Gravity Falls: Summer

“The Deep End” Season 1, Episode 15

Ahh, summer love. Don’t you just hate when they turn out to be a merman? That’s what happens to Mabel in this extra summer-y episode. As I posted before, this coming of age classic is set during summer and is full of fun adventures that makes it a great summer watch (my husband and I rewatch the entire series every summer).  But this episode in particular is perfect. It’s the hottest day of summer and the Pines crew seeks relief at the local pool. Mabel becomes obsessed with a new boy, who turns out to be a merman. Meanwhile, Dipper gets a job as an assistant lifeguard to get closer to Wendy who also works for the pool’s slightly deranged owner. There’s also a side plot about Stan and Gideon fighting over the best lounge chair at the pool. It’s a hilarious episode that is full of summer imagery and makes me want to go swimming. The kid in solitary confinement in pool jail is also a genuine treasure that never fails to make me laugh. Definitely check it out as part of your summer watch list. Then check out the rest of the show, it’s literally one of the greatest shows of all time.

Netflix available? No

Hulu available? Yes

Xfinity available? No

Holiday rating: 10 bikini tops

Gravity Falls: Halloween

“Summerween” Season 1, Episode

This is one of the best animated shows of all time and you should all go binge watch it on hulu. Anyway, because Gravity Falls is set in the summer, it was impossible for them to do a Halloween episode. However, lucky for us the town of Gravity Falls loves Halloween so much that they celebrate it twice a year, complete with candy, tricks, and carved watermelons! Happy Summerween! However, something dark lurks during summerween. The summerween trickster eats children who don’t have the summerween spirit. Dipper loses his and leaves him and his friends at the mercy of the trickster. The trickster is surprisingly creepy for a Disney cartoon. The episode will definitely get you ready for Halloween…. er Summerween… either way it’s wonderful. Honestly because of all the paranormal activity in the series, the whole thing could get you in a spooky spirit.

Netflix available? No

Hulu available? Yes

Xfinity available? Yes

Holiday rating: 9 pumpkins (or jack-o-melons)

Gravity Falls: Summer (2012-2016)

The whole series

This is one of the best, most underrated Disney shows of all time. It is smart, funny, exciting, weird… I could rave about it all day. Honestly, in this time of pretty cringe-inducing Disney Channel shows, I’m surprised this even made it to production. It definitely seems more up Cartoon Network’s alley, although perhaps that’s why this got moved to Disney X D. Either way, it follows two twins as they spend the summer with their weird great uncle at his Mystery Shack attraction in Oregon. However, they soon discover the town is brimming with supernatural activity and a hidden secret. The show almost has a fall feel at times, but it is set in the summer and has that feel of a childhood summer adventure. I cannot recommend this show enough.

Netflix available? No

Hulu available? Yes

Xfinity available? No

Holiday rating: 8 surfboards