**This is a user-submitted post by Octaviano Macias**

The summer season seems to be over, so I’ve been looking through some summer-based shows to honor it. From shows like Ed, Edd and Eddy to Phineas & Ferb, summer is a great time to focus on TV shows, but the best, in my opinion, is Gravity Falls. Today I feel like honoring it by talking about…the worst episodes. Yeah, as much as I loved this show, there were episodes that weren’t as good as others; none of these are awful, but they’re just the ones I don’t revisit as often. I’m sure everyone has their own opinions about this. A lot of fans would rather skip any negativity, but you can’t truly love a show without acknowledging the weaknesses, so here’s my five worst episodes.

NOTE: The following may contain spoilers.

#5 – “ROADSIDE ATTRACTION”

I’m honestly a lot softer on this episode than other fans are. But yeah, it’s one of the weakest, largely because it’s the most useless episode in the series. Grunkle Stan takes the kids on a road trip to destroy various tourist traps, while providing Dipper some advice on picking up girls. Obviously it backfires, and Dipper has to fix his mistakes. It’s a funny episode on its own, but given its placement on the show, it can’t help but feel useless; nothing here amounts to anything for the finale, nor does the episode feel canon. Funny but pointless, “Roadside Attraction” is a good but hollow episode.

#4 – “DIPPER VS. MANLINESS”

Dipper joins a group of creatures known as Manotaurs to become a real man. Meanwhile, Mabel tries fixing Stan up for a date. What’s odd here is that this episode packs so many great jokes, so why am I listing it as one of the worst? Because Mabel and Stan’s subplot is pretty boring. Yes, the Manotaurs are hilarious and some of the best creatures the show ever offered, but that’s only half the episode; the other half is dull, forgettable, and has some of the weakest moments on the show. On its own, the episode isn’t awful. In fact, half of it is solid, but the other half brings this episode down so much.

#3 – “BOYZ CRAZY”

I honestly almost forgot this one existed, so I guess “The Golf War” can thank this episode for being moved out of the list. Mabel and her friends hide the famous boy band, Sev’ral Timez, after realizing they’re clones forced into the music life. Meanwhile, Dipper plans to expose Robbie and win Wendy’s heart in the process. I’m not gonna deny there’s a few good laughs in the episode, but whatever point the episode makes feels empty. Yes, the boy band is set free, but their manager can just make more clones, and considering later references to them, I’m willing to bet they were replaced. Add to that a mediocre “Dipper tries to win Wendy’s heart” subplot, and you’ve got a pretty weak episode. P.S., how ironic is it that Sev’ral Timez had some funny jokes in other episodes, yet I often forget the existence of the episode they came from?

#2 – “BOSS MABEL”

Yet another episode I often forget, though this one has a lot less good in it. Mabel makes a deal with Stan to run the shack as he enjoys a nice trip, and shenanigans ensue. Look, I’m not the biggest fan of episodes where a character learns a lesson in respecting the hard work another character does. Some episodes are good, but the story is so standard that it can be summed up as this:
Character 1: “I can do this thing you do easily.”
Character 2:”I bet you can’t.”
*later*
Character 1:”I’m sorry I thought that thing was easy.”
That is pretty much how this episode plays out. I’ll admit there are a few great lines here, but overall, I’d say you’re better off watching other episodes involving Mabel and Stan.

#1 – “THE DEEP END”

I don’t care what anyone else says; this was the worst episode. By no means awful, it’s the closest the show gets to bad. Plot: Mabel finds a mermaid; meanwhile, Dipper tries to hangout with Wendy while working as a lifeguard, and Stan tries to beat Lil Gideon to a chair. Putting aside all the story threads this episode has (which aren’t even the weakest aspects about this episode), “The Deep End” is not a funny episode, nor is it interesting. Some jokes are worth a chuckle, but the Wendy and Dipper plot is the weakest here, especially as a lot of the humor involves their boss, who feels like a Manly Dan clone, with the humor lessened as a result. Stan’s plot has the best jokes, but it feels like a repeat of his scenes in “Irrational Treasure.” So what about Mabel’s plot? I don’t care for Mermando; he’s a boring character. I’m glad he never made a real reappearance in the show; he is the lamest love-interest for Mabel, and I couldn’t care less about his journey back home. Sure this episode isn’t as forgettable as the previous two episodes mentioned above, but remembering an episode for the bad parts is worse than forgetting an episode with some good gags.