Anyone who watched the episode of “Ben 10: Ultimate Alien” last night (and I’m warning you right now, I’ll delete any comment to the effect of “Gee, was that on? Why didn’t you give us a heads up?” just on principle) watched an example of Dwayne McDuffie’s social conscience in action.
More after the break.
Although I was listed as the sole writer of the episode, the concept was very much driven by Dwayne. When we sat down to break the story, we started talking in broad strokes about doing a story involving an alien prison. As we got more specific, he said he wanted it to be a metaphor for Guantanamo Bay, because he was outraged that it had ever existed in the first place. He also wasn’t thrilled that Obama was dragging out the shut down. The notion that people could be held indefinitely with no trial, no sentencing, just on suspicion…Dwayne was just furious over it. He said it was as if the government had lost sight of what America was supposed to represent.
The concept was that, under Area 51, the government had created an indefinite holding facility for aliens who had come to earth, operating on the assumption that if they were here, they were intending to conquer the world and that their very presence was a security threat. Since they were not like us, not even human, they had no rights and anything that was done to them was fair game. Higher values, such as morality–not to mention truth, justice and the American way, which is very much in the current news cycle–didn’t factor in. And the story would be propelled by the idea that one of the aliens had escaped, an alien who had done nothing wrong but was now seeking out payback for the way he’d been treated.
Dwayne had me research how many prisoners had been held at Guantanamo during the height of its “popularity.” After checking several sources, the number I came up with was seventy hundred and seventy five. That’s where the title came from.
What I find interesting is that after I watched the episode with Caroline last night, she said, wholly unprompted, “That’s just like when they made Japanese Americans prisoners a long time ago and they hadn’t done anything.” Because when you’re eight years old and you’ve gone out for lunch with George Takei, you find out about these things. And her observation underscored how much things change but also how much things stay the same, and how much we never learn. But I think Dwayne felt (and I agree) that the only way we’re going to learn is to educate youngsters so that they won’t make the same mistakes.
PAD
• 
Pretty smart daughter you’ve got there!
Here’s a George Takei Tweet from a couple of minutes ago:
“Giving the keynote for Fresno Assmbly Cntr Memorial on Sunday. “Assembly Centers” were where they sent folks before internment. #NeverForget”
.
I don’t watch the show, but this episode sounds like a perfect example of a story that will remind people of the past. Of how we will hopefully never forget those things that have happened in the past with the hope that don’t repeat history.
That was a truly amazing episode, and it makes me mourn the loss of Dwayne even more. You did an amazing job!
And on a lighter note, your meta was spot on as always.
It was only my 3rd episode of Benjamin 10, but this one was easy to follow. My two thoughts while watching were 1) Wow, this is some heavy stuff for kids; and 2) Wow, this heavy stuff for kids is well written to be both relatable and thought-provoking. Kudos!
I’m of two minds on that, because the situations of the Japanese Internments and the Guantanamo Imprisonments are not as similar as they appear to be at first glance.
1) the Japanese Internments (and how well *was* it limited to strictly Japanese immigrants?) were citizens of the US, where for the most part (yes, I’m aware of Padilla – I will grant you that his case was handled inappropriately) the prisoners at Guantanamo Base are not citizens. The US Constitution is a contract between the citizens of the US (and legal aliens) – not everyone in the world.
2) the Geneva Conventions do not provide protections to un-uniformed guerrilla fighters. One of the requirements for getting protected POW status *IS* to be wearing a recognizable uniform.
Still, I’m not happy with the ways things are being handled. I’d really like to see the PATRIOT ACT repealed, the Government to own up to the things revealed by WikiLeaks, etc. But it’s important to do the right thing for the right reasons. Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons reinforces the idea that the reasons are actually “right”.
The US Constitution is a contract between the citizens of the US (and legal aliens) – not everyone in the world.
.
Can anyone in a position to know comment on this: Do the laws of the US apply only to citizens and legal aliens, or do they apply to anyone in the US?
.
I’ve always assumed that if you’re subject to US jurisdiction and laws then you’re provided the protections offerred by those same laws.
.
The idea that a cop could, for example, just beat the crap out of an illegal immigrant if they wanted to because the illegal had no protections seems unreal to me.
I just Wikied it: Frist par of the 14th amendment:
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; _nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws._”
Note that the amendment says (in the underlined part) “person”, not “citizen”. Which means that it applies to every person, US or foreign.
The US Constitution is a contract between the citizens of the US (and legal aliens) – not everyone in the world.
.
Can anyone in a position to know comment on this: Do the laws of the US apply only to citizens and legal aliens, or do they apply to anyone in the US?
.
I’ve always assumed that if you’re subject to US jurisdiction and laws then you’re provided the protections offerred by those very same laws.
.
The idea that a cop could, for example, just beat the crap out of an illegal immigrant if they wanted to because the illegal had no protections seems unreal to me.
The protections of the Constitution are generally extended to “persons” or “the people”; as I understand it, traditionally they’re seen (legally speaking) to apply to any human beings in US jurisdiction. (That was one argument used in keeping the prisoners at Gitmo: since it was a Marine base on foreign soil, they argued, it was not under civilian US jurisdiction, and thus not subject to Constitutional limitations like the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.)
.
It would be an interesting legal question, however, if intelligent aliens could claim the rights of human beings under the law, given that the law does not currently define what “human” means…
“(That was one argument used in keeping the prisoners at Gitmo: since it was a Marine base on foreign soil, they argued, it was not under civilian US jurisdiction, and thus not subject to Constitutional limitations like the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.)
”
Well, as Georges Clémenceau said at the time of the Dreyfus case: “Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.”
Keith Laumer took a look at that question many years ago in a stroy called The Exterminator.
That was one argument used in keeping the prisoners at Gitmo: since it was a Marine base on foreign soil, they argued, it was not under civilian US jurisdiction, and thus not subject to Constitutional limitations like the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
.
Which, as an argument, has always seemed to me to be a bald admission that the US has very weak cases against the Gitmo prisoners and wants to mistreat them. “We can’t risk letting them have the protections of our laws because we’d never win the cases against them.”
.
More centrally, the US military is under civilian control so the argument that the prisoners aren’t under civilian jurisdiction rings hollow to me too.
It was a little heavy handed, honestly.
It WAS nice to finally see Ultimate Wildmutt… And is that new alien’s name REALLY Overkill? Because it doesn’t seem to work.
“You know, Jimmy, your room seems a bit messy.”
“Looks fine to me.”
“I almost broke my ankle on your toys.”
“Oh. Well, you should be more careful.”
“Jimmy, clean up your room!”
“Okay, okay, you don’t have to shout!”
.
Ben 10’s primary audience is 8 to 12 year old boys, Aaron. They don’t do well with subtlety. .
PAD
Well, yeah, but I’m not used to you being so blatant with your metaphors.
Loved how you used Rath as a Hulk substitute. “Listen up Rath-Shaped hole in the ground!”
I’ll ask again… Do you know the name of that currently unnamed alien Ben used in “Basic Training”? No one seems to know, and it’s bugging the snot out of the fandom.
I’ll ask again… Do you know the name of that currently unnamed alien Ben used in “Basic Training”? No one seems to know, and it’s bugging the snot out of the fandom.
.
Were Dwayne still with us, I’d ask him. I’ve made some inquiries and am waiting to hear back.
.
PAD
Many thanks, Sir. Your efforts on behalf of the fans are most appreciated (the ones on Wikipedia ALONE…).
Do you have any more episodes pending for us to look forward to?
Okay, found out for you, Aaron. That’s Fasttrack. His species is Citrakayah, and his homeworld is Chalybeas.
.
PAD
Do you know the home world for ChamAlien… i know you guys confirmed the species as Merlinisapien,
Fasttrack, huh? Thanks! (checks watch) Huh. Expect an editing war on tv.com and wikipedia in five… four… three…
I was kinda surprised they’d give Ben another superspeed alien when they had XLR8 waiting in the wings (and recently gave him back to Ben as of last month). Seems a bit redundant.
@Aaron It’s going to be called ChamAlien, apparently.
I sort of took the episode as a vague Holocaust connection (on a smaller scale though).. imprisoning beings who were different in appearance, and not considered life by the people who imprisoned them (even though they were beings).. but i guess i was WAY off. but a few questions, if you do not mind.. How did Ult. WIldmutt and a new alien come about in the episode process? and does the 775th alien have a name?
I forgot to say, GREAT episode. Immediately bought it on Zune marketplace
Gotta say I loved the, “Oh, Truck” line.
I laughed pretty hard at that line.
I assume that Ben swatting the car away(and thus damaging it far more than its initial impact)was the animator/director’s doing? It always bothers me when the hero does more damage to the area than the antagonist.
Peter David Tell me please, and when the next episode will be about and how many takes a break?
I can’t tell you what the next episode about because it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to reveal details of upcoming shows. As for when they start airing new episodes, I wish I knew. I honestly don’t.
.
PAD
Peter David but if you do not know who you can ask about new episodes and a break?
Peter David please tell me whether Zs’Skayr in Ben 10: Ultimate Alien?
Dude, I really can’t answer these questions. Not about who’s coming up or new episode details or any of these things. I signed an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) ages ago and if I start giving you any information about upcoming scripts, then not only will I never work for B10 again, but I’d probably be blackballed in animation permanently because word of a writer who can’t be trusted gets around pretty quick.
.
So please stop asking.
.
PAD
Hi,
glad to know someone else is talking to us fans (besides Matt Moylan and Eugene Son) now that Dwayne has gone. I thought we fans never would be heard again… (tried unsucessfully contact Glen Murakami).
I just wonder what Cooper´s presence was for in Prisoner. He could have gone with Ben, Gwen and Kevin to help capturing the fugitive; his telecynetical habilities would have been very useful. But he just stood there awaiting with Granpa Max… aparently, his only reason to be there was to drool at Gwen once more. Any other plumber could have reported the news to Granpa Max and having his ship stolen (Manny or Alan, for example).
Yeah, that was a bit of a puzzler for me. In my original script, that wasn’t Cooper; it was just a Plumber. Imagine my surprise when I saw Cooper on the screen. My assumption is that Dwayne wrote him in for some reason, but darned if I know what it is. And obviously I can’t ask him.
.
PAD
So your a writer? Cool!
I’ve gotta quick question about FastTrack. It would seem a bit redundant to have a second speed only alien when he could just have unlocked XLR8 again. Also, I’ve noticed that all of the aliens from Alien Force and Ultimate Alien have more than one super power. So can you tell me what FastTrack’s other abilities are?
How does a new alien get introduced into an episode? the process always fascinated me!! and where does the 775th alien come from (planet-wise)?
Mr.David are you gonna take the torch and take Dwayne’s place as the fan question answerer ?
If so who is your favorite alien
Hello Peter David. Please tell me who to contact with question about the new series Ben 10: Ultimate Alien.
I honestly don’t know what to tell you. Dwayne was of course the most visible person to that end, and he’s gone. And I can’t just start giving out email addresses of other personnel.
.
PAD
Peter David Tell yourself and do not know anything about new episodes?
Peter David.
Hello, Good Night! Please tell me you do not know when will the new episode Ben 10:Ultimate Alien?
That’s a snap: I do not know when there will be new episodes.
.
PAD
Peter David And who knows? Anyone who knows can you please give email
I can tell you this with certainty: Not for the rest of the summer. You won’t be seeing new episodes until at least September.
.
PAD
Peter David!!!Please Anyone who knows will episodes Ben 10:Ultimate Alien can you please give email.
Peter David Hello.So I realized new episodes in the summer would not be? New episodes will be shown in September, right?
Peter David Hello Good evening.So I realized new episodes in the summer would not be? New episodes will be shown in September, right?
Hello Peter David, I have noticed we bearly see Upchuck, Diamondhead, Fasttrack, and Ripjaws lately, are we going to see more of them in Ultimate Alien?
Is Psyphone dead or alive. If he is alive where is he
I feel about what Prisoner #775 (Who I like to call Cham since He a living thing and not a number) had went through. He lost his family because Rozum and the Air Force delayed his return. So Peter, what will Rozum’s punishment be?
ok guys i found out when the next episode will air. it will air on september 16, 2011. and it will be called “The Purge”. It’s on ben 10 wiki and it was a confirmed episode and date.
I was very impressed by this episode. My kids (4 & 6) are great fans, but are wholly encouraged in their interest. I love the subtlety of the show – the shades of grey are infinitely fascinating. There’s nothing like a question sitting in our peripheral vision to tease open the mind. Thanks for a great episode. And also for Rath, who is exquisite!