What does Groggy do when not reviewing classic movies, charting the evolution of American conservatism and pondering life's purpose in a world of alternative facts? Binge adorable Disney cartoons, of course! Even in 2017, not everything can be doom and gloom, and Gravity Falls provides a much-needed escape. Alex Hirsch's cartoon aired over four sporadic years (2012-2016) on Disney XD, where it plays in perpetual reruns. The show's clever conceit (think The X-Files or Twin Peaks for kids), frenetic, fast-paced humor and commendably rich character building make it one of the best modern children's cartoons.
Twelve year old twins Dipper (Jason Ritter) and Mabel Pines (Kristen Schaal) travel to Gravity Falls, Oregon for a summer with their Great Uncle Stan (Alex Hirsch), who runs a tourist trap called the Mystery Shack. However, Dipper discovers that Gravity Falls crawls with real mysteries, from mythical creatures (gnomes, lake monsters and zombies) to local psychic Li'l Gideon (Thurop Van Orman) and Bill Cipher (Hirsch again), a demon trapped in human dreams. With Mabel's sometimes reluctant help, Dipper seeks to unravel the town's elusive truths.
"When there's no cops around, anything's legal!"
Like the best cartoons, Gravity Falls's appeal cuts across demographics. It has the intricate mythology of adult science fiction, with Hirsch sneaking in surprisingly gruesome body horror, from a Thing-like shapeshifter (Mark Hamill) to Bill casually rearranging a man's face. Each episode contains cryptograms taunting viewers with continuity hints or misleading jokes (Hirsch tweeted false plot revelations throughout the show's run to confuse fans). Delivered in Disney's house style of breezy animation and Hirsch's witty, self-aware humor, it's a show kids and adults can equally enjoy.Beyond this, Hirsch indulges in creative world-building, envisioning a universe filled with monsters mundane and monstrous, silly and serious. In the inaugural episode, Mabel's kidnapped by gnomes posing an emo teenager, who reappear throughout the series as a mini-society gathering in bars and selling illicit butterflies. Other foes include sentient golf balls, a goblin with parental issues, a child-eating monster made from discarded Halloween candy and the world's most hateful unicorn. Even the most minor villains get a humanizing backstory, granting Gravity Falls surprising heft.
The mythology involves a trio of journals sought by Dipper, Stan and Li'l Gideon for their own respective ends. Here Bill Cipher comes into play, and what a marvelous villain he is. An interdimensional trickster disguised as an all-seeing pyramid, he's deceptively charming and preternaturally clever, easily exploiting human curiosity and weakness. Besides tormenting characters in their dreams, he possesses Dipper's body for some gruesome gags (sporting a reverend's outfit in a nice, ghoulish touch). And that's just a small taste of the madness he plans to unleash on the world.
"Reality is an illusion! The Universe is a hologram! Buy gold!"
For all its supernatural mayhem, Gravity Falls would be nothing without its "Mystery Twins," Dipper and Mabel. Hirsch based the characters on himself and his sister Ariel, and his affection for the protagonists elevates the show beyond a fun romp. The show hinges on their relationship, equal parts exasperation and unconditional loyalty, two weird but loveable kids who share an inescapable bond.Dipper, as a precocious twelve year old, mixes intelligence with insecurity. He wrestles with concerns any preteen can relate to. Mocked for his height and lack of manliness, he undertakes a mission to slay the Multi-Bear (Alfred Molina), an eight-headed ursine whose weakness for disco convinces Dipper to spare him. In another episode, he rescues his friends from teen-hating ghosts by performing a humiliating "lamby dance," which requires a different form of bravery. Dipper might not be a Man's Man, but his unconventional heroics seem more appropriate.
Much of Dipper's story arc is expended on pursuing Wendy (Linda Cardellini), a flannel-wearing tomboy several years his senior. This relationship's frustratingly static until Season Two's "Into the Bunker," where Wendy evolves into an axe-wielding badass who matches wits with a shapeshifter. Better still, she acknowledges that she's always known about Dipper's feelings, letting him down as easily as possible - which is still hard for him to take. This scene has a naked, moving honesty that adult television rarely achieves, let alone a kid's adventure serial.
"If you can handle that monster, you can handle a little awkwardness."
Mabel seems more comfortable, from her tacky sweaters and obsessive crushes to her undying affection for Waddles the Pig. She's always ready with a bedazzler for impromptu makeovers, or a grappling hook to thwart the Monster of the Week. She befriends Candy (Niki Yang) and Grenda (Carl Faruolo), two outcasts who share Mabel's affections for the shinier things in life, and even wins over rich rival Pacifica (Jackie Buscarino). Few episodes better justify her attitude than "Scary-Oke," where she ropes Dipper and Stan into a karaoke performance to destroy rampaging zombies.For all her silliness, Mabel's on equal footing with Dipper both in her strengths and insecurities. Her all-embracing affection often turns to selfishness, exasperating Dipper and Stan. In "Irrational Treasure," she's shamed by Pacifica into thinking her eccentricities make her a lesser person. She beautifully reestablishes her self-worth by solving a mystery left by town founder Quentin Trembley, the one man in history who matches Mabel for unadultered silliness.
Jason Ritter makes Dipper endearing, his frantic determination undercut by adolescent angst. Yet Kristen Schaal inevitably steals the show. A confirmed Groggy favorite, Schaal's always an engaging comic presence, whether in live action roles (The Last Man on Earth), voiceovers (Bob's Burgers) or those silly T-Mobile commercials. Her effortless, high-pitched exuberance fits Mabel like a glove, investing Gravity Falls with an irresistible, infectious energy. Thanks to Schaal, there are few more endearing television characters than Mabel Pines.
"Nothing is stronger than the Power of Mabel!"
Hirsch matches the stars with familiar voices in ancillary roles. There's Linda Cardellini, still channeling Lindsay Weir as Wendy, Stephen Root as Gideon's unctuous father, Nathan Fillion as a snotty millionaire and Will Forte as a nerdy biker. Guest stars range from Larry King to Neil de Grasse Tyson, Nick Offerman and Jon Stewart, as an adorable cat judge. Hirsch proves a formidable voice artist, his gruff Stan completely distinct from Bill's beastly sarcasm or the eccentric hillbilly Old Man McGuckett.For its second season, Gravity Falls locks into hardcore serialization, with Dipper, Mabel and Stan battling Bill's growing power, ancillary annoyances (a government investigation into Stan, Li'l Gideon's continued scheming) and character revelations. Even supporting players get significant development: Mabel's rival Pacifica confronts her family's past, bumptious handyman Soos (Hirsch, again) gets a girlfriend and wrestles with parental abandonment, Old Man McGuckett reveals a damaged past behind his insane façade.
Meanwhile, Stan's mysterious project comes to the fore, bringing his scientist brother Ford (J.K. Simmons) into action. Their fractured dynamic, with Ford unwilling to forgive a long-ago slight from Stan, features in an affecting flashback episode and runs as a tragic counterpart to Dipper and Mabel. Their discord triggers growing tension between the younger twins, as Dipper becomes Ford's apprentice and considers staying in Gravity Falls indefinitely. Mabel's fear of losing her brother attracts Bill's attention, unwittingly triggering the apocalypse.
This installment ("Escape from Reality") is both hysterically silly and moving, Gravity Falls at its very best. Mabeland places reality on trial, proclaiming it "Bogus" and "Whack" compared to a Universe that provides endless pug sundaes. Even Dipper's tempted by the prospect of a romantically inclined Wendy. The brief but effective montage of lifelong disappointments and arguments shows Dipper and Mabel's conflicts as inescapable, yet Dipper makes an eloquent plea that reality should be faced, however unpleasant. Mabel's less afraid of Bill and his Eldritch abominations than the prospect of growing up, fears everyone faces. Fortunately, her brother has her back.
The best children's shows resonate with truths and emotions that transcend age. Much as I might admire Bertolucci's 1900 (for a random, snobby example), I can't directly relate to its story or characters, let alone its Marxist pomposity. Even as a twentysomething, Dipper and Mabel's personalities and plights seem relatable and real, even if I've never tracked a Gobblewonker or battled Bill Cipher.
In short: I love Gravity Falls, and so should you.
Thanks to the Gravity Falls Wiki for most of the screencaps.
