Gravity Falls is a show that really doesn't have a true bad episode. Yeah, episodes like Dipper vs Manliness or The Love God are below the show's high episode standard, but even they're not really at terrible levels. Roadside Attraction though seems to always get slack for being the worst episode of the show. Often it comes down to 4 points...
Plot: The episode felt out of place, rushed, last minute, a real shift away from where the show was going.
Romance: The romance was forced and felt like something out of a fanfic.
Placement: Why in between two important plot episodes and why was Ford not in it?
Bill: Why did they go on a road trip right after the shack was Bill proofed?
In terms of plot, RA is pretty simple in terms of being about the Pines going to other roadside attractions and vandalizing them. It's your classic roadtrip episode with a twist of shipping given Dipper is still trying to get over Wendy. This was the first proper GF episode to take the main characters outside of the town. It's a chance to see Oregon state in all its beauty. Whether you love or hate this episode, don't deny that it's visually stunning. The backgrounds are beautiful. Roadside Attraction was inspired by Mystery Tour 2013; a real life roadtrip that the GF crew took between S1 and S2 across Oregon. Many places they visited are in it. Old fans will understand this.
Speaking of the crew, Alex stated in the box set commentaries that this was an episode he wished aired earlier in the season, which can explain why many people dislike this episode for its placement. But I like where it is cause it gives the show a breather with a bit more fun and season 1 type adventures before everything goes all Bill mode.
Shipping wise I can get why people dislike this episode. The Dipper and Candy stuff seemed too forced. But then again, after all the pick up lines and stuff, Dipper sort of walked into that one. Not that it matters given the ship dies before it even begins. But eh, it's a one off thing, big deal! It doesn't ruin the show.
As for Bill, remember that in the finale we learn that Bill can't escape GF cause of that barrier. So even if he wanted to go after the Pines, he couldn't. And with Ford back, he'd be tackling him rather than them. Oh, and may I just say, in the IRL Journal 3, Ford actually is on record as agreeing to letting Stan go on the roadtrip. Gravity Falls' most hated episode is Ford's fault in a sense, go figure.
Long story short, this episode is hated for a lot of reasons. Some I can understand like the shipping and placement. But overall, it's a much better episode than it gets called out for being. IMO, try watching it as if it was a Season 1 or Season 2A episode. You'll love it a lot more.
This episode is no Not What He Seems. But it's in no way a dud. It's a much better episode than it gets the rep for.
In my opinion at least.
Plot: The episode felt out of place, rushed, last minute, a real shift away from where the show was going.
Romance: The romance was forced and felt like something out of a fanfic.
Placement: Why in between two important plot episodes and why was Ford not in it?
Bill: Why did they go on a road trip right after the shack was Bill proofed?
In terms of plot, RA is pretty simple in terms of being about the Pines going to other roadside attractions and vandalizing them. It's your classic roadtrip episode with a twist of shipping given Dipper is still trying to get over Wendy. This was the first proper GF episode to take the main characters outside of the town. It's a chance to see Oregon state in all its beauty. Whether you love or hate this episode, don't deny that it's visually stunning. The backgrounds are beautiful. Roadside Attraction was inspired by Mystery Tour 2013; a real life roadtrip that the GF crew took between S1 and S2 across Oregon. Many places they visited are in it. Old fans will understand this.
Speaking of the crew, Alex stated in the box set commentaries that this was an episode he wished aired earlier in the season, which can explain why many people dislike this episode for its placement. But I like where it is cause it gives the show a breather with a bit more fun and season 1 type adventures before everything goes all Bill mode.
Shipping wise I can get why people dislike this episode. The Dipper and Candy stuff seemed too forced. But then again, after all the pick up lines and stuff, Dipper sort of walked into that one. Not that it matters given the ship dies before it even begins. But eh, it's a one off thing, big deal! It doesn't ruin the show.
As for Bill, remember that in the finale we learn that Bill can't escape GF cause of that barrier. So even if he wanted to go after the Pines, he couldn't. And with Ford back, he'd be tackling him rather than them. Oh, and may I just say, in the IRL Journal 3, Ford actually is on record as agreeing to letting Stan go on the roadtrip. Gravity Falls' most hated episode is Ford's fault in a sense, go figure.
Long story short, this episode is hated for a lot of reasons. Some I can understand like the shipping and placement. But overall, it's a much better episode than it gets called out for being. IMO, try watching it as if it was a Season 1 or Season 2A episode. You'll love it a lot more.
This episode is no Not What He Seems. But it's in no way a dud. It's a much better episode than it gets the rep for.
In my opinion at least.
