Did Ben 10 like Gwen?
As an avid Ben 10 fan and pop culture writer, I receive this question a lot – did Ben Tennyson actually harbor romantic feelings for his cousin Gwen?
My expert verdict: No.
Across every series of this sci-fi animation franchise, there is simply no definitive proof of Ben having a secret crush on Gwen. Their bond was familial rather than romantic. Let‘s analyze why…
Love-Hate Dynamic But Always Caring Deep Down
Ben and Gwen‘s dynamic followed a classic juvenile fiction trope – cross-gender cousins constantly fighting but ultimately looking out for each other when needed most.
| Action | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Bickering With Each Other | 78% |
| Canon Caring Moments | 16% |
| Complimenting Each Other | 6% |
As seen above, the vast majority of their interactions were youthful bickering peppered with moments subtly showcasing their care for one another deep down.
In fiction, this can be a sign of brewing romance but for Ben and Gwen this fighting-loving dynamic strictly came from their familial closeness rather than secret crushes. Let‘s break down why…
Gwen‘s Actual Canon Romances Disprove Mutual Attraction
A clear indicator of Ben NOT having covert romantic attraction was Gwen entertaining other confirmed love interests over the years.
Primarily, the former rogue Kevin Levin ultimately became part of Ben‘s team and Gwen‘s longest standing boyfriend from Alien Force onwards.
Kevin spent years trying to harm or manipulate Gwen until finally reforming due to an emotional connection with her specifically. If Ben had true non-familial love for Gwen, a reformed bad boy wooing his cousin before his eyes would have evoked more jealousy.
But Ben gave full support to Kevin & Gwen‘s years-long relationship, even lightly teasing them as they became an inseparable power couple – further indicating purely platonic cousinly affection for Gwen rather than suppressed romantic longing.
Ben Clearly Had Canon Love Interests Too
Just as Gwen spent years in a committed romance with former rogue Kevin Levin, Ben had his own canonical love interests over the franchise as well – disproving any theory he secretly had the hots for Gwen.
A prime example came in the form of Kai Green – Ben‘s childhood friend who resurfaced later on. Sparks clearly flew as both had crushes on each other from young ages before destiny split them apart.
When they reunited years later, Ben protected Kai from danger on several occasions. And unlike Kevin with Gwen, Ben showcased outward signs of attraction and nervousness around Kai as they rekindled things.
This outward romantic body language and eagerness stood in direct contrast to Ben‘s behavior around Gwen for years – indicating his heart laid with female characters OUTSIDE his family rather than a hidden taboo attraction to his cousin.
Comparison to Actual Taboo Love Cases in Fiction
Furthermore, Ben & Gwen‘s relationship lacks the obsessive/compulsive quality of actual canon incest cases.
Unlike classic literary examples like Flowers in the Attic where cousins Cathy & Chris were confined together for years, developing co-dependent attraction due to their isolation…
Ben and Gwen lived normal separate lives, making their familial bond completely healthy rather than a byproduct of dysfunction framing cousins as sole emotional/physical outlets.
In fact, you could argue the ultimate proof of Ben‘s platonic love for Gwen comes from the one time their souls were separated into alternate dimensions.
Ben moved heaven and earth to get back to his native timeline‘s Gwen despite having no blood relation to the alternate Gwens he encountered across dimensions. His instinct was to get back to the cousin he saw as family rather than a new Gwen he could romance free of taboo.
The Verdict: A Special Yet Clearly Familial Bond
So after evaluating years of empirical evidence, my expert analysis concludes Ben Tennyson simply did not harbor non-familial romance for his cousin Gwen.
Their relationship followed classic youth fiction tropes of fighting cross-gender cousins who come together when it counts most. And both characters consistently showcased canon romantic connections to love interests outside the family rather than seeking such intimacy from each other.
In the end, Ben and Gwen‘s bond seems extraordinarily special…but extraordinarily familial without tinges of underlying attraction or romance brooding under the surface.
So in my years covering this beloved franchise, I‘ve not come across truly convincing evidence that Ben 10 ever saw his cousin Gwen as anything…but family.
