Hi, everybody.
Today, this review is very special to me. I’m reviewing an animated series that deserves to be recognized and talked about. It’s an animated series about twin siblings who wind up taking a summer vacation in a weird town, working at a shady tourist trap with their wacky great-uncle...and it not only becomes a summer vacation they’ll never forget, but also an animated series we’ll all never forget. And will remember very fondly.
It’s Gravity Falls.
And today, instead of reviewing one single episode (like my last set of reviews), I will be reviewing an entire season. And in this case, it’s Season 1, which brought viewers into a brand new world or weird, wacky and wonderful. And since it’s still on the air, with Season 2 airing over on Disney XD, that world has gotten even more wackier and wonderful (at least for us.)
But...I’m also not alone. Today, I’ll be joined by a special guest that will also give some insight into this absolutely wonderful piece of animated television. Her name is Virginia Anne Hubbard. She’s a contributing writer at Geeks + Gamers, a blog-site dedicated to news and opinions on TV shows and movies for all us geeks (and others who don’t dare to be called such [It’s really good; please check it out sometime]). And she’s also a very good friend of mine. But here’s something else I love about her. She’s also a fan of the series (maybe even more than I am); can gush about it for hours, is in love with the characters, and is the perfect for a guest to help review it. So without further adu…
Virginia: Hi everybody! And thank you, Andrew, for the invitation and mention.
Andrew: Hiya, V! Welcome to the fray, you’re welcome for that mention, and I’m excited to collab with you, and for great reason.
Gravity Falls is something of a rare thing in cartoons. Besides being funny (like many others these days and before 2012), it also has so many elements that make it so fantastic. Some of which we’ll discuss in this review.
Created by Alex Hirsch, Gravity Falls is about Dipper and Mabel Pines, twins who are reclusive and inventive. But their parents decide that the can’t be this way anymore. So they abruptly send the two on summer vacation...
V: And during this vacation, they two spend time with their great-uncle (Grunkle!) Stan, in the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, Oregon! But this vacation is a lot more than going fishing, making new friends, taking hikes in the woods, and having fun. Suffice to say, hijinks ensue!
A: Airing on Disney Channel from June 15, 2012 to August 2, 2013, Season 1 of Gravity Falls is some sort of new experience in animation. It’s not only comedy, but also has influences in horror, science fiction and thriller. And with these influences, this series has become a new awesome, enjoyable and exciting series. So let's just show what makes us love this series, shall we?
What has also made this series so great so far (specifically this season) is the recurring and overarching plots and story-lines during the season (which would unravel during the entire series), starting with Journal #3, which Dipper finds in the forest while hanging up flyers advertising the Mystery Shack. And it contains all of the secrets and mysteries of Gravity Falls. This starts up the big series plot and drives everything, and puts the viewers in the ride of their lives. Which was genius.
This is a testament to the writers for their talent throughout the season, of which we’ll get to later on. Back to the story-lines and plots, they are very well-done and polished, the stories are engaging and enjoyable, plus they make you think.
V: I agree. The episodes of this series are very special, whether they are two-parters or stand-alone. Episodes that would be seen as “filler” in other series are used here for character development and even expanding on the mystery of Gravity Falls. You’ve got “Carpet Diem”, where a mysterious carpet pulls a “Freaky Friday” on Dipper, Mabel and co. It sounds cheesy, but the episode focuses on Dipper and Mabel’s rivalry for the room in which the carpet contains. They come to a better understanding of each other and their relationship by the end.
A: This concept really works in bring the characters on to common ground and become less childish and selfish and more responsible for themselves and others. These stories are completely different from other cartoons--they are dark, dreary and painful to endure, and it makes you wonder how and why Disney Channel committed to it in the first place. But…it works...amazingly!
These stories (and writers who make them) know how to pull in the viewer and give them so much satisfaction for tuning into each episode each time. There’s mysteries to help solve, characters to love, story-lines that are exceptionally bold and awesomely told and ends with a feeling (whether good or bad) that you just enjoy.
V: It is amazing that Disney was willing to air a show like this. It sure has gotten dark. One other thing I’ve noticed is that this series is very good at keeping characters consistent. They show their characterizations very well between different episodes.
A: In most animated shows, characterizations change between episodes to fit the plot. Here, the plot fits the characterization, and let the character be the focus instead of the plot, letting the viewer experience what the characters are doing, feeling and enjoying, instead of what the plot has them do for just the 22 minutes and then change for next week.
V: I agree. This show handles plot and character so well, in a great balance. Even when we do get typical plots like time-travel, for me it works because it is motivated by character.
And speaking of typical science-fiction plots, Gravity Falls takes these basic, used-to-death plots, and adds it’s own spin to them, not only giving us a new example for them, but also breathing in new life into the trends. One clear example is from “The Time Traveler’s Pig”, in which the twins discover a strange man with an even stranger job (and outfit). In his arsenal is a time machine disguised as a tape measurer. After stealing it, they use it to their own devices: Dipper uses to try to spend a fail-proof day with Wendy while Mabel uses it to win a pig named Waddles (because he waddles, as she says.) But as time winds down, the two begin to fight over the device and end up in different times and dimensions.
V: That episode was so emotional. Dipper really showed us how much he cares for his sister. He cares enough to help her win Waddles, rather than land himself with a date with Wendy.
A: I also love this scene where they take the machine and end up in scene from episodes prior to this, and leave items like Dipper’s shoe in .Another thing I loved here is this brief part where a guy looking exactly like Stan (large nose and all) comes out of what looks like the Mystery Shack after hearing a disturbance, and goes back inside. This starts off one of the biggest conspiracies in the series, one that (SPOILER) later became true.
V: The mysteries of Gravity Falls are one more element that make this show something special. Alex and his crew must have planed meticulous detail in advance for everything to work out so well. I’ll try not to ramble, but it reminds me of Avatar: the Last Airbender. Bryan and Mike planned character's personalities and even whole cultures in advance so that certain backstory elements would make perfect sense. Gravity Falls has that feel for me.
A: No matter how big or small, Gravity Falls has many mysteries, moments, and characterizations that either crop up suddenly or will slowly be revealed, keeping,viewers on their toes and leaving them in a constant state of flabbergast and rage (and that’s not when a hiatus comes up). I don’t any other show has this much work and effort into keeping us interested.
V: I have to laugh when people state or imply that there’s nothing good on TV these days. With Gravity Falls, Star Wars: Rebels, TMNT, the recently ended Legend of Korra et al, there is certainly quality family entertainment available. And as for something heavier, we’ve got Game of Thrones, Penny Dreadful, Vikings and more. I say this is a renaissance in television.
A: Me too. Either look at a book, or check out these shows (or shows I watch like The Good Wife, Hannibal, The Middle, and also Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero, Regular Show, Star vs. The Forces of Evil, Harvey Beaks, The Amazing World of Gumball and Steven Universe, and many more) sometime. They’ll have you hooked and you falling in love the minute the air. You will not regret these shows and others. We haven’t had shows like them before, and may never will again, if many people choose to or continue overlook these.
Now to another strong-point (of many): the animation.
From my years of watching cartoons, I can remember few of them for putting so much effort into each and every episode before. And when <>Gravity Falls came in, I was in a state of shock and awe, so much so, I couldn’t get out of it, to this day. I’ve never seen so. much. effort. and into anything before.
Look at the wooden floorboards in the Mystery Shack: You have seen the lines before, but I bet you dollars to donuts you have not ever seen wooden boards buckling or see the nails before.
If you have, I bet you’ve never seen actual cracks on walls or the trees having leaves actually showing. Even in episodes that are more streamlined than others (like "The Hand That Rocks the Mabel" or "Double Dipper" or "Carpet Diem"), there are noticeable efforts that just leave you in awe (that is when the characters stop talking or until they start). That is a testament to the animators for their hard, painstaking work. This show is like...the Hannibal of animated television.
V: I didn’t like the animation of Gravity Falls from promos and ads. In fact, the show was in its second season when I did watch it! Oh boy was I wrong. The details are to die for, and their big round eyes are hilarious. They are so expressive.
A: Speaking of big, have you seen their heads? Haha! (Sorry...that was disrespectful.)
And with that hilarious segue, let’s discuss the element of how self-aware it is to itself. Most cartoons just going ahead with their plots and characters without a care in the world. This cartoon on the other hand goes in and beyond with it’s observations of itself.
V: I also love its observations of the world around it, such as in “Dipper vs. Manliness”, where Dipper tries to prove how masculine he is. This happens all the time. Boys are pressured by the media, their parents and peers not to do anything “feminine”. In the end, Dipper learns that these are arbitrary lines drawn by society. If he wants to listen to girly Icelandic pop band BABBA, he will gosh darn it!
A: Gosh darn it he will! And another thing from this episode that’s perfect is being accepting of yourself and not to change for other people. In the subplot, Stan is Pining (heh-heh, pun) for waitress Lazy Eyed Susan and wants to impress her, but can’t because of his nervousness, different personality...and girth. Mabel helps by completely changing his looks, but fails easily (seriously, what kind of man grows his chest hair back that way so fast!?). She later realizes that being himself (looks and personality) is a much better option for Susan’s heart, and shows the same-old Stan to her. When she likes what she sees and gives Stan her number, he and Mabel are ecstatic in their success.
This episode is amazing for its redefining of gender stereotypes. If a guy does something considerably less manly or isn’t up to code in terms of someone’s feelings, that shouldn't automatically make him look less manly. Everyone (man or woman) is entitled to do whatever they want, no matter how gender-nonequivalent it is.
The thing is, this series is awesome with Aesop's. Every episode is great in teaching viewers different lessons in life that the characters learn at the same time. The lessons are played out amazingly and take the stories and plots to another level of awesomeness.
We could go on and on about this…
But now, let’s discuss the characters.
I’ve seen likable, three-dimensional, complex characters before, but they were few and far between from what I can remember. This series had a lot of these (and since I’m a casual fan, that’s hard to keep up with, and it makes me wonder how the writers keep up with them, although one of them co-wrote almost every episode so far) including five of them of them in the main cast already. All with their own personality, characterization and development.
V: Out of the animated shows currently airing, Gravity Falls is certainly one of my favorites in terms of characters. Dipper, Mabel, Stan, Wendy and Soos are all endearing and well written. I even find the side characters involving and endearing. I also give this show mad props for being entirely gender neutral. Any person of any demographic could get into this.
A: What is super enjoyable about the main characters, is that they’re relatable, human, not jerks (and even when they are, it’s not out-of-nowhere and is organic), and they carry a certain aura of dignity into them, even in scenes where they have only a shred to carry them through. There are times when they’re happy, sad, angry, hurt, confused and all in between, and this show does not pull back in showing their emotions, especially Dipper.
But at the same time, he becomes a more smarter, braver, more confident, and caring pre-teenager, being at the front of solving mysteries and taking down monsters and evil-doers with more and more experience.
Who knew for a 12-year-old, this dude packs a lot.
And if you think the twins are wonderful kids individually, you’ll really enjoy them together. Most cartoons do have brothers and sisters that do love and care for each other, but this cartoon shows you that in a real and more human-like biological connection with these two. Mabel and Dipper love each other and care about each other, and you’ll know about every chance. Sure they argue and fight, but that’s what makes it more believable and true. Plus, if either of the two are in danger, the other will put aside his/her own needs to save his/her sibling. And each of these moments just make you smile, and leave you in tears.
And all of that is another reason why Gravity Falls is so gosh darn great!
From the small (like handing Dipper a bat to save Mabel in “Tourist Trapped”) to the big ones (like when he saves the twins from being eaten by the titular “Gobblewonker” in the following episode, “The Legend of the Gobblewonker” and saved them again (although that was non-canon) from a life-sized Pinball machine in his segment of “Bottomless Pit!”). Soos is a cool, sweet upstanding dude who enjoys having fun and reaching his inner child constantly, but also has the responsibility to be a strong-willed, brave, mighty adult. There is no tag-along kid-like adult on TV like him, and that’s what makes him awesome.
He’s an ex-convict, he’s greedy, he’s self-centered, he’s not very polite, and he isn’t very liked by everyone or to be trusted. At all. But that doesn’t mean all-around terrible guy. He is also nice, charismatic, caring, humble and does show he can care. If anything, he’s the most complex character in the series. From the moment he opened the entrance into something, he’s been seen as more than just the greedy, self-centered, not-polite, unlikeable, untrusted yet nice, charismatic, humble stick-in-the-mud. He becomes a guy trying to stop an inter-dimensional tragedy and change the scope of Gravity Falls forever. He has become (and still is) a hugely memorable character, not only in this series, but also of modern-day animated television.
Dipper, Mabel and Stan, The Pines Family Three are voiced by Jason Ritter, Kristen Schaal and creator Alex Hirsch, who also voices Soos. These actors, along with Linda Cardelini (who voices Wendy), bring such levity, chemistry, tact, and fun into their characters and give the series another level of awesome, astonishing and memorable. Whether the scene is humorous, heartbreaking, or heartwarming, these guys know how to pull it off. Even Mabel can make you cry in a sad scene. Oh, and did I mention Alex also does the voices of several male characters? That...that's just amazing.
Speaking of memorable, this series has more than just the regulars that are great, complex characters. Many of the recurring and bit characters are just as great, hilarious complex and memorable.
V: I really love Sheriff Blubbs and deputy Durland. They’re obviously gay and it’s hilarious and adorable, and giving smaller characters so much screen time as well as telling dialogue adds to the richness of a world.
A: some of my favorites include Manly Dan (and his scrawny admirer Tyler the Cute Biker [just him saying “Get ‘em” at random moments is ridiculously hilarious]), Lazy Eyed Susan, Wendy’s friends (pretty much a perfect package of teenage life), and Old Man Fiddleford McGuckett (for being a senile wacko/engineering genius). And all these characters we’ve mentioned (along with many more we haven't) give this series even more levels of originality and uniqueness. There's so many to love and many more to love (or love to hate) as it continues on in Season 2.
One of the most memorable is Gideon Gleeful. He may be 9-years-old, but he has the mentality and behavior of Hannibal Lecter, minus the tendencies to eat people and a watered-down psychosis. When he first meet him, he seemed like a nice, charismatic, lovable kid who happens to be a kid psychic. When Mabel comes to the picture, he becomes the opposite. After his many attempts to woo her fail, he becomes a scarily obsessed, and horrifying little demon of a child.
And that’s not the last of him we would see here, but when Season 1 ended, he almost turned Gravity Falls into a burning cesspool trying to catch his presumed love. That is until Dipper, Mabel and Stan put a stop to that. An epic stop.
Gideon is a brutally (and brilliantly) amazing character, and it’s great to see that he’ll come back sometime in Season 2 to conjure up more mischief, more evil and more ways to force Mabel to date him.
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A: The running gags here are goofy, hilarious, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and just a stroke of genius. Here's a few of them we like
One is when characters are watching TV. This gag makes fun of any type of TV show from comedies, dramas, infomercials and others, the TV-shows-within-a-TV-show gag never fails to make us laugh. Whether it's Duck-tective, Why You Ackin' So Crazy?, the Chipackers and ad,
V: Dipper’s insecurities are sometimes used for moments of drama, but they mostly serve for laughs, I think. In the episode “Bottomless Pit”, each of the major characters tells a story as they are all falling down a hole in the yard. In Dipper’s story, “Voiceover”, he focuses on his pre-pubescent voice and how it cracks sometimes. He takes a potion to change his voice, and you can guess about where this goes.
A: Also from his inability to get a girlfriend, his strength (or lack thereof), his moments being alone, and the other failings of his young life so far, there always a moment where Dipper cannot spend a day without being used a punching bag. And that is (sadly) hilarious.
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Another gag is something not everyone would notice. In some episodes, there are everyday products that are named after what they are.
The generic-ness of this gag is hilarious.
There are other gags that make Gravity Falls one of the most hilarious series on TV right now.
V: I must say, I didn’t even notice the generic titles for products until my 3rd viewing!
A: You’re right, V! I didn’t notice them much either, mostly because I was too busy watching the action to read between the lines there, but it is still hilarious to look at.
A: And finally, the biggest and best of them all: Mabel's Sweaters.
Mabel is known for wearing turtleneck sweaters and has a hobby to knit them herself, and you watch this series, you can see how well she does it.
V: Her sweater of the day changes each episode (sometimes within an episode). And features a quirky and cool design.
A: From the small and simple (like a shooting star, a lightning bolt, a computer pointer and a question mark) to the large and creative (like a burger and fries, a seahorse, a sunset and a ), Mabel has what I think is one of the greatest outfits worn by a female character in an animated series, bar none.
And now, the writing, which is some of the best and sharpest I’ve ever seen in an animated series of any era.
V: Alex and the guys really know how to craft intrigue as well as lovable characters.
A: His input and the input of the other writers are some of the best teamwork anyone can ever read or listen to in an animated series (joining the ranks of Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, Batman: The Animated Series, , and others).
V: Those are several of my favorites. Gargoyles has great writing too, too bad it ended so abruptly. What was that about a third season? Nonsense!
A: Watching this series, it’s very clear that these guys put so much work and effort into every single line of every scene of every episode. You can just feel it in the characters’ dialogue.
Besides the mysteries and puzzles at the end, this series is so beautifully and richly written, it makes you think it’s actually written for just adults or is a niche show. Even without the curse words and inappropriate content.
V: I would argue that adult writing comes from strength of character and mature concepts, and the brutality of it is an afterthought.
A: Its popularity has to be seen to be believed.
Despite starting with low awareness and promotion (I was at first aware of it from some review I read online on the Fourth of July, and I watched Disney Channel A LOT), Gravity Falls’ popularity skyrocketed with it’s continued airings (whether on TV or online), and only continues to rise. Many fans have certainly fallen in love with it, and showed in many creations.
They’ve created fan art, tribute videos on YouTube, fanfiction, cosplay, tribute merchandise, etc. etc. This fanbase is huge and really goes hand-in-hand with the creators. And speaking of, Alex also gives a lot of info and behind the scenes to fans and also chats with them occasionally, along with , especially during special occasions, like when “Not What He Seems” first aired when they all came together to live-tweet with fans. It shows how open and involved with fans they all can be--and that’s cool.
V: My favorite character is Grunkle Stan, though I love the entire cast. It’s a very hard choice. But I find Stan to be the most interesting. What we know about him, what we DON’T know, just everything. He’s funny, cynical, loving, and greedy. He’s like Mr. Krabs, but with relatives he loves more than himself! My favorite episode in season one is “Gideon Rises” because of how climactic it is, as well as because it presents a personal challenge for Mabel and Dipper.
My runners up would be “Dreamscaperers”, and “Summerween”. “Dreamscaperers” is dark and intense and "Summerween" is just amazing! Great fun, and I love Halloween themed stuff. Also, dat villain.
Need I say more?
A: My favorite character is Dipper.
He is a boy that not only beats many other young male characters in television animation in humor, but also in emotion. Since this series is partially a Coming-of-Age story for him, we are shown this personal and painful account of his life during his vacation in Gravity Falls. He starts off pretty normal and introvertive, but when his sister is in danger or he is twitterpated by Wendy, or is in a social convention that he fails a good part of, Dipper ends up in situations he can’t try to get out of in his own way, and has to realize that life is a tricky game you cannot play the easy way without getting hurt (which he does, many times). But yet he not only survives the moves he makes, but he also learns something new that he can rely on later on (), and continues on a better, more strong-willed and braver child. There’s more that I haven’t mentioned that makes him so great. Oh yeah, he’s a great brother to Mabel and a great to Soos and Wendy, and can step up to the challenge and
Also he’s voiced by Jason Ritter, who I think is very talented and wonder actor (and, believe it or not, is the reason I began to watch this series in the first place. Boy, I’m glad that’s not the only reason I stayed)
Favorite Episode: “The Inconveniencing”: because of how he is put in a new social situation when meeting Wendy’s friends and is shown is vulnerable, scared-on-the-inside child, yet becomes a strong, brave and caring little guy when he says them (and Mabel) from a scary, powerful supernatural couple of ghosts by performing...The Lamby Dance.
My runners-up are “Headhunters” (not only for the super-cool fight the twins have against the living wax figures, and the great voice acting by guests John Oliver, Larry King and Coolio among others but also because it’s my introduction to this series. And a great intro to boot),
“Dipper vs. Manliness” (for Dipper’s journey to finding his masculinity, but finds it already in him), “Boss Mabel” (for Mabes realizing that being nice and reasonable isn’t always the best option) and “Tourist Trapped” (the episode that started it all--what more can I say).
Part of this season is available on DVD under the title Six Scary Tales, which gives six episodes from the season, along with some very juicy special features. Also available is Even Stranger, which features even more special features from Season 1 including commentary, behind-the-scenes features, chats with the cast (which I still can’t believe is only three members [one of which voices TWO characters! Never mind the several others he voices. No wonder everyone looks up to him. Guy is a GOD! A ginger-bearded Jesus!]), among other amazing tidbits.
A: Usually, I don’t give ratings to the shows I review for this segment, except saying that’s it’s either good or bad. But here, this is a major exception…and for good reason...
V: And I usually like to rate stuff out of a corresponding item. Such as kingdoms, guardians, or just anything significant to the plot. Here, there can be only one option...
A: so here, this season gets a 5 and a half...fingers (out of 6).
This series is one of the best of its genre...and era. Congrats to the cast and crew of Gravity Falls for...everything. This series is everything you could want in an animated series and then some. And there's not much more that I'll say without
Well, I gotta thank Virginia Anne Hubbard from Geeks + Gamers for joining me on this extra special review of Season 1 of Gravity Falls. I’m very happy to have you here, V. And I’m grateful for your help. You’re an awesome reviewer. And for an awesome show like this, it only counts.
V: Thank you for having me! It’s always a good time to discuss a good show with a good buddy!
A: From one to another. Well, say goodbye to the people, V!
Virginia: Goodbye to the people!
Andrew: Goodbye, everybody!
...here we go.
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