Slam-bang action all the way and another ton-of-fun episode. Sure, it was swiped wholesale from the classic STAR TREK episode "The Gamesters of Triskelion," but it proved itself more an admiring homage than a creatively bankrupt ripoff.
The episode opens in media res with Kevin exacting revenge for his defeat in the 'Frisco fracas of "Framed." Suddenly Ben and Kevin are flash transported to a fighting forum just as Kirk, Chekov and Uhura were. Champions of many alien races have been abducted from their home worlds and forced to fight in gladiator matches for the entertainment of an intergalactic audience of ruffians and rogues.
The showrunner for these sadistic slugfests is Slix Thigma, an android in a flowing robe just like Triskelion's enigmatic emcee Galt, who was himself filched from FLASH GORDON's nemesis Ming the Merciless. Hey, at least everyone is stealing from the best, right?
The galactic gladiators even wear shock collars akin to the "collars of obedience" on Triskelion. But what, no character equivalent to the sexy ingenue Shahna? Where's the glamor? MIA this time around. Outside of Gwen's cameos bookending the show, this episode is an estrogen-free testosterone zone--and the better for it!
A recurring theme was "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," as Ben and Kevin must forge an uneasy alliance because if one should die so will the other. Yeah, that's a common trope in comics and cartoons alike, but one that always works. Reluctant ally Ben tries valiantly to steer the raging and rudderless Kevin to their common goals, even having to arm Kevin with knowledge of how to maximize his superpowers by employing them in effective combinations. That intel comes back to bite Ben, of course, but Ben kept an ace up his sleeve--Cannonblast!
But it's new character Technorg who steals the show, a massive champion boasting the body of the Hulk and the face of a Skrull. I hope this won't be his sole series appearance because there's a ton of upside potential for this guy going forward. In an Androcles and the Lion scenario, after Ben shows Technorg mercy--an unknown virtue among these warriors--Technorg considers Ben his master and serves him with unflagging devotion.
That leads into the theme of thralls and masters, which was also imported from the Trek episode (minus Kirk's grandstanding speech on the subject). Cargo-panted pipsqueak Ben releases the titanic Technorg from servitude; however, the hulking monolith will only consider himself free after evening the score, which he does by saving Ben's life from the unhinged and homicidal Kevin 11, who really regretted that "lapdog" crack.
The ending was perhaps a little pat with Ben's escape pod providentially landing a few feet from Grandpa and Gwen, but it was a satisfying finish and a chance to catch our collective breaths after 22 minutes of sustained adrenaline rush.
With Slix warping his battle barge out of our galaxy, have we seen the last of Kevin 11? I hope so--at least for a while--as overuse of the character is beginning to breed contempt.
An enjoyable changeup from the ROUTE 66 format and an impressive Trek tribute to boot. What's not to love about this one?
The episode opens in media res with Kevin exacting revenge for his defeat in the 'Frisco fracas of "Framed." Suddenly Ben and Kevin are flash transported to a fighting forum just as Kirk, Chekov and Uhura were. Champions of many alien races have been abducted from their home worlds and forced to fight in gladiator matches for the entertainment of an intergalactic audience of ruffians and rogues.
The showrunner for these sadistic slugfests is Slix Thigma, an android in a flowing robe just like Triskelion's enigmatic emcee Galt, who was himself filched from FLASH GORDON's nemesis Ming the Merciless. Hey, at least everyone is stealing from the best, right?
The galactic gladiators even wear shock collars akin to the "collars of obedience" on Triskelion. But what, no character equivalent to the sexy ingenue Shahna? Where's the glamor? MIA this time around. Outside of Gwen's cameos bookending the show, this episode is an estrogen-free testosterone zone--and the better for it!
A recurring theme was "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," as Ben and Kevin must forge an uneasy alliance because if one should die so will the other. Yeah, that's a common trope in comics and cartoons alike, but one that always works. Reluctant ally Ben tries valiantly to steer the raging and rudderless Kevin to their common goals, even having to arm Kevin with knowledge of how to maximize his superpowers by employing them in effective combinations. That intel comes back to bite Ben, of course, but Ben kept an ace up his sleeve--Cannonblast!
But it's new character Technorg who steals the show, a massive champion boasting the body of the Hulk and the face of a Skrull. I hope this won't be his sole series appearance because there's a ton of upside potential for this guy going forward. In an Androcles and the Lion scenario, after Ben shows Technorg mercy--an unknown virtue among these warriors--Technorg considers Ben his master and serves him with unflagging devotion.
That leads into the theme of thralls and masters, which was also imported from the Trek episode (minus Kirk's grandstanding speech on the subject). Cargo-panted pipsqueak Ben releases the titanic Technorg from servitude; however, the hulking monolith will only consider himself free after evening the score, which he does by saving Ben's life from the unhinged and homicidal Kevin 11, who really regretted that "lapdog" crack.
The ending was perhaps a little pat with Ben's escape pod providentially landing a few feet from Grandpa and Gwen, but it was a satisfying finish and a chance to catch our collective breaths after 22 minutes of sustained adrenaline rush.
With Slix warping his battle barge out of our galaxy, have we seen the last of Kevin 11? I hope so--at least for a while--as overuse of the character is beginning to breed contempt.
An enjoyable changeup from the ROUTE 66 format and an impressive Trek tribute to boot. What's not to love about this one?
