Ben 10 Season 1 Episode 3 — "The Krakken"

In the third episode of the original Ben 10 series, the stakes dive underwater as the Tennyson family encounters a mysterious lake creature. "The Krakken" blends monster-of-the-week storytelling with a message about protecting the environment and thinking critically about what makes someone a villain.

This episode introduces aquatic danger, deception, and a surprising moral lesson as Ben uses both alien strength and human empathy to solve the mystery of the creature terrorizing Lake Erie.

"Not every monster is evil — and not every human is a hero."

Episode Summary

The family stops at Lake Erie for a relaxing break, only to discover that campers and rangers are terrified of a sea monster called the Krakken. Reports claim it's attacking boats and stealing supplies. Ben is excited to battle a classic lake beast, but things aren’t what they seem.

After transforming into Ripjaws, a new aquatic alien, Ben tracks the Krakken and discovers it’s not actually violent — it’s a misunderstood creature trying to protect its eggs from poachers. The real threat turns out to be Jonah Melville, a black-market poacher who profits from rare creatures like the Krakken.

With Gwen and Grandpa Max’s help, Ben sets a trap and uses Ripjaws’ unique powers to outwit the poachers, returning the eggs safely and ensuring the Krakken can remain in peace.

Themes & Character Development

Empathy & Misjudgment: This episode teaches that fear often stems from misunderstanding. Ben learns not to jump to conclusions based on appearances.
New Powers: The introduction of Ripjaws gives viewers a fresh alien with unique skills — breathing underwater, swimming fast, and fighting with jaws and claws.
Trusting Intuition: Ben begins to develop instincts about who the real enemies are, showing growing emotional maturity.

Each member of the Tennyson trio contributes to the solution, showing a tighter family unit:

Ben shows greater control and purpose with his alien forms.
Gwen provides research, planning, and emotional intelligence.
Max reveals more of his mysterious knowledge and wisdom about the weird world they’re entering.

Production Details

Air Date: January 21, 2006
Writer: Greg Klein
Director: Scooter Tidwell
Created By: Man of Action (Duncan Rouleau, Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Steven T. Seagle)
Voice Cast:
- Tara Strong as Ben Tennyson
- Meagan Smith as Gwen Tennyson
- Paul Eiding as Grandpa Max
- Fred Tatasciore as Jonah Melville
- Dee Bradley Baker as Ripjaws and the Krakken
Art Style: The underwater scenes feature moody lighting and shadowy depths, highlighting Ripjaws’ glowing eyes and aquatic design.

Fun Facts & Trivia

Did You Know?

This is the first and only episode where Ripjaws is the primary alien.
The Krakken design was inspired by classic sea monster myths, mixed with glowing, bioluminescent features.
The episode was praised for showing a “villain” creature that wasn’t truly evil — unusual for a kids' cartoon at the time.
Jonah Melville later makes a cameo in the Ben 10 Omniverse series.

Final Thoughts

"The Krakken" marks a key shift in Ben's development — showing that brute strength isn't always the answer, and that sometimes the real monsters are human. It highlights compassion, investigation, and strategic thinking, all while delivering exciting underwater action.

This episode may be quieter compared to others, but it leaves a lasting impression — both in terms of character development and moral depth.

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