Dive Down Gravity Falls

I don’t think there’s much dispute over the fact that shows made for an adult audience (especially ones in recent years) have the freedom to explore more themes and darker twists, show tits, and in general be more fucked up. And while there’s nothing quite like sitting down for hours at a time slurping up a series until you give up on whatever else you had planned for that day, it always leaves me with two very unpleasantly opposing feelings.

On one hand, I’m fucking hyped. I’m invested. My body is pumping with adrenaline from the rush of whatever inevitable cliffhanger the show left me with, and my mind is racing with postulations on the contents of the following episode. I feel disoriented with reality and view my surroundings in the context of what I’d just watched. For God’s sake, I’ve picked up a new accent, too.

On the other hand, though, I feel a little gross. Maybe it’s just me, but I hate that post-binge feeling of sore eyes, a tired butt, and a vaguely pressing reminder of the other thing I should have been doing in all this time. I look at the clock guiltily; I hope I can function on four hours of sleep? Actually, make that three, because I’m so jittery that I can’t fall asleep for another hour.

Have I joined the herd of viewers raving about Bridgerton? Hell yes. Did I binge-watch The Boys and am I now impatiently waiting for Season 2? Yup. But you know what? Despite these being some of my favourite shows ever, they are absolutely by no measure my favourite shows to binge-watch. You see, to me the best “binge-worthy” shows are the ones that leave me feeling good, relatively uninvested, and—most importantly—able to ease back into my actual life quickly and painlessly. In short, I like to binge-watch shows that leave no strings attached.

For me, that would mainly be shows meant primarily for a younger audience. I’m not talking about Caillou or Blue’s Clues—I’m talking about shows like Gravity Falls. As fun as the show is for kids, I feel like you really only get the full experience as an adult. Not only do you get to appreciate its themes more, but you catch those little jokes and details that kids don’t get. I love that while there’s a distinct plot line, there are many episodes that are just fun and focused on character development—a mix that you don’t get often in modern adult shows. But more importantly, because it’s a kid show, you know that in the end it’s all going to be a-okay. None of your favourite characters are going to die and all hurt feelings are pretty much resolved by the end of the episode. It’s straight up comforting to freely indulge in a series where I can get attached to the characters because I know that nothing terrible is going to happen.

But these characteristics aren’t exclusive to Gravity Falls; in fact, a lot of kids shows also follow a similar style. But I think what makes Gravity Falls in particular so special to me is its really good balance of characters, time periods, and realism. While the main leads of the show, Dipper and Mabel, are kids, there’s a whole cast of supporting characters of varying ages, personalities, experiences, and perspectives. This wide range of characters ensures that you can always find someone relatable, and is a big part of what makes this show so enjoyable. Although the series is set in modern times, technology isn’t a major focus, and you sometimes forget the time period altogether. If you love nostalgia and “the good old days”, you’d probably appreciate it like I do.

Growing up, I believed in all sorts of mystical creatures until an embarrassingly ripe age. I missed the days when I used to look behind my shoulder in the woods when I heard what I thought was the rustling of a fairy, or when I felt my canines and thought maybe I was a vampire (we don’t talk about that anymore). I love that Gravity Falls, with its abundance of supernatural creatures and critters, brings those memories back and allows me to be a kid again. But if you think that it’s only stupid gnomes and monsters, let me assure you that the fantasy is done very tastefully. I promise, you’ll enjoy it even if you’re inclined to turn your nose up at the idea of magic.

You probably already get it by now, but I have to hammer it in one more time. Gravity Falls is just so wholesome. It’s incredibly nice to watch something that makes me feel so darn warm inside, and this show hits the spot. To be sure, there are teary moments alongside the mystery and fun, but no matter what happens it always makes me feel like everything’s going to be just fine—and what’s not to love about that?

In a world of high stress and little certainty—especially these days—there’s nothing like binge-watching a show that takes away some of that tension and lets you feel safe, wholesome, and innocently happy. There’s a universe of television shows out there, and a fuck ton of absolute bangers that make your mind whirl and get your blood pumping. I love the idea of binge-watching as much as the next person, but personally I like to reign back the thrilling ones for more moderate consumption. Maybe it’s stupid, but when I step away from a binge-watch session, I want to smile. I want to walk away a fucking optimist, ready to see and do good in the beautiful mess of a world out there. Now, if you will excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, I will be taking yet another deep dive down Gravity Falls.