specific point I completely stand by my point. Ben was especially unlikable in this show and if anything he got worse over the course of the show.


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