Disney's "Gravity Falls" ended this past February, and I decided that I should rewatch the entire series, from beginning to end, to see if my opinion is any different from what it originally was. I loved watching the show when it aired and I was really hoping it would still hold up. And, from "Tourist Trapped," I can honestly say that I still feel the same sense of mystery and wonder that I did the first time. From the very first scene of Dipper and Mabel crashing through the Gravity Falls sign in a golf cart, this episode kept me hooked. I hummed along to the theme song, and somehow still knew all the lines of dialogue in the episode. In case you're new to the series (you're in for a real treat), this episode deals with twins Dipper and Mabel Pines being sent to spend the summer with their Great Uncle ("Grunkle") Stan in Gravity Falls, Oregon, but much more happens than that. Dipper is a curious and intelligent adventurer, while Mabel is a creative and optimistic goofball and Stan is their grouchy and law-breaking but caring uncle. All of them get their characters fleshed out later, but mystery is the main focus here. Dipper thinks it will just be another boring summer and Mabel just wants to have an epic summer romance, but when Dipper finds a mysterious journal in the woods the plot thickens. The twins begin to realize that all is not what it seems and that this sleepy little town has some big secrets, including that Mabel's first boyfriend, Norman, may or may not be a zombie. This is the first episode of the show, and it does a great job of setting up what's to come. It's funny, it's mysterious, and it does a fantastic job. I loved seeing all the familiar faces (and Rock-That- Looks-Like-a-Face Rock: The Rock That Looks Like a Face), but what really surprised me was the mystery elements. Having watched the whole show, I can say that the mystery doesn't quite carry all the way through but here it's at the fore. The shocking ending will have you begging for more, and the various creatures of the journal really pull you in. I can't believe how well this episode still gets me excited for more. My grade: 92/100 (A-).
