GF Philosophy Corner #4: A Show About Choice

There's an unspoken rule about living that I think strikes a large chord; You can either choose to live in the past all your life, or you can choose to let go of that past and fight for the future. Most people in the town of Gravity Falls have had to make this choice, and during the course of the show they already have made an attempt at questioning their lives in favor of trying to live for something better than they have been. Dipper on the other hand is still not sure what his purpose is, but it seems a lot like his actions are starting to define other people, and by extension, the way he views himself. Today, we are talking about..
CHOICE.

So many people live in the past by engulfing it or pushing it under the rug. Many people keep things covered up, but notice how Dipper and Mabel are slowly influencing them to forget about their past obsessions by helping them out in the present. Some examples of people that have had their life or the things that are special to them changed for the better by our beloved he Mystery Twins include:

-The Society of the Blindeye, a cult that tried to forget but now embraces memory. After they were taught only to repress the bad memories, they were forced to confront their actions and it's former members are now free of the brainwashing their leader gave them. Even if it was for a purpose, it never amounts to anything if your fears and problems are just pushed to the side.

-Soos, who initially felt in denial about his connection to his dad, but eventually left his father behind him for a better future with his friends and surrogate family. 

-Robbie, who was depressed and moody after his breakup, moved on from Wendy and found someone else (Tambry) that he can be happy with.

-Fiddleford Mcgucket, a lonely, crazy old man who doesn't amount to anything by anybody, actually ends up discovering who he used to be thanks to Dipper and Mabel. After remembering his past, he uses that to move ahead into the future and improve himself a little bit more every day. Hopefully he can fully recover himself and find peace later.

-Blendin Blandin, the time traveler. He once had a grudge against the twins and was locked in Time Jail for some time. He planned his revenge, but Dipper and Mabel showed him some compassion by choosing not to kill him after winning Globnar, even giving him his old job back. Thanks to their kindness, he can now stop living in the past literally and figuratively. He’s become someone better than he could have been if he hadn't traveled back in time to meet the twins, which in some ways is a great wrap up for his character.

-Pacifica Northwest, originally a snobby rich girl, now finally appreciates the kindness that has been shown to her by Mabel (and Dipper, in some respects) and can change her family's legacy for the better by showing more appreciation to the rest of the townspeople. A former shadow of her parents, she can now set a better example with her new friends.

-Grunkle Stan... it seems like he is being a more supportive parental figure in this season than the last one, at least. I mean, he's not exactly changed, he'll always be the grumpy old miser he always was (that's why we like him!) but don't you think having Dipper and Mabel around has been a positive influence on him at least? If anything it's taught him that family is pretty important after all. Or did he know that already... and is only just being reminded of what it's like to have one...?

So there are quite a few people that have been influenced by the Pines twins already. But what about the others? Gideon's still out there and it doesn't look like he's been changed at all. A certain ominous triangular presence hovers above, waiting for them to let their guard down.
And what of the Pines twins themselves? Are they ever going to have to choose between themselves and their futures? I know that Dipper is thinking much more of "growing up" and Mabel is wishing that things were back to the way that they were when they were kids. I don't suppose that's going to force them to confront each other about their own personal choices... or maybe it will?

KEY POINTS:

1. Mabel and Dipper have helped many people in Gravity Falls embrace who they are even more and realize the effects of the choices they have made, and they have even helped themselves out with the same kind of insecurities they have about who they are.

2. Mabel has learned to move past her guy crushes and accept herself for who she is; not as an object for other people to gain, but someone who other people can truly value and appreciate.

3. Dipper has learned to move on with Wendy and accept his abilities for what they are. He’s a mystery hunter and a problem solver first, not a lover or a fighter like everyone around him believes he should be (Stan, Mabel, etc.). But does he truly value himself? As I have said before, only time will tell...