Gravity Falls


Television

The Exchange

So, any other fans of the show around there parts?

I just finished watching everything that's been out so far (episode 11 of season 2), and I feel comfortable saying that this is my favorite cartoon show (eclipsing The Last Airbander by a small but noticeable margin, and being of far more consistent quality than Rick and Morty which were the two previous contenders). Honestly, it might just be one of my favorite shows period.

For those unfamiliar with it, Gravity Falls is a blend of fantasy, horror and science fiction that should honestly appeal to most fans of any of those genres. It's about twins (a boy named Dipper and a girl named Mable) sent to spend the summer with their great uncle Stan in a remote town called Gravity Falls. They quickly find that the town is swamped with a mix of creatures and unnatural powers that ranges from the funny, through the terrifying and unto the realms of the utterly bizarre. The story lines are original, awesome, and often so twisted that its hard to believe that this is a show aimed for kids. The characters are a great highlight as well - they are funny and likable, for the most part well rounded and avoiding cliches. An important part of the reason the show is such a joy to watch is the Mystery Twins (don't call them that to their faces, though) themselves - Dipper and Mable are VERY good child characters. Their bland of innocence and eagerness for adventure feels very believable, and they genuinely love each other - which is truly heart warming to watch. The last highlight is the plot itself - most episodes follow the "freak of the week" pattern, but especially in the second season things start moving forward in a startling pace and I found myself holding my breath quite a bit. It got really tense. Anyway, if you haven't checked it out yet, I strongly recommend that you do - you will not be disappointed!

For those who are already fans,

Major spoilers up to s2ep11:
So, the long suspected twin brother of Stan is finally in the picture. This leaves much to speculate on for the months (freaking months) until the show comes back. If the "doomsday device" is a portal to another dimension where the twin was trapped - how did he get there in the first place? There's probably another purpose to the device.
Also, I'm pretty sure that the opening of the portal is not the "big thing" that Billy Cipher promised was coming because, well, it ended up O.K, and if the little techno demon had his way Stan would have never got around to completing the device anyway. Also, it doesn't make sense for the author of the journals (likely Stans' brother) to build that huge atomic shelter/underground laboratory for the big event of returning from the other dimension place.

So something else is going on. My assumption is that it has something to do with the peculiar name of the town and (this is a bit more "out there" as far as predictions go) maybe even with Dippers' mysterious birth mark.

Also, how awesome has season 2 been so far, ha? They concluded a lot of the romantic subplots from season 1, which I see as a sign that they are moving onwards to more interesting things. The episode with the shapeshifter was disturbing as all hell, and the one where Dipper is possessed by Billy Cipher not far behind, and the one with the Pacifica Northwest ghost not far behind that. Also, Stan is kicking butt in this season - his track record across the show includes punching a pterodactyl to submission, single handily pushing back a zombie horde, and using gravity-distortion waves to escape FBI agents. I'm burning to know more about the background of the original mystery twins.

Oh, and the backstory of the crazy old inventor (don't quite recall his name off the top of my head, ironically) was really tragic.


Spoiler:
Given what the newspaper clippings implied, maybe the person who came through the portal is Stan, and the character we've known as Stan all the time is actually the twin?

My favourite episodes this season were the one with Giffany (almost makes me laugh to think of merging it with Five Nights at Freddy's) and the Claymation one (a terrific ode the Roy Harryhousen era of special effects). I tend to enjoy the random funny ones moreso than the meta-plot ones.


Quote:
crazy old inventor (don't quite recall his name off the top of my head, ironically)

Old Man MacGuckit!

I just got caught up on the last five or six episodes of season 2 last night. Those episodes, man. Just wow. I want to steal so much stuff from this show for gaming purposes.


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Nooo, not a fan at all. =P


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IKKA NAK TAK NAAAAAAAA

The Exchange

Scythia wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

My favourite episodes this season were the one with Giffany (almost makes me laugh to think of merging it with Five Nights at Freddy's) and the Claymation one (a terrific ode the Roy Harryhousen era of special effects). I tend to enjoy the random funny ones moreso than the meta-plot ones.

Ha, I actually thought the Giffany was the weakest link in the season so far (not that it was by any means bad, just not as interesting as others. Also, while I like Soos as a support character I find that he is less interesting as the main focus). The meta plot, however, just seems really cool to me. I really like the rate it has been advancing during the first half of season 2. It never feels rushed but it most definitely is moving forward as a good pace.

Quote:
I just got caught up on the last five or six episodes of season 2 last night. Those episodes, man. Just wow. I want to steal so much stuff from this show for gaming purposes.

No kidding. When more of the secrets of the show are revealed, I would be shocked if a Gravity Falls RPG will not be published by someone.

By the way, Alex Hirsch (the creator of the show) didn't even confirm a 3rd season yet as far as I know, and I have seen him say that he prefers quality over quantity for the show. So I expect that unlike shows in the past such as Lost, Gravity Falls is not going to burn us and there is an actual premeditated plot.


I cannot wait after that awesome nail biter of ep 11 season 2. i just wanna know what this 'big thing' that's bearing down on gravity falls is that various villians keep bringing up,like that shapeshifter they froze in that bunker,that mindspace triangle demon saying he has big plans coming and didn't want dipper ruining them,that laptop...heck,even lil Gideon's return as a full-fledged gang leader of hardened criminal adult men through sheer charisma and manipulation.


Lord Snow wrote:
Scythia wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

My favourite episodes this season were the one with Giffany (almost makes me laugh to think of merging it with Five Nights at Freddy's) and the Claymation one (a terrific ode the Roy Harryhousen era of special effects). I tend to enjoy the random funny ones moreso than the meta-plot ones.

Ha, I actually thought the Giffany was the weakest link in the season so far (not that it was by any means bad, just not as interesting as others. Also, while I like Soos as a support character I find that he is less interesting as the main focus). The meta plot, however, just seems really cool to me. I really like the rate it has been advancing during the first half of season 2. It never feels rushed but it most definitely is moving forward as a good pace.

I can agree about Soos. I think the reason I enjoyed the Giffany episode was because I've played dating sims, and I know how ridiculous they can be. :P


Yeah I have to admit I am definitely more in the long-term plot side of things. Shows that are completely episodic don't tend to hold me for long; I need something to connect the show's storyline as a whole or else I tend to get kind of bored with it.

The Exchange

Scythia wrote:
Lord Snow wrote:
Scythia wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

My favourite episodes this season were the one with Giffany (almost makes me laugh to think of merging it with Five Nights at Freddy's) and the Claymation one (a terrific ode the Roy Harryhousen era of special effects). I tend to enjoy the random funny ones moreso than the meta-plot ones.

Ha, I actually thought the Giffany was the weakest link in the season so far (not that it was by any means bad, just not as interesting as others. Also, while I like Soos as a support character I find that he is less interesting as the main focus). The meta plot, however, just seems really cool to me. I really like the rate it has been advancing during the first half of season 2. It never feels rushed but it most definitely is moving forward as a good pace.

I can agree about Soos. I think the reason I enjoyed the Giffany episode was because I've played dating sims, and I know how ridiculous they can be. :P

Ah, yes. I admit that not only have I never dabbled in gaming sims, I am actually just about clueless when it comes to anime (the closest I came was The Last Airbander, and I'm thinking that might not even count).


Just finished watching the 11 episodes of season 2, and what I missed of season 1, recently and I can't wait for the rest of the season. I hope this series last longer then 2 seasons.

Does anyone know when they will start showing new episodes?


Dragon78 wrote:

Just finished watching the 11 episodes of season 2, and what I missed of season 1, recently and I can't wait for the rest of the season. I hope this series last longer then 2 seasons.

Does anyone know when they will start showing new episodes?

If they follow the pattern from season 1 -> 2, probably late this year or early next.


I wonder why Disney doesn't like this show, it got great ratings when it was on the regular Disney channel.


I imagine it has something to do with not being a major toy seller.

Silver Crusade

Orthos wrote:
I imagine it has something to do with not being a major toy seller.

You might be right. The show might be hitting the wrong demographics.

Shows are product. If I get a show to get people to watch my commercials for the 7-12 age demographic and I end up skewing to the 18-28, then my show isn't fulfilling the reason I bought it, and thus I won't continue to purchase it from the producers.

Some shows pick up periphery demographics (say my show about colorful ponies which works with the target of the pre-high school girl market, but also gets me the older male demo), its different. Its still getting me what I want.

Invader Zim fell prey to this. It was big with older markets, but that's not what it was intended for.

The television channels aren't running a charity. They have to pay for the show. The shows get them money in the form of commercials (people paying for their airtime to get to talk to their market) or in the terms of subscription services (this is why certain shows do better on cable stations where there are no commercials).

I admit, I've tried to get into this show (a lot of my friends dig it), but its never clicked with me.


I don't remember seeing any Gravity Falls merchandise to begin with plus that didn't stop Avatar the Last Airbender.

I think they took the show off the Disney channel because it was actually good:)


Gravity Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllssss~!


So what are you guys favorite episodes?


Dragon78 wrote:

I don't remember seeing any Gravity Falls merchandise to begin with plus that didn't stop Avatar the Last Airbender.

I think they took the show off the Disney channel because it was actually good:)

All I know about was the promotion with Subway.

The Exchange

Dragon78 wrote:
So what are you guys favorite episodes?

It's a tough one. How many do I get to pick? :P

Say, top 5? off the top of my head, and in no particular order,

Spoiler:

1) the latest one (s2e11) - hard to argue with the tension, the gravity distortion waves and the conclusion of some major story elements in tense and exciting way

2) the one with the shapeshifter - edgy, disturbing and awesome. Especially the part where it took a combined form of the two twins

3) the one with the Northwest ghost - like the one with the shapeshifter this one was edgy and disturbing and I loved every second of it

4) the first one! the bait and switch with the zombies that turned out to be a bunch of gnomes and the giant monster that turned out to be a huge bunch of gnomes was brilliant, and in general the episode did a great job of setting up the rest of the show

5) Summerween - the spirit of Summerween was awesome, and defeating it by having Soos eat his way through the monsters guts was just too good

But really there are like 10 other episodes that could have been on this list have I been in a slightly different mood. I mean, there's a dinosaur episode that's not there somehow, and Billy Cipher is not in the list even though he's great (that episode that he possess Dipper and causes pain to the body to amuse himself was great), and the cursed wax figures, and the cloning scanner, and the room that switches bodies, and the one with the truth about the Northwest "founder" of Gravity Falls, and the one with the cultists...

I mean, all in all one of the reasons that the show is so good is that there are very few weak episodes and even in most of those you can always find some awesome little thing to like.

The Exchange

Dragon78 wrote:
I wonder why Disney doesn't like this show, it got great ratings when it was on the regular Disney channel.

It might be because the show is a bit too edgy to spring on children. I mean, I would have been crazy for it had I been a child while watching it, but some parents are not comfortable with showing scary stuff to their kids. Parts of the series are much more disturbing than anything you should find in the disney channel, there's some violence, etc. I wouldn't be suprised to find out that moving the show allowed for more creative freedom with the stories.


Dragon78 wrote:
So what are you guys favorite episodes?

YES. ALL OF THEM.


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This is a great show. I found it when I couldn't take any more Mickey Mouse Clubhouse... having a toddler in the house, that's not going to end anytime soon but I digress.

I loved the episode where Dipper had to git rid of the ghost in the Northwest mansion and part of the exorsism ritual was the Ghostbusters line latin-ized... "I ain't afraid of no ghostis."

Funny!

The Exchange

Obvious_Ninja wrote:

This is a great show. I found it when I couldn't take any more Mickey Mouse Clubhouse... having a toddler in the house, that's not going to end anytime soon but I digress.

I loved the episode where Dipper had to git rid of the ghost in the Northwest mansion and part of the exorsism ritual was the Ghostbusters line latin-ized... "I ain't afraid of no ghostis."

Funny!

Yeah, pretty much every time they chant it's a bunch of references and random latin expressions :)


The 5 episodes Lord Snow mentioned are on my top 10. Also the episode with the dinosaurs, dreamworld with Bill cipher, the puppet show one, the dating video game, and the body switching one.

Dark Archive Bella Sara Charter Superscriber

1 person marked this as a favorite.

The Bill Cipher episodes are great, and I have a fondness for the Time Traveler's Pig (particularly if you go back and watch the other episodes and see the time traveler in the background of each one).

I've heard that the show will be returning in the summer, and have my fingers crossed. Apparently, the codes in the show go pretty deep - there're some hardcore websites out there dedicated to deciphering the various messages hidden in the show.

The Exchange

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Sebastian wrote:

The Bill Cipher episodes are great, and I have a fondness for the Time Traveler's Pig (particularly if you go back and watch the other episodes and see the time traveler in the background of each one).

Don't know if you've noticed this one, but it's kind of incredible:

Spoiler:
In the Time Traveler's Pig, when he proves to the kids that he can travel through time by changing his outfit, you can briefly see the scene of Stan and his twin as kids, swinging and looking at the ocean. You know, the one in the end credits of season 2 episode 11.


Do you have any links to these sites Sebastian?

Dark Archive Bella Sara Charter Superscriber

Thanks Lord Snow - I'll have to watch for that next time I see the Time Traveler's Pig.

Dragon78 wrote:
Do you have any links to these sites Sebastian?

Not off the top of my head - I just did some googling and looking around at what came up after the last episode.


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New episode to air on Monday July 13th.

The Exchange

Dragon78 wrote:
New episode to air on Monday July 13th.

Super excited about this! It's gonna be 30 minutes rather than the usual 20, too.

The story is what interestes me the most in episodes to come, but I am intrigued about the episode after next, which is titled "Dungeons, Dungeons and more Dungeons." Wonder how directly it will have to do with D&D.


Did you see the preview they did for the show?

There is a scene with a wizard, orc warrior, archer(elf?), and what looks like a griffin or giant eagle.

I also saw a scene were Gruncle Stan's brother gives Mabel a crossbow.

Dark Archive Bella Sara Charter Superscriber

1 person marked this as a favorite.

In the history of the universe, there have been many shows with some central mystery at the core. Mulder's sister, the island, saving the cheerleader, the final cylons, etc. The resolution of those mysteries has almost always sucked (I'm honestly at a loss to think of any other television show with a central mystery that was resolved in a way that did not suck and actually fit with the information previously provided, though I imagine there must be some out there).

Which is a roundabout way of getting to the point that Gravity Falls stuck the landing last night - the pieces all fit, the resolution didn't feel like a total cheat, and it shook up the status quo in a way that feels very organic and true to the series and characters.

Well played.


I loved the episode as well. I can't wait to see were they are taking this series and who or what is the real villain of the series.


Yeah, that was damn good. I'm glad they chose to focus less on the mysteries and more on the relationships—the bond between Dipper and Mabel has always been this show's greatest strength, and I found the foreshadowing in the last scene to be fascinating.


If I remember correctly we should be getting two more new episodes next month.


I like Pacifika's character developement. Hope it goes somewhere.


I still liked it better when Dipper liked Wendy besides three year age difference is nothing when your no longer in school.

The Exchange

A Tale of Two Stans was awesome. As Sebastian said it actually made sense given what we knew, it was an interesting story on its own, and it set up plenty of future drama.

Next episodes should be really good as

Spoiler:
Access to the author might provice Dipper with a lot of information.

Also, when the assistant is pulled out of the portal he says something unintelligible and then warns about the one eyes beast (clearly Billy Cipher). Anybody figured out what the first thing he said was?

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Lord Snow wrote:

A Tale of Two Stans was awesome. As Sebastian said it actually made sense given what we knew, it was an interesting story on its own, and it set up plenty of future drama.

Next episodes should be really good as

** spoiler omitted **

McGucket says the same thing he said in Blind Eye Society episode: "Bill Cipher Triangle" backwards

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