The Mind-Blowing Gravity Falls Deception That Astounded Fans and Shattered an Unquestionably Perfect Theory

This article contains spoilers for Gravity Falls season 2

Summary

Gravity Falls utilized unconventional tactics to safeguard its secrets from being prematurely divulged by its fervent online fanbase. Despite the show's revelation about the true identity of the journal author in the second season, perceptive fans had already deduced it through the subtle clues provided.

In order to deceive fans, the show utilized a deceptive tactic by circulating a fabricated piece of information, a photo showing Old Man McGucket writing in the journals. Even the show's creator actively participated in this deceptive act.

Gravity Falls is an exemplar of mystery storytelling, employing unconventional methods to safeguard its secrets. The series revolves around the adventures of 12-year-old twins, Mabel and Dipper Pines, as they unravel the paranormal enigmas of Gravity Falls throughout their summer break. While each episode presents an independent and gratifying experience, astute viewers are rewarded with subtle hints that provide glimpses into the long-standing mysteries of the show. This skillful and gratifying equilibrium is what sets Gravity Falls apart as one of the finest animated TV shows, serving as a prime example of how to effectively execute a serialized mystery.

One of the biggest enigmas in the show's inaugural season revolves around the identity of the author of the three journals. These journals feature a depiction of a hand with six fingers and document numerous inexplicable events occurring in the town of Gravity Falls. In the series' opening episode, Dipper stumbles upon one of the trio of books, sparking his curiosity to explore the town further. Convinced that the journals' writer possesses the key to deciphering the town's supernatural nature, Dipper eagerly anticipates the author's unveiling, which proves to be one of the most gratifying moments of the entire series. Nonetheless, the internet and an overenthusiastic fanbase almost diluted its impact.

Gravity Falls Fans Figured Out The Central Mystery Too Quickly

In season 2, it is revealed that Mabel and Dipper have a secret twin brother, Stanford, who is the true author of the journals. Although the fact is unveiled in season 2, there are several instances in season 1 that foreshadow this reveal. For instance, Stan's license plate "STNLYMBL" suggests that his name is actually Stanley, contrary to his claim of being Stanford. Additionally, Stan's affection for an identical wax statue of himself in the episode "Headhunters" and a time-traveling episode featuring a character resembling a younger version of Stan with different glasses and a cleft chin serve as further clues.

While these details were initially intended to subtly hint at the truth, the Gravity Falls team underestimated how quickly observant fans would piece together the facts. Despite being primarily targeted towards younger viewers, the Disney Channel show swiftly amassed a following among adults (as humorously depicted in one of Gravity Falls’ standout moments breaking the fourth wall), who began to congregate in online communities. Although it was not a concern if only one or two fans managed to solve the mystery, the theory soon spread like wildfire across the Gravity Falls forums. As a result, the community as a whole faced the risk of having the show's central mystery spoiled.

Gravity Falls Created A Fake Leak To Throw People Off

In order to maintain the element of surprise in Gravity Falls, the creators strategically aimed to dispel any widespread belief in the "secret twin" theory. Instead of incorporating numerous deceptive plot devices into the series, the Gravity Falls team opted for a more direct approach by targeting the online forums. Alex Hirsch, the mastermind behind the show and the voice of Stan, devised a clever deception: a forged animation frame depicting a younger version of Old Man McGucket, one of the minor characters, engaged in journal writing.

The McGucket Leak Took Off

- In the subsequent move, the series decided to stage a false leak. They captured an image of the frame displayed on a screen in the studio's editing bay, complete with a production code at the bottom and a timestamp at the top. Anonymously, Hirsch himself shared this photograph on the Gravity Falls 4Chan board, accompanied by the warning: "Seriously, don't look at this if you don't want spoilers, but I managed to take a sneak peek of the editing office during my Disney tour and captured this picture." Following that, Hirsch tweeted from his personal Twitter account expressing his frustration, but he later deleted the post after a few hours, which appeared to authenticate the credibility of the supposed "leak."

As anticipated, the Gravity Falls fandom fell prey to the intricate deception. What set the Gravity Falls team apart from other deceivers was the fact that they had actually produced the show. They went to great lengths to authenticate the "leak," even going so far as to share authentic animation stills from upcoming episodes of Gravity Falls' concluding season, including the episode "Gideon Rises," in order to further solidify the ruse.

Of course, not everyone was convinced. Some users found it hard to believe that the leak could be true, considering how unlikely it would be for someone to stumble upon the most important image in the entire series while passing by the edit bay. Others pointed out that the production code did not match the codes of any known upcoming episodes. Regardless, a significant number of people in the fandom fell for the hoax, leading to the "secret twin" theory being demoted from an established conclusion to just one of many possibilities.

Gravity Falls’ Creator Revealed It Was All A Hoax

After the airing of the season 2 episode titled "Society of The Blind Eye," it was finally revealed that Ford, Stan's twin brother, was the actual author of the book (with McGucket serving as his assistant). Much to the astonishment of fans, Alex Hirsch, the creator of the show, tweeted an uncropped version of the supposedly "leaked" photo. This picture depicted Hirsch gleefully posing alongside the forged frame. Accompanying the photo, Hirsch also offered a simplified explanation of the entire plan: "1) Create a hoax. 2) Upload it onto 4Chan. 3) Post an angry tweet regarding the so-called 'leak.' 4) Delete the tweet. 5) Sit back and let the internet take care of the rest."

Gravity Falls Shows There’s A Better Way To Outwit Your Audience

Alex Hirsch and the Gravity Falls team's prank has become a legendary event in TV history. Not only did the show successfully deceive its fans, but it also managed to maintain the integrity of its intended storyline. Online fan communities can be a positive force for TV shows, as they amplify fans' passion for the series and can even rally support in the event of an unexpected cancellation. However, when it comes to serialized mystery shows, the process of deciphering clues and sharing predictions on a large scale can diminish the overall experience.

As soon as a clue emerges in a series with an active online following, a horde of amateur detectives jumps into action, aiming to crack the code and publicly reveal their findings. While a well-crafted twist should ideally be subtly hinted at, it becomes challenging to justify doing so when every fan has access to the insights and theories of the show's most astute viewers. This phenomenon resulted in a notorious incident involving HBO's Westworld; after Reddit users accurately predicted a twist in Season 2, the creators felt compelled to hastily alter the show's storyline, opting for a less rewarding twist in order to outpace the fans.

Gravity Falls exemplifies a different approach from shows like Westworld, where the entire audience is not penalized when a few fans predict plot twists. Instead, Alex Hirsch skillfully outsmarted online detectives while still maintaining the integrity of the story. Additionally, the creator even incorporated an opportunity for fans within the leak itself. While fans were deciphering the production code, they discovered a hidden message in the timestamp. Using the A1Z26 cipher, which assigns numeric values to letters in the alphabet, the leaked image's timestamp of 01:12:24 spells out "ALX" for Alex Hirsch. It's clear that true mystery enthusiasts can't resist leaving behind clues.