#Gravity falls rant

[ryemiffie]

Okay something that's been annoying me lately is seeing people who don't like Ford say stuff like, "well he's so narcissistic! He's a bad person because he's self obsessive and thinks too highly of himself!" But like, yeah, of course he thinks highly of himself, of course he thinks he's destined for greatness, of course he's obsessed with being better than others, he has to be!

He's been told his entire life by everyone around him that he has to do something great, that he has a worth he has to live up to, that he needs to make something grand of himself or he's a failure. So of course he thinks this is true, of course he believes people when they say he needs to do something great, he likes believing that over the insecurities telling him he's just a freak worth nothing. Not only that, but if that's not true, if he's not meant for something more, something better, that means he lost Stanley for nothing! He has to believe there's some world shattering goal he specifically was made to reach because if there's not, that means he removed his brother from his life for nothing. If there's no predestined path to greatness he's supposed to be following, that means his brother wasn't a roadblock to get rid of, he was just his brother who made a mistake.

He has to believe he was made for greatness because if he wasn't then he's just a pretentious asshole who pushed away his brother.

I know other people have probably already pointed this out, but I felt like talking about it. Yes, Ford has made mistakes because of his ego, but that ego is a drug everyone in his life has enabled him to partake in. We see that once no one is enabling him to believe in some greater purpose, his narcissistic tendencies deflate and he functions very well with others and is happy to just be Ford Pines, human scientist. He doesn't need the entire world to know him as the best, he can just sail the world with his brother.

[oakleyyz]

SPOILERS FOR THE BOOK OF BILL!!

----------------

TAKE THAT FORD HATERS, US FORD APOLOGIST WERE FUCKIN RIGHT, MY GUY HAS JUST BEEN MANIPULATED SO MANY TIMES, HE DIDNT START THE SAYING!!

Also how do we feel about this.

[nightgnarpy]

The fact despite how damaged Mcguckets mind was he still loved and knew who his son was was so sad to me, he still tried to be a good dad even if he couldn’t be the best, he knew he wasn’t the best dad and he wanted to try still

Like it’s so sad ☹️☹️☹️

AND THEN THE END OF WEIRDMAGEDDON WHEN HE WAS WITH HIS SON? It hurt me so much dude 😭😭🩵 his son forgave him (or is trying to) BECAUSE HIS DAD IS TRYING TO BE BETTER SND HIS DAD LOVES HIM

OHHH MY GOD 😭😭😭🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵 ITS SO CUTE.

I WISH THESE 2 HAD MORE SCREEN TIME TOGETHER I SOOO WISH WE GOT AN EPISODE WITH TATE AND FIDDLEFORD BONDING IT WOULD OF BEEN SUCH A CUTE MEANINGFUL EPISODE 🩵🩵🩵😭😭😭😭😭

[rotating-pebbles]

guys do we think we vilify ford too much

Look I KNOW the 2015 stan wars lore. I know the IMMENSE amount of ford hate that existed (and still exits somewhere) when not what he seems first aired. I know. i KNOW.

But with the modern fandom I feel like a lot of people make Ford a lot more crueler in fanart, fan fic, any type of fan work, specifically to try and avoid making him seem like a 100% good character.

I don't know if that makes sense, but i feel like so much of the modern fandom want to avoid the "trap" of worshipping a character that has done morally grey things, in this case Ford.

I'm not quite sure if my point makes sense here, but the over villification I've see in SOME fanworks (no disparaging!! They are still all so good don't stop) and I'm not talking about the evil ford aus, I'm talking about canon adjacent fan works that make ford more mean than he is. To the point where when I rewatch the actual series, I get whiplash from how silly canon ford actually is.

I have no examples and I actually don't think this ramble makes too much sense, but I just think a lot of the fandom over vilified ford to try and avoid making him seem over heroic.

Also I think a lot of people do this in fear of making twink ford. Which. Ok fair.

Fors is a flawed, sometimes morally grey character. He is led by paranoia and insecurity. But he isn't mean or cold or kid hating, (especially post weirdmagedon) he's just a lil autistic

Read the tags for extra stuff

[ruleroftheforest05]

I love looking for Bill Cipher fan stuff and 90% of them are greatly mischaracterizing him as some soft lovey-dovey friend who dances with you under the stars.

Like NO, I want the abusive chaotic version of Bill because he’s meant to be scary AND charming, not just charming. He’s scary because of how manipulative he is and that’s why I like him, because that horror is perfectly masked by how smart he is. You can make a Fanfiction or chat bot with Bill and not have him made into a twink who likes baking in cute aprons and flirting with the actual 12 year old that he tried to KILL.

And I get it, his mischaracterization is from a bunch of 10 year olds in 2013 who were used to having the main love interest/villain be a straight white guy from Disney dramas and we’re projecting themselves onto Dipper so that they wouldn’t feel weird about shipping themselves with a triangle, but now that we’ve moved past all of that I think we should start making him how he actually is which is horrifying and monstrous.

[daydream-the-demon]

Gravity Falls Rant

Uhm... Couldn't Bill just?..

(Season 2 Episode 20)

The metal plate isn't even in his head in this scene. Bill could just go into Ford's mind. Bill has the power to do so, why doesn't he just do it? It's literally shown right here. Bill could've just taken out the metal plate pretty easily, it's just metal. And the whole "let me enter your mind so I can figure out how to break the weirdness barrier of this town" thing is just negated because of this.

Also isn't Bill all-knowing? I'm off-topic here for what we're going to talk about. But if Bill is supposedly all-knowing, won't he know how to break the weirdness barrier of this town already? Wouldn't he know what would happen at the end of summer, the whole "Bill being erased" thing and plan? And when Stan let him into his mind, wouldn't Bill know it was Stan? The finger number difference thing... But I guess his quote is, "I know LOTS of things." Not, "I know EVERYTHING." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Also... What is this half-assed job?

(Journal 3)

Bill could still possibly get in his brain considering ALL the free space that isn't covered.

Also a single metal plate? THAT's all it takes to stop Bill (the all-powerful, Dream Demon, being of pure energy, or whatever else is going on) from entering your mind? Not even covering your full skull?

Unbelievable.

Okay, okay. I guess you could make the point that it has some sort of magical ability. Maybe... That doesn't seem to be mentioned, so it's just a metal plate? But wouldn't it be more useful and safe to install a unicorn hair forcefield in your head to prevent Bill from entering your mind then? They couldn't just find a dimension out of the TRILLIONS that are out there that have unicorns? Really? In Journal 3, Ford says he visited an alternate dimension where the only difference is that the Journals got hidden correctly. A clear example of a dimension with UNICORNS IN IT. And in canon, it says that the unicorns are like... uncooperative? In that case, why not just find a dimension where the unicorns are willing to give up their hair for the good of the world?

It would've been safer considering it's just hair. You would only just need to cut into your head, down to your skull, and put it AROUND. Not actually cutting out a piece of the skull and replacing it with metal (or even at least covering it). I mean it's said that he went under a dangerous operation to get that installed... I just think that you would have to cut around the head and then put it in, then it'll heal over. Or like just put it around the neck to just have this astronaut helmet of unicorn hair magic (like the Mystery Shack with the forcefield didn't seem to have a problem with air... The characters managed to pass through it fine)? I bet both of those options would've been much safer... And wouldn't it be much more reliable? Like the magic of the hair will cover your head up more. Also the fact that it's magical unicorn hair vs. a simple metal plate. What do you think is the clear answer? Like something magical versus something completely physical and Bill is known to break the Law of Conservation of Matter by creating and destroying it. Also if it's known that unicorn hair stops Bill's powers, why doesn't Ford (at the time willing to do anything to stop Bill Cipher) just cover himself with unicorn hair? Like I said, the whole scene where Bill Cipher just turns Ford to gold just pretty much wouldn't even happen. He wouldn't be able to turn him into gold (or use any magic on him or even touch him at that point). Like that giant hamster ball Mabel wanted in Season 1 Episode 2 but with unicorn hair magic.

But let's focus our attention on something a little different rather than this unicorn hair vs. metal plate rant though it is very fun. Let's consider what could've happened if the whole metal plate storyline was still in place (let's say the unicorns are not willing to give up their hair, or there were none they could find, or for some other arbitrary reason). What could we change to make it better? To make it more plausible and more precise? How can we still progress the story to still make sense?

Taking out the reality/logical aspect of it, what about the story one?

Like what could the people scripting this do? Like just saying, for example, this food sucks. Like what can you do to change it? Change out the salt for sugar. What I mean to say is: what to do to make this story better. A critique. And all you need to do? Change out some scenes and dialogue in the last episode. Not say, "Oh my Axolotl, the story doesn't make sense from the start, we gotta twist and bend what was already established." But it is just, "Oh, let's change some scenes in the scripted episode." And I bet that the watch time (because that is also important in shows) would stay about the same.

In the established story, a much more plausible thing to happen is this:

The fact is, Ford and Bill made a deal a long time ago revolving around the fact that Bill can use Ford's body. 

BUT, here's something important to consider. 

(Season 2 Episode 15)

And when the part where Bill tries to enter Ford's mind comes up... This is the scenario that could have happened and would've made much more sense. 

-----

Ford mentions to Bill, "You know I have a metal plate installed in my mind, right?" Bill counteracts, "Oh, that? Took that out a long time ago." 

-----

And THEN the reason Bill can't enter Ford's mind anymore is NOT because of a simple metal plate, it's THIS.

(Season 2 Episode 18)

This line changes everything. Since time is dead, the deal has no effect because the rule of the deal was that it was, "Until the end of time." And so since the deal isn't active, Bill has no right or power to enter Ford's mind. And the dialogue and story would connect really well here too.

A bit of a tangent, but, meaning has no meaning. The meaning of a deal is to promise something. But since meaning has no meaning... The point of a promise has the meaning of being a mutual agreement... Henceforth a deal has no meaning. And so deals don't promise anything anymore. Won't all deals made after this not have no point at all? Bill Cipher, I just wanna say if you wanna break all rules, you know the literal thing of a deal is that it's a mutual rule. The thing you're most known for contradicts your ideology. I might be overthinking this, but since when did a Gravity Falls fan have not?

Anyway...

-----

Ford explains, "Our deal was that you couldn't enter my mind until the end of time. Time is dead. So the deal is NO MORE!"

-----

After that, the same storyline takes place where Bill needs to make a deal with Ford to enter his mind (but like remake the deal instead of just making a completely new one). Then instead, Stan takes his place, and Bill gets erased. See? Just change out some scenes (watch-time works, and I bet it could have been even shorter than the original (AND WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE VILLAIN SONG OF BILL CIPHER)), it's still in the original character and doesn't strive from canon, and like... Seriously.

But with all this happening, I couldn't help but wonder... Why didn't the writers just adjust the story a little? All that was needed was to change some things in the last episode. They had plenty of time to do this. The watch time would barely change. I know that making cartoons and stories is hard (I tried making some myself, never worked out), but still all I'm saying...

The story would've made more sense.

Oh my Axolotl, this was supposed to be a short rant but I can't believe I made it this long. It was just supposed to be, "Why didn't Bill just enter Ford's mind? It's easy." And it turned into this whole thing. I just haven't seen this being talked about anywhere else. I guess people just take it for what it is, or I'm just stupid and don't understand the absolute awesomeness of this plot. I just couldn't stop thinking about that scene from the last episode where Bill tears Ford in half and I just thought about it too hard like "?????"

But all in all, I'm not hating on the show. I still love it and it's still my #1. Nothing is perfect, but Gravity Falls comes very close to it. And that's still a lot. Most shows from the 2010s don't even have such a strong fanbase going on after all these years. What this show did was a lot, and Alex Hirsch is still awesome for everything he did with it. I'm here ranting about this because I just think it's fun.  

Remember: Reality is an illusion. The universe is a hologram.

BUY GOLD BYE!

[weirdlynotspecific]

I really like how Dipper and Mabel are written. This kind of goes without saying since Gravity falls is considered to be one of the best cartoons of this generation, but it's refreshing how kid-like they feel. I'll be focusing on Dipper here.

Dipper reminds me a lot of how I acted, and how many kids that were told they were "wise beyond their years" or "much younger than they seemed" acted. He uses big words, he tries to be the voice of reason, he's a chronic overthinker. That isn't to say he isn't smart or anything, Dipper is obviously extraordinarily intelligent, but he's still a kid, he doesn't have the life experience quite yet. He's a genius, but he's still worried about how people perceive him. He is dealing with cosmic forces, but he has a massive crush that he has to learn to work through at the same time, reacting to both things similarly.

When I was the same age as them, I went through some really horrible things, but I didn't have the experience to gauge the threat level yet. Horrible family drama was equal to crushes at school in my mind, in the way it weighed on me. I knew logically the two were very different but they didn't feel different. Same kind of applies to how Dipper reacts to what life throws at him.

[psyxophagos]

I am gonna be honest, one thing I really hate about Gravity Falls is how much canon content exists outside the show. If you want to give an in-depth analysis, review or criticism of the story, you literally cannot simply watch the show because you'll constantly make mistakes on what's canon and what's not, what the narratives that drive the story are etc, even though you are just watching the series as it is. The book of bill I can excuse it, but all the stuff Alex says about the show on interviews and talks (like the one he gave recently) are too much. The conclusions I drive from all of this is that Gravity Falls lacks content and context. People were rightfully complaining about Hazbin hotel/Helluva boss when it came to this, I don't see why that problem should be ignored here.

[illusioncanthurtme--art]

pls pls heard me out...FIDDLESTAN! <3

ok, i got this ask ten days ago, and I've been thinking about it ever since. Because I got two other asks asking for fiddauthor, and I dON'T KNOW HOW TO LET THEM DOWN LIGHTLY BECAUSE I'M A FIDDLESTAN BITCH THROUGH AND THROUGH 😭😭😭😭 I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!!!!

Don't get me wrong, fiddauthor is great and makes sense and everything. But listen. Billford and fiddauthor are multidimensional ships, they are good! But FIDDLESTAN!?!? that shit is the WHAT-THE-HECK-A-HEDRON!!!!!!! Even though it's literally 100% speculation, the implications are FUCKING CRAZY!!!!!!!!! I jumped between three ships so far during this gravity falls thing, each time thinking one is better than the other. I've decided that FIDDLESTAN IS KING!!!!!! I'm sorry. I could rant about them forever. I've been listening to nothing but extended versions of disco music for the past week. (YES THEY HAD A CRAZY ROMANTIC FLING IN VEGAS NO I WILL NOT ELABORATE!!!! (yes i will. I will elaborate at some point. it will be like ten pages or text. or I will draw it. idk.))

Here is a sketchbook doodle from like a week ago. I'm gonna post another fiddlestan thing in a few moments, but my style changes like I'm a completely different artist every week without warning, so I'm gonna leave this by itself!

He comes into YOUR house, he steals YOUR identity, and he fucks YOUR research partner!!! Fuck you!!!!!!!!!!

[oakleyyz]

I know I'm a ford apologist, but I feel like alot of people instantly fault Ford for not helping Stan when he got kicked out.

From Fords eyes, Stan had purposely ruined his future, and then when he confronts Stan about it, Stan shrugs it off and says they can still go sailing, which, I don't know about you, I would be pissed if my future was ripped away from me and then I was told there's another option.

Both Stan and Ford are at fault, but its not Fords fault that Stan got kicked out, It's their dads, he's the one who threw Stan out, not Ford.

Stan didn't deserve to be thrown out, as it was an honest mistake, but like I said, in Fords eyes, Stan had purposely broke his machine.

[paintedcrows]

It's really cute that you're gonna defeat me with the power of friendship and all, but again, I am the Devil from the Bible

(continued)

[clovreat3r]

Reposting BECAUSE I NEED MORE SILAS FANART PUUUUHHHLEASE

Whoever’s page this lands on I hope it inspires you to search up the tag support whoever’s drawing this corpse BECAUSE I NEED IT

We need Silas art support so we can get more SILASSS

Made in the Image of Bill

Closeups of the quality gets roasted (just like bills family) ->

[artsymeeshee]

[daydream-the-demon]

Gravity Falls Fan-Made Comic

I love making comics.

I made this a long while ago on paper and then took a picture of it on my art tablet. I made the top part in Biology class and made the bottom parts in History as an addition because I thought this story was missing something.

I just thought that Ford not being the one to kill Bill was just not fair. After all, Ford spent 30 years preparing to obliterate Bill Cipher. "But, through all the trouble you've caused me." He had to go through a dangerous operation to get a metal plate installed, didn't even know he was a Grunkle of Dipper and Mabel, he went insane until his eye bled saying "TRUST NO ONE!" on the pages of his journal, and eventually the Weirdmageddon he spent his whole time trying to prevent. Whilst his brother did almost nothing to destroy Bill..? Just seems kind of unfair.

"Didn't even get the lesson... Did you?" Like I understand Stan punched Bill after saying, "You're a real wise guy but you made one fatal mistake, you messed with my family." Sure, that's all fine and swell, but I feel like Bill didn't exactly get the lesson he was supposed to get. I feel like Ford should have been the one to destroy Bill, because Bill directly messed with Ford, and I feel Bill would truly understand what the wrongs he did if Ford said something along the lines of: "It seems the hunter has become the hunted." Where direct revenge would be respectable.

I know this is a big tangent I went off on but seriously...

[crypticcozycorner]

THIS. And I know people are going to be like “well that’s not an excuse for what he’s done” and you’re right! It’s not an excuse! It’s an explanation! It doesn’t take back the shit he’s done or excuse it, it just explains why he’s so fucked up. Doesn’t change that he’s objectively like, a horrible person. You’re allowed to feel a little sympathy for someone who is bad well also still acknowledging that their actions are beyond irredeemable.

Sorry I’m ranting under some random persons post but damn I’ve seen way too many people either only focus on his trauma and turn him into like a “misunderstood bad boy who just needs love” and completely ignoring the fact he used real life abuse and manipulation tactics on people, or look at just his negative actions and say he’s an unfeeling monster and feels no remorse for anything he’s ever done. When in reality I think we need to look more at both sides of him and how those two things affect each other.

I think the idea that Bill sometimes does feel remorse makes him even more terrifying. The fact he can feel bad about something and /still do it/. That he’s so good at manipulating that he can manipulate himself into excusing his own actions.

You can acknowledge that Bill is a complex character coated in layers of repression and denial well still acknowledging that it doesn’t change or excuse the trauma he’s put onto others.

alright gang, my theory is:

Bill didn't mean to kill his family/slaughter his dimension. It was an accident, but he can't cope with the guilt and trauma it caused him so he convinced himself that he's an evil monster. He played into what others called him so that he didn't have to acknowledge his fear and weaknesses, and found that much easier than examining himself (i mean, hey, i get it).

He's haunted by his past and has been running/distracting himself with puppets and chaos ever since, but now that he's in therapy jail forever, he's violently rejecting his rehabilitation, again because it's too painful and scary, and lashing out by way of trying to come back to our dimension.

Poor Bill can't cope.

In season 1 and 2, he seemed quite intent on specifically ruining the family relationships of the Pines' (alongside his Weirdmaggedon plans) and took great joy in separating and torturing people that loved each other dearly. Perhaps because he can't stand to see others love each other and play happy family?

[mouseshift]