Charley and Ella are joined by Bill Cipher aficionado Sara to discuss the in-character Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) event Bill hosted in April 2015. We put on our tinfoil hats to talk about the secrets revealed and speculation sparked by Bill's Q&A, as well as Bill's characterization and where the fandom diverges from the show's canon.  Follow Sara: https://twitter.com/pyramidserum Read the full Bill Cipher AMA: ...

Charley and Ella lead Alexa and David through the HUGE midseason finale of Gravity Falls Season 2, "Not What He Seems"!! We discuss their reactions to the ep's massive revelations, the avalanche of fan theories that ensued, and the implications for the characters moving forward. Check out more of Alexa and David on Come On Fhqwhpods and How Did This NOT Get Made: https://www.pipedreampodcasts.com/come-on-fhqwhpods! https://www.pipedreampodcasts.com/how-did-this-not-get-made Support us on...

The charming and hilarious Charley and Ella are joined by the equally charming and hilarious Alexa and David to watch and discuss "Northwest Mansion Mystery." We talk Pacifica's character arc, the class struggle shown in this episode and long-awaited justice for Grenda. Check out more of Alexa and David on Come On Fhqwhpods and How Did This NOT Get Made: https://www.pipedreampodcasts.com/come-on-fhqwhpods! https://www.pipedreampodcasts.com/how-did-this-not-get-made Episode edited by...

Charley and Ella are joined by Gravity Falls Season 1 creative director/Mitchells vs. the Machines director Michael Rianda to talk "The Love God"! We discuss Michael's path to Gravity Falls and beyond and some infamous Disney censorship of this episode. PLUS: Our own Patron Juneau Ceres helps us crack the most complex Vigenère code yet! Follow Michael: https://twitter.com/michaelrianda Watch Michael's Academy Award-nominated film The Mitchells vs. the Machines on Netflix:...

In this special BONUS episode, the podcast is mutinied as Charley and Ella are joined by Twitch streamer/voice actor Irish Ian to watch and discuss the new show from David Jenkins and Taika Waititi, "Our Flag Means Death"! Follow Ian: https://twitter.com/Irish_Ian17 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/MysteryShack Watch Our Flag Means Death episode 1 "Pilot": https://play.hbomax.com/page/urn:hbo:page:GYgzPqgCXB3Q9lgEAAAAE:type:episode Watch our stream of Pirates of the...

In this special BONEus Patreon goal episode, Charley, Ella and Mary McKeon (of Into The Falls: A Gravity Falls Podcast https://anchor.fm/into-the-falls-podcast) watch and discuss the Dog with a Blog episode "Freaky Fido." Remember ALF? He's back! In dog form. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/MysteryShack Watch Dog with a Blog episode 12 "Freaky Fido": https://www.disneyplus.com/video/4a9a09d7-7ed3-4216-9164-493569736293 "Howl of Conspiracies" theme by ...

Charley and Ella are joined by digital illustrator, Tezuka scholar and Charley's longtime best friend Ray to discuss "Blendin's Game." We talk about the way it beautifully executes a story that so many other shows fumble, as well as the return of Blendin Blandin and the time travel shenanigans therein. Follow Ray: https://twitter.com/meloncrab Check out Ray's piece on Princess Knight: https://www.animefeminist.com/anifem-recommends/general-feminist-friendly-manga-recommendations/ Support...

Charley and Ella are joined Gravity Falls superfan and voice of Dipper Pines, Jason Ritter! They watch "Society of the Blind Eye" and discuss the huge plot revelations within, Jason's history with the show as both a voice actor and a fan, and the true meaning of "blanchin'." Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonRitter Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/MysteryShack Watch Gravity Falls episode 27 "Society of the Blind Eye": ...

Charley and Ella are joined by Shelby Sessler to discuss "Dipper & Mabel's Guide to Mystery and Nonstop Fun," the first original Gravity Falls book from Disney Publishing. We participate in the book's many activities and interview the book's co-author Rob Renzetti about the production process! Follow Shelby: https://twitter.com/shelbysessler Follow Rob: https://twitter.com/RobRenzetti Buy Dipper & Mabel's Guide to Mystery and Nonstop Fun: ...

Charley and Ella discuss the three terrifying tales on display in "Little Gift Shop of Horrors," with guest segments from Abby Kirby and Shelby Sessler. We talk Stan's approach to a witch's curse, the comedic (pork) chops of a genius Waddles, and the episode's stop-motion Ray Harryhausen homage. We also dig into some listener mail and discover our new favorite movie ever! Follow Abby: https://twitter.com/abbyekirby Follow Shelby: https://twitter.com/shelbysessler Support us on Patreon...

In this special BONUS episode, the podcast becomes MATRIX-y Shack Lookback as Charley and Ella discuss the latest installment in the franchise, "The Matrix Resurrections." We talk the film's deconstruction of the soft reboot, how it compares to the rest of the series and what the story means to us personally. Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/MysteryShack Watch "The Matrix Resurrections": https://play.hbomax.com/page/urn:hbo:page:GYbD1_wnm3mDCwgEAAAPM:type:feature "You'll...

Charley and Ella are joined again by Kyle A. Carrozza (creator of Cartoon Network's MIGHTY MAGISWORDS) to talk "Soos and the Real Girl." We discuss Soos' love life taking the lead in this episode, what makes .GIFfany a unique and memorable villain, and the references this episode makes (and the ones it explicitly does not). Follow Kyle: https://twitter.com/TVsKyle Watch Mighty Magiswords: https://www.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GXkbcJQWAII-njwEAABwy Watch Kyle's cartoon "MooBeard the...

Charley and Ella are rejoined by fan studies scholar Abby Kirby (https://twitter.com/abbyekirby) to watch and discuss "Sock Opera." We talk the return of Bill Cipher, the cultural and historical influences on the story, and why this episode is considered iconic and forever changed the fandom. Check out Abby's Gravity Falls anniversary zine project: https://gf10yearslaterzine.tumblr.com/ Read Abby's master's thesis, "The fan/producer duality in microfandoms: Examinations of collaboration,...

Charley and Ella are visited by the Spittle Man himself, Adam New (voice actor and our audio cleaner-upper!) to discuss "The Golf War," which we argue is appropriate for Christmas. We talk the absurd amount of guest voices in the episode, the evolving relationship of Mabel and Pacifica, and the mysteries of mini-golf. Follow Adam: https://twitter.com/AdamNewVA Watch Gravity Falls episode 23 "The Golf War": https://www.disneyplus.com/video/a058a6cf-62b2-4ac4-9be4-d5ca35c5f14a Support us on...

Charley and Ella discuss "Into the Bunker" ft. the "ship"-wrecking of Dipper and Wendy, the abject horror of Mark Hamill's Shapeshifter, and the influences of Myst and The Thing on this episode. Watch Gravity Falls episode 22 "Into the Bunker": https://www.disneyplus.com/video/0eaf30ec-26ce-4e88-ae28-5f872adeb781 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/MysteryShack Download Ella's "The Thing"-themed parody song: ...

Charley and Ella are joined by Gravity Falls supervising producer/"My Life as a Teenage Robot" creator Rob Renzetti to discuss the GF episode he directed, "Scary-oke"! We talk with him about the show's tonal shift moving into Season 2, the changes to the character dynamics, and the art direction that makes this episode pop. Follow Rob on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobRenzetti Watch Gravity Falls episode 21 "Scary-oke": ...

Charley and Ella are rejoined by Michael William Hunter (of Come On, Fhqwhpods!) to watch the remaining Gravity Falls shorts, including "Fixin' it with Soos," "TV Shorts" and "Mabel's Scrapbook." We discuss the perfection of Soos, the peeks these shorts give us at the Gravity Falls townsfolk, and that gripping Duck-tective cliffhanger. Also, Michael plays round two of our new game show segment! Check out more of Michael on Come On, Fhqwhpods! (A Homestar Runner...

(CW: brief mentions of suicide) Charley and Ella are joined by Michael William Hunter (of Come On, Fhqwhpods!) to watch the "Dipper's Guide to the Unexplained" and "Mabel's Guide to Life" shorts released during the big hiatus. We discuss how the characters and world are adapted to the new format, the hidden secrets within the shorts, and an infamous Gravity Falls knockoff app. Also, Michael plays our new game show segment! Check out more of Michael on Come On, Fhqwhpods! (A Homestar Runner...

Charley and Ella are joined by David Spencer to embark through "PinesQuest," the Gravity Falls browser game released during the Great Hiatus between seasons 1 and 2. We talk David's experience playing the game for the first time, the plethora of continuity nods and secrets within, and a LOT of Zelda homages. Check out more of David on Come On Fhqwhpods and How Did This NOT Get Made: https://www.pipedreampodcasts.com/come-on-fhqwhpods! ...

Charley and Ella are joined by Alexa and David as they discuss Gravity Falls' Season One finale, "Gideon Rises." We talk the big emotional beats of the episode, the shocking secrets and twists and the many fan theories that followed. Check out more of Alexa and David on Come On Fhqwhpods and How Did This NOT Get Made: https://www.pipedreampodcasts.com/come-on-fhqwhpods! https://www.pipedreampodcasts.com/how-did-this-not-get-made Watch Gravity Falls episode 20 "Gideon Rises": ...

Charley and Ella take Alexa and David on a journey through the mind to meet Bill Cipher for the first time in "Dreamscaperers." We're also enamored with Xyler and Craz and mystified by the British Dog-Man, and we discuss one of the biggest fan theories of the time. Check out more of Alexa and David on Come On Fhqwhpods and How Did This NOT Get Made: https://www.pipedreampodcasts.com/come-on-fhqwhpods! https://www.pipedreampodcasts.com/how-did-this-not-get-made Watch Gravity Falls episode...

Charley and Ella are (re)joined by Mary McKeon, host of Into The Falls: A Gravity Falls Podcast (https://anchor.fm/into-the-falls-podcast) to discuss "Land Before Swine." We squee (yes, squee) over Waddles, talk Stan and Mabel's heartwarming relationship, and, of course, bring up Dog with a Blog. Watch Gravity Falls episode 18 "Land Before Swine": https://www.disneyplus.com/video/5e493b9d-b136-4e28-a2d8-f618db3b2298 Watch Dog with a Blog:...

In this special BONUS episode, Charley and Ella are joined by Shelby Sessler to unravel the secrets of the first episode of "Inside Job," the new Netflix series from Gravity Falls writer Shion Takeuchi and produced by Alex Hirsch. We discuss whether conspiracy theory jokes can be funny these days, and why it's important and good that Reagan Ridley is unlikable and how that impacts her character dynamics. We also debate the existence of Kazaam. NOTE: While uploading this episode we realized...

Charley and Ella are joined by voice actor/cosplayer Shelby Sessler to talk "Boyz Crazy." We discuss Grunkle Stan's hallucination-y memories, the real-life stories behind Sev'ral Timez, and the infinite charm of Lance Bass. Check out Shelby's voice acting and cosplay: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkGbtsH1n-XIB3ECbSPpxfl3j4vld2QZr https://www.tiktok.com/@shelbysessler Watch Gravity Falls episode 17 "Boyz Crazy": ...

Charley and Ella have a very standard, non-freaky discussion of "Carpet Diem," the way it enhances the typical body swap story, and Dipper's very lacking social life. PLUS: a shocking event that changes the Gravity Falls fandom forever! Watch Gravity Falls episode 16 "Carpet Diem": https://www.disneyplus.com/video/c3a85bb7-72c7-4c51-b43a-0043dc2bb738 Download the theme song: https://ellacesari.bandcamp.com/track/my-hearts-in-gravity-falls-20-ft-pryin-brian "Hall of Conspiracies" theme by ...