Television Review: Ben 10: Alien Force
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this action cartoon spin-off
features lots of physical violence, including hand-to-hand
battles and weapons that shoot lasers. Though there's never any
blood or realistic reactions to pain, occasionally characters
are seriously injured, and some die, so be sure kids can
differentiate between fantasy and reality before you let them
watch. The alien morphing scenes may also confuse and/or
frighten very young kids. All of that said,
Ben 10 fans are sure to latch on to this show and its
now-older hero, who must set aside differences with an old
enemy and draw on his inner strength to get the job done.
Families can talk about how heroes are portrayed in the media.
What makes Ben a hero? Does being heroic mean never showing
fear? Where does Ben turn for support or courage? What role
does violence play in heroes' triumph over evil? Is fighting
the only answer, or are there more constructive ways to solve
problems? How is Ben different now that he's older?
Five years after he defeated his nemesis and took off the Omnitrix that gave him shape-morphing powers, alien conqueror Ben Tennyson (voiced by Yuri Lowenthal) is happy to be living a normal life. But when he finds out that his grandfather is missing, Ben -- now 15 -- and his level-headed cousin, Gwen (Ashley Johnson), are drawn back into the battle of the life forms. Joined by former enemy Kevin Levin (Gregory Cipes), and supported by 10 new alien forms courtesy of the Omnitrix, Ben faces his most difficult challenges yet: finding his grandfather and saving the galaxy from aliens who aim to destroy it.
Packed with action, adventure, and alien transformations, BEN 10: ALIEN FORCE beckons to science fiction-loving tweens, particularly boys. The combination of an ever-changing cast of colorful villains and the underlying mystery of Ben's grandfather's disappearance is sure to keep viewers guessing -- and coming back for more.
If your tweens have followed Ben's previous adventures, they're likely to notice that he's grown up quite a bit for this series. At 15, he's more reflective and thoughtful than before, which allows him to team up with a former enemy for the greater good. He's also determined to take the lead in battling the aliens -- not for glory, but because his grandfather is depending on him. At the same time, he's often reminded that there's no substitute for teamwork. All of this offers some worthwhile lessons for the tween boys that the show aims to entertain. But be smart about letting kids tune in, since the show does feature a lot of violence (which occasionally results in death), and some of the aliens and monsters may scare little ones.
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