One Of My Favorite Gravity Falls Episode Explains Why This Is Disney's Best Animated Show

Gravity Falls may have ended nine years ago, but it’s still one of Disney’s best television shows, and one specific episode encapsulates exactly why. The town of Gravity Falls is full of vibrant characters, including the background townspeople, the one-off love interests of Mabel, and, of course, the wacky villains and antagonists.

While Gravity Falls is only two seasons long, the show is full of great episodes. The series has so many fantastic moments that it’s hard to decide which are the best episodes of Gravity Falls, but “Sock Opera” is a particular standout for many reasons. From Grunkle Stan’s purposeful cluelessness about the events of the episode to Mabel’s coining of the name “Bipper” in response to Dipper’s possession by Bill Cipher, the episode is full of fun moments. Along the way, it captures so many of the things that make both the show and the show’s villain so good.

“Sock Opera” Acts As A Reminder Of Why Bill Cipher Is Such A Good Villain For Gravity Falls

Bill Cipher Is Ridiculous, But He Manages To Be Genuinely Creepy At Times

While “Sock Opera” isn’t the first appearance of Bill Cipher, it’s one that helps establish just how creepy Bill can be. Bill Cipher is one of Disney Channel’s best and most evil villains because, much like the general tone of Gravity Falls, Bill Cipher balances scariness with silliness.

The idea of a villain who’s just a cartoon yellow triangle with a single eye being sinister sounds ridiculous, but Bill Cipher manages it. It’s funny to watch him standing there cheerfully in Dipper’s body with forks sticking out of his arms, but it’s also disturbing to know that he has possessed the body of a child and is unflinchingly willing to let Dipper’s body get beaten up.

Because this isn’t Dipper’s first time meeting Bill Cipher, he knows to be wary of him, but Bill is still so convincing that Dipper agrees to his deal. While Dipper is sleep-deprived and probably not entirely thinking straight, this interaction really helps establish Bill’s character as having the charisma to convince people to help him get what he wants. While not much is known about Bill Cipher by the time “Sock Opera” happens in the show, this aspect of Bill’s character is reinforced in later episodes once Ford’s past working relationship with him is revealed.

Bill Cipher is a beloved villain to so many viewers, which is part of why The Book of Bill was so successful. Getting to learn about Bill Cipher’s fate at the end of Gravity Falls was important, as was getting the chance to hear from Bill’s point of view and delve deeper into his character and backstory.

Bill Cipher’s Creepy Possession Of Dipper Pines Helps Showcase Mabel And Dipper’s Sibling Bond

Both Dipper And Mabel Make Decisions For The Sake Of Their Twin During “Sock Opera”

“Sock Opera” is a strong episode for Dipper and Mabel as well, setting the tone for Gravity Falls‘ second and final season from an early episode. The episode begins by reinforcing Dipper and Mabel’s closeness through their secret handshake, but over the course of the episode, their different goals cause conflict. This episode, in particular, is very typical for their characters: Dipper is desperate to access the laptop of the mysterious author of the journals, while Mabel decides to put on an extravagant sock puppet show to win the affection of her newest crush.

“Sock Opera” being centered around goals that are so in character for Dipper and Mabel allows the episode to explore the Pines twins’ bond and remind them of how important they are to each other. Dipper is annoyed at Mabel for finding her newest crush more important, but he still hesitates to let Bill have what he assumes will be one of Mabel’s sock puppets because he knows how hard she worked on them.

Meanwhile, Mabel has spent days preparing for her performance, but she sacrifices the second act and her chance with her crush for the sake of getting Bill out of Dipper’s body. The Disney Channel TV show wasn’t afraid to tackle serious topics through Dipper’s and Mabel’s characters, and the bond between the twins is a big part of what makes those deeper explorations work. The twins are willing to put each other first and to make sacrifices for each other, even when they’re giving up something really important to them.

“Sock Opera” Is A Reminder Of How Great Gravity Falls Is

“Sock Opera” Perfectly Encapsulates The Tone And The Heart Of Gravity Falls

“Sock Opera” showcases so many of the elements that make Gravity Falls one of the best animated TV shows ever. It furthers the plot and deepens the mystery, it’s one of the earliest appearances of the main villain, it reminds us of how strong Dipper and Mabel’s sibling relationship is, and it isn’t afraid to be ridiculous. While this is true for many episodes, the combination of a silly premise and a slightly darker tone in “Sock Opera” is a stand-out in this regard.

Gravity Falls shows that it’s possible to combine timeless jokes, darkness, and a great plot into a kids’ cartoon, setting an example for shows that want to emulate its success as a plot-heavy animated series. “Sock Opera” is an impactful and unforgettable episode due to the weight it gives the possession plot, even as it’s solved through one of the main characters using a sock puppet as a vessel while a sock opera romance is performed in the background. The episode is a celebration of the elements that make Gravity Falls special.