[7.5/10] One of my favorite story shapes for Gravity Falls is taking a regular concept like pop music being “manufactured in a lab” and taking it to a comical, fantastical extreme. Mabel obsessing over a boy band called “Several Timez” only to discover that they are legitimately cloned and grown in giant pods by an unscrupulous producer is a fun idea for an episode. It leads to all sorts of chances to poke fun at the non-threatening boy industrial complex, and the faux-hip vibe the members of bands like Nsync and the Backstreet Boys are expected to assume.
But I also like where this one goes with the idea. Mabel initially is compelled to free the boys from their tyrannical producer, only to realize, amid her dream of having her favorite musicians live in her attic, that she’s turned into the same type of selfish, controlling taskmaster. The gags about the clones being some combination of dogs and toddlers are hilarious, but Mabel having the epiphany that to live up to her own values, she has to let them go is legitimately moving, despite the absurdity of the scenario.
The B-story is quality as well. We don’t get too many Dipper/Grunkle Stan stories, so it’s nice to see them teaming up to take down Robbie. Trying to find hidden messages in music is another urban legend classic for them to tackle, and Stan’s hippie-hating, bird dog-hunting approach to the whole thing is very funny.
There too, I like where they land. It turns out Robbie was hypnotizing Wendy via backwards messages in his song, but only by accident. It’s a good choice that Robbie’s sin isn’t hypnotism, but stealing someone else’s song and repurposing it as a heartfelt love ballad to win Wendy’s heart. But proving that doesn’t win her heart for Dipper either, instead earning him a rebuke for being selfish when she’s feeling hurt that appropriately chastens him, while also bringing him closer to his Grunkle Stan.
Overall, another quality outing that goes for some loony concepts, but draws them back to something personal and sincere, which is always a good balance for this show.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2022-08-10T02:40:12Z
[7.5/10] One of my favorite story shapes for Gravity Falls is taking a regular concept like pop music being “manufactured in a lab” and taking it to a comical, fantastical extreme. Mabel obsessing over a boy band called “Several Timez” only to discover that they are legitimately cloned and grown in giant pods by an unscrupulous producer is a fun idea for an episode. It leads to all sorts of chances to poke fun at the non-threatening boy industrial complex, and the faux-hip vibe the members of bands like Nsync and the Backstreet Boys are expected to assume.
But I also like where this one goes with the idea. Mabel initially is compelled to free the boys from their tyrannical producer, only to realize, amid her dream of having her favorite musicians live in her attic, that she’s turned into the same type of selfish, controlling taskmaster. The gags about the clones being some combination of dogs and toddlers are hilarious, but Mabel having the epiphany that to live up to her own values, she has to let them go is legitimately moving, despite the absurdity of the scenario.
The B-story is quality as well. We don’t get too many Dipper/Grunkle Stan stories, so it’s nice to see them teaming up to take down Robbie. Trying to find hidden messages in music is another urban legend classic for them to tackle, and Stan’s hippie-hating, bird dog-hunting approach to the whole thing is very funny.
There too, I like where they land. It turns out Robbie was hypnotizing Wendy via backwards messages in his song, but only by accident. It’s a good choice that Robbie’s sin isn’t hypnotism, but stealing someone else’s song and repurposing it as a heartfelt love ballad to win Wendy’s heart. But proving that doesn’t win her heart for Dipper either, instead earning him a rebuke for being selfish when she’s feeling hurt that appropriately chastens him, while also bringing him closer to his Grunkle Stan.
Overall, another quality outing that goes for some loony concepts, but draws them back to something personal and sincere, which is always a good balance for this show.