#sir george

[spectralpixelsredone]

I do like the idea Dagon Dragons form being redesign to have a mere VISAGE of a dragon or looks like one from afar while actually looking more eldritch...

[pinkfellaexperience]

actually I was gonna draw him in a badass pose but idk how his armor works and I got lazyyyyyy (yeah his right arm doesn't exist and i don'tknow how to render metal👍)

[ether-here-or-there]

Looking up Saint George bc Ben 10 and Sir George just being that dude but immortal and laughing because

(Looks at Forever Knights) Yeah, real bang-up job on that “peace keeping” Georgie boy

[escapismsworld]

Detail of the monument to Sir George. St Paul and his wife in St Lawrence's Church, Snarford, England, 1613

[pilot-of-eva-00]

Ben 10: Fixing Sir George

One of the more divisive characters in Ultimate Alien was Sir George, the original Forever Knight. On one hand, he’s an interesting parallel to Ben and is one of the few antagonists to sympathize with Ben’s frustrations at feeling stifled. On the other hand he ordered a purge that got Pierce, and possibly dozens more aliens, killed and was never called out for it. Pierce’s death wasn’t even mentioned again till Omniverse during the controversial Rooters arc which feels disrespectful as he was part of the team since the Highbreed arc in Alien Force and no one acknowledges him. Some of the issues with the final arc of UAF could be blamed on the passing of Dwayne McDuffie with the crew not wanting to revise any drafts out of respect for him and the production of Omniverse taking up importance as most of the crew stayed on despite the difference in tone/artstyle.

I think McDuffie intended to give George more of a morally grey character arc akin to Reinrassig from AF but his death and the messy production of the final season may have left us with the disappointing Dagon arc. The ideas for a good story were there with Ben’s arc about ultimate power and control and his conflict with Julie over using alien technology to change the world but it fell flat compared to what came before. The Highbreed arc was the best of the UAF era, AF season 3 was the result of CN meddling and forcing them to change the story but it still had some decent episodes. Aggregor and Ultimate Kevin had rushed endings and the latter is divisive because of Ben’s decision to kill Kevin but they were filled with world building, passion and storytelling. Dagon was supposed to be the second arc of AF but was pushed back due to executive meddling and it turned out to be the weakest of UAF.

There are two ways one could rectify the issues with George’s character. Either have him be the one Forever Knight who doesn’t agree with the purge to show he has some morals or give him an arc where he learns he was wrong to be xenophobic towards aliens. The former would make him more heroic and one could still use the idea of him having outdated views compared to Ben without him attempting genocide. The latter would hold him accountable for the purge and force him to learn empathy for aliens. It seems like the writers wanted to sweep the purge under the rug as George received Ascalon from Azmuth and respects him. If better written, it could have been a commentary on how racists will have token minorities they respect and how they will steal or appropriate their creations for their agenda. The Forever Knights steal alien tech and use it to promote xenophobia.

Continuing with the idea of George being a morally grey character, have Ben call him out for the purge and Pierce’s death during their confrontation. Ben had worked with Pierce to defeat Animo in AF and showed concern for the Plumber kids after they had their powers drained by Kevin in UA. It is odd that they never addressed Pierce’s death. Maybe Ben could attempt to change George’s mind like he did with Reinrassig by forcing George to ponder his beliefs. It would also be nice if we got to see George being heroic outside of the final battle with Dagon by having him help people and giving him a more compassionate side. Maybe show him helping an alien outside of Ben’s team or Azmuth as part of his arc of unlearning his bigotry. This would make Ben calling him a friend feel earned. Reiny unlearned his prejudice and helped stop the Highbreed invasion which makes Ben calling him a friend actually justified unlike George.

Sir George had potential as a character and parallel to Ben but it’s hard to ignore that he was the reason we had an episode titled “The Purge” and was the reason the Forever Knights committed all the crimes they did in the OS-UA. Rather than ignore his actions, the writers should have either changed it so Driscoll ordered the genocide and George reigns him in as a way of showing he’s different from the others or made him more of a morally grey character who learns he was wrong. Have his motivation for the purge be that he needed to rally an army to fight Dagon which mirrors irl politicians who align themselves with hate groups to win elections. UA’s final arc tackled a lot of concepts relating to irl issues like xenophobia starting with Prisoner 775 but it didn’t quite stick the landing and a few rewrites plus expansion on character arcs or motivations would have improved it.

[periodsims]

Later the same evening, Spring 1770

After a period of refreshment, Sir George Groves, her father's advisor and long time friend, came to greet her.

Sir George: Might I claim my dance, Your Highness? Carolina: You may, Sir George. I wasn't aware you cared for such frivolity. Are you not still mourning your wife? Sir George: No, I'm glad to say the time for mourning has passed and it would be unfair to keep my whole household from such a party. You know the late Lady Groves enjoyed such occasions. Carolina: Forgive me, but I don't recall Lady Groves ever enjoying a ball for much more than the wine. Sir George: You remember more than I had hoped then. Katherine had her vices, and it was that penchant for drink that saw her to an early grave and left me with two children on the cusp of adulthood. I wish she'd thought of them more often than her next glass. Carolina: Yes, well... It is very good they still have you then. Sir George: Yes.

Sir George: I do hope that you might take young Catherine under your wing, she does admire you so, as do I after that unfortunate incident when you and your father were last at Grove Hall. Carolina: Of course, I will. I imagine she might need a friend after losing her mother. Sir George: She has talked of little but this ball and you for months now. You've made quite the impact on our house when you saved my life. Carolina: Anyone would have done the same, sir. My father would have put it out himself if he were present in that wing when the fire broke out. Sir George: You are too modest, princess. Quick action was needed to save me from the flames and you acted with all the skill and speed of the most elite bucket brigade. It was astonishing to see and more profound to be the recipient of your noble efforts.

Sir George: I am more grateful than I will ever be able to say. Carolina: So you have said many times, sir. At what point may we speak of other things? Something happier than that frightening night.

Sir George: As you wish. Have you enjoyed this evening? Carolina: Very much, sir. Sir George: Good. A young lady as beautiful as you ought to be admired and your father has hidden you away long enough. It does everyone good to see a diamond glitter as you do. Carolina: I never took you for a flatterer, Sir George. Do you speak to my father this way? Sir George: I do not flatter, Your Highness. Any esteem I bestow is well earned. Your father knows this. I have not been so valuable all these years because I showered him in praise. I say what I mean, whether it be in the company of His Majesty, his councilors, my soldiers, or in the presence of women.

Carolina: I think you're wrong, sir. You do flatter, but I wonder, perhaps, if you have saved all of your flattery for me tonight. Sir George: *laughing* Never, Your Highness. I swear to you, I speak nothing but the truth. Carolina: If you insist, sir, I have no choice but to believe you. Sir George: I’m glad you would, Your Highness, but your caution against flattery is wise. Now you’re of age many men may seek to flatter you and draw you to them. Any man you allow so close you should be duly measured and appraised for his sincerity.  Carolina: But I can be assured of your professed sincerity? Sir George: I am wholly devoted to you, princess, and your father, as I have been all my life, especially after you became my savior.

Carolina: Especially? Did my father not save your life many times over during the war? Sir George: He did, and I have repaid him with interest, but I remain indebted to you.  Carolina: Well, sir, if there comes a day I need saving once again, I would welcome your help, if only to free you from your debt. Sir George: And it would be a pleasure to rescue you, not to be free of this debt but to be of service to someone so dear.  Carolina: Sir… Now whatever could he mean by that… ‘someone so dear’

Previous | From the Beginning | Next: Carolina's Courtship

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YOU GOT IT!

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