#gravity falls analysis

“Ford sees Dipper as someone who’s special like himself. That’s Ford’s great flaw, is arrogance. Is he believes that there’s special people, and everyone else. That human attachments are actually weaknesses. And the song and dance that he’s giving Dipper right now, is the song and dance that he gave McGucket, back when they were younger… ‘You and me are different, we’re better than everyone else. We have a path that no one else can understand, and only us can do this.’ It’s a very seductive idea for Dipper… Dipper is a smart kid, but Ford’s projecting. Ford loves Dipper because he sees someone who’ll tell him ‘yes’ to everything. Who’ll never challenge him, who’ll do a really insane dangerous mission.”

I CAN’T BE THE ONLY ONE WHO’S SEEING THE BILL -> FORD -> DIPPER PIPELINE HERE. YOU CAN JUST REPLACE THE NAMES IN THE ABOVE QUOTE. I’M GOING INSANE.

But that specific design choice coupled with who we, the audience, know about Stan from watching him and falling madly in love with him throughout the span of the show and beyond is funny actually, because we know he's the complete antithesis of a bully.

Stan was the kind of teenager to stand up for and defend other kids from bullies, even if that meant getting into fights that got him suspended. He'd take the brunt of harsh words and physical blows himself to protect others from getting hurt. He'd mouth off to any teacher on a power trip who put unwarranted heat on the quiet kid in the back of the class, consequences be damned. He'd pause on the way home from school to play with a stray dog for a few minutes or help an old lady safely cross the street. He'd kiss his mother on the cheek every single night before heading to bed.

Stan is one of the ultimate gruff characters with a heart of gold to ever exist imho. And I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but his design, esp during his teenage years, fits perfectly into the whole "not what he seems" idea that becomes such an integral aspect of him overall.

Funniest shit to me is Ford writing this entry being like I shouldn't tell Fiddleford because he's superstitious (and heavily implied to be Christian) and oh no he may think I'm crazy and into black magic :( and then we are shown Fiddleford LITERALLY has seen Ford's Bill shrine (let alone Bill ALL over the place in his house) and is LITERALLY in the room with Ford COMMUNING WITH BILL when Ford's SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS BILL SHRINE WITH CANDLES AROUND HIM. Like yeah Ford I'm sure this totally isn't giving black magic demon possession vibes. Real wholesome and normal for your superstitious Christian friend there.

He has a very noticeable tell whenever he does lie (rolling back his eyes), half of his pseudonyms were remixes of his true name in some way and he kept his license plate the whole time, he wasn't dishonest enough to make it in politics, and even though he tries to put on a tough guy persona, he cries easily. His heart is cutting holes in his sleeves and trying to stage a jailbreak.

So in a way, it make sense for him to work so hard on building the reputation of a liar. So even when he can't lie, people won't look too deep into things.

That being said, he's also very good at misdirection, so that can probably cover him the rest of the way.

Stan and Bill were both mama's boys, with very loving and concerned mothers, while their fathers were nowhere near as kind to them. (This is an inference on Bill's part, as his father is never mentioned and all we get is his name, while his mom is mentioned multiple times in a fond manner)

They took their father's hats with them when everything fell apart, as seen from the explicit mention of 'his father's fez' in Stans poem and one of the parent cutouts in Bill's family photo having a tophat.

They were looked down upon unfairly despite not doing anything wrong (Stan failing academically and not living up to his parents expectations & Bill being able to see the third dimension and getting seen in a negative light because of it).

They lost their homes and families because of an accident they themselves caused.

They turned to unsavory practices after losing everything.

When the two first met, Ford literally finds Dipper to be strange and dare a say, a little annoying. He’s questions how someone like Dipper was able to find his journal and was upset how he’s been writing in it like a personal diary (hypocrite) and in DD&MD he directly tells Dipper he doesn’t want him coming down to the basement as his work is much too dangerous and important. He only warms up to Dipper when they play their favorite board game together (bro even actively stops his work at that moment just to play).

Dipper idolize Ford no doubt but he’s not a pushover. He still ask reasonable questions and was even willing to erase Ford’s mind if it meant getting rid of Bill. Even when Ford offers the apprenticeship, Dipper still questions this if is the right choice and only (briefly) accepts after literally saving Ford’s life. (so yeah not sure where the “says yes to everything” cane from).

underrated part of the gravity falls opening: mabel's little smile during this sequence. they both look all worried, check in with each other, and mabel gives her brother just the tiniest little hopeful smile.

i love a good over-analysis, so lemme hit you with this: mabel does that A Lot. she's often the one who takes on the "making dipper not feel so anxious" role, usually through jokes and hammy behavior, but occasionally she lets the Big Personality drop and we see a quieter side of her. when dipper is worried about something, he looks to his sister. she's the first one to comfort, irritate, and distract him. she's the one who tells him that everything is gonna be okay, even if she has no idea.

we see dipper protect mabel constantly throughout the show. mabel protects him right back, just in a different way.

anyway. something something pines twins love each other a whole lot and mabel's protectiveness comes out in her "i will be silly and cheerful at all costs so dipper doesn't lose it" energy the end.