The Mystery of Gravity Falls: Why Did It End After Season 2?

The Legacy of Gravity Falls

Despite being a hit, Gravity Falls season 2 was its last on the Disney Channel — here’s why it ended instead of continuing with Gravity Falls season 3. Created by Alex Hirsch, Gravity Falls was an animated mystery-comedy show which aired from June 15, 2012, to February 15, 2016. The series followed the summer adventures of 12-year-old twins Dipper and Mabel as they were sent to the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, Oregon. Gravity Falls established itself as one of the most influential cartoons of the decade. The show won three Annie Awards, two Emmy Awards, and one BAFTA Children’s Award.

Ford, Dipper, Mabel, Stan, and Soos standing together in Gravity Falls

Gravity Falls received praise for successfully melding old-fashioned rural storytelling with modern humor. Its strange yet clever and satirical set-up elevated it from a simple kids' cartoon to a sophisticated show, which even includes references like the Universal Monsters. Because of this, viewers were shocked to learn that season 2 was the last. However, Gravity Falls wasn't unfairly canceled. Given its immense popularity and success, it would have been foolish for Disney to cancel Gravity Falls after only 2 seasons, thus disappointing the viewers and creators alike. Rather, the reason why Gravity Falls season 2 was the show's last has to do with the creator, Alex Hirsch's, specific intentions.

Mabel and Dipper reading a book in Gravity Falls

Hirsch pointed out, “there are so many shows that go on endlessly until they lose their original spark.” Ending Gravity Falls while still at its peak avoided this outcome, making the show’s conclusion a rare scenario in the television industry. The series famously cultivated an investigative and interactive relationship with its viewers. There was a cryptogram hidden in each episode’s credits, and the audience had to decipher them. Had the plot continued beyond its natural conclusion, the original mystery — which attracted its viewers in the first place — could have been sidelined. That would have failed to provide a satisfying payoff in Gravity Falls season 3 and beyond.

Ford, Dipper, Mabel, Stan, and Soos standing together in Gravity Falls

The Future of Gravity Falls

Given Alex Hirsch's clear assertion that Gravity Falls was only ever intended to have two seasons, it seems highly unlikely that a Gravity Falls season 3 will ever come to be. Likewise, the conclusive nature of Gravity Falls season 2's ending, in which just about every mystery or conflict is resolved, doesn't lend itself well to reopening should season 3 ever be attempted. Ultimately, Alex Hirsch’s decision to finish Gravity Falls with season 2 is wise.

Gravity Falls' smartest character explained.

While Gravity Falls' abrupt ending disappointed many fans at first, it only amplified the legacy of the show. Its original narrative style inspired the next generation of adventure cartoons that aim to bring to life magic realism. These include Steven Universe, Star vs. the Forces of Evil, The Owl House, Amphibia, and Rick and Morty. Even Netflix's Inside Job has evident influences from Gravity Falls' cryptogram, ciphers, and style. So, while Gravity Falls season 2 may have been the end of the show and there are no plans for a Gravity Falls season 3, it at least lives on spiritually thanks to the influence it had on animation.

Gravity Falls could be rebooted with a new overarching mystery — perhaps with a grown-up Dipper and Mabel replacing their childhood selves and returning once again to Gravity Falls. While the central mystery of Gravity Falls was resolved by the series finale, it's not hard to imagine another supernatural conspiracy taking hold of the town again. It would feel natural from a storytelling standpoint if adult Dipper and Mabel wanted to relive childhood memories by visiting their Grunkles at the Gravity Falls Mystery Shack. This could even allow the show to take on a more adult tone, which Gravity Falls' original audience would appreciate having also grown up since the original.

Gravity Falls: Ford and Stan on their boat.

Gravity Falls in Alternative Mediums

While Gravity Falls season 3 is unlikely to happen, it could arrive as a video game. Hirsch mentioned that he has wanted to create a Gravity Falls game after Gravity Falls season 2, explaining, “My dream, if I had a magic wand, would be to make a really kick-ass Gravity Falls video game that is really, really in-depth to the lore of the series and includes new canon that has been in the periphery of the series” (via Game Rant). However, Hirsch also noted that a video game made by Disney might never happen, explaining, 'I think Disney has, to my understanding, sort of shuttered their interactive department and is very protective of their IP.'

Grunkle Ford pointing in Gravity Falls

Even though Disney has so much IP that would be perfect video game material, the creator is right, as Disney closed its video game studios, including Black Rock, back in 2007. Black Rock developed the cult hit racing game Split/Second, and it's easy to see the developer making an incredibly layered Gravity Falls video game. Unfortunately, the game won't even happen with any studio, as Disney owns the rights to the property and won't hand it over. Hirsch added, 'Because I don't own Gravity Falls, it's up to Disney to decide what they do with that IP, and they don't seem super savvy about video games right now.'

Gravity Falls Grunkle Stan smiling and holding a paper