What Is The Quirky Show: 'Gravity Falls' And Why Should You Watch It?

TV & Film

Oct 21

Nearly nine years after its final episode aired, Disney’s Gravity Falls remains a beloved animated show. Created by Alex Hirsch and consisting of two seasons of 20 or so episodes each, the tale of twin siblings Mabel and Dipper Pines being thrown into the rural town of Gravity Falls to live with their great uncle over the summer remains immensely compelling and popular with many. But why is this, and why should those of you who haven’t given the show a watch do so? CultureSlate is here to offer some possible answers and encouragement!

One of the biggest reasons why Gravity Falls has so far lasted the test of time is its humor. The show is funny on multiple levels and in many different ways. For starters, its often absurdist humor with out-there concepts, be they strange monsters, products, the personalities of the inhabitants of Gravity Falls, or situations involving them, remains relevant to a world of modern humor full of insane, nonsensical punchlines to strange jokes. The comedy is also multifaceted, with plenty of jokes everyone can understand, especially younger viewers, while older viewers may find plenty of jokes slipped in for their benefit. The show is also irreverent, making fun of itself and various genres or tropes from across fiction.

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Gravity Falls family — Image Source: Gravity Falls Wiki

But it is this last detail that forms the next reason why Gravity Falls has lasted so long: its love of both cult and pop culture. Some references the show makes are small, such as a restaurant early into Season 1 drawing its aesthetic from the Red Room of Twin Peaks. But there are also copious references through legally distinct products such as board games and song titles. This adds to the comedy with how absurd they can be while everyone knows what they are truly referencing and can impress a viewer with how creative the team behind the show was. Even some of the episodes that might now seem like references to current pop culture, like Season 2’s Soos and the Real Girl, were released well before the heyday of mascot horror we are living in right now.

On the topic of horror, the show isn’t just all quirky humor and references but a layered mystery show sprinkled with scares as a result of the creatures lurking across Gravity Falls. Central to this mystery for Season 1 is The Journal, a chronicle of these beasts and various other phenomena Dipper finds a hidden compartment shortly after arriving for the summer. At the time the show was released, the ongoing mystery of who wrote The Journal hooked fans, especially as each episode ended with a cipher, flashes of text, and more that prompted people to seek out answers to these riddles and puzzles. One of the biggest puzzles for the series even dropped after the show wrapped up and led people to find clues on how to solve it around the world. Such dedication from the show’s staff should again be applauded.

Bill Cipher — mage Source: Gravity Falls Wiki

Mentioning the word cipher and keeping things brief to not spoil the show for people who haven’t watched it yet, it would be impossible to talk about Gravity Falls without acknowledging one of its major villains: Bill Cipher. This villainous yellow triangle with a top hat from another dimension has remained extremely relevant, even appearing on an episode of The Simpsons in a brief joke that perfectly encapsulates his character. Bill is cunning and charismatic but also insane, the perfect chaotic-evil villain for this quirky world of characters. He also recently appeared in Gravity Falls: The Book of Bill, a newly released book detailing Bill’s backstory, lore from the series’ world, and thoughts regarding the events of the show.

Gravity Falls: The Book of Bill brings us to the final reason why Gravity Falls remains so relevant and beloved: its impact on others. The show has been referenced by other animated programs in the years since its finale, as creator Alex Hirsch is on friendly terms with many other Disney creators and other creatives in the media space. Many of these people also worked on Gravity Falls before later creating their own projects. Within Disney, Amphibia and The Owl House (created by Gravity Falls alums) both suggest strong ties to the world of Gravity Falls through references and more concrete nods. Meanwhile, Alex Hirsch has remained highly engaged in the fandom over the years and has always been open to more projects in the franchise. Theories remain popular online regarding various aspects of the show and its world, with the recently released Book of Bill adding a ton of context and content for the ever-present fans. The fact that such a book was released at all shows just how strong the fandom remains all these years later.

Ultimately, Gravity Falls has excellent humor, fun references, engaging mysteries, and it has served as an influence on many animated shows in recent years. Every year that passes draws more and more people in to watch the show and understand what all the fuss is about. We hope that those readers who haven’t yet experienced the show will soon give it a try for all of the stated reasons and more. For those who already have, why not go and give it a rewatch? With Halloween right around the corner, the show’s spooky vibes are perfect for this time of year!

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