Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-6527064-20150725002151/@comment-26812877-20150801030851

Ben 10 isn't really a kids show. It's a lot more of a kid friendly show. A kids show is a show specifically designed to captivate kids, such as Dora the Explorer, Teen Titans Go, and Ben 10 Omniverse. A kid friendly show is a show that is suitable and appropriate for kids to watch but is capable of captivating of captivating viewers of various different age groups. Kids, teens, and adults. Shows like Teen Titans, Avatar the Last Airbender, and Legend of Korra are examples of this. The Ben 10 Original Series is, as such, a kid friendly show and not a kids show.

Also, are you absolutely sure that Ben and Gwen as a couple doesn't make sense? Have you really thought about that concept thoroughly and deeply? Have you really delve deep into the characters of Ben and Gwen?

Lets start things off with the role of Gwen as Ben's cousin. Originally, Gwen was supposed to be Ben's best friend and fellow classmate who decides to go on the road trip with him. Yeah, I know, they hate each other but that is very much true. Gwen was originally Ben's best friend. Then, in a planned sequel of the beta version of the Original Series, Gwen would end up as Ben's girlfriend. However, because she was Ben's best friend and yet hates him, it didn't make any sense as to why she would go with him on the trip. Therefore, Gwen was changed into being Ben's cousin instead to give her a good enough reason to go with him on the trip. This change happened while Man of Action was writing up the third season of the Original Series so they had to move quickly to fit in the concept of them being cousins. If you look back at the Original Series, they have moments that were pretty much "romantic-like" and most definitely caring towards each other. Scenes left over from the beta version of the Original Series. The most obvious being when Gwen taught Ben how to dance in "Big Fat Alien Wedding." There are many more scenes that are like this too.

Next is Ben and Gwen's relationship in the Original Series. They started the series off with an distant and very hateful relationship towards each other. They constantly argue with each other, fight each other, insult each other, etc. They couldn't stand each other and, again, very much hated each other with a passion. However, as the series progressed, Ben and Gwen had grown to care about each other so very much. They protect each other, help each other, watch each other's backs, and overall have grown to like each other. Their relationship had developed to the point where they no longer hated each other and had become so very close to each other.

Then there's the characteristics of Ben and Gwen themselves. The way that they were structured as characters. Ben is impulsive and fun-loving with a big ego but he lacks the focus and determination to make great achievements. This is most especially noticeable when it comes to school. Yeah, he does have a strong focus when fighting his enemies but even during those times, Ben sometimes tends to lack focus. Also, Ben lack combat training and experience and relies more on improvising when fighting his enemies. As for Gwen, she is intelligent, strong focused, determined, and hard-working but she lacks the fun in her life. The fact that she works hard on her goals also proves to be a flaw for her. She works too hard. I mean like what kind of kid, especially one like Gwen, wants to go to computer camp for summer vacation. Throughout most of the Original Series, even when Gwen has time to relax and have fun, she is constantly on her laptop doing work and reading a book when she could be going out and having fun. What Gwen does also have is hand-to-hand combat training and experience considering that she takes karate classes and throughout the Original Series, her skills in karate had come in very great use when fighing her enemies. You see what's going on here? Ben and Gwen were structured in a way that they actually benefit each other by giving each other what they need and lack in with their lives. Gwen has the focus and combat skills that Ben needs and Ben is what Gwen needs to have some fun in her life and just relax for once from working. They balance each other and their lives out and this can very much be seen throughout the Original Series. Ben and Gwen need each other to balance their lives out, which is ironic since that they couldn't stand each other's presence early in the series. Again, they need each other and they balance each other out. This is why having Ben and Gwen as a romantic couple makes so much sense and why most fans of the series wanted this concept in the show to happen.

Here's another thing to tke note of. Just because Ben and Gwen are cousins doesn't mean that it doesn't make sense and that it can't work and can't happen in the show. In fact, there is no excuse whatsoever as to why Ben and Gwen can't be a couple even though they're cousins and there is certainly no excuse as to why any idea and concept can't work and can't happen. That doesn't matter. What does matter is how ideas, concepts, and elements can work, can happen, and can be structured in a way that it does very much indeed greatly work for the show and does bring much more benefits to the show than harm. It is appropriate and suitable for Ben and Gwen to be a romantic cousin couple in a kid friendly show because it's just another relationship. A weird one but it's just another relationship and one that is between fictional characters. What really matters is how this can be implemented and structured in a way that it is suitable and appropriate for Ben 10 and how it can work to such great benefits for the show. What also matters is that a romantic cousin relationship between Ben and Gwen is structured in a way where it doesn't go too far and over the line.That they don't do something with their romantic relationship that would be deemed unsuitable and inappropriate for kids and the show. As long as it is done the right way, it will very much work and to such great benefits for Ben 10.