Top 10 Heartbreaking Gravity Falls Moments

When the kids uncover evidence of a mysterious cult determined to erase the townfolks’ memories of strange occurrences, they’re determined to investigate. Aided by local coot Old Man McGucket, they’re able to defeat the cult by erasing their memories of their own organization. However, while there, they find McGucket’s lost memories and discover that HE was the one who founded the cult. Watching McGucket’s gradual deterioration from a brilliant man into the unhinged man he is today is incredibly upsetting. It’s amazing that one scene managed to turn what had been a comic relief character into a tragic one.

An expedition into the strange bunker underneath the Mystery Shack sees Dipper, Wendy and company face off against a shapeshifter. When Dipper thinks Wendy dies, he confesses his long held feelings. As sad as that is, and as relieved as we were that Wendy was still alive, the aftermath is even more of a gut punch. Dipper and Wendy have a chat about what he said, and Wendy, although flattered, lets Dipper know that she’s too old for him. While she’s super cool about the whole thing and wants to still be friends, our hearts go out to Dipper here, as everyone can relate to liking someone who doesn’t feel quite the same way.

With the Pines twins’ diminutive nemesis, Gideon, taking over the town and kicking them out of the Mystery Shack, things have never looked so dire for our heroes. Even Grunkle Stan admits that he may not be able to take care of the kids anymore. When the duo’s last ditch effort fails, they’re forced to leave town and return to their parents. Although an attack by Gideon’s giant robot keeps them from leaving, seeing Dipper and Mabel depart and everyone they leave behind look so defeated is just heartbreaking - making their unceremonious departure feel all too real.

Towards the end of summer, Mabel and Dipper’s birthday approaches. Although Mabel is initially excited about it, the normally chipper girl becomes increasingly depressed - disillusioned with the idea of growing older, and disappointed that her friends can’t make her party. This culminates in an argument with Dipper after his own much more positive day; his desire to stay after summer would leave her alone. Not only is it sad to see Mabel so sad, but her anxiety about the future is very relatable. Plus, her attempts to run away from her problems spell doom for everyone.

At a fair held at the Mystery Shack, love is in the air. While Wendy connects with a Goth guy named Robbie, leaving Dipper green with envy, Mabel falls in love with a pig that she wins in a contest. An adventure with time travel sees Dipper try to sour Wendy’s opinion of Robbie. He eventually succeeds, but Mabel loses Waddles, her pig, to her rival Pacifica. This sends her into a deep depression that lasts months. The loss of a pet can upset anyone, and Mabel feels it particularly strongly. Thankfully, Dipper sacrifices his own time alteration, ensuring Mabel’s reunion with Waddles.

When Stan is arrested, Mabel and Dipper try to prove his innocence. However, their sleuthing only serves to make them more suspicious of their Grunkle, as many uncomfortable truths about him are revealed - including a history of identity theft, and his secret project causing gravity reversals. When they try to shut the latter down, Stan desperately tries to stop them and it’s an emotional confrontation; the kids feel betrayed, and Stan is hurt that they think he could be a bad person - even if he’s a criminal. Thankfully, Stan gets through to Mabel, but it’s still a heartbreaking sequence.

As kids, Stan and Ford Pines were as inseparable as Mabel and Dipper. However, a falling out left them separated for many years. When the two do finally reunite in Gravity Falls, Ford’s paranoia and Stan’s stubborn streak lead to an argument in front of Ford’s portal. A shove from Stan accidentally sends Ford into another dimension, trapping him there. Stan’s desperation and remorse over what he’s done is incredibly sad, particularly after they’d already been separated for so long. We completely understand why he dedicated so much of his life to trying to rescue Ford.