Who you gonna call? “Ghost Town”
Nov. 21st, 2009 01:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
akinoameA prison station near the sun is quickly invaded by Vilgax, who destroys the ship guarding it and promptly takes down the wardens. He makes his way down a dimly lit corridor to a central chamber, holding the only prisoner, Ghostfreak. Weakened by the powerful lamp shining over him, he begs Vilgax to set him free. And Vilgax is willing to…if Ghostfreak tells him everything he knows about Ben and the Omnitrix.
Meanwhile, on Earth, a mini-golf game is interrupted when a tiny, acid-spewing alien (that oddly resembles Rufus from Kim Possible) begins annoying the hell out of the team. When the Rufus-alien proves to be too quick for them to smash in what starts out as Whack-A-Mole and turns into Humongousaur reenacting every Godzilla movie ever, Gwen takes advantage of it holding still to bite down on Humongousaur’s tail and hits a golf ball at it, knocking it out. She cracks that the alien just “wasn’t up to par,” but before The Who can start singing, Kevin admits that he doesn’t get it. But before they can bag the Rufus-alien (which is actually a bunch of Rufuses sticking out of a not-at-all Freudian tentacle thing), something crash-lands into the parking lot. It’s Vilgax, and he needs Ben’s help.
Leaving out the details where he broke Ghostfreak out of prison, he explains that Ghostfreak took over his planet, possessing the populace and turning them into his minions. Things are so dire that he was desperate enough to come to Earth despite being banished and having to beg for help from his greatest enemy. Naturally, the others are suspicious, but Ben is enjoying the humiliation. But when they head to the planet, it turns out Vilgax wasn’t lying about the situation there. Immediately upon landing, Ship lets them out, reverts to his normal form, and runs off in terror. It’s a difficult job dodging the Ghostfreak-minions, and when Vilgax runs off after hearing a bone-chilling cry, the team is certain he’s betrayed them. However, as it turns out, he’s found a little girl surrounded by the minions, and he’s trying to protect her. He orders the team to keep the minions off her so they can’t possess her, and Kevin learns that the minions can’t possess him. While he’s depressed that even the “freaks” don’t want him, Ben orders him on the front-lines, pointing out it’s a good thing he can’t be possessed and warped. They manage to defeat the minions, and Vilgax tells the girl to find a safe place to hide, and they sneak into his palace via the garbage chute to face down Ghostfreak.
As they arrive and see Ghostfreak plotting his takeover of the universe, with Vilgax’s home planet as the launch point, Ben reveals he has a cunning plan, but in order to pull it off, he needs Vilgax to act as a distraction. Vilgax challenges Ghostfreak, and when Ghostfreak tries to possess him, Ben leaps in the way, and the Omnitrix re-samples his DNA, allowing Ben to use the transformation. The rest of the team immediately berates Ben for this stupid-as-all-hell plan, but Ben insists he’s got complete control over Ghostfreak now…for about five seconds before the Omnitrix emblem disappears and his eyes change from green to purple. Now having complete control over Ben, Ghostfreak goes all out on his friends, ignoring Gwen’s attempts to try and get through to Ben. Vilgax, on the other hand, argues that even though Ben can’t hear her, yes he is still in there—and that means he can take down his two greatest enemies at the same time. Between Ghostfreak and Vilgax, they easily dispatch Gwen and Kevin, and Ghostfreak plans to possess Vilgax and add his powers to his new arsenal. Vilgax, however, isn’t going to stand for it, and he destroys the minions before grabbing his sword and creating a burst of light that weakens Ghostfreak enough for Ben to partially take control. The Omnitrix reappears, and Ghostfreak tries to hold his left hand back from reaching for it, but this time with Vilgax’s help, Ben’s too powerful for him. Ben reverts to normal and insists his plan was a success…while the rest of the team glares at him for forgetting that they’re a team and he shouldn’t put them in danger like that.
With the threat of Ghostfreak neutralized, the citizens gather outside the palace, cheering on their leader. Vilgax tells Ben that he’s not going to try and take full credit for the victory, but Ben insists “What happens in Vilgaxia stays in Vilgaxia,” to which Vilgax agrees. Gwen and Kevin manage to recover Ship, who’s been hiding as a toaster the whole time. Vilgax sort-of thanks them for their help, insisting they’ve “won” their lives, and Gwen argues that Vilgax attacked them. But Vilgax argues that if he hadn’t taken them out of the battle, Ben would have killed them. With the alliance over, the team leaves, but Vilgax vows that now with the secrets of the Omnitrix his and no one left to stand in his way, he will defeat Ben one day.
Ghostfreak is one of Ben’s oldest enemies and in some ways, his most personal one. As an Omnitrix alien that proved too violent and dangerous, he initially scared Ben only while they shared the form until he began attacking Ben in dreams and finally managed to force the transformation on him and gain control. He then broke free and came back to threaten Ben several times before Ben supposedly defeated him on the space station, apparently regaining his DNA in the Omnitrix. However, Ben never used the form again, and as Ghostfreak was once again alive and this time in a prison built specifically to hold him, it’s entirely possible that somewhere in the years between series, he broke free once again. Five years stronger, he now displays new powers—namely the ability to transform anyone he possesses into a minion resembling his false, shielded form. And the redesign of the shielded form is a lot creepier than the original. In the original, his single eye was small, and he was fairly ghost-shaped (or at least Ghostbusters logo-shaped) and grey. Now, the shielded form is thinner and white, appearing cadaverous, and the single eye protrudes more. Ghostfreak’s true form is also slightly redesigned—the “skin” over his striped tail is gone, and his claws are bone-white. The transformation is fairly gruesome this time around too, showing Ben’s body elongating as spikes form out of his spine and his skull twisting in a way heads are not supposed to twist to turn itself upside down. Even though it’s all in silhouette, it’s still creepy. But along with new powers, Ghostfreak also has new weaknesses. Previously, only sunlight could hurt him, but now, any bright light burns him. A burst of power from Gwen’s forcefield impacting against the wall and her losing control burns like the sun, as does the flash of light created by Vilgax’s sword. It’s good news for the heroes, as a bright light kept him too weak to move in the prison orbiting the sun to begin with. And finally, while Steve Blum was unable to play his old parts due to scheduling conflicts, Jeff Bennett does a damn good job portraying him, trading out borderline-Orochimaru for what sounds like Candle Jack from Freakazoid. No jokes plea
Vilgax also returns this episode, having planned to try and form an alliance with Ghostfreak in order to learn the secrets of the Omnitrix and thus how to defeat Ben. However, unsurprisingly, Ghostfreak betrayed him at the first opportunity. While Vilgax seemed a little hit-or-miss in “Vengeance of Vilgax,” here, I think they did a fairly decent job working with his new characterization. He’s essentially Darkseid now, and this episode is very similar to the Justice League episode “Twilight,” where Darkseid was forced to ask the League for help when his planned alliance with Brainiac went awry and the Kryptonian AI took over Apokolips. No matter how much Superman hated Darkseid, he knew Brainiac was a much bigger threat, and he reluctantly agreed to help. However, in “Twilight,” Darkseid was actually working with Brainiac the entire time and betrayed the League—and Brainiac too—by forcing a merge with him. Vilgax, however, is more-or-less honest from the start and maintains the temporary alliance…up until Ben and Ghostfreak merge, at least.
I’ll probably be lynched for arguing this, but I feel like this episode has established a Vilgax I find much more interesting than the original one. The original Vilgax was just a dangerous villain with a very simple, flat characterization. He was threatening and evil, and that was it. Alien Force Vilgax actually makes him a round character, fleshing him out. As seen in “Vengeance of Vilgax,” he’s cunning and calculating, finally patient enough to follow a complicated plan all the way through. He’s also given some redeeming characteristics as the leader of his home planet, when he passionately argues to Ben that his people are not warriors and thus can’t defend themselves, and especially when he risks everything to save a lost little girl. His people genuinely love him rather than fear him. I was reminded of another Darkseid moment, back in the Superman finale “Legacy.” Furious at having been brainwashed, Superman gives Darkseid a vicious beating and then throws his battered body down to the slaves, insisting that they are free now and they can do whatever they want to their overlord. However, to his horror, they ask Darkseid if he’s okay and gently carry him to get medical attention. As Superman watches in shock, Darkseid explains, “I am many things, Kal-El, but here I am God.” So too is Vilgax on his own home turf.
Carrying on the “Twilight” comparison, I wonder if the events of this episode were more-or-less all according to plan. While Vilgax appears to genuinely care for his people, it is fairly convenient that upon taking over, Ghostfreak was able to build several ships that can easily be added to Vilgax’s fleet now that he’s back on the throne. Added to the powers he’s already taken and the fact that he now knows apparently all of the secrets of the Omnitrix, and you can count on him putting this all to good use for the finale.
We also learn that Vilgax is one of a kind among the Chimera Sui Generis. He’s the only one among them that is that powerful and trained as a warrior, indicating that it’s possible the rest of his people are more like Myaxx, oriented more toward academics and science than trying to take over the universe. And I have to admit that it’s a refreshing change from expecting one person’s characterization being representative of the entire population (Star Trek, I’m looking at you).
And finally, because this can’t be emphasized enough, Ben’s plan was really, really stupid. Any plan that involves using yourself as a meatpuppet is a bad plan. I’m not sure if it’s the result of the “brain tumor” or the martyr complex he’s been displaying since “Voided” at least, but he seriously needs some help if he thinks that was ever a viable plan. Much less thinking that it worked, given he was completely out of control until Vilgax created that burst of light to weaken Ghostfreak just enough for Ben to get partial control to change back.
“Ghost Town” was written by Nicole Dubuc. James Remar played Vilgax and Jeff Bennett played Ghostfreak.
Meanwhile, on Earth, a mini-golf game is interrupted when a tiny, acid-spewing alien (that oddly resembles Rufus from Kim Possible) begins annoying the hell out of the team. When the Rufus-alien proves to be too quick for them to smash in what starts out as Whack-A-Mole and turns into Humongousaur reenacting every Godzilla movie ever, Gwen takes advantage of it holding still to bite down on Humongousaur’s tail and hits a golf ball at it, knocking it out. She cracks that the alien just “wasn’t up to par,” but before The Who can start singing, Kevin admits that he doesn’t get it. But before they can bag the Rufus-alien (which is actually a bunch of Rufuses sticking out of a not-at-all Freudian tentacle thing), something crash-lands into the parking lot. It’s Vilgax, and he needs Ben’s help.
Leaving out the details where he broke Ghostfreak out of prison, he explains that Ghostfreak took over his planet, possessing the populace and turning them into his minions. Things are so dire that he was desperate enough to come to Earth despite being banished and having to beg for help from his greatest enemy. Naturally, the others are suspicious, but Ben is enjoying the humiliation. But when they head to the planet, it turns out Vilgax wasn’t lying about the situation there. Immediately upon landing, Ship lets them out, reverts to his normal form, and runs off in terror. It’s a difficult job dodging the Ghostfreak-minions, and when Vilgax runs off after hearing a bone-chilling cry, the team is certain he’s betrayed them. However, as it turns out, he’s found a little girl surrounded by the minions, and he’s trying to protect her. He orders the team to keep the minions off her so they can’t possess her, and Kevin learns that the minions can’t possess him. While he’s depressed that even the “freaks” don’t want him, Ben orders him on the front-lines, pointing out it’s a good thing he can’t be possessed and warped. They manage to defeat the minions, and Vilgax tells the girl to find a safe place to hide, and they sneak into his palace via the garbage chute to face down Ghostfreak.
As they arrive and see Ghostfreak plotting his takeover of the universe, with Vilgax’s home planet as the launch point, Ben reveals he has a cunning plan, but in order to pull it off, he needs Vilgax to act as a distraction. Vilgax challenges Ghostfreak, and when Ghostfreak tries to possess him, Ben leaps in the way, and the Omnitrix re-samples his DNA, allowing Ben to use the transformation. The rest of the team immediately berates Ben for this stupid-as-all-hell plan, but Ben insists he’s got complete control over Ghostfreak now…for about five seconds before the Omnitrix emblem disappears and his eyes change from green to purple. Now having complete control over Ben, Ghostfreak goes all out on his friends, ignoring Gwen’s attempts to try and get through to Ben. Vilgax, on the other hand, argues that even though Ben can’t hear her, yes he is still in there—and that means he can take down his two greatest enemies at the same time. Between Ghostfreak and Vilgax, they easily dispatch Gwen and Kevin, and Ghostfreak plans to possess Vilgax and add his powers to his new arsenal. Vilgax, however, isn’t going to stand for it, and he destroys the minions before grabbing his sword and creating a burst of light that weakens Ghostfreak enough for Ben to partially take control. The Omnitrix reappears, and Ghostfreak tries to hold his left hand back from reaching for it, but this time with Vilgax’s help, Ben’s too powerful for him. Ben reverts to normal and insists his plan was a success…while the rest of the team glares at him for forgetting that they’re a team and he shouldn’t put them in danger like that.
With the threat of Ghostfreak neutralized, the citizens gather outside the palace, cheering on their leader. Vilgax tells Ben that he’s not going to try and take full credit for the victory, but Ben insists “What happens in Vilgaxia stays in Vilgaxia,” to which Vilgax agrees. Gwen and Kevin manage to recover Ship, who’s been hiding as a toaster the whole time. Vilgax sort-of thanks them for their help, insisting they’ve “won” their lives, and Gwen argues that Vilgax attacked them. But Vilgax argues that if he hadn’t taken them out of the battle, Ben would have killed them. With the alliance over, the team leaves, but Vilgax vows that now with the secrets of the Omnitrix his and no one left to stand in his way, he will defeat Ben one day.
Ghostfreak is one of Ben’s oldest enemies and in some ways, his most personal one. As an Omnitrix alien that proved too violent and dangerous, he initially scared Ben only while they shared the form until he began attacking Ben in dreams and finally managed to force the transformation on him and gain control. He then broke free and came back to threaten Ben several times before Ben supposedly defeated him on the space station, apparently regaining his DNA in the Omnitrix. However, Ben never used the form again, and as Ghostfreak was once again alive and this time in a prison built specifically to hold him, it’s entirely possible that somewhere in the years between series, he broke free once again. Five years stronger, he now displays new powers—namely the ability to transform anyone he possesses into a minion resembling his false, shielded form. And the redesign of the shielded form is a lot creepier than the original. In the original, his single eye was small, and he was fairly ghost-shaped (or at least Ghostbusters logo-shaped) and grey. Now, the shielded form is thinner and white, appearing cadaverous, and the single eye protrudes more. Ghostfreak’s true form is also slightly redesigned—the “skin” over his striped tail is gone, and his claws are bone-white. The transformation is fairly gruesome this time around too, showing Ben’s body elongating as spikes form out of his spine and his skull twisting in a way heads are not supposed to twist to turn itself upside down. Even though it’s all in silhouette, it’s still creepy. But along with new powers, Ghostfreak also has new weaknesses. Previously, only sunlight could hurt him, but now, any bright light burns him. A burst of power from Gwen’s forcefield impacting against the wall and her losing control burns like the sun, as does the flash of light created by Vilgax’s sword. It’s good news for the heroes, as a bright light kept him too weak to move in the prison orbiting the sun to begin with. And finally, while Steve Blum was unable to play his old parts due to scheduling conflicts, Jeff Bennett does a damn good job portraying him, trading out borderline-Orochimaru for what sounds like Candle Jack from Freakazoid. No jokes plea
Vilgax also returns this episode, having planned to try and form an alliance with Ghostfreak in order to learn the secrets of the Omnitrix and thus how to defeat Ben. However, unsurprisingly, Ghostfreak betrayed him at the first opportunity. While Vilgax seemed a little hit-or-miss in “Vengeance of Vilgax,” here, I think they did a fairly decent job working with his new characterization. He’s essentially Darkseid now, and this episode is very similar to the Justice League episode “Twilight,” where Darkseid was forced to ask the League for help when his planned alliance with Brainiac went awry and the Kryptonian AI took over Apokolips. No matter how much Superman hated Darkseid, he knew Brainiac was a much bigger threat, and he reluctantly agreed to help. However, in “Twilight,” Darkseid was actually working with Brainiac the entire time and betrayed the League—and Brainiac too—by forcing a merge with him. Vilgax, however, is more-or-less honest from the start and maintains the temporary alliance…up until Ben and Ghostfreak merge, at least.
I’ll probably be lynched for arguing this, but I feel like this episode has established a Vilgax I find much more interesting than the original one. The original Vilgax was just a dangerous villain with a very simple, flat characterization. He was threatening and evil, and that was it. Alien Force Vilgax actually makes him a round character, fleshing him out. As seen in “Vengeance of Vilgax,” he’s cunning and calculating, finally patient enough to follow a complicated plan all the way through. He’s also given some redeeming characteristics as the leader of his home planet, when he passionately argues to Ben that his people are not warriors and thus can’t defend themselves, and especially when he risks everything to save a lost little girl. His people genuinely love him rather than fear him. I was reminded of another Darkseid moment, back in the Superman finale “Legacy.” Furious at having been brainwashed, Superman gives Darkseid a vicious beating and then throws his battered body down to the slaves, insisting that they are free now and they can do whatever they want to their overlord. However, to his horror, they ask Darkseid if he’s okay and gently carry him to get medical attention. As Superman watches in shock, Darkseid explains, “I am many things, Kal-El, but here I am God.” So too is Vilgax on his own home turf.
Carrying on the “Twilight” comparison, I wonder if the events of this episode were more-or-less all according to plan. While Vilgax appears to genuinely care for his people, it is fairly convenient that upon taking over, Ghostfreak was able to build several ships that can easily be added to Vilgax’s fleet now that he’s back on the throne. Added to the powers he’s already taken and the fact that he now knows apparently all of the secrets of the Omnitrix, and you can count on him putting this all to good use for the finale.
We also learn that Vilgax is one of a kind among the Chimera Sui Generis. He’s the only one among them that is that powerful and trained as a warrior, indicating that it’s possible the rest of his people are more like Myaxx, oriented more toward academics and science than trying to take over the universe. And I have to admit that it’s a refreshing change from expecting one person’s characterization being representative of the entire population (Star Trek, I’m looking at you).
And finally, because this can’t be emphasized enough, Ben’s plan was really, really stupid. Any plan that involves using yourself as a meatpuppet is a bad plan. I’m not sure if it’s the result of the “brain tumor” or the martyr complex he’s been displaying since “Voided” at least, but he seriously needs some help if he thinks that was ever a viable plan. Much less thinking that it worked, given he was completely out of control until Vilgax created that burst of light to weaken Ghostfreak just enough for Ben to get partial control to change back.
“Ghost Town” was written by Nicole Dubuc. James Remar played Vilgax and Jeff Bennett played Ghostfreak.
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-11-21 11:07 pm (UTC)Thanks to last week's episode Kevin carries over some portion of his 'I'm a monster!' as shown in this one, when he was nearly possessed but thanks to his new look he was spared from being taken over. Most people would be thrilled by that, but noooooooo-not Kevin Levin! "Great; even the freaks don't want me!" Personally I agree with Ben for putting him on their front lines since he couldn't get taken over.
What I don't agree with, was Ben's plan to use himself to recapture Ghostfreak. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Gwen and Kevin gave him the riot act their entire way home! (Gwen at least, since she's always been concerned for her cousin's welfare. Kevin has only shown that he cares about himself-but in this case, he definitely would've had some words to say for Ben putting their team in danger.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-11-22 03:15 am (UTC)Oh yes. Nice to see the continuity there, and there might be some continuity with Ben basically telling him to shut up and be a shield. Who knows if Ben's still mad at him, after all?
Oh yes. Yeah. Again, Ben needs to get that brain tumor checked out or at the very least, see a psychiatrist about that martyr complex. I mean, he's been doing stupid reckless suicidal things since "Voided," and now I'm starting to worry that he's going to die again by the series finale. Ben, you are NOT Daniel!