Stockholm Syndrome does NOT work that way! “Catch a Falling Star”

[akino_ame]

I know the icon isn't Ben 10 related. But I think this is what the writers were thinking.

Comments

[galistar07]

To be honest, I thought that this episode was kinda okay-ish...until they threw in the Stockholm Syndrome crap. Okay, I know that I don't have a BA in psychology like you and even though I got a "C" in that class back at my old college 3 years ago...I know at least enough to say, "Wait...what? Seriously?! You're throwing in Stockholm Syndrome just like that? You guy's do realized that that would actually made a lot more sense if she had been held against her will by that guy before for several weeks if not years, right?!"

As for the darker theme by killing the vet...I didn't mind that part so much. Kinda gives a valid reason for both Ben and Gwen to believe that "You don't have to be an alien to be a monster" in my opinion.

[akino_ame]

We didn't need to see the body on-screen. They've done off-screen killings before this or implied them, and it's been effective. It was effective when we learned that there were other killings.

The biggest problem with that? It's too much. Way too much for a show geared toward 6-11 year old boys. Serial killers and that age range? Not the best combination. It's where you really need the character to be defanged somehow, either by getting his ass kicked thoroughly (which Nemesis didn't) or by simply refering to his crimes without ever showing them. I felt like I was watching a particularly dark episode of Kamen Rider, which from about 2000-2006 was geared toward a slightly older audience and is still geared toward families--so the parents are supposed to be watching it too. I don't know if Ben 10 has enough to keep parents' interest, even if it keeps the interest of high school/college age viewers, but this? Alienates the entire audience.

[galistar07]

Yeah, it was "okay-ish" if it was focusing on older audiences but definitely too dark for a kids' show. Oh, the horror!