Ben 10: Alien Force Season 2 Episode 4 — "Save the Last Dance"

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Mixing localized teenage social pressures with an utterly unexpected extraterrestrial crisis, Ben 10: Alien Force Season 2 Episode 4, "Save the Last Dance," delivers a memorable blend of horror, comedy, and incredible biological lore. The episode puts a spotlight on the mystery of the Omnitrix's transformations, proving it is much more than just a weapon.

As Gwen eagerly prepares for her high school spring formal dance and tries to get Kevin to ask her out, Ben's behavior turns alarming. He begins sleepwalking, displaying erratic hunger cravings for metal, and unexpectedly transforming into Big Chill while completely losing conscious control. The team is forced to track him down to prevent an icy catastrophe, unaware of the deep alien instinct driving his body.

“Ben's not trying to destroy the city, Kevin. He's not even himself right now. Something else is running the show.”

Episode Summary

The episode opens with high school romance drama as Gwen drops hints about the upcoming school dance, though Kevin struggles to pick up on them. However, their focus shifts to Ben, who begins suffering from bizarre cravings, eating metal objects like pickles out of a jar and even a bicycle. Soon, Ben begins forcefully transforming into Big Chill while completely unconscious, flying off into the night to consume massive amounts of metal from factories and junkyards.

Worried that the Omnitrix is malfunctioning or that Ben has completely lost his mind, Gwen and Kevin follow his destructive trail. Every time they try to intervene, the sleepwalking Big Chill violently defends his metal cache using cryokinetic freezing breath and intangibility, treating his closest friends like hostile intruders.

The situation reaches its climax at a massive automated steel mill. Gwen uses her energy constructs and Kevin absorbs metal to contain him, but they are shocked when Big Chill ignores them entirely to build a massive, complex nest out of molten steel and scrap iron. Suddenly, Big Chill's abdomen opens up, and he lays a clutch of glowing alien eggs. The mystery is finally solved: the Necrofriggian DNA inside the Omnitrix had triggered a natural, asexual reproductive cycle that occurs once every 80 years.

Shortly after, the eggs hatch into a swarm of adorable, tiny baby Necrofriggians. The newborns happily feed on the remaining scrap metal before flying off into deep space to live out their lives. Ben reverts to his human form with his mind clear, remembering absolutely nothing about his brief stint as a mother. To close out the night, Kevin finally surprises Gwen by taking her to the dance, sporting a humorous, old-fashioned tuxedo.

Themes & Character Development

Alien Biology & Instincts: The episode highlights that the Omnitrix does not just change Ben's physical appearance; it fully introduces the deep-seated biological directives, urges, and survival instincts of the species.
The Mystery of Maturity: Ben undergoing an unexpected pregnancy acts as a bizarre, sci-fi metaphor for the confusing, uncontrollable hormonal changes that teenagers experience during puberty.
Kevin & Gwen's Romance: Despite his rough exterior and criminal past, Kevin shows genuine vulnerability and growth by stepping out of his comfort zone to make Gwen happy at her formal dance.

Production Details

First Aired: November 6, 2008
Created By: Man of Action (Duncan Rouleau, Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, and Steven T. Seagle)
Written By: Amy Wolfram
Directed By: Dan Riba
Produced By: Cartoon Network Studios
Art Style: Dark, atmospheric night aesthetics mixed with bright, neon-pink mana energy and striking industrial factory backdrops
Voice Cast:
- Yuri Lowenthal as Ben Tennyson / Big Chill
- Ashley Johnson as Gwen Tennyson
- Greg Cipes as Kevin Levin
- Dee Bradley Baker as the baby Necrofriggians

Fun Facts & Trivia

Did You Know?

This is the first and only episode in the franchise where Ben Tennyson technically becomes a parent, giving birth to 14 alien offspring.
Necrofriggians (Big Chill's species) reproduce asexually once every 80 years, meaning they do not require a mate to lay eggs.
Ben's massive appetite for weird combinations, like eating giant jars of pickles, subtly foreshadowed the classic real-world symptoms of pregnancy cravings throughout the episode.
The title "Save the Last Dance" is a direct nod to the romantic high school theme of the episode and the classic 2001 teen drama film of the same name.
When Kevin shows up at the dance, he wears a light blue vintage tuxedo with ruffles, which heavily mirrors the iconic prom suit worn by Harry Dunne in the movie *Dumb and Dumber*.

Legacy & Impact

"Save the Last Dance" remains one of the most uniquely memorable and heavily discussed episodes in the history of the show. By stepping away from the looming threat of the Highbreed invasion, it gave the audience an intriguing look into alien ecology, enriching the world-building of the universe.

The twist ending of Ben unknowingly having alien babies left an indelible mark on the fanbase, striking a perfect balance between weird sci-fi lore and lighthearted comedy. It stands as a brilliant example of how Ben 10: Alien Force could seamlessly blend grounded teenage relationship milestones with wild, unpredictable cosmic adventures.