On June 29, 2012, the world was blessed and forever changed with “Gravity Falls”, one of the most amazing shows the world has ever seen. And no, that’s not an exaggeration.
I’m always surprised when people say they’ve never gotten into “Gravity Falls” or haven’t heard of it, since it’s a pretty popular show. Last year, I rewatched “Gravity Falls” with one of my friends who had never seen it before, and they loved it. As spooky season approaches, I recommend people check it out if they haven’t already or give it a rewatch.
“Gravity Falls” follows twins Dipper and Mabel Pines, who are forced to spend their summer with their great-uncle Stan in a small Oregon town called Gravity Falls. Dipper and Mabel complement each other perfectly. Dipper is smart, analytical, yet very awkward and is trying to figure out what it means to be a teenager and live up to expectations of masculinity. Meanwhile, Mabel is dorky, funny and has a big heart for others. She embraces her awkwardness but struggles with the idea of growing up. I think both characters reflect the experiences of kids making the exciting transition from being a kid to becoming a teenager. But even as an adult, I relate deeply to both of them.
What’s unique about this show is that you can click on almost any episode and enjoy the humor and storyline without knowing the context. Each episode feels complete on its own, but the show has another layer beneath the surface.
In the first episode, Dipper discovers a journal with a six-fingered hand on the cover. Its author is unknown, and the journal claims that Gravity Falls holds hidden secrets and creatures, including gnomes, zombies, fairies and more. In total, there are 158 distinct creatures featured in the show.
The journal also warns, “Don’t trust Stan.” Not simply because he’s a well-known con artist, but because there’s something genuinely strange about him, and he’s clearly hiding something. This makes great-uncle Stan a character you can’t help but love while constantly questioning his motives.
Another thing I love about the show is the clues and ciphers that encourage viewers to interact with it. And by interacting, I mean pausing, rewinding and replaying scenes in reverse, researching alchemy symbols and learning how to decode ciphers. At the end of each episode, a cipher flashes on the screen, offering a clue about the show. For example, the Caesar cipher shifts each letter three places backward in the alphabet, so A becomes X. This connects to a whispered hint in the show’s theme song that says, “Three letters back.” The Atbash cipher mirrors the alphabet, so A becomes Z and B becomes Y.
I can’t talk about the show without mentioning one of its most horrifying yet lovable villains, Bill Cipher. This yellow triangle with one eye, a cute bow tie and a hat is actually a powerful, two-dimensional interdimensional dream demon who can rewrite the laws of physics, enter your mind while you sleep, and shapeshift, and he thrives on evil and chaos.
The level of detail in this show is amazing. For example, there’s a time traveler named Blendin Blandin. Although he makes a full appearance in Season one, Episode nine, “The Time Traveler’s Pig,” you can actually spot him hiding in the backgrounds of earlier episodes. You can also see little details that initially seem like accidents come into play in different episodes. That’s dedication!
When I finished watching the show with my friends, the pain and disappointment hit me. Although the show ended well, I wish it hadn’t ended at all. Forty episodes weren’t enough. The ending emphasizes learning to let go and move on, preparing viewers for the inevitable goodbye. But I still miss it.
If I ever decide to have a family, I can’t wait to watch this show with them for the first time. “Gravity Falls” isn’t just a nerdy coming-of-age show. It’s genuinely well-written, and its creators clearly poured their love and time into making something anyone can enjoy. Whether you’re watching casually or diving deep into the mysteries and conspiracy theories, this show has something for everyone.
“Gravity Falls” will always have a special place in my heart.
