Robbie X Tambry: Gravity Falls Most Questionable Episode

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[@valentinkambushev4968]

According to what is written in journal 3 the effect of the potion wears off after some time. That and considering the fact that we never saw them doing anything romantic after this episode leads me to believe that they eventually broke up after the magic stopped working.

[@haltopen12]

Nah they’re still together by the end. The love potion does wear off quickly, but they stayed together because they did actually have feelings for each other, they were just both too much of an asshole to make the first move on each other.

[@haydenberends3905]

Actually, in the episode where Stan ran for mayor, when he went to get lightbulbs in the morning, they were standing behind him in line with Robbie's arm around Tambry.

[@Unk.B.]

He mentions this kinda comment in the video lol.

[@miquelescribanoivars5049]

Congratulations! You commented before finishing the video!

[@Jaydee-wd7wr]

10:33, Huh, I guess he’s an oracle.

[@zoeb3573]

It would have been so easy. Undo the love potion effects, but have them realize the time they spent together was actually pretty good and made them learn a lot about each other and decide to go on another date potion-free to see how it goes. You don't even need to show the "real" date, just have them holding hands in the background once in a future episode and everyone will realize they ended up liking each other for real.

[@bluebird1914]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. That way, the idea of the love potion is less "forced" and more just a different way of being a matchmaker since that is Mabel's whole thing. Either that or redo the whole love potion where instead of making them love eachother, make it a potion where all it does it show the one person the positive qualities in the other person. Something which would've worked well in Tambry and Robbie's case since they hated eachother before the potion.

[@lazydroidproductions1087]

Or even spritz then with the anti-love and they just don’t realize it and carry on being lovey dovey or just get annoyed at mable for spritzing them as they were on a date

[@mapu1]

Doesn't really work if they were already friends.

[@RogueT-Rex8468]

That’s literally canon. That was explained in the official comic episodes.

[@gaminganimators7000]

I think they did in one episode where they have their hands over each others shoulders while standing behind stan

[@TheRoomforImprovement]

Silver lining: the “I heart kids” joke is hysterical.

[@Hajilex]

"is that giant scary man gonna eat me?" "Yes, yes he is"

[@ebty4969]

@@Hajilex Reminds me of that one joke in Amphibia's Christmas Special "Dad, is Santa okay?" "No son, I don't think so."

[@matthewplays7232]

"Now let 'er rip!" "Oh no! A letter rip!"

[@TheRoomforImprovement]

@@matthewplays7232 “WHAT THE H”

[@qrowing]

BUT *WE'RE* KIDS! The storyboard of that is a lot of fun, too.

[@Shadow1Yaz]

I wonder if anyone has ever tried doing the "love potion" story from the victim's perspective as a horror story or something. That'd be interesting. Also love all the "um actually, the third journal says the position wears off after a bit so Robby and Tambry making it work on their own is canon" comments ;)

[@potato4901]

Kim possible had an episode like that can’t remember the name

[@godofloyaltytoiletsandblue3599]

@@potato4901 Emotion Sickness

[@exileforever2508]

@@potato4901 oh yeah, love that one. Ron and Drakken being freaked out cause it’s clear it isn’t them.

[@exileforever2508]

Sort of, in a background story, that’s how Voldemort parents met

[@devinbrewer2818]

probably not what you are looking for but the adventure time episode where the ice king gets married comes to mind

[@dreye3215]

To be fair, the reverse potion isn't just an antidote, it's specifically an "anti-love" potion, so they wouldn't be giving them back their free will, they'd just be forcing another choice upon them. They weren't even doing it for selfless reasons, they were just trying to get their friend group back together. It's like they said, doing it would've been just as bad as using the love potion in the first place.

[@tarvoc746]

Ooh yeah, that confirms my own interpretation of the episode that I posted here. In case you can't find it in the comment section: _I actually wonder if this episode doesn't make a far more interesting point: that morally speaking, using stuff like Love Potions is a fuckup that cannot even actually easily be fixed or undone (and thus a particularly grave one). After all, this isn't just a roofie, this is a Love Potion that's supposed to create the actual, genuine feeling. You would think that if the antidote undoes the factual effects of the potion, it also undoes the moral harm done to their autonomy, right? That's the assumption you seem to be going by in your video. But if the antidote takes away their feelings, that isn't quite the same as restoring their autonomy. Rather, administering the Love Potion took away their choice, and administering the antidote takes away their choice again by removing their feelings without giving them a choice in the matter either, while not administering it obviously perpetuates the first transgression. Essentially, administering the Love Potion in the first place created a real ethical dilemma for Mabel that there simply was no "fixing" for, no "good" way out of either way. Maybe another lesson of the episode is that there are mistakes that you simply cannot fix or undo, but that you and the people you affected have to live with one way or another. (Point in case: The antidote also probably won't erase their memory.)_

[@Goomyx1492]

You're right, but it's unfortunately too nuanced of a truth for this channel and comments section.

[@liamorrison4484]

Ohhh, I thought it was a reverse potion, like, it'd erase their memories and they would go back to normal. Everything makes so much more sense now, thank you for your interpretation. I guess leaving them in love would be better because they are definitely happier, using the anti-love potion would be making another choice for them, and it would undo the first choice, but they wouldn't be as happy. So, since they already made the first mistake, and it turned out sort of well for Robbie and Tambry and the guy, making a second choice would probably just make everything worse. I just feel a little bad for Tambry because Robbie is a pretty mean, annoying, and whiny person.

[@tarvoc746]

@@liamorrison4484 My point is that by this point, _both_ options are actually really bad.

[@tarvoc746]

@@ellag3265 In generally, yeah sure. In this specific case though, it would still center around a drug - one that suppresses certain emotions.

[@kradeiz]

It’s also troubling when so many Love Potion stories treat it as a bad thing bc the victim becomes obsessed with the protagonist and NOT bc they took away a person’s free will.

[@WobblesandBean]

^ Thiiiiiiiiis

[@connordarvall8482]

It's like a lot of stories are trying to say "This person may not have been a good romantic partner and you'd know this if you spent time to learn about their personality." but drop the ball and accidentally say "Using magic is bad karma and the universe will find a way to punish you."

[@therealopaartist]

@@connordarvall8482 like the episode where Timmy wished away ALL men and realized Trixie was a psycho who constantly needed validation?

[@nerdycookiebunny856]

@@therealopaartist But Timmy grew up better

[@ghostlee2227]

​@@therealopaartist I mean technically he didn't take away Trixie's free will, just the lives of 4 billion random men but that point definitely still applies

[@AlexDayz]

I think the only reason this whole episode exist is to give Robby a “redemption” of sorts as he’s still part of the Zodiac wheel but still seen as a “villain” of sorts

[@CalvinKalisto]

Yeah, that tracks.

[@Sharpteeth32]

@@CalvinKalisto What? Like, a train?

[@CalvinKalisto]

@@Sharpteeth32 it means, it makes sense.

[@Sharpteeth32]

@@CalvinKalisto I like trains.

[@CalvinKalisto]

@@Sharpteeth32 cool, never got to see one in person tho.

[@CollinMcLean]

"Eda's ex-husband Stanely" Just perfect... no notes... absolute *chef's kiss*

[@mimicmey]

The best part is that it's canon

[@rimfire8217]

@@mimicmey except apparently not because it’s not in the Shoow (Sorry if I’m bitter, I’m just bitter)

[@crytypingcryptid6974]

@@rimfire8217 It wasn't in Gravity Falls but it was a background easter egg in the Owl House!

[@imaymellow]

@@rimfire8217 It doesn't have to be if the creators gave us enough clues ffs

[@aetriandimitri190]

@@rimfire8217 it was in extra material of gf and then directly referenced in owl house, so I think it's canon lol

[@alexjewett7455]

Interesting that you brought up cupid here because in Greek mythology, Eros, or cupid, was not a good guy. He went around toying with people's hearts basically for the sake of creating drama because he thought it was funny. He could also be extremely vindictive at times, like what happened with Apollo and Daphne.

[@jesusemeasein4135]

Then karma got him and he fell in love with psyche

[@EvonixTheGreatest]

That's pretty funny, the ancient Greeks believed "No, love isn't blind, it's actively fucking with you."

[@floricel_112]

truly Aphrodite's son indeed

[@tarvoc746]

@@EvonixTheGreatest based!

[@tainii-san5879]

@@floricel_112 or in some tellings, one of the primordial gods/forces that came out of Chaos.

[@josephgallant1765]

Talking about the bad parts of love potions just made me think of how Harry Potter would have had a normal wizard life if they didn't exist in his world.

[@thepinkdawn3970]

Oh yes. Because of old voldy’s mother had to pull that shit with his father and use a love potion. I get ya.

[@whiteraven181]

@@thepinkdawn3970 Harry Potter: Don't roofie people or you will create magical Hitler-Satan. A lesson. we can all get behind.

[@ryunaito999]

I swear half of gravity falls was Mabel doing things and facing no consequences

[@exileforever2508]

It’s funny Mabel consider her the greatest match maker…expect she isn’t. She didn’t set Soos and his girlfriend up, he did that on his own after some practice in a game as Mabel was too busy freaking women out. Not to mention the goat and Waddle is a different story

[@47ratsinahoodie]

To be fair, Dipper and Mabel did encourage Soos to ask women out and then give up Giffany for Melody so while she didn't specifically set Soos up with _Melody,_ she can be considered part of the reason Soos and Melody got together

[@exileforever2508]

@@47ratsinahoodie I mean, if I encourage someone to eat an apple and they become an gym owner, am I fully responsible?

[@47ratsinahoodie]

@@exileforever2508 I don't think that's similar enough. If Mabel and Dipper didn't intervene, Soos would still be having trouble with asking women out. He would have never been pushed to go to the mall, would have never met Giffany, would have never been pushed to get away from her, and would have never been pushed to go on a date with Melody. That's a pretty short sequence of events where you know Soos didn't really have outside influence. From apple to gym owner, there could be a ton of untraceable outside influence.

[@DeathKitta]

matchmaking is setting up two specific people. not encouraging one to act and they did everything else on their own.

[@Hopelessdemiromantic]

Waddles and gompers are the perfect couple. Change my mind.

[@mx.e2176]

Honestly a better plot would’ve been making it seem like Mabel drugged them, have Dipper spend the entire episode investigating, only to reveal in the end that “No, she considered it but ultimately decided that would be wrong and you shouldn’t strip people of their personal agency in their relationships”

[@xxx-ie9ic]

Exactlyyyy. Shipping real people is so gross, and she literally forced them to be together.

[@MossPathway]

This is a kid show from early 2010s lol

[@DeathKitta]

Unfortunately Mabel never learned not to strip people of their own personal agency. Every time this lesson begs to be learned Mabel either doesn't or the episode makes it look like she was right in the end of the day.

[@armaggedon390]

Then it wouldn't really be Mabel, would it?

[@11th-lemon]

I feel like that would be out of character for her.

[@jonasquinn7977]

While I typically agree with the belief that if something isn’t in the show itself it shouldn’t really be considered I don’t really think that applies to Gravity Falls just because of how many clues and mysteries from the show were specifically tied to the journals, hell there was a whole ARG!

[@Astrogeon]

Shows tend to follow a "bible" as a means of a guideline to write out events and relationships. On or off the books, i don't recall Robby or Tambry having any sway over the story or the main characters after this. It felt like this was the "Free Space" on a chaotically managed Monopoly board, where they could have done whatever with 'em. It barely even affected Mabel.

[@rimfire8217]

Yeah it’s Ice Berg Theory. Limiting Gravity Falls to just Face Value the Show. That to me is ignoring 80% of everything. Also an Entire damn Book is not a Twitter. I sorry if this comes off as defensive but. That’s how I feel

[@paigemosher8697]

As an artist, I feel that any material outside the "main" is still canon as long as it has either been made or endorsed by the official creators unless it is explicitly stated to be non-canon. Stories can present themselves in a variety of ways and may utilize multiple mediums for the purpose of worldbuilding. This idea that stories should only stick to one medium feels narrow-minded as it severely limits creativity and discourages actively thinking about how the media was meant to be enjoyed by basically encouraging fans to be lazy in consuming a show. Though I do get that it feels kinda slimy to have fans pay to correct a loophole the showrunners created, as this extra lore could easily have been presented in a different format where fans wouldn't need to pay by default but could buy a physical copy or wait to get an official process book if they really wanted to pay to show additional support. Additionally, that snippet in the book about the love potion comes off to me more as damage control because of how clumsily handled the plotline was in the show. That book wouldn't have been all that necessary if this was properly addressed in the show to begin with. That doesn't change the fact that the material in it is canon if it's endorsed by the show's creators regardless of how anyone else wants to spin it. It's not up to fans to decide what constitutes as canon and what doesn't. Only the creator has that right.

[@jonasquinn7977]

@Paige Mosher to be fair it’s not like that’s all that was in the book, it was one small thing in a book that contained way more important information and mysteries

[@ajstudios9210]

Given how Mabel and her stories are written throughout the series, the moral ambiguity of this episode doesn't even surprise me.

[@KaminoKatie]

Alex Hirsh just can't write female characters

[@dragonempress8367]

@@KaminoKatie *coughs* wendy

[@kittykittybangbang9367]

@@KaminoKatie I think it has to do with favoritism, Mabel was based off his sister after all

[@starsgambit412]

@@KaminoKatie I disagree a lot?? I like most of the girl characters??? Mabel’s immature and short sighted on purpose- characters are allowed to have flaws and skewed morals that prove impactful to others. That doesn’t mean that he “can’t write girls”

[@botanicalitus4194]

@@starsgambit412 there werent many recurring girl characters, just pacifica. The rest were side characters that didnt have own arcs or anything, they were just there for goofs and laughs

[@amberwingtundrawing776]

Its really strange they let them stay together "because they were happier that way" but when Robbie brainwashed Wendy she seemed happy too. Should Dipper have left her alone because she would've been happier? Is it only because they're both under a spell it makes it ok to the writers?

[@ordinarylittlebastard3248]

It's because it's Mabel doing it, and "we can't make Mabel look bad in an episode about her learning a lesson", they could have just had her apologize or realize her mistake and taking the L, but no. Since she has to learn the lesson, she needs to be the one to call quits, not Dipper or anyone around her. The right thing though would have to be Mabel hesitate and try to keep them together, but have Dipper take the spray from her and do it himself, and then let Robbie and Tambry be angry at Mabel, yet still wanting to go on another date. And then have Mabel learn her lesson, say she was wrong, but be content with the satisfaction that they are still willing to give it a chance. It was just so easy. You pass the message that it is wrong to drug people into liking each other, keep it consistent with the previous episode when that happened, have the both of the characters who done it take the karma for it, and still make sure Mabel learns the lesson and even still have her gain from this situation by seeing that they want to date without the potion.

[@MsKnowItAll26]

Totally agree and I always found love potion episodes a little creepy. I didn’t mind the Hey Arnold episode though because she wasn’t trying to force Arnold to love her. She wanted a potion to stop her own feelings. The fact that it was just soda was pretty funny and the audience knew all along. And I liked that it subtly showed Arnold being super thrown off that Helga wasn’t paying him attention. That boy did not like it one bit.

[@DrawciaGleam02]

Oh yeah, that's very creative.

[@damkylan3]

Pretty ironic that the allotted love potion idea for Hey Arnold was probably the least creepy thing Helga has ever done, lol

[@TheHysteriaMan]

In a way, the ENTIRE story of Harry Potter gets started with a love potion not getting undone. Really messed up if you think about it.

[@SarcasticChorus]

It does get undone. And Voldemort’s dad got the hell out of dodge once he was free

[@TheHysteriaMan]

@@SarcasticChorus Well yes it gets "undone" but not before the damage was done.

[@naquingreen1603]

@@SarcasticChorus Love your Batman X Batgirl video, You should do a follow-up covering the fan pairing of Nightwing X Catwoman and why these two really wouldn't work as a couple.

[@grayfox4819]

In defense of the episode, the "I EAT KIDS" balloon joke was insanely funny, and the main reason of why it is NOT my least favorite GF episode (that honor goes to Roadside Attraction, a pointless filler putted on force before the big finale arc, that does nothing but a huge disservice to Dipper's character)

[@vroomlucas]

The only plus for that episode was the cool spider lady

[@4wheal]

Honestly did Dipper even do anything wrong in that episode he was wasn't even flirting with those girls simple learning to be more confident arond them.

[@thebasedgodmax1163]

@@4wheal eh he was kinda being a dick. it's pointless characterisation anyway

[@scrollingdownaswespeak]

Just reading this comment made me laugh. That scene is hilarious 🤣

[@justjoannak]

100% agree

[@arellajardin8188]

As much of a dumpster fire Star vs. became in the last season, I will give them credit for making the effort to undo the Blood Moon Curse. The fandom told them the Lack of Consent wasn’t cool, the writers listened, and they made the token effort of canonically removing it. I mean, they still forced a ship that no longer narratively worked. But at least it was consensual in the end.

[@wouldntyouliketoknowweathe9431]

The photo booth goblin thing still creeped me out a bit

[@DrawciaGleam02]

Yeah, I think the Bloon Moon thing was a reference to Sailor Moon, particularly its well-known song "Miracle Romance."

[@BabyGirlTiny]

To bad it was the blood moon that made them fall in love canonically

[@kittykittybangbang9367]

@@wouldntyouliketoknowweathe9431 You mean Booth Buddies? Also in a Reddit AMA, the creator said that that was one of her favorite episodes along with Into The Wand.

[@abimaellopezmaylord27lopez7]

@kittykittybangbang i hate booth buddies

[@ligtningdog6399]

I can only think of one time that a love potion episode in any show worked well. In the anime, "My Bride Is A Mermaid", the mc drank a potion and it made all the girls around him attracted to him. But what made entertaining or less creepy was that: A) we saw what each girl's vision of the "perfect guy", so they didn't see the MC, just a living embodiment of their personal porn folder. And B) the potion also made every guy see the vision of type of person they despise the most. So the MC had to spend the running away from EVERYONE.

[@murderman8578]

God that Anime was hilarious and the Manga is Great

[@twitchykirby509]

omg i haven't thought about that show in like 8 years!

[@hl1342]

Disney would rather show a kid Mabel drugging teenagers at that time than show the homosexuality.

[@aska2349]

The two policeman were confrimed that they have whole relationship going on tho-..

[@ShazzledWolf32]

@@aska2349 very subtle tho

[@scourgeface]

@@aska2349 and hirsch had to lie about it so disney didnt shoot everything down

[@_-Lx-_]

Disney would rather make a movie where an IRL child actor gets kissed on the lips sexually by an adult actress (Yes, sadly that's an actual thing that happens in a "family friendly" Disney Channel flick) than have a gay relationship without either being a minor backround character edited out of international releases or cancelling the whole show after the characters get together. This company is practically Corporate Baalzebub.

[@Gemnist98]

Whatever the case, this episode gave us the Kid-Eating Stan Balloon, and that will be enough.

[@bulletproofwhale5869]

I never really thought this episode was that problematic for one reason - I always assumed the love potion wore off in the final moments. And Robbie and Tambry realized that they had a thing for each other all along. Cuz I'm a sap :P.

[@burritocat6038]

Me too

[@SeraidenAF]

It's also confirmed in the 3rd book stuff to be short lived, so yeah their relationship start was potion-done, but the rest was all them.

[@aceofsharks9837]

Now I'm curious; has a Hate Potion ever been used in media as the inverse of a Love Potion? Like a character wants to manufacture conflict between two others, for presumably selfish reasons, so they dose them with a hate potion.

[@MugiwaraZero]

A good example for this would be the mind stone in avengers when they Tony and Bruce are working on it with the other avengers everyone slowly starts getting more and more aggressive with each other until Bruce grabs it without realising and we find out it was messing with their heads Not really a potion but similar enough I think it was worth mentioning

[@aceofsharks9837]

@@MugiwaraZero That's a decent example. I was thinking of something done with more overtly selfish intent, like how Love Potions are often used, but your example isn't bad.

[@godofloyaltytoiletsandblue3599]

HIM from the Power Puff Girls made the whole town hate PPG in one episode

[@ListlessLion]

American Dragon had an episode where some sort of love effect would cause hate if the person was already in love.

[@XellosNi]

There was a Ranma1/2 Chapter/Episode that did this. Shampoo became repulsed by Ranma through some means.... and then it hurt Ranma's pride for some reason and had him try to court her.

[@nolanlong1979]

Mabel: but he looks happy. Yes he says he looks happy because he's basically under mind control anything he says is under bias effects

[@rimfire8217]

“Under bias effects” so Antidepressants. (I’m sorry it’s just whatever. I never really minded this episode since neither of these characters were really interesting to begin with. So what I care if they lost their ‘Free-Will’ what will did they have to begin with)

[@Telawin]

honestly I think the easy way out is just... mabel sprays them, they assume it's a prank, and they leave together. literally nothing else was needed, they did the thing to end the potion effect. the couple is still together. and Mabel doesn't get another stamp on the "started as the best character and will end as the worst" card, which when she gets ten stamps comes with a free sundae and apocalypse

[@FerimElwin]

As much as I love Gravity Falls, this episode is definitely one of the ones that really fell flat for me. Also, this video just made me realize that despite magic and romance being all over the place in The Owl House, that show never stopped to do a "love potion" episode, and I appreciate that.

[@47ratsinahoodie]

Yeah, the most drugging they did was Hooty drugging Eda lmao

[@grayfox4819]

And considering there are THREE canon ships in TOH, it Is a huge victory

[@violet321]

​@@grayfox4819 there is three? I know there is eda and raine, amity and luz but what is the other pair?

[@iceespizza]

@@violet321 willows dads, im pretty sure. (gilbert and harvey)

[@aetriandimitri190]

@@violet321 guessing they are talking about hunter and willow? Not official yet but judging by Dana's reaction to the name of it it prob will be.

[@hitfran4644]

"From Edas ex-husbad Gruncle Stan" I lost it when you put that reference there, great job and hobing for a sarcastic summary of TOH

[@tiablue9106]

A similar problem to this occurred in the boyz crazy episode. After finding out Robbie was hypnotizing Wendy to do what he wanted, Dipper does the right thing and exposes him. But after the fact he acts like he was being selfish and shouldn't have interfered with Wendy's personal life. Like yeah it was a bit insensitive of him to ask Wendy to hang out right then while she was emotional, but he still saved her from a manipulative douche. It'd be understandable if Dipper was more "mwahaha now I can be the shoulder for wendy to cry on" or pushy or smth but he rlly did nothing wrong yet reacted like he did. Grunkle Stan acknowledges that he "tried to do the right thing" but also shames him for "destroying a relationship" and "ruining Wendy's day". Like c'mon. iirc alex hirsch said that's his least fav episode bc the actual idea of that plot didn't turn out right; the idea was supposed to be that the CD did have a backwards message but didn't have any hypnotic qualities, and dipper's own paranoia/desire to get wendy single made him jump to conclusions. Wendy only dumped Robbie bc he lied to her. But it rlly didn't come through in the episode. That would've actually been an interesting story abt how Dipper's jealousy made him assume supernatural forces were at work, if they'd made it more ambiguous and again had dipper more pushy abt getting wendy to dump robbie.

[@brickabang]

That’s what I thought when I watched the episode. She dumped him for lying. I never thought the CD actually mind controlled her.

[@tiablue9106]

@@brickabang she did specify her reason for dumping robbie was bc he lied. but the episode never debunked the CD's hypnosis as it was intended to. ig it can be argued it never concretely proved it either, but again it was left too vague

[@MineNOROfficial]

I think the obvious solution to keep the "don't mess with people's lives" was simple; Mabel should have told them what she'd done, and let them decide if they wanted to use the anti-potion. That way she really is giving the power back to them, instead of making another executive decision.

[@4wheal]

Expect for the fact they would have still been under the effects and belived they were in love so why would they chose the anti potion? Basically they judgement is impaired while under the potions effects so removing it is the only way to get an honest answer

[@Applemangh]

I really wanted it to end with Mabel using the antidote on them, some kind of visual effect confirming that it did indeed work, but have Robbie and Tambrie continue dating regardless. But honestly, there are a billion solutions and the writers only needed to pick one and fit it into the episode.

[@10Bendog]

This whole “yeah, it was an immoral thing to do, but they are happier this way” gives off the same vibe as how Princess Bubblehum treats her candy citizens.

[@MagicalMaster]

You know. I can actually think of a way to make love potions work and even wholesome. Basically a marital aid. Think about it. The magic is gone and you both take a hit to get the spark back. At that point it's kinda like viagra but for romance.

[@ReichanK]

That's because that would address the main issue with love potions; acknowledgement and consent. If both parties (the couple falling out of love) are aware of the effects and what they're doing, then yeah that'd be a great way to use love potions.

[@MagicalMaster]

@@ReichanK Not to mention I thought of something even better. It's still a marital aid, but you get a six hour potion and both the man and wife have it so that once a week, they're back on the honeymoon and all the stupid things that build up just don't matter. Sounds like a wonderful Sunday evening don't you think?

[@ChocoDoeEyes]

What’s kind of ironic about this episode is I don’t remember the fandom caring much about this ship, there was actually more fanart of Robbie x Mabel of all things. Which depending how you feel about the logistics of Dipper x Wendy (because same age difference) was still just all kinds of weird lol

[@justjoannak]

There was?! 🤯🤢

[@lagtduckgirl7993]

Love potions are def one of those things that makes adult fans be like "UUHHH... tf was that?"

[@MossPathway]

The whole show was that tho lol

[@lonelyronin2428]

I find it hilarious that he had to stop his intro to google Tambry's name. And he didnt even google her. He just went to Robbie's page and went the relationships sections.

[@unityedits3722]

"More Likeable Lars" is gonna make me reevaluate some things about both characters

[@fightingmedialounge519]

I never cared too much for love potion episodes because of second hand embarrassment. It's also interesting to think about how American dragon may have handled the love potion plot with the most care out of all the shows aimed at kid.

[@Magicghost23]

Good thing in sherk two only the villains wanted to use a love potion.

[@Nameless82284]

You know in a way Love potion equals date rape.

[@TeeklGrey]

I always thought stories of Cupid and the like were just explanations for natural phenomena, the same way Iris is an explanation for rainbows or Zeus an explanation for lightning. Because you really DON'T get to consent to forming an attraction to someone, the only thing you get to consent to is whether or not you want to pursue that attraction. So Cupid shooting his arrows at people, or in this case, giving them potions, is just a simulation of a natural phenomenon that people never had a say in to begin with. Does that make it okay for Mabel to play God? No, but still, something to think about.

[@johnyshadow]

Then I´d want to at least see just one good example where someone is drugged with a love potion/spell, and effectively resists it. Like: "Hmm, I´d hit that, buuuut, Nah." I think Percy Jackson might have resisted Aphrodite (or one of her daughters) in the books. (Just natural godly charm, not actual pursuit.) But it´s been a while since I read them. Oh, but that reminded me that in DanMachi (anime), Bell did resist 2 goddesses, but that was because he´s actively immune to supernatural charm. (So I don´t really count it.)

[@amazinggrapes3045]

Nothing wrong with playing God as long as no one gets hurt 😛

[@_Sage967_]

the funny thing is, even if we DID take the journal at face value roofieing/intoxicating someone is ALSO temporary and there is always the possibility that the involved parties will just take it in stride. the problem isn't whether or not the decision to stay together but rather the entire situation that allows for the choice was created without their consent putting them out there in a way that is entirely unethical. it's basically like saying "man my friend has been down in the dumps since his dog died, i better spike his drink to give him the energy to go outside and have fun" the problem is that even if you get the result you want that is a terrible president to set, you're a terrible person for doing it, and the fact that it happened to work out completely ignores the what was a very real possibility of it blowing up in their face. you're playing with the lives of other people

[@kradeiz]

Also thanks for bringing up the whole Marco being 30 thing from Star Vs. That was as inconsistent as it was potentially creepy.

[@nziom]

Mabel does some pretty morally questionable/wrong things through out the show and sometimes she does it with good intentions but still it's very messed up

[@Darkgun231]

Road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[@WobblesandBean]

And she never learns her lesson!

[@armaggedon390]

Mabel is always right, especially when she's wrong.

[@hinasakukimi]

@@WobblesandBean disagree!

[@rdsasuke1]

If only Mabel drank a morality potion.

[@Freakcheeks]

lets just her drug her with it instead...nothing wrong about that she'll be happier this way :))

[@omarvazquez4075]

Morality is relative

[@sk1ttlz904]

The potion wears off after some time. It's like, a nudge to get them together and after it wears off they either leave or they've actually caught feelings. Still a little weird when they're kissing under the effects.

[@jefferyandbob3137]

yeah but that was retroactive, never was that mentioned in the actual episode or show and I wouldn't be surprised if it was made up in response to this criticism

[@lckyminer_2256]

​@@jefferyandbob3137 I sort of disagree with his philosophy though of "if it isn't on main material, it's non-canon", especially in the context of Gravity Falls.

[@jefferyandbob3137]

@@lckyminer_2256 I wouldn't say that its non-canon, I just have a pet peeve with creators throwing a bunch of lore and aspects of the story in general into side content instead of the main show. It's cool sometimes but imo it cant fix anything from the show.

[@YungandRekless545]

THANK YOU!! The way that episode ended always weirded me the hell out.

[@sludgy4468]

I like how love God calls Mable out on her actions and playing god.

[@jailerat8167]

I had a vivid nightmare in high school after reading midsummer’s night dream about the one guy the left under the love spell being trapped in his own mind. Can’t look at a love potion plot the same since.

[@aidankocherhans9861]

Part of the problem imo was that the end of the episode became about dipper wanting to split them up for selfish reasons, and the show cared more about setting dipper straight than making Mabel fix her mistake

[@dracoangelrojo]

Selfish reasons? Wanting to undo roofying strangers isn't selfish, if anything is correcting a big mistake.

[@carlosx8603]

@@dracoangelrojo That's not the reason Dipper wanted to do that, that's the viewer's reason. Dipper wanted to undrug them just so the friend group would get back together.

[@dracoangelrojo]

@@carlosx8603 No, Dipper told Mabel to stop minding her nose into other people's lives and she ignored him, and did exactly that and even drugged Robbie and Tambry, not only taking away their will, but also wrecking their friend group. I'm sorry but no, that's not being selfish on Dipper's part, he has every right to be mad at Mabel for it because she has zero respect for other people's free will and how her actions affect and hurt other people, in this case everyone else's feelings. She litterally roofied a couple of teenagers against their will and without their knowledge and broke an entire friend group just to prove she was a good matchmaker. If anyone is being selfish in here, it's Mabel.

[@thebonelessone3107]

People always look at me horrified when I tell them I never liked Mabel. Sure, sometimes she can be funny, but she is NOT a good person. This episode is just one of the reasons I can point to

[@prinnyramza]

Honestly I think people hate on Mabel way too much. Like even ignoring the fact that Dipper agreed with her and he gets none of the hate in this situation, a lot of the reasons they give aren't really thought through. Like they say that Dipper gives up a lot for Mabel but if you look at the options he had in front of him he usually was going to do objectively bad things until Mabel came into the equation.

[@moonxrusset2561]

She’s… 12. It’s fine if you don’t like her, I don’t like plenty of younger people, but you can’t go around calling a 12 year old a terrible person when they still have so much room to grow and develop.

[@darriongeorge5137]

Tbh, I'm the same. Never really like mabel, like bill said she her own happiness instead of dippers numerous times without thinking of the consequences

[@gabrielmendonca6853]

​@@moonxrusset2561 Mabel is not even a real person she is fictional, so I don't see any problem if someone hates her, despite being a bit exaggerated.

[@xxx-ie9ic]

I think both twins are annoying, personally. :p

[@stephaniewilliams6756]

Everyone in the comments saying a book--an external resource children will not purchase themselves with their own money--says the potions wears off gradually is in denial that the authors only included that bc of backlash

[@ihaveproblemsandissues1060]

Thank you!!! He literally mentions in the video that it’s a stupid excuse! I guess some people can’t be bothered to watch the whole thing before commenting 😅

[@stckNsde]

Just found this channel and i already love everything about it 💜

[@DindellaTheDefender]

1 minute in, but as someone who use to babysit, I can absolutely verify that this is how kid logic usually works. 😹 It’s one of the many, many things that make children so much fun to listen to and hangout with. Editing just to make sure it’s obvious that this is me being nostalgic and not disagreeing with the point of the video. lol

[@jonasquinn7977]

I don’t want to dig up old arguments but I feel like if it had been Dipper that used the potion it would have been taken way more seriously and the whole point of the episode would be him learning a lesson but because it was Mabel she was automatically forgiven

[@gabrielmendonca6853]

Yes, I have the same impression.

[@kualalumpurheart8154]

The show is definitely harsher towards Dipper.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

@@kualalumpurheart8154 just like life is. Mable was born with luck and Dipper was lucky to be born.

[@gabrielmendonca6853]

@@valentinkambushev4968 In this case I call it double standard

[@lexyshannon9428]

@@valentinkambushev4968 an ATLA reference I see

[@starstorm1267]

Even as a kid I always found it weird how these two were paired up so quickly. I always thought that after the messy breakup with Wendy, Robbie would start working on himself and learn from his mistakes to become a better person. But instead, Mabel throws him into a new relationship almost immediately before he has the chance to do that

[@unviewerrandom4792]

this the only thing i hate with gravity falls : Every f ..; thing that mabel did was never adressed. Because its Mabel she cand do anything she wants and never face consequences

[@Pheep5671]

I hate the love potion thing- it's just straight up drugging someone. All anyone can ever do is slap a fancy font on it with glitter glue or act like it was just the stepping stone to real love and it isn't. If drugging someone or in any way manipulating their perception or free will without their consent or knowledge is not and shouldn't be any part of a relationship. This always creeps me the hell out, and it should creep more people out than it does.

[@nicholasfarrell5981]

The only romance plot worse than a love potion one is one where two characters get together after one of them does something pretty terrible to the other, all because the fans think they're cute together or one of them is an obvious Author's Pet. The webcomic Rain did this with Rain and Rudy, and I couldn't read the comic after they got together.

[@tripled227]

the trope is interesting when the love potion creates the opposite effect like in American Dragon when you use it on someone who already liked you or just intensified the emotions like Powers Rangers Ninja Storm.

[@forgetmaenott]

I’m very glad you addressed this. Gravity Falls is an excellent show, but this episode has always rubbed me the wrong way.

[@canadiangopnik7007]

not even the worst thing Mabel's done tbh

[@RandomPerson-th1pu]

this episode ALWAYS rubbed me the wrong way and left a gross taste in my mouth when thinking of these characters and i never had the words to articulate it until now. great video!

[@clickymcclick7924]

Omg best use of that Dipper clip!! 😂😂 i want to start adding it to work emails. “Wow! This is worthless!”

[@TFormers2002]

Love or hate this episode it has one of the best jokes, aka Stan's hot air balloon.

[@tarvoc746]

I actually wonder if this episode doesn't make a far more interesting point: that morally speaking, using stuff like Love Potions is a fuckup that _cannot_ even actually easily be fixed or undone (and thus a particularly grave one). After all, this isn't just a roofie, this is a Love Potion that's supposed to create the actual, genuine feeling. You would think that if the antidote undoes the factual effects of the potion, it also undoes the moral harm done to their autonomy, right? That's the assumption you seem to be going by in your video. But if the antidote takes away their feelings, that isn't quite the same as restoring their autonomy. Rather, administering the Love Potion took away their choice, and administering the antidote takes away their choice _again_ by removing their feelings without giving them a choice in the matter either, while not administering it obviously perpetuates the first transgression. Essentially, administering the Love Potion in the first place created a real ethical dilemma for Mabel that there simply was no "fixing" for, no "good" way out of either way. Maybe another lesson of the episode is that there are mistakes that you simply cannot fix or undo, but that you and the people you affected have to live with one way or another. (Point in case: The antidote also probably won't erase their memory.)

[@homerola2]

This

[@11th-lemon]

If you invoke death of the author sure, it makes sense.

[@tarvoc746]

@@11th-lemon Eh, my views are more in line with Umberto Eco's in this regard. I do agree that auctorial intent should be considered, I just believe that the cultural meaning of a work isn't solely defined, exhausted or nailed down by it.

[@fightingmedialounge519]

That's not really a good interpretation since removing the effects of a potion that takes away a person's right to choose, by definition, would would giving them back their right to choose.

[@tarvoc746]

@@fightingmedialounge519 That's not what the second potion does though. It was already mentioned somewhere further down below in the comment section: It's not an anti-mind control potion, it's an anti-love potion. No, that's not the same, not even in this situation.

[@comunistbanana]

I want to see someone explore the idea of what results you can get when the love potion isn't walked back. What happens when one person forces another to love them and doesn't decide to undue it? I get annoyed by how people that have been dosed by a love potion immediately fall into, "Because I love you now, I've immediately forgotten about every other problem in my life." I think that someone who is forced to love someone that they otherwise wouldn't, would often experience steadily declining mental health as they would still experience negative emotions, but now are too blinded by the imposed love to address or even identify what the problem is. To force someone to love you like that, it would likely make them incapable of noticing anything about you that affects them negatively. They still feel the emotions, but the source is invisible to them. Would such a character commit suicide, or perhaps go insane?

[@BrenoRanyere]

There is a manga called Witch Hunter where the mc has this warrior girl called Halloween under a spell that makes her fall in love with him, basically creating a second personality that is taking over her body. The mc at some point goes "should I undo the spell?" to which she goes "Don't ever undo the spell. I've been under its influence for years now. The moment I recover my senses and free will and realize what you did to me and how you basically kept me as a slave, I'm gonna cut your head off without a second thought. The day you free me, is the day you die. "

[@DeathKitta]

Oh that's an awesome idea for a stroy!!!

[@13soulsundone96]

A) I would watch, read, or play that movie/book/game. B) you went hella dark there you all good?

[@EvonixTheGreatest]

The closest I can think of is a bit of a web serial called Technomagica where oaths are literally binding and some couples swear oaths to each other, the effects can really mess with them on the long term

[@comunistbanana]

I appreciate it man. I'm good. Yeah it's pretty dark, but that's the point. It should be seen as dark when you take someone you supposedly love and care about and strip them of their own agency.

[@knightgale2120]

I like how Shrek does a love potion. Prince handsome uses it to get love and shrek uses a Beauty potion because he loves his other more than his own personal wants.

[@Garyfan2001]

Well. at least the i eat kids balloon joke was hilarious

[@WobblesandBean]

This is just another example of why the fandom hates Mabel. She does THE most disgusting things, but never learns, never sees any real consequences.

[@destroyerblackdragon]

I mean there wasn't really a reason to see consequnces in this. It all worked out. Sure the means were questionable but it meant in the end everyone was happy. I can see the love potion causing some major problems if used irresponsibly but in this case Mable got lucky.

[@raeleecombes5778]

3:13 calling robbie “more likable Lars” is the most accurate thing ever omg

[@Soo_Tired]

For my birthday, Sarcastic Chorus revisited Gravity Falls. Thank you for the thoughtful gift, SC :)

[@fletch7212]

Yeah this wasn't the best episode but in the book written after the show it days it wears off in a couple hours so but yeah still wrong

[@UnorthodoxSoundwave.]

I could've swore they mention in-episode that the potion wore off (not that it justifies it, anyway), but I could be mistaken?

[@valentinkambushev4968]

+It gave us one of the best jokes in the show (I heart kids).

[@kualalumpurheart8154]

I feel like they just added that in later to make it seem not as bad. Still messed up though

[@cullenlatham2366]

Even without reading the book, i made the leap for the sake of the consequences without it. Love potion episodes that have a long-term impact on the show (such as making a canon -ship) MUST ALWAYS come with some sort of temporary clause. Either the potion wears off, or something dispels the potion effects.

[@AJ-xc4qe]

You just showed clips of the Jimmy Timmy Power Hours. I'd love to see you cover that love triangle! And the thrills of seeing two characters from two separate properties date each other!

[@katie15732]

I love how Mabel wears a rainbow sweater in an episode about love

[@greenbeanchannel9451]

I love how you still did a video of this show even tho it’s dead I’m so sad

[@lvvylwy961]

I HATED THAT EPISODE! I ALWAYS SAW THE CONSENT ISSUES AND LIKE, WOULDNT IT BE HORRIFYING IF YHE POTION WORE OFF 10 YEARS LATER SND THEY WERE MARRIED WITH KIDS??? IDK I always forgave Mabel's questionable choices but this was one line I wouldn't forgive her for crossing. It sucks because "I Eat Kids" was one of the best jokes in the series and "mommy? Is that man going to eat us? 'Yes he is, Billy, yes he is!'" is also one of my favourite jokes from the series.

[@NickAndriadze]

Gravity Falls' most questionable episode is really saying something.

[@moonbinj2109]

Loved the video as always, hope you the best

[@tyrant-den884]

Quick fixes Love God: "PSYCH, my potion only works when I use it! I hope you learned a lesson, or something."

[@intergalactic-oboist]

I remember exactly three gravity falls episodes from when I was a child: This one, the one with the golf course, and the last one. I definetly watched more and I should probably watch the whole show at some point, but for some reasons those are the only ones I can recall.

[@ZekromAndYugiAndDrago123]

Since you put Shrek 2 clips in the video, I just wanna say I live how that movie acknowledges the immoral nature of Love Potions and only has Fairy Godmother (the villain) use one. Yes, Shrek steals a potion from her, but the potion he took didn't MAKE Fiona fall in love with him, it just made them both 'beautiful' I also like how the King is later revealed to have switched his and Fiona's drinks, meaning he drank the Love Potion because he didn't want his daughter to be forced to marry Charming against her will.

[@davii2663]

I love when comments just say what the video said, it's great

[@Ghostface1998]

I always felt like this episode was a jab at shippers who ship ppl to just ship.

[@haydenberends3905]

. . . . Huh. Never thought of it that way

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Considering how invested Alex was into the fandom, it's entirely possible.

[@Ghostface1998]

@@valentinkambushev4968 look at amphibia and toh ppl are shipping lunatics in those shows even when the ppl they ship have no chemistry and it’s the exact same thing this episode did. Mabel was the shipper and Robby and I already forgot her name but purple haired girl are the characters who had no chemistry but ppl would still ship cause they want to.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

@@Ghostface1998 especially the Owl house fans. They ship characters that have never interacted and some of them are very heterophobic. Amphibia also suffers from this problem, because those crazy shippers won't accept the main girls as anything but lovers.

[@rdsasuke1]

How is it a jab at them when the shippers won in this context ?

[@wolfancap6897]

Using a charm spell on someone is the fantasy version of dosing someone's drink! Until we meet again *Skeletor running away meme*

[@kingofflamingos4344]

And the wierd part of the love potion is thier purely just romantic love and not other forms of what love could be.

[@breewashere]

Mysteries and comedies just always work well together.

[@salty_marshmall0w938]

my favorite use of a love potion i've seen (I think in a fanfic?) when character A is accidentally love-potioned to fall in love with character B and character b is like "oh no" but then character A acted completely normal bc they were already in love with character B. It was a great love one-sided love reveal for the slowburn I was reading.

[@nerdpocalypse5004]

This video made me remember that Molly love potioned Authur and Fred and George sell love potions in their shop

[@AkameGaKillfan777]

You'd think that Ron's brothers would stop after what happened to him.

[@vampirefrompluto9788]

This episode isn't the only time Mabel does questionable things & doesn't face moral repercussions for her actions. Take the finale for example Mabel is the reason that Bill gets the time rift thing (it's been a while since I watched the show) & she forces Dipper & the world to nearly die because she wants to stay in her fantasy land with "better Dipper". She never apologies or face repercussions for her actions there.

[@Suthek]

"she forces Dipper & the world to nearly die because she wants to stay in her fantasy land with "better Dipper"" To be fair, it seems implied that she was at least partly under some kind of suggestion. It wasn't until she was "brought back" by Dipper that she noticed how off her world was. ("Has it always been this bright here?"). And afterwards they really had better things to do.

[@VanSprinkes]

I was watching Gravity Falls and then I get a notification. So excited!!!!

[@emma_nutella58]

The I heart kids joke is one of the best in television history

[@vvgirl6173]

Happy 10 year anniversary Gravity Falls! "We'll meet again~"

[@ethanotoroculus1060]

Well, this was certainly an interesting choice for the 10th anniversary. LMAO

[@valornoeruvano5521]

Today we learned that drug trafficking is okay if customers are happy

[@lil_jackgamez8992]

I'm gonna be real though I still don't like what the writers did with Mabel has through out the show she doesn't really learn a whole lot of lessons from her actions even when bill a literal demon calls her out and that she got some but not a lot of character development the writers still left her how she was in a bit of a toxic manner and with barely any lesson she learned.

[@eatatjoes6751]

I'm watching Gravity Falls again and it's gold. However, I barely remember the Love God episode outside of how cool Robbie's bedroom and house look. It also brings up the question of why so many kid shows default to "love potion" plots, but whatever.

[@DrJay-iy8rv]

Hey I need Dipper x Pacifica video next lol

[@pinkiemeowstic89]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYavpmWAhcuKd9E

[@bb0nline421]

These videos drive me insane I get so happy when this white man with a silly voice uploads you slay king

[@JC_Stone]

The potion was more of a push than anything else. They already had feelings for each other, they just didn’t do anything about it. The potion was the thing that finally made it happen.