Why Gravity Falls Ended After Season 2 (Was It Cancelled?)

Why Gravity Falls Ended After Season 2 (Was It Cancelled?)

Despite being a critical and ratings hit, the Disney Channel series Gravity Falls ended after only season 2 — here’s why. Created by Alex Hirsch, Gravity Falls was an animated mystery-comedy show which aired from June 15, 2012, to February 15, 2016. The series followed the summer adventures of 12-year-old twins Dipper (Jason Ritter) and Mabel (Kristen Schaal) as they were sent to the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, Oregon. Joining the Gravity Falls cast was Alex Hirsch himself as Grunkle Stan, the twins’ great uncle who ran the Mystery Shack, Linda Cardellini as Wendy Corduroy, an employee of the Shack, and J.K. Simmons as Grunkle Ford, Stan’s long-lost twin.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

Throughout its short run, Gravity Falls established itself as one of the most influential cartoons of the decade. The show received accolades, including three Annie Awards, two Emmy Awards for animation, and one BAFTA Children’s Award. It also set viewership records in Disney XD, with its season 2 premiere garnering more than 2 million viewers. Gravity Falls also received praises for successfully melding old-fashioned rural storytelling with modern humor, drawing the attention of all ages. Its strange yet clever and satirical set-up elevated it from a simple kids’ cartoon to a sophisticated show, which even includes references like the Universal Monsters. Because of this, viewers were shocked to learn Gravity Falls season 2 was the last. 

Related: Is Gravity Falls On Netflix? How To Watch Online

Rest assured, Gravity Falls wasn’t unfairly canceled. Given its immense popularity and success, it would have been foolish for Disney to cancel Gravity Falls after only 2 seasons, thus disappointing the viewers and creators alike. Rather, the reason why Gravity Falls season 2 was the show’s last has to do with the creator, Alex Hirsch’s, specific intentions.

Why Gravity Falls Ended With Season 2

Gravity Falls Main Characters

On November 20, 2015, Hirsch announced that Gravity Falls only had two episodes left and would end with season 2. Since the news was shocking, he clarified that Gravity Falls was ending, not being canceled. Hirsch revealed that from the beginning, Gravity Falls was anchored on his vision of an epic childhood summer: “a mystery that had a real answer, an adventure that had a real climax, and an ending that had a real conclusion for the characters.” At its core, Gravity Falls, set at the Mystery Shack, attempted to reflect the fleeting nature of childhood, so there was really no sense in dragging out the story.

As Hirsch himself pointed out, “there are so many shows that go on endlessly until they lose their original spark.” By ending Gravity Falls while still at its peak, he avoided this outcome, making the show’s conclusion a rare scenario in the television industry. Besides, the series famously cultivated an investigative and interactive relationship with its viewers. There was a cryptogram hidden in each episode’s credits, and the audience had to decipher them. Had the plot continued beyond its natural conclusion, there would have been a chance that the original mystery — which attracted its viewers in the first place — would be sidelined. That would have failed to provide a satisfying payoff in Gravity Falls season 3 and beyond.

Will Gravity Falls Season 3 Ever Happen?

Gravity Falls Cryptogram

Given Alex Hirsch’s clear assertion that Gravity Falls was only ever intended to have two seasons, it seems highly unlikely that a Gravity Falls season 3 will ever come to be. Likewise, the conclusive nature of Gravity Falls season 2’s ending, in which just about every mystery or conflict is resolved, doesn’t lend itself well to reopening should season 3 ever be attempted. That said, it could be possible to reboot Gravity Falls sometime in the future with a new overarching mystery, perhaps with a grown-up Dipper and Mabel replacing their childhood selves and returning once again to the Gravity Falls Mystery Shack. This could be one way to keep things fresh if Gravity Falls season 3 ever happens. But, as of now, Alex Hirsch doesn’t have any plans to do so.

Related: Gravity Falls Finale Deleted Scene Has An Extended Live-Action Sequence

Ultimately, Alex Hirsch’s decision to finish Gravity Falls with season 2 is wise. While its abrupt ending disappointed the fans at first, it only amplified the legacy of the show. Its original narrative style inspired the next generation of adventure cartoons that aim to bring to life magic realism. These include Steven Universe, Star vs. the Forces of Evil, The Owl House, Amphibia, and Rick and Morty. Even Netflix’s Inside Job has evident influences from Gravity Falls’ cryptogram, ciphers, and style. To this day, the fan base of Gravity Falls is alive and continuously growing, with online discussions, fan fiction, and mail still circulating. Additionally, it created various merchandise, including books and even a video game called Gravity Falls: Legend of the Gnome Gemulets. Gravity Falls season 2 may have been the end, but the pioneer show’s impact on its viewers and on the animation industry will always remain.

More: Inside Job Season 2: Everything We Know

Smart Hulk Abomination She-Hulk Fix

Abomination’s MCU Return Can Fix Endgame’s Smart Hulk Problems

About The Author

Chelsea
(181 Articles Published)

Chelsea is a freelance writer. Her deep love for everything about literature stems from a childhood filled with Marvel comic books, worn-out novels, and pop-punk songs. She has always wanted to be an astronaut, but later on realized that writing is really her passion. There are better stories to tell here on Earth, after all.

More From Chelsea

Author: Deann Hawkins