Ben 10 went back to the beginning a year ago, when the current series bowed overseas. It finally arrived on American screens back in April, but trying to compress what worked so well in a full-length half-hour format for nearly 10 years and 4 series overall doesn't work. The feeling I get is that some of the plots to the current series would work better under the original format.
Translated, if it ain't broken, you don't fix it. But the morons at CN did, anyway.
Ben Tennyson (Tara Strong) is back to being 10 years old, as is cousin Gwen. We had watched them grow up and mature, to the point where devoted fans probably were hoping Gwen, who'd begun a relationship with enemy-turned-ally Kevin Levin during the Alien Force series, would continue on that path, and Ben would eventually find his own true love.
So why a reboot? With this, I don't know.
Edit, 4/19/23: The video was deleted. In its place is a generic open/close:
I'd rather watch the original series, thanks.
Rating: C.
16 comments:
IMDB Rating: 2.6
IMDB numbers don't mean anything to CN. Nielsen ratings do, but I get the point.
Well the reboot sucks. Plain and simple.
I ain't arguing that point, as I've already stated my case.
You hate it too?
I've only looked at the one episode. I don't hate it, just disappointed with it.
Steven, you've mentioned before that you're not a fan of these CN reboots, we get it. So just don't watch them; if you're old enough to remember the original Ben 10 series, then this reboot wasn't made for you in the first place. If you prefer the original shows, then just watch the originals. Just don't watch the reboot if it's not to your liking. It's not drugs; it's pretty easy to quit.
As I said, I'm disappointed, and I should be used to that, considering that CN has insisted on dumbing down their product of late, thinking their target audience has a short attention span. I've read of negative comments about the Powerpuff Girls' reboot, almost as much haterizing as for Teen Titans Go, and it's sad.
Steven is just miserable with all reboots.
This is why I'm generally not too big on reboots; while theoretically the idea behind them is to introduce a new generation to something we enjoyed as kids, too often the cons outweigh the pros. If you change anything about the show, then you incur the wrath of the nostalgic older fans, and if the kiddos don't gravitate toward the show, then it's Game Over, Man, and the whole venture was for naught.
While some producers can find that sweet spot where the reboot appeals to both old and new fans alike, many more can't, and CN seems to fall into the latter category. Honestly, some of CN's concepts wouldn't be so bad if they didn't feel the need to pander so much. Teen Titans GO!'s premise actually has potential (a purely comedic take on the 2003 TT series focusing on the superheroes' down time), but the network chose to handle the show in very sloppy, ADHD manner, caring little for the characters or genuine humor. What I've seen of PPG 2016 seems to be running along that same average. I haven't seen this new Ben 10 show, as that show was never really my jam, so I can't comment on that.
On the other side of the coin, Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series is an example of a reboot done well: it's different enough from its' predecessors to be considered its' own thing, which appeals to kids, but at the same time there are enough call backs and allusions to the previous TMNT shows to appeal to older fans, and best of all, it's well written and executed, never treating its' audience like sugar-addled idiots.
If CN is going to make a reboot of an old show, then they need to make it live up to the original. Hopefully they won't give Camp Lazlo a crummy reboot.
@Silverstar: I think there was a crossover that brought the current TMNT incarnation together with the 1987 version recently. Shows the respect that the producers have for the franchise. Too bad the same cannot be said for CN.
@Steven: If recently history is any barometer in re: the pending relaunch of Camp Lazlo, and if the original creator isn't involved, expect to be disappointed again.
@hobbyfan: There was indeed. That would be "Trans-Dimensional Turtles". I saw it; it was fun, the Nick producers treated the '87 characters with a lot more respect and reverence than 4Kids did in their crossover with the 2003 Turtles, "Turtles Forever". My main nitpick with "Trans-Dimensional Turtles" is that it seemed a tad rushed; probably should've been a 2-parter or an hour special.
And yeah, the lack of the creator's involvement should be a HUGE red flag when a reboot is announced.
@Steven Dolce: Joe Murray isn't with Cartoon Network anymore, he's currently producing an hour long Rocko's Modern Life reunion special for Nickelodeon. I'd personally be in no hurry to see a Camp Lazlo reboot without the series creator being involved in it's production. Lazlo was never as good as Rocko was anyway.
@Goldstar: Read about the Rocko special. Have to see that when it comes out. If they're not doing Camp Lazlo, then Steven shouldn't have anything to complain about.......
This reboot my be awful, but I will give it credit. It's still better than the notorious live-action films.
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