Gravity Falls / What An Idiot

"It's funny how dumb you are."

— Bill Cipher

Gravity Falls may be one of the smartest shows on television, but it features a town with the main cast Surrounded by Idiots.

Spoilers are unmarked. Proceed with caution.

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General

Mabel wants to have a great summer romance. She's determined that she will meet The One. Her obsessive crushes tend to make Dipper a Butt-Monkey, however, and he often has to save her or help with her messes.
You'd Expect: Mabel to have a more discerning taste in guys after a point, for her own sake and Dipper's. Norman was one thing since it was her first attempt at romance, and Mermando was a Nice Guy, but Gabe Benson?
Instead: Mabel falls for any guy who is hot, with Gideon being the exception. She doesn't change her standards and often Takes A Level In Jerkass to get what she wants. In "The Love God", this gets used against her when the Love God summons all of her ex-crushes to steal back an anti-love potion, and in "Northwest Mansion Mystery" she makes a random guy a higher priority than her friends.

Season One

The Legend of the Gobblewonker

While going monster hunting, Dipper buys seventeen cameras, knowing that in the movies, no one ever gets evidence due to not having equipment or losing it. Soos breaks several of his four, as does Mabel when Dipper is instructing them to be careful because if they get a photo, they can split the prize money.
You'd Expect: Dipper would only give them one camera each after seeing how irresponsible the two are being, confiscating the remaining disposable cameras they haven't tossed or destroyed.
Instead: He relies on the remaining ten, and Mabel is able to blackmail him to make her co-captain when she threatens to drop one of hers.
The Result: Soos ends up wasting most of the cameras by tossing them at the Gobblewonker when it gives chase. Dipper would yell at him, but Soos saved his life by picking him up and running from the beast.
Afterward, the kids are disappointed to find out that the Gobblewonker was a "Scooby-Doo" Hoax courtesy of Fiddleford McGucket. Dipper realizes that the prize money is going down the drain.
You'd Expect: Dipper would, another time, take the journal and photograph some of the weirdness that he finds.
Alternatively: Be unethical and submit the photograph anyway. An old man making killer robots is pretty weird.
Instead: The kids give up on the quest for the rest of the summer.
Fortunately: Dipper does do a web show about the town's unexplained anomalies and he gets some of the creatures on-camera. Maybe one day he'll submit the videos to the contest.

The Hand That Rocks the Mabel

Grunkle Stan makes a business deal with Bud Gleeful, which involves Mabel and Gideon getting married. When he announces this, Mabel has a Freak Out and runs to her room in Heroic BSoD.
You'd Expect: Stan would realize that she doesn't like the arrangement and try and talk to her, to see what's going on.
Instead: He thinks she's freaked out about how fat he's gotten and acts surprised when Gideon terminates the deal at the end of the episode.
Gideon is putting a lot of pressure on Mabel to date him despite her wanting to be Just Friends, so much so that she ends up in "Sweater Town". Dipper volunteers to tell Gideon that Mabel doesn't like him that way.
You'd Expect: If Gideon wanted to win over Mabel for real, he would give her space and wait for her to develop real feelings. He knows how to manipulate people and probably could court her in a better way than how he's been doing.
Instead: Gideon is Not Good with Rejection. He blames Dipper for coming between him and Mabel and tries to kill the latter with lamb shears. Mabel witnesses this as she's coming to tell Gideon herself, and the Mystery Twins are protective of each other.
As A Result: Not only does Mabel sever all ties with Gideon, but she also smashes his magic amulet after using it to save the boys from a deadly fall.
Even worse: Gideon doesn't learn. He decides that he's going to get rid of the other Pines, and keep Mabel for himself.

The Time Traveler's Pig

Dipper wants to impress Wendy by winning her a stuffed animal, as well as prevent Robbie from asking her out, and uses a time machine to repeatedly redo the day so he can figure out the best way possible.
You'd Expect: Dipper to tell Wendy to just duck when he throws or shove her out of the way of the ball.
Instead: Dipper never thinks to do this.
The Result: The one successful attempt Dipper makes causes Mabel to lose her chance to adopt Waddles and, upon seeing how miserable she is, decides to go back and sacrifice his chance to keep Wendy and Robbie from dating.

Fight Fighters

Wendy is going camping with her family. She told Robbie that she was taking the day off from work but she'd be back the next day. Dipper doesn't like Robbie for dating Wendy after the antics of the previous episode, and he gave up his shot with her to make Mabel happy. Robbie also sets up his guitar outside the Mystery Shack, serenading Wendy while the Pines are playing poker. Mabel offers to sic Waddles on Robbie again.
You'd Expect: Dipper would let Mabel do that. A corndog and Robbie is toast.
Instead: He insists that he will handle this.
The Result: Robbie feels threatened that Dipper snarkily reminds him that Wendy is camping with Manly Dan and her brothers. He tries calling Wendy to loudly reveal the kid's obvious infatuation. When Dipper smashes his phone in a fit of panic, Robbie threatens him to a brawl. The rest of the episode happens.
To Make Matters Worse: Wendy reveals in season two that she always knew that Dipper had a crush on her. So Robbie's attempts to humiliate him were empty threats.

Little Dipper

Due to Mabel and Dipper's stupidity, as well as Mabel's big mouth, Gideon shrinks them with a flashlight that Dipper devised. They are now inch-sized.
You'd Expect: Them to run back to the Mystery Shack and get out of his range. Gideon is not that fast, and they can get Soos for help.
Instead: They stand there as he produces an empty glass jar that he was using for an earlier plot.
The Result: Gideon captures them both and takes them back to his house. He intends to imprison Mabel forever as his queen, bribing her with koala gummies, and interrogates Dipper about how he found out about the growth-shrink crystals.
Dipper and Mabel have been shrunk by a magical flashlight and captured by Gideon. After escaping, they find Gideon with the flashlight, and distract him.
You'd Think: The twins quickly enlarge each other using the flashlight, and then fight Gideon.
Instead: Dipper brings up his height rivalry from earlier, and then argues with Mabel, wasting a golden opportunity to stop Gideon.
As A Result: Gideon finds the twins, and captures them again.
Gideon: I dare say you would have defeated me if it wasn't for your sibling bickering!

Summerween

The kids learn about Summerween. Grunkle Stan has only bought the cheap candy, the type that is considered a "loser" by standard Halloween standards. Dipper and Mabel find the items gross. Soos warns them not to say anything negative about the candy because the Summerween Trickster will listen and punish them for their lack of holiday spirit.
You'd Expect: The kids would at least consider that Gravity Falls may have a Summerween Trickster. Considering all the weird stuff that they've seen, it's more than probable.
Instead: They say Soos is an unreliable source because his cape is stuck in his pants zipper. To top it all off, Dipper tosses the "loser candy" in the trashcan outside the window.
Predictably: Soos was right; the Summerween Trickster appears at the Pines' doorstep to punish Dipper and Mabel for their insolence in tossing him away. It turns out the Summerween air and the sense of rejection made the "loser candy" sentient and vengeful enough to seek them out. Soos has to satiate its wrath by eating the Trickster alive and reassuring him that he is delicious. Yes, it's as creepy as it sounds.
- Shortly after, Wendy and Robbie come by, where Robbie mocks Dipper by asking if he's trick-or-treating. Wendy deflects and says that Dipper is too old for trick-or-treating, inviting him to a party at nine. As a result, feeling bad that Wendy won't think he's cool, Dipper decides to skip wearing his costume and pretends to have a cold when telling Mabel so that he can go to the party and spend time with Wendy. She's dismal as her friends appear in costume.
  You'd Expect: Mabel knows it's not like Dipper to do a 180 on Halloween, their favorite holiday. She should ask to talk to him in private and ask what's wrong. Mabel could also point out that Robbie is a Jerkass and that he's not the judge of who is and isn't old enough for trick-or-treating, and that Wendy already thinks they're cool.
  Instead: When he feigns a cough, she assumes that he has a case of the grumpy grumps and uses the Summerween Trickster's Impossible Task to strongarm him into trick-or-treating. What if Dipper had actually been sick and legitimately couldn't trick-or-treat? Then when she finds out the truth, that Dipper wanted to hang out with Wendy, she has the gall to get angry at him for wanting to spend time with his crush, something she does on a regular basis, albeit it's somewhat justified because Dipper accidentally loses all the Halloween candy when trying to hide his costume from Wendy.
  The Result: It takes them being trapped in the Summerween store for Mabel to actually hear Dipper out, and even then she makes it all about her, that she didn't want their twin trick-or-treating to be over already. What's more, they find out that Dipper's stress was All for Nothing; Wendy said the party was lame, Robbie was The Killjoy to hang out with, and left early to save her night. She admits that she should have gone with the twins and done trick-or-treating, something which Dipper and Mabel agree with strongly.
Dipper, Mabel, Candy, Grenda, and Soos are forced by the Summerween Trickster to bring him 500 candies before the last watermelon jack o'lantern is blown out. They are told that they must do it while following the rules of "Trick-or-Treat". He makes it clear that going to the store to get candy is not an option. If they don't, the monster will eat them alive. However, Dipper doesn't want to Trick-or-Treat this year because he doesn't want Wendy to see him doing something so "childish".
You'd Expect: Dipper, being a smart kid who has already faced supernatural creatures before and knows they can be dangerous, would do what has been told to him by the scary-looking monster who ate a child before his eyes. Especially because not doing it would endanger not only his life but also the lives of his sister, her friends, and Soos.
- Not to mention that Wendy's seen Dipper in far more embarrassing situations (i.e. the 'Lamby-Lamby' dance) and hasn't teased him or given him any flack for it, and generally, there is nothing to suggest that Wendy would hold "Trick-or-Treating" against him, especially if the situation was life-or-death.

Instead: He tries several times to avoid "Trick-or-Treating", arguing that he is sick, and is unhelpful during the first hour of the night, while their lives are on the line. The Trickster has to appear to scare him. Even after he decides to help, he still tries to avoid letting Wendy see it and...
As A Result: He loses all their candies in the garbage dump.

After running from the Summerween Trickster, the group is hiding from it inside the Summerween store.
You'd Expect: The group to be quiet at all costs.
Instead: Soos turns on the talking skulls. This ends up getting him eaten and nearly gets the kids eaten as well. While it did turn out well in the end, Soos could have easily made things much worse as well.
It Gets Worse: Soos's original attempt failed because the skull's batteries are dead.
You'd Expect: Soos to maybe now realize he should hide, or at the very least try not to make noise.
Instead: He puts his own batteries in and gets eaten.

Boss Mabel

Mabel and Stan have made a bet: if she earns more money running the Mystery Shack her way than Stan does on vacation— which involves him going on a game show— then Mabel gets to run the Shack for the rest of the summer, and Stan has to do an apology song and dance. If she doesn't, then she has to wear a "loser" shirt for the rest of the summer. While taking over, Mabel hopes that being Nice to the Waiter with Soos and Wendy will lead to profits and a better work experience.
You'd Expect: Given her Big Sister Instinct toward Mabel and seeing that it would be in her best interests to support a Benevolent Boss instead of a Mean Boss like Stan, Wendy would do the same amount of work that she does with Stan. She could also not cause any damage while on duty, due to liability, since Stan only hired her to keep her out of lumberjack camp and could send her there if Mabel blabs about how terrible Wendy was.
Instead: Wendy takes advantage of Mabel's attempts at being a Benevolent Boss by letting her friends destroy Mystery Shack items, injure a customer's child, and skive off work for two days in a row. Mabel hits her Rage Breaking Point when Wendy tries this on day three; there are only 8 hours to turn a profit, and Mabel has just faced a monster that destroyed most of the Shack and caused a lot of damage.
As A Result: Thanks to Wendy's lack of oversight, Mabel becomes just as much of a Bad Boss to her and Soos as Stan was with the time crunch, and though she wins the bet she says Keep the Reward about running the Shack, leaving Wendy with her original Mean Boss.
After Mabel gets control of the Mystery Shack, she tells Dipper to find an actual mystical creature for an attraction. Which Dipper is completely onboard with.
You'd Expect: Considering his prior experiences with the supernatural, Dipper would at least try to find a harmless creature that would not cause any harm to any tourists, or the Shack itself.
Instead: He brings home a Gremoblin. A hulking monster that is stated to show its victims their worst nightmares.
The Result: As Dipper was showing two tourists the Gremoblin, it showed the tourists their worst nightmares. Which unfortunately led to them getting sent to the hospital. Then the monster gets loose and starts wrecking the Mystery Shack.

Bottomless Pit!

Stan is tossing a bunch of guest complaints into the Bottomless Pit. A breeze picks up, unfortunately, and starts blowing them away. The breeze is so strong that it threatens to blow them into the pit.
You'd Expect: Stan to Know When to Fold 'Em and run inside, as Dipper is warning everyone.
Instead: Stan chases after the papers to toss them in so they'll be gone forever.
The Result: When his family and Soos try to save him from falling into the pit, they all end up falling for hours and to pass the time are forced to tell stories to each other. Dipper lampshades this as they fall.
In Mabel's story, "Trooth Ache," she is shocked to see that Stan is a Consummate Liar who tries to teach a bear how to drive and lies to the cops about it. Stan blows her off because, well, it's what he does.
You'd Expect: Mabel to stay out of it. She knows that Stan is not an ethical person.
Instead: She replaces his dentures with golden ones that compel the wearer, to tell the truth.
The Result: Stan blabbing about his crimes nearly gets him arrested, and Mabel has to lie to cover for him.

The Deep End

Mabel finds out that the boy at the pool who entrances her is a merman. Despite her infatuation, she agrees to help him return to his family. Dipper in the meantime has gotten a job as a lifeguard to spend more time with Wendy. Mermando asks Mabel to not tell anyone about what he is.
You'd Expect: She would tell Dipper what was going on before stealing the pool equipment to escort Mermando. Dipper's already in hot water with his boss, so he is determined to not mess up. They just need to get Mermando to the river, or to an ocean, and he can swim free. Dipper doesn't have to lose any pool equipment to get that deed done.
Instead: Mabel refuses to tell Dipper and steals a golf cart from the pool.
As A Result: When Dipper gives chase, he nearly gets Mermando killed and has to resuscitate him.

Boyz Crazy

Dipper has revealed the subliminal message behind Robbie's song for Wendy, and plays it back for them. Wendy realizes Robbie lied to her and he ripped the song off some other artist, resulting in her breaking up with him, and she leaves the van in a huff.
You'd Expect: Since Wendy is in a foul mood after the breakup, for Dipper to leave Wendy alone for some time to cool down.
Instead: He immediately asks Wendy if they can hang out now that Robbie is out of the way; because Wendy is angry after breaking up, she goes berserk and chews Dipper out for only thinking of himself, and leaves him heartbroken.

The Land Before Swine

Grunkle Stan dislikes how Waddles, being a pig, chews on his clothes and messes up everything in the house. Mabel asks him to not put Waddles outside because "it's dangerous" for a helpless animal. While she's out buying a Snuggie so that she can carry her pig, Waddles ruins a money-making Mystery Shack exhibit "The Cornicorn" by eating it.
You'd Expect: Stan would lock the pig up in the twins' room, or in a room where Waddles cannot easily escape. Then he'd remind Mabel that the destructive pig is her responsibility when she gets home and assign her to rebuild the exhibit since art is her specialty. That way she can't accuse him of being unfair, especially since Mabel is his favorite, and she likes a creative challenge.
Instead: Out of spite for the pig and feeling that Mabel is overreacting, he ties Waddle up outside to a stake, and a pterodactyl swoops and steals away the pink guy just as Stan is mocking how "outside is dangerous". Even if not for the dinosaur, Mabel would have come home and seen, starting her refusal to talk to her Grunkle.

Dreamscaperers

Gideon wants the deed to the Mystery Shack, only it's locked in a safe and he doesn't know the combination. Plus, Stan can kick him out every time.
You'd Expect: He'd do what he eventually does: dynamite the safe and make off with the deed.
Instead: He summons an Eldritch Abomination to make a Deal with the Devil, and waits for hours while Bill Cipher tries and fails to get the code. Bill is not one to be trifled with easily and could have hurt Gideon the way he hurts Dipper later on, given Bill said they would "work out the details" later.
Grunkle Stan deliberately acted harshly on Dipper because he wants him to be a tough kid. Unfortunately, it caused Dipper to believe that Stan hates him as he slowly loses respect for his Grunkle, something Stan noticed.
You'd Expect: Stan to properly explain why he is treating Dipper the way he is, or at least try and show visible love such as complimenting him, and helping Dipper while remaining strict and tough at the same time.
Instead: He keeps acting harsh on him with a little showing of love.
As A Result: Stan's tough love act leads to Dipper thinking that Stan hates him and almost resulted in Dipper leaving Stan and the others to Bill's clutches. Had Dipper not checked one more time regarding the "Get rid of him" memory, Dipper would have abandoned Stan and his Mystery Shack forever.

Gideon Rises

Dipper and Mabel gather an army of gnomes to take back the Mystery Shack from Gideon. But the plan goes awry and Gideon has taken Journal 3 from Dipper. Gideon now tries to break Dipper's spirit, saying that the latter can't do anything without the book and now Dipper and Mabel are seemingly powerless to do anything else to fight back.
You'd Expect: Gideon to make sure that the Pines twins don't try to do anything else and have the Gravity Falls authorities to put them in jail. Even if the twins are getting sent home, given his good reputation, he could've used this opportunity to not only turn their parents against them, but also rub some salt in the twins' wounds as not only will the twins be locked up but also keep them away from home.
Instead: Gideon simply kicks them out of the Shack, believing that Dipper's spirit is completely broken.
As A Result: Dipper, using what very little hope he as left, eventually fights back at the very end and wins.

Inter-Season Shorts

Dipper's Guide to the Unexplained

Mabel wants to mail home a video of her shoving gummy worms up her nose for some reason. She comes across an old, raggedy mailbox in the middle of nowhere that Dipper and Soos are investigating.
You'd Expect: Mabel to at least let Dipper explain, given that she knows full well that this town is bizarre and it could be some sort of all-knowing mailbox for all she knows.
Instead: "Nifty, a mailbox! I've been wanting to mail Mom this video of me shoving a hundred gummy worms up my nose." As it turns out and as Dipper and Soos try to warn her, it is some sort of all-knowing mailbox, and...
As A Result: The video squicks it out so much that it declares humanity a lost cause and destroys itself. Among other things, this costs Mabel the video and Dipper an opportunity to find out who wrote the journals. Dipper naturally calls her out.
Dipper and Mabel find what they thought was the legendary Hide Behind, which turned out to be a Maraca Owl. Dipper concludes the Hide Behind is just a myth and walks off in defeat...but it turns out the Hide Behind actually is real and snooping behind his back, disappearing when he looks behind him.
You'd Expect: Either Dipper or Mabel realizes they left Dipper's camera behind and take it with them, which caught footage of the Hide Behind sneaking up on Dipper, so they finally have proof.
Instead: Dipper leaves the camera in the forest, and Mabel never even bothers to get it. It's possibly still recording out there...

Mabel's Scrapbook

The family's going out to the movies to see Pony Heist. While there, the manager who happens to be Thompson yells at Mabel for sneaking in candy. Mabel apologizes and said it was just one piece.
You'd Expect: Since Mabel and Dipper are part of the friendship group, where Thompson deliberately makes himself a Butt-Monkey, Thompson would confiscate their candy and let them off with a warning. It's one of the few times where Stan admits he paid for the tickets.
Instead: Thompson bans the family from the theater.
As A Result: The family, as part of an elaborate scheme to sneak into the theater, humiliates Thompson by posting that he drinks butter.

Season Two

Scary-oke

Federal agents are sniffing around the Shack, to Dipper's delight and Grunkle Stan's dismay, and Stan confiscates a business card that the agents have given to Dipper. Dipper sneaks into Stan's room and steals the card back during Mabel's karaoke party because he wants the agents' help in uncovering the secrets.
You'd Expect: After getting the card, Dipper would immediately get out of Stan's room and call the agents in a distant location. Wendy's got a cell phone and she's his lookout.
Instead: He calls the agents from Stan's room.
As A Result: Stan busts him and tells him he's grounded after the party.
When the agents come, they don't believe Dipper after flipping through the book and walking off.
You'd Expect: Dipper would find a nonlethal spell to use, or an object like the growth and shrinking crystals to prove his point.
Instead: He reads out a spell with the warning label "DON'T READ ALOUD" and summons hundreds of zombies.
As A Result: The agents get dragged off, and the Pines nearly get killed by zombies.
Stan has dropped the act; he admits that he knows what goes on in Gravity Falls, and was feigning ignorance to protect the kids and hide the machine under the Shack. After getting rid of the zombies, he gives the journal back to Dipper on the condition that Dipper only uses it for self-defense. Dipper in turn wants to know if Stan has any other earth-shattering secrets.
You'd Expect: Since Dipper awoke a zombie army to prove the supernatural's existence to his uncle and the federal agents, Stan would come clean about the machine's existence, especially since he was using it to rescue his twin brother, which Dipper as a twin would relate to. He could also admit who wrote the journals— again Stan's brother— so that Dipper doesn't keep searching for the answers in dangerous places.
Instead: Stan keeps his mouth shut and does the Lying Finger Cross.
As a Result: Dipper (who had also made a Lying Finger Cross) keeps searching for the Author's identity and becomes distrustful of Stan after finding out that he lied again. This comes back to bite Stan in "Not What He Seems" when Dipper asks why they should believe him about anything after he lied about everything else.

Into the Bunker

Dipper, Mabel, Soos, and Wendy are investigating the titular bunker, and nearly die from a Death Trap. Mabel finds out that Dipper was going to confess his feelings to Wendy, and he tells her not to bring it up.
You'd Expect: Mabel would realize that mixing romance and scary adventures have never ended well for the twins, especially since they just nearly died. She should put off pressuring Dipper until they're done exploring the bunker.
Instead: She locks Dipper in a closet with Wendy, which is actually a decontamination chamber, and won't open it when they find out a monster's inside with them.
As A Result: Dipper and Wendy nearly die due to a shapeshifter being in the chamber with them.

The Golf War

The Lilliputtians, tiny golf balls with legs, have been helping Mabel cheat in a mini-golf competition with Pacifica, in exchange for awarding the best Lilliputtian tribe for a medal sticker. The Dutch Lilliputtians get it in their head to tie Pacifica to a Conveyor Belt of Doom to win the sticker since killing Pacifica ought to make Mabel much happier than winning. Dipper and Mabel are horrified, and the other Lilliputtian tribes argue that they should get the sticker.
You'd Expect: That Mabel and Dipper would play along, declare the Dutch Lilliputtians the winner, and do Hostage for MacGuffin to get Pacifica to safety.
Alternatively: Mabel and Dipper would secure Pacifica's safety first, and then declare another Lilliputtian tribe the winner for sticking to the deal. While the Dutch Lilliputtians would still be mad, they'd still have a concrete reason for how their actions made them lose.
Instead: Mabel does a Big "SHUT UP!", makes a speech about how rivalries are stupid, and eats the sticker.
As A Result: The Lilliputtian tribes unite to cut the sticker out of her stomach. The twins and Pacifica barely escape the tiny ones' wrath, leaving Pacifica's trainer behind.

Sock Opera

Dipper has asked Mabel for help with unlocking the passwords, but a new crush of the week distracts her, and she begs him to help her put on a sock puppet rock opera.
You'd Expect: There are two logical options that Dipper could take: 1) Dipper would put away the laptop until the next Mabel crush blows its course, because every time his and Mabel's desires clash, he always gives in to Mabel at the cost of what he wants. Bill even points out this All Take and No Give relationship when he approaches Dipper and asks for a Deal with the Devil. 2) Alternatively, he gets someone like Soos or Wendy to assist him instead so that he's not shouldering the burden of unlocking the password alone. Soos actually fixed up the laptop and has some experience with computers.
Instead: Dipper tries to unlock the password alone while assisting Mabel with her sock opera, and ends up sleep deprived with no success. Said sleep deprivation also allows Bill Cipher to approach him when Dipper spends the whole night on the roof with the laptop.
After said sleepless night and after encountering Bill Cipher, Dipper trudges into the kitchen exhausted.
You'd Expect: Dipper to just tuck into bed and sleep the whole day off since he's helped Mabel a lot, even with the risk of Bill approaching him in dreamland, because that way he won't say or do anything stupid.
Instead: Because of said sleep deprivation, he makes the irrational decision to stay awake, gets in a fight with Mabel when she breaks her promise to help him with the journal and makes a desperate Deal with the Devil with Bill when the laptop is about to erase all its data. It doesn't end well, as Bill removes his soul, and takes over Dipper's body.
Mabel needs a book for the wedding scene for her sock opera.
You'd Expect: That Mabel would realize that using the journal would be dangerous, seeing as just two episodes ago alone the Shapeshifter almost killed Wendy to get it, and use another book, since the Shack has many.
Instead: Mabel takes the journal.
As A Result: Not only does Bill get a hair away from taking it, but he himself points out Mabel was willing to risk it for another one of her dime-a-dozen crushes.
Grenda has told "Bipper" where the journal is, in the wedding cake but to hold his horses and wait until Act Three when he's supposed to hold it as the reverend.
You'd Expect: Bill to just go up the catwalk and grab the journal during intermission since no one will be the wiser. If he wants to cover his tracks he can easily substitute the journal for another book.
Instead: Bill says "I'll hold my horses, you monster" and waits until the Third Act.
As a Result: Bill's insistence on waiting leads to his confrontation with Mabel when she comes to fetch the journal as well, when before he would have stealthily gotten it.
When Mabel goes to fetch the journal, it's within the dangling prop wedding cake next to the catwalk. The prop is fragile, being made of wood and paint, and the rope isn't that sturdy.
You'd Expect: For her to pull up the prop and set it on the catwalk. The prop is light, as is the journal.
Instead: She climbs over the safety rail and reaches for the journal, nearly falling with the cake prop when she loses her grip.
As a Result: Bill puts her in a precarious position, threatening to drop her unless she hands over the journal.
Bill is about to win. Mabel is handing him the journal.
You'd Expect: That Bill would wait until the journal is truly in his hands before he gives out his speech to her.
Instead: He gives the speech when Mabel is in the process of giving it to him, essentially guilt-tripping her into putting up a fight and saving the day in the process.
Played for Laughs when Dipper regains control of his body. Bill then possesses the Dipper sock puppet and warns them about big things coming.
You'd Expect: For Mabel to realize that sock-puppet Bill is harmless, finish the show, and shoo the audience out before dealing with the puppet.
Instead: She blows up sock-puppet Bill with fireworks meant for the show's finale.
The Result: The rockets also have the unfortunate effect of nearly killing the audience and destroying the set. Everyone storms out after booing and telling off Mabel for her reckless stunts.

Soos and the Real Girl

Dipper and Mabel consider renting a Dating Sim for Soos to improve his flirting skills with real women. The store clerk warns them that it's been returned three times and that there's a note on it saying "destroy at all costs!!"
You'd Expect: Dipper and Mabel would listen, put away the game and keep on browsing for something else.
Instead: They rent the game anyway, putting everyone in subsequent danger.

The Love God

After Mabel steals the love potion, she plans to use it on Robbie and Tambry.
You'd Expect: If she's already gone this far, she would follow the Love God's directions and flick the potion on the couple with her fingers.
Instead: She spikes Robbie and Tambry's chili fries with the potion, which then radically alters their personalities. Mabel was lucky that this led to Took a Level in Kindness for the pairing, but she could've easily poisoned them.

Northwest Mansion Mystery

As Candy, Greta and Mabel are arguing over the affections of a boy at the party, the lumberjack ghost reappears and starts turning all the party guests into wooden statues. He doesn't discriminate between the adults and child guests.
You'd Expect: For the girls to set aside their bickering and duck for cover. Mabel in particular has no excuse given the number of adventures she's endured for Dipper's sake.
Instead: The girls don't pay attention to anything other than their argument.
As A Result: The girls are turned into wood exactly where they stand. The ghost then nearly burns down the whole mansion, which would've killed everyone inside except the Northwests in their underground hiding spot.

Not What He Seems

The federal agents have moved in on Stan, arresting Stan and taking the kids into custody.
You'd Expect: Given they've been watching the kids all summer, including how the Pines get into regular supernatural shenanigans and aren't stupid, Agent Trigger would break it to them gently that their uncle is a crook and someone not to be trusted.
Instead: Agent Trigger follows protocol and puts on mindless TV for the kids to watch on the drive to Child Services.
As A Result: This gives Mabel and Dipper time to not only find an escape route but also trap Agent Trigger in the woods. They refuse to believe him when he says that Stan has been faking identities.
This is it. The kids and Soos have discovered Grunkle Stan's secret room in the Shack, and are about to shut off the portal. Grunkle Stan needs to keep the portal on for one more minute.
You'd Expect: Stan would try to explain to them why the portal is so important (it's a portal so his missing brother can come back). Even if they didn't believe him, it probably would have taken long enough to explain for there to be almost no more time left to push the button, ensuring The Author is able to come out of the portal. Additionally, Dipper would reason far better with an actual explanation for what's going on rather than an emotional plea for trust, especially when he's already wary of Stan's intentions to the point of giving a What the Hell, Hero?.
Instead: Stan doesn't try to explain why the portal is so important. He gives a short speech to Mabel and has to hope that she trusts him, causing Mabel to have to choose between her brother's desire to shut down the portal and Stan's desire to keep it open. She chooses Stan, but it could have easily gone either direction.
The Author wants to document his revelation that the portal he created could destroy the universe.
You'd Expect: That he would write over his own portal plans in plain text so that anyone who found the journals wouldn't try to do the same thing.
Instead: He wrote it in invisible ink that can only be seen by blacklight if you have all three books together.
The result: Stan and Lil Gideon aim to replicate The Author's results, with Stan actually being successful, not knowing the portal could destroy the world. By the time Stan realized it, over 30 years after the fact, Stan had already come too far and sacrificed too much to turn back. This would lead not only to Lil Gideon's machinations across the whole show, or to Stan getting accused of building a doomsday device, but to a domino effect that would eventually set off Weirdmageddon. (Granted, Stan likely would have dismissed the warnings anyway, but properly writing over the plans may have made the task more difficult).

A Tale of Two Stans

During Stan and Ford's senior year, the principal arranges a meeting about Ford's future during school hours, as he has an amazing science fair project that the board of a prestigious school is planning to see the next day, which could give him a great future if he's accepted.
You'd Expect: He'd only have Ford called to the office. After all, the meeting's about Ford, so only Ford and his parents need to be present.
Instead: The principal decides to have his secretary call him to the office as well and make him wait outside the door, apparently wanting to insult Stan without saying it directly to his face.
As A Result: Stan overhears the principal gush about Ford's genius and opportunity to “go places” while writing him off as a "clown" who’ll barely graduate high school, scrape barnacles off the local toffee store dock for a living, and spend the rest of his days stuck in their shabby New Jersey town while his brother moves on without him, making him upset.
To Make Matters Worse: Not one of Stan's family, not even Ford, defends him when the principal starts insulting him, despite knowing full well he's sitting outside and hearing every word (as the principal flat-out says Stan’s standing outside at the very beginning of the meeting).
After the above incident, Stan is sitting with Ford at the swingset near the beach, upset that Ford seems poised to go off to a great college in California without him and live a successful life on his own, while he himself seems destined to be miserable.
You'd Expect: Stan to come out and admit to Ford that he's afraid of being left behind and of being unable to make it on his own without him.
Better Yet: For Stan to realize that he's been too clingy and dependent on Ford for his identity and begin living his own life outside of him. Even though he doesn't want Ford to leave, he knows how much Ford's dreams mean to him and should accept that Ford wants to pursue them-even if it means they'll be apart.
Instead: Stan doesn't say any of this.
As A Result: He's still upset and accidentally breaks Ford's aforementioned science project while venting his anger.
Ford's about to present his project, which is now covered by the sheet Stan put over it to hide what he did, and which wasn't covered before Stan broke it.
You'd Expect: That Ford would immediately realize something was up, take the sheet off to see the broken project, and have time to fix it before the demonstration was to take place.
Instead: He doesn't even question why a sheet's there when there wasn't one there when he left it.
Later that night, Ford confronts Stan and accuses him of deliberately sabotaging the project because he can't handle him going to college on his own.
You'd Expect: That Stan would immediately apologize, come clean, and explain it was an accident. By doing this, Ford has no reason to believe Stan sabotaged the project for his own gain as he would now know that it was an honest accident.
Instead: Stan, instead of apologizing, tactlessly tries to spin it into a positive by saying that they can now fulfill their childhood dream to sail the world... which only confirms Ford's belief that Stan only cares about himself and his wants.
As A Result: Stan's kicked out of the family after their father overhears what he did, and Ford doesn't contact him for over a decade, even though Stan deeply regrets what he did and tries to apologize.
Ford has contacted Stan to take the last Journal and hide it somewhere outside of Gravity Falls. He hasn't told Stan about his plan or anything about Bill, only to "Please come!" After Stan realizes Ford only sent for him - after over a decade of no contact, no less-just so he could take a book and leave (presumably never to see Ford again), he gets angry.
You'd Expect: Ford would then explain everything about Bill and the seriousness of the situation. Granted, Ford is paranoid and mentally compromised at the time, but it'd be in his best interests and the best way to get Stan to cooperate and understand how important this is.
Instead: Ford says nothing about Bill, and acts surprised and offended at Stan's legitimate grievances - even having the gall to act like he's doing him a favor by giving Stan the chance to do "the first worthwhile thing in [his] life".
The Result: Ford and Stan get into a fight that ultimately traps Ford in another dimension for years.
After over a decade of no contact at all from his brother, Stan gets a postcard telling him to "please come!" When he comes and eventually realizes that the reconciliation he hoped for isn't going to happen (and that Ford intends for him just to go away again), he's furious.
You'd Expect: Stan to immediately ask Ford just why should he help him now of all times, considering how he once pleaded for Ford's help when he made a huge mistake but was rejected- and now he's just expected to help fix Ford's mistake, one arguably even worse than his own? He'd basically tell him "I came here because I thought we were going to finally be brothers again, not to be your stupid errand boy. It’s your own fault and responsibility, and you’re expecting me, Stanley the Screwup, to help you fix it? Fix your own screwup yourself- you’re the smart one, I’m sure you’ll find a way” and leave.
Or: With the knowledge that Ford still sees him as little more than a "bumbling leech" of a screw-up that ruined his college prospects and only called him as a last resort to solve his own problems (with no intent to ever follow up on him afterward), Stan could simply agree to take the book (explicitly saying this will be the last favor he'll ever do for him), leave his ungrateful brother behind for good, and move on with his life, never speaking to Ford again.
Instead: Stan doesn't bring this fact up, instead ranting about how selfish Ford was and thus making things escalate.
The Result: Ford and Stan get into a fight that ultimately ends up trapping Ford in another dimension for years.
After Ford is rescued from the portal, he gives an ultimatum to Stan: he's allowed to stay until the end of the summer- but afterward, he has to give Ford's identity back, close the Mystery Shack, and move out of the house.
You'd Expect: That immediately after this declaration, Stan would approach both Dipper and Mabel and tell them what would happen to him at the end of summer, while giving them advice on how not to make the same mistakes he and his brother have. That way, it would make both Dipper and Mabel disgusted enough that they'll stay away from Ford and would stay close to each other as much as possible, keeping them away from danger.
Or: Instead of moving out at the end of the summer, Stan could just move out now and immediately send the kids home where they won't be at risk of danger due to Ford's experiments while at the same time, he would quickly get away from his ungrateful brother as far as possible. Afterward, he could move on with his life and find a way to start a legitimate business with all the 30 years of experience he gained in Gravity Falls.
Instead: Not only does he not tell the young twins what would happen to him, but he (along with Mabel) also mocks Dipper for being into nerdy things.
As A Result: Stan's actions lead Dipper to spend more time with Ford, creates a rift between him and the two, and ultimately is a contributing factor that allows Bill to manipulate Mabel to directly cause Weirdmageddon.

Dungeons Dungeons & More Dungeons

While playing with Dipper, Ford deflects questions about his time spent in the portal and instead shows Dipper an Infinity-Sided Die— a powerful die banned in 9000 dimensions because it's a Reality Warper.
You'd Expect: Ford would be really careful with a die that could end the world in one roll.
Instead: He reveals cheerfully that he's kept it in a cheap plastic box with his other dice. Although it was Stan's fault for later tossing the die, Ford really should have taken more precautions.
As A Result: When the Infinity-Sided Die is thrown in a bit of rage, there are no safeguards to prevent the die from working, and the die summons Probabilator.
Ford and Dipper have continued the game so long that they filled up the basement. They need a new room to continue playing the game in. Mabel and Stan are excited to watch "Ducktective" in the next room, and Dipper knows this.
You'd Expect: That Dipper or Ford would recommend one of the many other rooms in the Shack, including Soos's breakroom, to continue the game.
Instead: They move the game to the TV Room, right when Ducktective is starting.
As A Result: Stan loses his temper after asking Ford and Dipper to move and tosses what he thinks is an ordinary bag of dice, which summons Probabilator, who wants to eat Ford and Dipper's brains.

The Stanchurian Candidate

During the climatic mayoral debate, Dipper and Mabel realize that Gideon is controlling his father; Gideon then catches them successfully, using his father as a People Puppet who can do the Dumb Muscle bit, and plans to kill them.
You'd Expect: Gideon would lock the twins away in a place where they can't be seen or heard, and make sure they're securely tied.
Instead: He ties them up inside the mayoral monument next to where the debate is being held loosely enough that they can move around, and the crowd hears the twins' cries for help.
As A Result: Stan's heroic rescue of the twins ends up winning him the election, as does the Pines' dramatic jump when Gideon sets off the fireworks.

The Last Mabelcorn

While shielding their minds, Dipper takes a peek into Ford's mind and learns to his horror that his Great-Uncle has made a Deal with the Devil, the "devil" in this case being Bill. Ford then wakes up from a nap, and because his glasses are opaque, Dipper panics and grabs the memory ray, believing Bill's possessed Ford.
You'd Expect: Ford would realize why Dipper is panicking and quickly take off his glasses to show that Bill isn't possessing him.
Instead: Ford menacingly approaches Dipper saying, "You shouldn't have seen that." He doesn't reassure him or attempt to reason with Dipper and makes himself look more suspicious by telling Dipper to hand over the Interdimensional Rift that could bring Bill into the real world.
As A Result: Dipper zaps him with the ray and then cowers in a corner repeating, "Trust no one, trust no one!". If not for the metal plate Ford had installed in his skull, he would've lost his mind entirely.
Fortunately: This is a wake-up call to Ford to explain how he came to meet Bill.
In the past, Bill successfully conned Ford into a deal allowing him free access to his body - a deal that specifically lasts until the end of time. In the present, he knows Ford's keeping the Interdimensional Rift contained in a snowglobe-esque device that, if broken, would allow him to escape the Nightmare Realm and enter the real world.
You’d Expect: That Bill, knowing all this, would immediately take control of Ford's body, find the Rift, and break it himself . At this point, there’s absolutely nothing stopping him from doing so.
Instead: Bill, despite having the greatest trump card against Ford that he could possibly have, does absolutely nothing with it - instead, he just taunts Ford in his dreams about how he’ll eventually “slip up” protecting the Rift.
As A Result: Ford ensures the Mystery Shack’s protected by a mystical unicorn barrier, preventing Bill from possessing him or anyone else as long as they stay inside the property.

Roadside Attraction

Stan decides to sabotage all his tourist trap competitors along the Redwood Highway as revenge for pranks they've pulled in the past against the Mystery Shack. As we learn in the episode, some of these people are genuinely dangerous, such as the old lady who set Stan's car on fire on two non-consecutive occasions.
You'd Expect: Stan would have some sort of plan in place to protect the Shack against possible retaliation by the people he pranked, or at least start his journey with the farthest away attraction so that he may notice someone gunning for the Shack as he comes back to it.
Instead: Stan takes no precautions whatsoever and starts the trip with the nearest spot. It's no surprise that when he returns, the Shack is filled with corn and covered in insulting graffiti.
Mabel has already transgressed a bit by packing Dipper's box that said "Do Not Touch" and bluntly telling him to move on from his crush on Wendy, even though she flirts with a bunch of guys herself. She then finds out Candy has a crush on Dipper after seeing his confidence after getting a girl's email.
You'd Expect: That Mabel would realize the ramifications of setting up one of her best friends with her brother, especially after what happened with "The Love God" and realize as well that Dipper is never confident around girls.
Instead: She decides to indulge Candy's crush, and set the two up on a "date". Then when it turns out he's been practicing on other girls, she doesn't consider the possibility that he got his advice from a questionable source — their Grunkle Stan— and turns on him, believing her brother to be a G-rated playboy without hearing his side of the story. It's hypocritical of Mabel given how many guys she's hit on during the past two seasons in hopes of finding The One.
Likewise, Dipper feels similarly awkward about Candy liking him since he hadn't considered that possibility, given she's friends with Mabel. Stan advises him to go on the date anyway (at the risk of leading Candy on) to build his confidence.
You'd Expect: Dipper to go with his gut and tell Candy what he told Stan, that he hadn't considered her that way, that he's open to the possibility while not wanting to lead her on. In addition, you'd think they would discuss what it would mean if they dated and what boundaries there would be with her being Mabel's friend.
Instead: Dipper takes Grunkle Stan's advice.
As A Result: Dipper is mistaken for being a KidAnova when the other girls he's encountered "bust" him.

Dipper and Mabel vs. the Future

While Dipper and Ford are out trying to save the world, Mabel goes on a party-planning escapade. While trying to confirm who can come, she finds out her two best friends, Candy and Grenda, will both be leaving Gravity Falls on the day of the party.
You'd Expect: One of the girls would suggest moving the party to the day before to better fit everyone's schedules, avoiding the idea that the birthday is ruined just because one date doesn't work.
Instead: No one suggests the obvious solution. Mabel concludes that the party is ruined and has an emotional breakdown. Already emotionally vulnerable, this adds fuel to her tipping point later in the episode.
When Ford presents Dipper with the cracking Rift, they both go out to seek an adhesive that can seal it.
You'd Expect: Them to leave it behind since it's a cracking, fragile object whose complete breakage would end the world.
Instead: They bring it with them in a case, in Ford's unprotected pocket, and later in Dipper's equally unprotected backpack. Through what can only be described as divine intervention, it survives Dipper's scientifically impossible-to-live-through action sequence... but breaks under a foot when Mabel takes Dipper's backpack by mistake instead of hers.
- After many complications (and one death-defying action sequence), Ford and Dipper successfully retrieve the adhesive.
  You'd Expect: Ford (because the adhesive was, according to him, too dangerous for Dipper to handle) would seal the Rift on the spot since it was in Dipper's backpack the whole time and is pretty much a bomb waiting to go off.
  Instead: Ford waits until they get home, settle in and have conversations with the rest of the family. He doesn't think about removing the Rift from Dipper's backpack and fixing it until Mabel runs off with it.
During this episode, Ford offers an apprenticeship to Dipper for him to stay in Gravity Falls and receive private tutoring from the former.
You'd Expect: Dipper to ask if Mabel could stay as well, since he was hesitant on the idea of leaving her and they're often stronger together, especially considering his discomfort with Ford actively encouraging the idea of separation between them. Or he and Ford could discuss limiting the arrangement to future summers or after Dipper's graduated from high school when both he and Mabel are older, since it's not likely such a ludicrous offer would get parental acceptance.
Or: Dipper could talk to Mabel about the offer first so she'd hear it first hand from him, That way they could discuss it calmly.
Instead: Ford assumes that since he has 12 PhDs, Dipper's "parents would be thrilled I could give you such an advanced education," and Dipper doesn't bring up the idea of Mabel staying with him and Ford. Dipper doesn't even approach Mabel with the news directly.
As A Result: Mabel overhears Dipper accepting the offer later over the walkie-talkie, which leads to her becoming even more unstable and distraught. Dipper tries to confront Mabel over the decision but Mabel is now too panicked to listen, and Dipper's note that nothing lasts forever finally causes Mabel to snap. She runs away with Dipper's backpack, setting the stage for the finale.
Mabel suffers an emotional breakdown due to the events of the episode and runs off with Dipper's backpack on accident, which still contains the Dimensional Rift. Suddenly Blendin Blandin appears out of nowhere eagerly offering a trade—Mabel gives him the Rift, insisting Ford won't miss it, and in return, she'll get to stay in Gravity Falls longer. She and her brother have both been warned to be on guard about Bill and his possession tricks, so...
You'd Expect: Mabel to first question why Blendin is here so suddenly, so into the idea of making a deal with her, or how he even knows anything about her uncle whom she knows he's never met, or the glass orb she's never seen.
Instead: She hands it over (not even knowing what it is or taking into account that it's Dipper's property) without much thought.
As A Result: Blendin drops the Rift, causing it to shatter. He takes off his glasses to reveal... that he was possessed by Bill Cipher himself. He knocks out Mabel by snapping his fingers and starts the apocalypse. Nice job, Mabel.

Weirdmageddon, Part 1

The rift has opened, and Bill has started to end the world. He makes his first impression on a crowd of townspeople, including Mayor Cutebiker and the Northwests. Mayor Cutebiker and the townspeople show that they are a Badass Bystander bunch and not taking Bill's nonsense.
You'd Expect: Preston to realize that he's not dealing with a cliched Antichrist, if the triangle shape is any indication, and keep his mouth shut, especially since the mayor is potentially angering Bill by politely asking him to "get... get on out of here". If he has any sense of self-preservation, he would move himself and his family to the back of the crowd.
You'd Also Expect: Since Bill is obviously an otherworldly god who can create anything at will, even money, attempting to bribe him with money (or anything, for that matter) wouldn't work.
Instead: Preston thinks to Cut Lex Luthor a Check and asks Bill if he could be a "horseman of the apocalypse." Bill doesn't like traitors, or predictability, and he certainly doesn't like predictable traitors.
As A Result: Bill subjects Preston to Facial Horror, leaving him with no mouth. Not to mention the fact that he likely worsened his already shaky standings with the local townsfolk by siding against them.
Ford has a desperate chance at stopping Bill, involving a BFG and only one chance to shoot. And it turns out that he knows Bill's weaknesses.
You'd Expect: Ford would inform Dipper of this weakness, and where to look for it in the journals. In addition, after having Dipper serve as a lookout for his one shot, he would Shoo the Dog and tell Dipper to go into hiding with the journals, in case things go wrong.
You'd Also Expect: Ford, being a genius and knowing Bill better than anyone, would realize that trying to shoot Bill by himself is not precisely the best plan of attack and that it would be better and more prudent to first seek refuge, then allies and reinforcements, and then make a more elaborate plan, as well as additional plans and/or an escape plan in case anything goes wrong.
Instead: Ford doesn't do any of this.
As a Result: Dipper's in the church with Ford when the shot wildly misses, and both get caught in Bill destroying the building. Ford barely shoves the journals to Dipper in time and runs out of time to tell him Bill's weakness. Then Bill turns him into a golden statue before Ford can blurt the weakness out.
After Bill captures Ford, the former offers the latter We Can Rule Together, saying that Ford's six fingers make him fit in right with his "freaks".
You'd Expect: Ford to not say anything that invokes Tempting Fate. Bill's offer may not be sincere and probably isn't, but the triangle is a sadistic Troll who sees planetary destruction as "fun".
Instead: Ford not only says, "I'll die before I join you!" but also brags that he knows Bill's weakness.
As A Result: Bill proceeds to turn him into gold after tricking him into posing as a backscratcher. Ford is only lucky that Bill didn't kill him right off the bat.
Things are bad; Dipper has just seen not only the end of the world but also Bill capturing his Great Uncle Ford and turning him into gold, using Ford as a six-fingered backscratcher. Dipper has been able to hide so far and witnessed all of this, and Ford has ordered him to run.
You'd Expect: Dipper would either Know When to Fold 'Em and flee for cover, perhaps the Mystery Shack, or he would quickly scan the journal for any contingencies on how to defeat Bill before revealing himself.
Instead: Dipper reveals himself to Bill, standing on a log, and nervously flips through the Journals in a rush, reading You Are Already Dead on multiple pages. He then attempts to punch Bill in the eye.
As A Result: His attempt to punch Bill in the eye gets negated when Bill knocks him aside, burns the three journals, and orders fellow demons to eat "Pine Tree." Dipper barely escapes with his life and three days later is on the brink of the Despair Event Horizon.
Bill also shares a bit of it after he burns the journals and tries to break Dipper's spirit.
You'd Expect: He would just kill Dipper on the spot or turn him into a statue as he has nearly everyone else. He made a deal with Mabel, but he doesn't owe Dipper the same.
Instead: Bill orders his friends to eat Dipper, and leaves before checking to see if the deed is done. He also does nothing when the demons report that Dipper not only escaped them but is also attempting to enter Mabel's bubble, believing that his contingencies (Gideon and the wish-fulfillment nature of the bubble) are enough to keep the kid from winning.
As A Result: With Dipper free, a series of events kicks off that leads to Bill's downfall.
Dipper has fled into the mall to get away from the Sweaty One-Armed Monstrosity. He finds a bowl of nachos in the mall, lit by a single light.
You'd Expect: Dipper would recognize this as a trap and leave the nachos alone.
Instead: Dipper's so hungry that he falls for the bait.
As A Result: He gets trapped in a net. Luckily, he only ended up running into Wendy, but he could have been captured by Gideon or another enemy.

Weirdmageddon, Part 2

Mabel's bubble is meant to be a Gilded Cage and a Lotus-Eater Machine, and Mabel has been hypnotized into not wanting to leave. Others can break this hypnosis, however, with The Power of Love, which Dipper does. The land then reveals itself as a prison with a Nightmare Face.
You'd Expect: For Bill's trump card to be Blackmail - if Mabel ever chooses to leave the bubble of her own free will, either he or the land would reveal that she was the one who, inadvertently or not, started Weirdmageddon out of selfishness. This would distract Dipper at the least, and make her relive the moment when he chose Ford's apprenticeship over her.
Instead: Bill never keeps this trump card handy; in fact, as Mabel recounts to Dipper, Wendy, and Soos, she doesn't remember giving the rift to Bill and it never comes up again, and the Bubble's inhabitants only try to make her stay by force. It's not clear if Bill wiped her memory or if she's Faking Amnesia, but using that knowledge would have broken up the survivors' offensive in the next episode. In any case, Mabel and the others escape the bubble without breaking a sweat, and soon they lead a successful attack on Bill.
Dipper, Soos, and Wendy have found Mabel, but they can't get her out of the bubble because she doesn't want to leave. As she puts it, in Mabelland she can have whatever she wants.
You'd Expect: Dipper would tell Mabel what's been going on over the past four days, including that Bill has trashed the town, turned Ford into gold, and burned the journals. Wendy nearly does when Mabel interrupts her.
Instead: Dipper tells Mabel that this land "is crazy" without elaborating.
As A Result: Mabel dismisses him as a killjoy.
On that note, Mabel or the land, one of the two, summons what she/it thinks are the trio's innermost desires. Wendy happens to be seeing her friends alive and playing a prank with them, and Soos is playing catch with his dad. Dipper refuses to see what Mabel has summoned for him.
You'd Expect: That either Mabel or the land would play on Dipper's desire to study the supernatural and play "dork games", and more importantly that the other Pines family members are alive. An illusion of Ford telling Dipper Know When to Fold 'Em would be enough to stop him since he admires Ford a lot and listens against his better judgment.
Instead: Mabel/The land summons a version of Wendy who's interested in Dipper.
As A Result: Even though Dipper's tempted, he quickly realizes that this version of Wendy isn't real and catches a glimpse of the world's true Nightmare Face. This motivates him to get Mabel to leave, by any means necessary.

Weirdmageddon, Part 3

Bill wakes up Ford from his golden slumber to recruit his help to let him escape the confines of Gravity Falls and spread his weirdness to the world. Ford has, in fact, figured out how to get rid of the Weirdness Magnet that keeps Bill and his friends tethered to the town.
You'd Expect: Ford would either perform Obfuscating Stupidity or claim that the process to get rid of the barrier is complicated, stalling for time until he can plan an escape or work on Bill's weakness.
Instead: Ford, a Bad Liar and Insufferable Genius even when facing the end of the world, immediately admits that he knows the equation that will free Bill, that it's remarkably simple, and that he is strong enough to withstand Bill's attempts to break him forcibly for the necessary equation.
As A Result: Bill proceeds to chain up Ford and torture him for a day, then targets Dipper and Mabel upon realizing that they are Ford's weakness.
Dipper, Soos, Wendy, and Mabel have made it to the safety of the Mystery Shack, to find that Stan and the other survivors are hiding and not willing to stand up to Bill. When Dipper reveals that Ford knows Bill's weakness, Stan feels slighted that not only are the twins usurping his authority as "chief", but also that everyone is being an Ungrateful Bastard about how he's offered Sacred Hospitality while the survivors are treating Ford, whom Stan blames for causing Weirdmageddon, as their last hope. Stan also points out that the plan is highly risky, which is a good point in the face of how dangerous Bill is, and facing a demon is asking for a death wish.
You'd Expect: Dipper and Mabel to have a heart-to-heart with their Grunkle about his legitimate worries and petty grievances and explain they aren't trying to undermine his authority. Dipper in part could point out that, practically speaking, the survivors are going to run out of food while living in guilt about their families imprisoned on the throne, and Bill if he can transform Gravity Falls into a permanent hub of weirdness. Alternatively, the twins could mention that Bill set several of his demon friends on Dipper to eat him, and trapped Mabel in a bubble for three days straight, since they know that Stan is a Papa Wolf.
Instead: The twins prioritize perfecting the plans and don't talk it out with Stan.
As A Result: Stan remains a grump and the Only Sane Man about the plan, and inadvertently sabotages the last phase of it by getting into a stupid argument with Ford at a critical time.
The plan works up to the point that the survivors unfreeze Ford, free Gideon, and thaw out the members of the throne. Dipper tells Ford that they don't have much time while Bill is wrestling the Mystery Shack mecha, and asks if Ford knows a way to defeat Bill.
You'd Expect: For Ford to realize that the pyramid is not a safe location for revealing such a prophecy, even if everyone is present because they'd be screwed the second Bill comes back. The survivors can all run for the cover of the woods before Ford reveals the prophecy, buying them even more time.
Instead: Ford, with the time counting down to when Bill's no longer distracted, uses Robbie's spray paint can draw the prophecy on the pyramid's floor, hugely risking them being caught by Bill once he's finished with the mecha.
At that time, Stan demands that Ford thank him for what he's done and Ford begrudgingly does so. Stan then proceeds to say "me and him" rather than the correct, "him and me" and Ford notice his wrong grammar.
You'd Expect: That Ford would just roll his eyes at Stan's poor grammar, say nothing, and perform the ritual per the Journal's instructions.
You'd Also Expect: That Stan would also let it slide and do what Ford says. Regardless of whether or not Stan believed that he deserved his fate at Bill's hands, the kids are particularly in danger of at Bill's clutches and who knows what he could do to them if the ritual that is capable of stopping Bill fails.
Instead: Ford can't stop himself from condescendingly correcting Stan's grammar right when Stan needs to hold hands to stop Bill.
As a Result: Stan snaps and picks a fight with Ford, causing the ritual to completely fail. Bill catches the circle defenseless, and turns everyone except the Pines into tapestries, and guns for Dipper and Mabel. It also means that to stop Bill, Ford has to erase his brother's mind, which makes him realize that he's essentially killed Stanley and never even accepted his apology properly.
Bill has defeated the Shacktron, burned the prophecy circle, and turned everyone except the Pines into banners for the Fearamid.
You'd Expect: Bill would turn Dipper and Mabel into banners too to blackmail Ford into giving him the equation, and if he refuses, start burning them to force Ford into giving Bill what he needs.
Or: Seeing that the Pines family is still willing to defy him even after the ritual failed, Bill could twist the knife even further by "revealing" that Mabel has purposely given Bill the rift and directly caused Weirdmageddon because she selfishly wanted to keep Dipper with her forever instead of letting him leave her to live his own life. If Dipper and the Stans don't believe him, he could conjure fake footage of Mabel purposely giving the rift to him and show callous disregard for her brother's (then) desire to take Ford's apprenticeship. Even if Dipper would see through the lie, Mabel would feel she’d did to Dipper what Stan did to Ford decades ago, leaving her too disheartened to fight Bill and lead to both Stanley and Stanford pointing fingers at each other, which would allow Bill to commence his plan unscathed.
Instead: Bill doesn't do anything to the kids.
As A Result: Mabel sprays Bill in the eye and the twins run off while Bill is blinded.
After Mabel sprays Bill in the eye, Bill decides to chase after the Pines kids to blackmail Ford into giving him the way out.
You'd Expect: For Bill to simply create any form of blockades, such as a wall or a shield, or just levitate them and pull them back to his hands while the Stans are stripping their clothes, giving them no time to complete the Twin Switch.
Instead: He goes into One-Winged Angel mode and only physically chases them...
As A Result: ...it buys the Stans enough time to complete the switch and give Bill his defeat.
In order to escape from the confines of his barrier, Bill Cipher blackmails Ford by threatening Dipper and Mabel's lives in the process.
You'd Expect: That since Bill seemingly has no use for Stanley and considering his relationship with Ford, he'd simply get rid of Stanley in any way possible such as turning him into an object or disintegrating him.
Instead: He keeps Stanley alive under the impression that Ford wants nothing to do with him after screwing up the Zodiac, and even imprisons the two together while he chases the kids, believing that they’ll never get along and just continue to argue with each other.
Result: The two Stans decide to reconcile and work together to save the kids, resulting in Bill's defeat.
This is it. "Ford" has finally decided to relent and let Bill into his mind in order to make Weirdmageddon global in exchange for letting his brother and the kids go. However, something seems off with "Ford".
You'd Expect: Bill, having known Ford for years, would notice that Ford looks a bit different and simply take away his gloves to check if he really is Ford or someone with five fingers impersonating him.
Instead: Too excited that he can finally take the apocalypse global, Bill shakes his hand without thinking.
As A Result: Bill ends up entering Stanley's mind instead, allowing Ford to use his Memory gun on Stan and destroy Bill once and for all.

Journal 3

It's revealed that Fiddleford got suspicious of Ford taking orders from a mysterious being and believing it's his greatest work. Fiddleford knows that Ford has discovered wonders. Bill lies to Ford that Fiddleford wants to steal the latter's work because he thinks that Fiddleford can upset his plans to cause Weirdmageddon.
You'd Expect: He would find some scientific journals and leave them on Ford's desk, circling the ones accepting submissions, or simply talk to his friend that as a genius his current work will be appreciated.
Alternatively: Fiddleford would submit a research paper in Ford's name and give him the glory due to him.
Instead: Fiddleford rifles through Ford's notes and compiles a research paper in Stanford Pines's name, telling him to submit his findings of Gravity Falls.
The Result: Ford believes Bill about his partner's greed and refuses to reschedule the portal test. Bill takes the opportunity to mess with Fiddleford's mind when he accidentally enters the portal. Thanks to that, Fiddleford walks away, erases his mind with the Memory Gun, and ruins his life. Thirty years later, a remorseful Ford goes Hourglass Plot and convinces Fiddleford to submit his patents, as an apology for the Mind Rape, the manipulation, and the life-ruining.
The Hand-Witch has a habit of stealing people's hands to make them date her, per the show's canon, before Mabel made-over her cave to host men. (We can assume this story is true of the three because the hand Stan has for sale is crawling around after he finishes the tale.) In a Pet the Dog moment, she meets Ford when he and Fiddleford come to the Gravity Falls carnival and gets his attention by calling him "Sixer." After reading his palm and shuffling Tarot cards, she warns him about trusting someone close to him and a great betrayal will happen unless he turns around from his current project. The Hand-Witch gives him a ring, saying it will turn black if he makes a decision that he can't undo, or blue if he's made the right choice and can still turn around.
You'd Expect: Ford the genius would listen. He should maybe tell Fiddleford he should go back to his family paying him for his time with the grant money since paying an employee should be allowed. Then Ford ought to figure out what's going on with Bill. The fact that the Hand-Witch didn't take his hands' hostage is a sign of O.O.C. Is Serious Business, something he noted in the journal.
Instead: Ford makes an ultimatum to Fiddleford, who's having second thoughts, or either coming to see the portal demonstration or "getting left behind". When he sees the ring has turned black, he tosses it in the lake rather than cancel the portal test.
The Result: The rest of the series happens. The Hand-Witch also recognizes Stan thirty years later, takes his hand hostage, and demands a kiss on the lips to "undo the curse". (Though he's implied she lets the Pines go after they help her so they can rescue Stan's idiot brother.)
During Ford and Bill’s confrontation in the Nightmare Realm (which takes place during the climax of Not What He Seems), the portal to Gravity Falls unexpectedly opens in the middle of the fight.
You’d Expect: That Bill would immediately go through it before Ford can react. The door’s wide open, and it’s what he’s been after for millennia.
Instead: Bill, despite having the opportunity to go through then and there, does absolutely nothing with it - instead, he becomes incapacitated with laughter.
As A Result: Ford takes advantage of Bill's distraction to get through it first, preventing Bill or his “friends” from passing through.
In Blendin Blandin's secret message, after he told Time Baby and the Time Police about how Bill Cipher possessed him to jumpstart Weirdmageddon, Time Baby and holographic versions of the Time Police traveled to the present to stop Bill's chaos. However, Bill obliterates Time Baby, leaving only Blendin and the Time Police left to ponder what to do next.
You'd Expect: The Time Police declare Bill Cipher a dangerous threat, and decide to plan out an important mission to take Bill down.
Instead: The Time Police all blame Blendin Blandin for the death of Time Baby. Which results in Blendin being declared an outlaw.
The Result: Blendin had to travel to different points in time to hide from the Time Police. Ultimately getting stranded in the 1800s after his Time Tape was destroyed. Also, the entire Time Police wasted precious time and manpower to hunt down an innocent man who was a victim of the real culprit.

Lost Legends

Don't Dimension It

In the aftermath of Weirdmageddon, the Pines are taking care of one rift that emerged. Stan is in the middle of regaining his memories. Mabel has also confessed that Weirdmageddon was her fault because she gave the snowglobe rift to Bill, which leads to Dipper naming the rift "Mabel's Fault".
You'd Expect: Mabel would cut back on selfish acts and focus on this mission at hand. Or that she'd sit it out if she's not ready.
Instead: Mabel brings Waddles along, ignoring Dipper's legitimate concerns that taking a pig on a rift-repairing mission is distracting.
The Result: Due to chasing after Waddles, Mabel ends up sucked into the fault and sent into the Multiverse, trapped in a desolate world with hundreds of parallel versions of herself. The only one willing to help her is revealed to be Anti-Mabel, who wants to wreak havoc in Mabel's dimension. Stan and Ford nearly get killed entering the Multiverse to rescue Mabel, with Stan being deceived by Anti-Mabel because he's still getting his memories back, and Dipper's left to wait to fear that he's lost his sister again. Mabel rightly apologizes to Dipper for her selfishness.

The Jersey Devil's in the Details

In a flashback, Stan is accused by his father of stealing a gold chain. Ford defends him, and their dad says to find the real thief. It's revealed Stan took the watch to polish the chain for his dad and engrave it, but he felt guilty about breaking its display glass by accident. Their father is abusive, mind, and an awful person, and Stan is convinced that he's unloved.
You'd Expect: He would have told Ford in private about what happened, so as to have the courage to confess. Or that they'd get their mother on their side since she seems to be a calming influence.
Instead: Stan lets Ford believe that the Jersey Devil took the watch, and they go off in search of a dangerous monster.
The Result: Ford finds out from rival detective twins, right when the Jersey Devil is chasing all of them, and he gives Stan a What the Hell, Hero? about lying to him. Stan apologizes, and they confess to their dad with Stan returning the engraved watch, but both boys still get grounded for the summer.

What An Idiot / Gravity Falls

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What An Idiot / Gravity Falls

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