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deadly sandwiches.mp4

Last time on "DMAN re-attempts to talk about every single CN original in existence", dman talked about a somewhat lackluster episode that didn't display the better qualities of the show overall. Will today's episode be a similar case? Well, dman is sick of the next show's franchise at this point so he probably won't watch enough episodes to find out... #33: Ben 10: Alien Force "Ben 10 Returns, Part 1" [April 18, 2008] Is there really anything else I can say about Ben 10 at this point? Thankfully, this is the last time I'll have to discuss one of his shows in this thread. This one was fine from what I remember of it on TV, so I'm going in assuming I'll have similar thoughts to it as Ultimate Alien. Alright, let's finally kill Ben! The episode begins with two aliens communicating, with one telling the other that Grandpa Max is responsible for certain information that has been leaked. The other commands the alien to "destroy him", segueing into the intro. Afterwards we see Ben, now 5 years older, playing a game of soccer and living a relatively normal life. He briefly meets Julie (as we already know, his future love interest) before heading to the RV, and he notices Grandpa Max isn't there. Suddenly, the alien from earlier begins attacking Ben, and since Ben isn't wearing the Omnitrix he has to fight in more creative ways. After fending off the alien, Ben accesses a message from Grandpa Max, where he tells Ben that he's investigating recent alien activity on Earth and that the Omnitrix is safely in his hands. Ben immediately goes home and is confused to find the Omnitrix is still in his possesion, leading him to believe Max is trying to tell him something. We cut to Gwen at her karate class, while Ben spectates and gets ready to ask her for advice. Later that night, they both watch Max's message and discuss whether or not Ben should put the Omnitrix back on, but suddenly are interrupted when a shadowy figure demands they give up the Omnitrix. After Gwen uses her magic to incapacitate the fish-like alien (Magister Labrid), he reveals he is a member of the Plumbers and was trying to find Max, who has gone missing. Labrid quickly realizes Ben is Max's grandson, and offers to join them in finding him. In response, Ben decides to put the Omnitrix back on. The three stake out at where the criminal group known as the Forever Knights are expected to receive an illegal shipment of alien technology, only to find that Kevin is their supplier. Labrid confronts them, and the other suppliers reveal themselves to be the same species as the aliens from the beginning of the episode. The Forever Knights also reveal themselves, leaving the trio surrounded. Even worse, when Ben tries to use the Omnitrix it fails, as it needs to reboot. While Gwen and Labrid fend for themselves, the Omnitrix eventually manages to reboot, changing completely in the process and giving Ben access to aliens he's never seen before. He turns into Swampfire (I didn't have to look up the name because he says it out loud!), which scares away the supplier aliens, but the Forever Knights use their new weapons to fire at him. Kevin then gets inbetween the fight, wanting to stop Ben himself as an act of vengeance for trapping him in the null void and ruining his deal. As this happens, the Forever Knights make their escape. Ben manages to defeat Kevin, and he is trapped using energy cuffs. Labrid informs Kevin that the Forever Knights now have technology that is far beyond the level Earth is supposed to have, and forces him to help settle the issue. Surprisingly Kevin is all for helping, but only because he never got his money. Kevin drives them to a castle that supposedly holds the Forever Knights, and Gwen uses her magic to allow them to enter. As they look for signs of the Knights, Ben accidentally knocks over a knight on display and wakes up a dragon-like creature, and we cut to a "TO BE CONTINUED..." card. Well, I was right. My opinions on this one are basically the same as those I expressed on Ultimate Alien. It's fine, I enjoyed it while it was on, I'm probably never going to binge it, and all around the first series was better. It does still have its moments though; the more mature feel of this one leads to some impactful action scenes, and Ben bringing back his "peek-a-boo!" line during the Kevin fight made me crack a smile. Though if I'm being honest, I am so relieved to be done talking about these shows. They're not bad, it's just I can only watch the same thing so many times before I run out of things to say. THE BOTTOM LINE: HOHOHO RATING: 7/10 (decent) 5 Bens down, 0 to go! I'd end the thread right here, but we've still got 20 shows left and I'm excited to talk about some in particular. What do you say, Wheel? Stay tuned for dman's next talk-about. Original post: