BILL MAKES A DEAL! | Gravity Falls Season 2 Newlyweds Reaction | Ep 2x4 "Sock Opera" 

EPISODES 2x4, 2x5, 2x6, 2x7, & 2x8 OF GRAVITY FALLS are posted to Patreon now! patreon.com/LettsReact

Fun fact: I believe its confirmed that the laptop didnt actually have a data-erase feature. Dipper's lack of sleep made him hazy and susceptible to Bills illusions, as remember he IS a dream demon.

One interesting physiological aspect of possession by Bill Cipher is he blinks one eye at a time because he's not used to having two.

Time for a fun and disturbing fact about this episode! Bill Cipher possessing Dipper's body allowed the writers to get away with some really creative physical gags and quips, but they managed to take it even further in future expanded material. In the real world version of Journal 3 that was released there was an entry on Bill's possession during Mabel's sock opera that also includes a note scrawled in a page by Bill himself. The note in question was a reminder to find new ways to experience physical pain while possessing other people, like burning, stabbing, drowning, etc. A buffet of fun new physical sensations, as he described it. He even planned on making Dipper's body fall off the town water tower as a grand finale. Bill also asked Mabel if she'd like to join her brother floating eternally in the mindscape by possessing her next. Disney may have greenlit _Gravity Falls_ as a "weird and goofy kids show" but the jokes and story moments Alex Hirsch and his team came up with definitely weren't geared specifically towards that younger demographic. It's amazing how much he managed to get through their strict S&P censors.

I love how Bipper just throws himself off stairs and stabs himself with forks, but puts a seatbelt on when he’s in the car. And I like how Mabel grew and rectified her selfishness by helping Dipper in the end. Also the code at the end translates to, "No puppet strings can hold me down. So patiently I watch this town. Abnormal soon will be the norm. Enjoy the calm before the storm." Bill is definitely coming back.

"Fun" fact in the physical Journal 3 book there is 2 entries from Mabel first a note she found written by Bill while he possessed dipper reading: "Note to self: Possessing people is hilarious! To think of all the sensations I've been missing out on- burning, stabbing, drowning. It's like a buffet tray of fun! Once I destroy that journal, I'll enjoy giving this body it's grand finale- by throwing it off the water tower! Best of all, people will just think Pine Tree lost his mind and his mental form will wander in the mindscape forever. Want to join him, Shooting Star?" The other entry is her detailing how details about 'Bipper' its mostly innocent stuff detailing the signs of possession but one of them reads: "2) Hands- Chillingly cold. Is Dipper technically dead while being possessed?"

the bandaid on the laptop is insane foreshadowing that i just realized god i love this show

Something fun to think about: if Mabel hadn't taken Dipper's journal, Bill almost certainly would have found it and destroyed it. I also love how Bill tries to spin it as Dipper sacrificing for Mabel when all she wanted to do was free Mermando, which is a way better motive than just wanting to hang out with Wendy at the pool.

Even though so little is known about Bill at this point in the show, everyone knows making a deal with him is a terrible idea. Even Dipper knows it, but Bill has manipulated the situation in a way that would make him come out on top. And that's why he's terrifying; he is immensely powerful, but also so insanely manipulative that he can achieve his goals through that manipulation more than the power.

13:22 From what is known, the only differences are the eyes (but you can only notice the difference if you look really closely) and the fact that Dipper's body is dead-cold.

I’ve always interpreted it as Dipper sacrifices more for his close people and Mabel sacrifices for everyone. Mabel is always trying to be kind and loving to everyone, including people who don’t treat her the same way like Pacifica and Gideon, where as Dipper is mostly kind and loving to those he cares about, and then is just polite and nice to everyone else. And I think it might be a little bit the way they both view family. I think Mabel views family more as a safe place somewhere she can be a bit more selfish because she knows everyone around her knows her character and that she loves them dearly and deeply and isn’t trying to be unloving. And she gets to spend a lot of time making sure her friends and family feel so loved and known. Where as everyone else she doesn’t get to see everyday so she wants to make sure they feel loved and cared for in the short time that she meets them. Where as Dipper is more selfish around strangers cos he doesn’t care as much if they feel loved or appreciated by him. And views family and friends as the people he should put all of his love and energy in for. That they are the ones he should sacrifice everything for. Dipper views family and friends as the people he must sacrifice for where as Mabel views everyone as worth sacrificing for. And thought the show she is constantly sacrificing for everyone and her family in small, constant and meaningful ways, where as dipper sacrifices normally in big dramatic ways. I think just different ways of showing love.

Mabel's selfishness has caused a bit of discourse within the community and while I think her being selfish isn't a good thing by any means, I also realize she's a child. She's 12 and when I think about being 12 I was incredibly selfish at times, and so are a lot of children. It is something you have to learn when it's appropriate or not to be selfish. In terms of Bill, he is terrifying in a manipulative sense, he pins Dipper and Mabel against one another to get what he wants and them being children makes it easier than if they were older. He knows what he is doing and isn't afraid to play dirty. His relationship with the author is unknown but it's obvious they knew each other in some sense if the author had written it down in the second and third books, one to conjure him and the other warning not to. I'm excited to see what else you discover about our demonic dorito!

So he calls them that because dippers hat has a pine tree, mabels first sweater has a shooting star (this is regarded as her main sweater) and i think somtimes he calls soos question mark (from his mystery shack t shirt)

Fun fact. In the journal 3 book that you can buy theres a note written by bill during this episode. After destroying the journal, he was going to make dipper jump off the water tower, saying everyone would have thought dipper lost his mind

fun fact!! dana terrace animated the shot of bipper smashing the computer!

Woah, I always forget that Sock Opera and Soos and the Real Girl are back to back. Two of the best episodes in the whole series, and they're right next to each other!

My favorite thing about this episode is that Bill did not lie to Dipper. The reason Bill is such a good manipulator is because all of his manipulation is based on fact. Dipper has sacrificed so much for Mabel, a day at the fair with Wendy, a job at the pool, and she has never returned the favor which is what makes this episode so interesting when Mabel realizes this and sacrifices her chance with Gabe to save him. Gotta love that sibling relationship. P.S The page code reads: "No puppet strings can hold me down. So patiently I watch this town. Abnormal soon will be the norm. Enjoy the calm before the storm."

Something I really love about this episode, in the deal part, is the way Bill phrases things. He makes it sound like he just wants to mess with dipper's and mabel's relationship. Taking a puppet could mean ruining the whole show, and Bill makes it seems for dipper that he only wants to test his resolve. That way dipper would focus on that and not even realise the double meaning. Truly a manipulative freak!

In fairness to Mabel, she does do a lot for Dipper too. For the most part, Mabel just wants to spend a normal summer as a normal kid, but goes along with Dipper's mystery hunting because it makes him happy. She's just not as willing to fully commit to it, and who can blame her. We as the audience understand the stakes and want to see the mysteries explained, but Mabel as a character doesn't.

Bill is a dream demon and only through dreams can he interact. Unless someone makes a deal and gets possed

17:16 Dipper's angry puppet face really cracked me up. This episode is so wild 😠😠😠🤣🤣🤣

It’s interesting as you’ll see the series going forward how in a weird way Mabel and Bill are both chaos agents but with Mabel as chaotic good and chaotic evil. Both Bill and Mabel often make a lot of impulsive choices often for the sake of having fun and doing what makes them happy. But Mabel in her chaos she often does care about wanting others to be happy too and while sometimes her attempts to make others happy backfire(think the bunker episode) when it does backfire or when someone is getting hurt she does backtrack and try to fix things like in the Golf War where she saves and humbles herself to Pacifica or when she decides to tell Several Timez the truth. Meanwhile Bill has all the chaotic impulsive desires but no compassion for others, no recognition of his potential damage, and not a care about how many people get hurt for him to have his fun. And while Mabel can usually recognize the limit once she crosses it this episode shows how dangerously close she can come to prioritizing their fun over other’s well being. It also kind of reminds me of how in Inside Out the character Joy often totes that line of wanting to make Riley but doing so at the expense of others, and how people can easily do that in life

This episodes intro was so good we got to see it twice lol.

Why do you think there was suddenly a limit on the number of tries of the password? And did you notice what Dipper was doing when he hit that limit?

As much as Mabel does need to change her ways (and, oh boy, does she ever at times!) it's worth noting how much Dipper tends to eff things up and she has to help or get involved in literally LIFE THREATENING weirdness when he does. Summerween, the zombies, this time with Bill... the list goes on. They both have a tendency to be self-centered (not unreasonably so for kids of that age) but Mabel's self-centeredness is usually a little less dangerous than Dipper's. Again, there are counter examples both ways, such as Dipper's last experience with losing his body where he just ran off with Mabel's vs Mabel's carelessness in the bunker. But, honestly, as bad as Mabel is in some ways I actually have to give her slightly higher marks than Dipper in this relationship. And given how crazy she is at times I hate to say that. They still both need to grow up though. And, as things are now, I'd put money on it flipping back the other way by the time they're 18.

Absolutely loved the Muppets references in this episode.

Common misspelling, but it's actually Cipher. Not Cypher. Just saw that in your description. 😉 Also, if you thought Bill couldn't get any more terrifying.

Really glad you two stuck around to watch one of my favorite episodes from the show. Seeing Bill in an episode is always a win!

Absolutely one of my favorite episodes of Season 2. The sock puppet play is hysterical, and always amazing to have Bill make an appearance.

Fun Fact in the Spanish dub for some reason they changed Bill's nickname for Dipper. Even though pine tree doesn't have a significant change (is pino). In Spain the nickname is Dipper Panes. Panes means bread. I know it doesn't have too much sense in the context of the story, but I like it. It makes Bill sound more like a playful guy, who came up with a horrible pun

“Children fighting? I can sell this!” 😆

Fun Fact! the after credits scene is a reference to The Muppets Stand Up bit! Stan and Old Man McGuckett are meant to be Statler and Waldorf who sit on the balcony and make fun of the acts.

3:27 It's illegal to say such relatable things

One of my favorite episodes of Gravity Falls! Lots of cool hidden secrets and lore!

10:14 - "Lest we forget?" Such a Venture Bros-esque moment. "Are these they?" "Who talks like that?"

They are so calm while a demon possesses dipper✨

I love this episode. I love any Bill episode. it's always PACKED with lore. anyway I'm super late to this one so cryptograms below. Cryptograms! In Dipper's journal, during a musical montage there is a cryptogram that reads "KFIV VMVITB MLG HPRM ZMW YLMV IRHRMT ORPV GSV HSVKZIW GLMV." Using the atbash cipher, it decodes to "Pure energy, not skin and bone, rising like the Shepard tone." The Shepard tone is an unnerving artificial sound wave that sounds like it is continually rising, but does not actually change pitch. This may imply something about Bill's biology. A piece of paper in the background titled "Codes" has "ZLGGOH," "VKLIWHU," "ZKDWHYV" and "EHDUR" written on it. When decoded using the Caesar cipher, they read "WIDDLE," "SHIFTER," "WHATEVS" and "BEARO" respectively. The first three are the keywords from previous episodes. The last word is the name of Mabel's childhood stuffed bear, as seen in "Tooth" and the keyword for the next episode. During the ending credits of this episode, there is a cryptogram that reads "YM’KL ECN PPK WFOM UBR KQVXNLK, DCI SIK’U VDA JFTOTA AYQ BWL VVCT "EBTGGB BHWKGZH" HVV: TMEASZFA LOS YCDT PRWKTIYEKGL DBV XQDTYRDGVI ." Once decoded using vigenère cipher, it reads "WE’VE ALL HAD SOME FUN TONIGHT, BUT LET’S NOT FORGET WHO THE REAL "PUPPET MASTERS" ARE: REPTOIDS WHO HAVE INFILTRATED OUR GOVERNMENT ." Found in the mirror's reflection after Bill takes over Dipper's body: "CIPHER" The page section revealed at the end of the episode says, "10-9 8-3-8-8-19-4 5-4-6-15-10-17-5 21-23-10 16-9-12-20 11-19 20-9-1-10" on the top left, "5-9 8-23-4-15-19-10-4-12-25 15 1-23-4-21-16 4-16-15-5 4-9-1-10" on the top right, "23-22-10-9-6-11-23-12 5-9-9-10 1-15-12-12 22-19 4-16-19 10-9-6-11" on the bottom left, and "19-10-14-9-25 4-16-19 21-23-12-11 22-19-18-9-6-19 4-16-19 5-4-9-6-11" on the bottom right. After being put through all of the ciphers, it translates to "NO PUPPET STRINGS CAN HOLD ME DOWN," "SO PATIENTLY I WATCH THIS TOWN," "ABNORMAL SOON WILL BE THE NORM," and "ENJOY THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM."

The original and founder of Disney's Possessed Trio

Through the various episodes we have seen, Hidden ciphers have remained unseen,

Bill definitely showed his Joker in this episode.

Bill can do anything and everything

Its kinda funny how this episode was meant to show Mabel giving sth up for Dipper, but instead its the episode where Mabel is completely ready to let her brothers consciousness be stuck without a body for eternity because her puppet show is more important to her and it takes a whole lot for her to begrudgingly do the right thing.

Have they noticed Mabel has worn a different sweater every episode?

One of my favorite episodes! It's so good.

I Love your guys theorizing, it's always so much fun. you've got some interesting ideas and I'm super excited to see how you react to how close to the mark you might be!

3:47 believe me Gabe, I feel exactly the same way when I see this guy

3:26 Huge mood

Not to spoil anything but one thing I can say without spoiling anything is that Stan doesn’t exactly know who bill cipher is even though he knows that he exists and that Stan is doing all of this for something different.

in the physical copy of book 3 Bill had written a note and put it inside, his original plan was basically trying to make Mabel think Dipper had committed suicide. “Possessing people is hilarious! To think of all the sensations I've been missing out on-burning, stabbing, drowning. It's like a buffet tray of fun! Once I destroy that journal, I'll enjoy giving this body its grand finale-by throwing it off the water tower! Best of all, people will just think Pine Tree lost his mind and his mental form will wander in the mindscape forever. Want to join him, Shooting Star?” i cant with this show

The genius counter is hilarious

Heavy Spoilers: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE SERIES. That should be enough. How is Kenny so good at predicting future events in these shows, his prediction at the 23 minute mark is pretty much 100% right, it's frankly eerie how often this happens.

Fucked up fact about this episode: if Bill had won this episode, he would've thrown Dipper off the water tower, effectively making it look like Dipper committed suicide and dooming his soul to wander the mindscape.

kenny is so right in that i would in fact like to read montana’s gravity falls fanfic

10:10 So I used to agree with Bill on this, but if you really think about it, everything Dipper "sacrificed" for Mabel, kinda worked out in Dippers favor in the end. Even though giving her the megaphone caused him to lose his job, Wendy did too, and they both ended up walking away to hangout. Same could be said with letting Mabel get Waddles; He sacrificed his "win" and Wendy started dating Robbie, but they ended up breaking up. Everything Dipper "sacrificed" (majority being attempts to be with Wendy) worked itself out in a natural way, which in fact, as we saw in Double Dipper, is how their friendship works best!

happy about the Reaction.

next week is my fav gravity falls episode 🥰🥰 so excited to see y’all’s reaction

"Sock Opera": Dipper is trying to access the laptop, Mabel finds a puppeteer fascinating enough to make sock puppets. With Grenda and Candy, Mabel puts a puppet show together. Running out of time to access the laptop, Dipper makes a fateful deal. "Bipper" runs riot in Dipper's body and Dipper finds his sock puppet. Mabel faces off against "Bipper," running him down physically. The sock opera is a complete disaster and Dipper limps off the stage.

idk if this is yalls speed but i think yall would enjoy hilda! (s1, s2, movie and s3)

did they hear the voice at the end of the theme song yet?

React to Amphibia or Kipo after Gravity Falls.

I always wondered, if dipper gave bill his "puppet" how come bill never gave him the password? I get that the password was useless once the laptop got destroyed but still...

27:02 Yeah... imagine that 😶

AND THERE IS A tRIANGLE BEHIND YOU ON THE PLAY BUTTON

omg this whole reaction series i've been wondering who Montana looks like!! SHE LOOKS LIKE CAROLINE FROM TVD!! OMG 😊😊

A popular theory the fandom had around now was that the Author had been removed from his body and placed in side a 2nd body. Likely an animal or a character we had seen already. What do you think of that idea?

Definitely a significant episode that can sometimes be hidden under the sock puppets. We're getting so close to a few of my favorite episodes! Hope you guys are liking the show, you are not prepared for some of the stuff coming your way!

Boy these. Arms are durable

Why does 17:48 Dipper so cool here

Where’s the wedding videoooo 👏😭

23:12 Kenny genius counter: 1000

As a HUGE fnaf fan i am so excited for them to watch the "FNaF like episode"

Why does it look like the reaction is being viewed through Bill's eye?

Woooot, you reacting to gravity falls now o.o

The music during the duscussion can be so loud sometimes, like at 26:10

Next episode is my favorite!!!

Spoilers, I guess, but it was confirmed that the password was Stanford

Bill hasn’t been pulling the springs between Dipper and Mabel, Mabel is just selfish. It becomes a lot more apparent as the series goes on. It wasn’t intentional on Alex Hirsch’s part, but he got called out on it by so many fans that he had it addressed in a canon comic that takes place after the end of the series. Mabel realizes how bad she’s been all summer, apologizes to Dipper, and vows to go forward in her life and try and be less selfish.

Why doesn't she wear her ring for these?

kenny thanks for the feet

Private AOT update 2: I will not reveal the surprise just yet, because it's still to early and It's going to drive me nuts. So this means I'm saving the surprise for sometime later in the spring and summer. And I can choose when to comment again, keep that in mind. In other words we will keep moving forward, even what lays beyond this year. The future is just around the corner, meaning it's not so far away.

This episode is one of the two contenders for my least favorite episode in season 2. This was where Mable's boy issues got way out of hand, and it wasn't until S2 E7 that we alleviated some of that discomfort. Dipper sacrificed efforts in his romance endeavors to help Mable in Time Traveler's Pig, but it took Mable crossing quite a few lines before she finally paid Dipper the same consideration. And unlike with Time Traveler's Pig, Mable's selfishness caused an irreversible setback on finding the Author, and almost let Bill do something far worse than simply destroying one of the journals. In the official release of Journal #3, they attached a note from Bill, saying he planned to throw Dipper's body off of the water tower. It's clear that Mabel's actions have a track record of derailing Dipper, but this behavior pattern almost had the worst of consequences. Do you think she'll be able to reflect on this incident, or does she actually have to suffer consequences before she'll grow & learn?

It's within agreement of the fandom that Mabel, while not fully realizing, manipulates and can be slightly selfish. Yeah she's a kid but it's her brother. And they're not that young. I love Mabel but I hated this side of her character.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again Mabel is consistently the worst character

Almost got the dawgs for free😢 smh