Ben 10 Season 2 Episode 6 — "Tourist Trap"

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The high-energy second season of the original Ben 10 animated series charges forward with a fast-paced, electrifying adventure. The journey shifts gears into a mix of comedy and chaos in Episode 6, "Tourist Trap," when an impulsive prank by Ben unlocks a brand new alien form and unleashes an energetic menace on a quirky tourist town.

Stopping at Sparksville—a small roadside town famous for its bizarre tourist attractions and a massive collection of rubber bands—Ben grows restless and looks for a way to have some fun. However, his curiosity gets the better of him when he accidentally shatters a historical monument, inadvertently liberating a hyperactive creature made entirely of living electrical energy known as a Megawhatt.

“Some tourist attractions are just boring traps, but when you mix a little alien spark with an absolute lack of restraint, the whole town is bound to go haywire.”

Episode Summary

The Tennysons arrive in Sparksville, where the town's eccentric promoter introduces them to its crown jewel: a giant ball of rubber bands. Desperate for entertainment, Ben utilizes **Heatblast** to pull off a harmless stunt, but the resulting heat accidentally ruptures a containment chamber hidden within the town's display, freeing a troublesome, cackling little creature called a Megawhatt.

The Megawhatt loves nothing more than feeding on raw electricity and playing high-stakes, destructive practical jokes. It begins wreaking havoc across Sparksville, absorbing electronic signs, overloading power grids, and multiplying whenever it takes a massive hit of power. Ben tries to intercept it using **XLR8** and **Four Arms**, but his physical forms are completely useless against a foe that can travel through power lines.

In the middle of the frantic chase, the Omnitrix experiences a sudden surge and unlocks a new alien DNA profile: **Buzzshock** (a Nosedeenian form that shares the Megawhatt's abilities). After figuring out how to maneuver as living current, Ben coordinates with Gwen and Grandpa Max to outsmart the creatures. Realizing their weakness, they trap the multiplying horde inside a giant insulator—the very ball of rubber bands that Ben initially dismissed—saving the town from a total blackout.

Themes & Character Development

Consequences of Playfulness: The episode serves as an direct reminder to Ben that his childish impulses and desire to beat boredom can lead to real-world dangers for innocent bystanders.
Adaptability and Ingenuity: Unlocking Buzzshock forces Ben to quickly adapt to an unfamiliar, non-physical power set, proving he can learn on the fly when standard brawn fails.
Resourcefulness: Defeating the Megawhatts requires analyzing the environment rather than using brute force, showing a gradual development in the team's cooperative tactical skills.

Production Details

First Aired: June 13, 2006
Created By: Man of Action (Duncan Rouleau, Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, and Steven T. Seagle)
Written By: Thomas Pugsley and Greg Klein
Directed By: Scooter Tidwell
Produced By: Cartoon Network Studios
Art Style: Features a bright, colorful retro Americana aesthetic for the roadside town, heavily contrasted by sharp, fluid neon-yellow animation effects for the electrical entities.
Voice Cast:
- Tara Strong as Ben Tennyson / Buzzshock
- Meagan Smith as Gwen Tennyson
- Paul Eiding as Grandpa Max
- Fred Tatasciore as Sparksville Promoter / Megawhatts

Fun Facts & Trivia

Did You Know?

"Tourist Trap" introduces the Nosedeenian species. While the creatures are called "Megawhatts" in this episode, Ben's transformation is officially named **Buzzshock** in the series archives.
This is the first episode in the entire series where Ben unlocks a brand-new alien form outside of the original starting lineup of ten aliens.
The fictional town of Sparksville and its giant rubber band ball are direct parodies of real-world roadside tourist stops scattered across the United States.
The unique multiplying nature of the Megawhatts when exposed to energy or water heavily references the classic 1984 creature feature film *Gremlins*.
Buzzshock would later become a highly favored transformation for Ben's future self, Ben 10,000, and returns as a regular form in *Ben 10: Omniverse*.

Legacy & Impact

"Tourist Trap" remains a fan-favorite classic because it perfectly balances the show's lighthearted humor with creative action sequencing. By proving that the Omnitrix could unlock and catalog entirely new species from across the galaxy, it cracked open the doors to infinite growth for Ben's arsenal, expanding the commercial and narrative reach of the franchise.

The lasting charm of **Ben 10** is found in how its young protagonist handles his errors. This episode demonstrates that while Ben is still prone to making immature mistakes, his ultimate willingness to take accountability and protect others is what makes him a hero.