Scullyfied Simpsons: Season 9 Episode 9: Realty Bites

Airdate: December 7th, 1997

Truly brings new meaning to the term "open-air" house.

Synopsis: Tired of either being cooped up in the house all the time or dragged on one of Homer's outings (such as a police auction), Marge decides to take a career as a realty agent. Working for Lionel Hutz's Firm, Red Blazer Realty, Marge's career instantly goes south due to her brutal honesty. Fearing that she may be sacked, she realises she might have to lie, up to and including lying about haunted houses to the Flanders clan.

Meanwhile, at the aforementioned police auction, Homer buys a convertible, loving every second of it. However, the convertible belonged to career criminal Snake, who vows revenge.

Review: The bad news is that Homer is turned up to "Jerkass" through the first and last parts of this episode. The good news is that the A plot is pretty good... when it involves as little Homer as possible.

The plot of "Marge wants to take a second job" is tragically nothing really new; "Marge Gets a Job" did it first (duh) and did it best, taking on a critique of the relatively misogynistic workforce that still exists (to an extent) today. "Realty Bites" is not as relevant, but I can still get the critique of the real estate market; in the late 90s and early-mid 2000s, property owners would do anything to try and move homes, just to make profit. Of course, this wound up collapsing in 2008, causing the property/financial crisis in (among other nations) the US, Greece, and Ireland.

Phil Hartman produces a bittersweet role here as Lionel Hutz, who has taken a break from the legal arena to concentrate on property. It really fits his role as a snarmy, desperate man out for a quick buck despite being incompetent. The "bitter" part comes in here... this was Hutz's final speaking appearance. Five months after this episode aired, Hartman was shot dead by his wife, who proceeded to commit suicide. It's ironic that one of the funniest actors in the show died as the show was slipping in quality, yet it makes the circumstances of his death no less sadder.

Anyway, back to the review.

This episode's A-plot is almost good, if somewhat pedestrian and rehashed. The B-plot, tragically... isn't. The reason? Homer.

He literally does nothing except act like a complete and utter maniacal idiot during the entire episode. He buys Snake's car, drives on the sidewalk (amongst other things), and gets into a long, boring car chase with Snake (who manages to walk out of prison.) Crazy crap happens, and the car single-handedly destroys a house... by crashing into the front, not damaging anything that might be a support beam. Reality? What's THAT??? Nobody is arrested, and you can take a guess at the person that suffers from it. Here's a hint; it ain't Homer.

In the end, it's a watchable, somewhat funny episode, dogged down by Homer being far too annoying... which would not get any better anytime soon.

Favourite Moment: As Lionel is showing how house flaws can be spun by realtors into positive traits, he shows Marge one particular house.

Marge: "That one's on fire!"

 Hutz: "Motivated seller!"

Least Favourite Moment: Am I the only one who didn't care for Kirk Van Houten's arm getting sliced off? The worst part? According to Scully, that scene, when suggested, caused mass laughter in the staff room due to how unexpected it was. It just seems unnecessarily dark and THOH-ish.

Jerkass Homer Meter: 3

Jerkass Homer Moment: Homer drives on the sidewalk while his family is in the car. Yeesh!

Zaniness Factor: 2.5

Zaniest Moment: The car chase. All of it. It's. Just. Stupid.

Score: 6.5

Gravity Falls Review: Season 1 Wrap Up

Remember: in Gravity Falls, there is no one you can trust.

So, you have a show airing on the teeny bopper vehicle Disney Channel. Alright, some scepticism is always expected.

It's a cartoon. OK, Disney is known for it's good cartoons.

First season, most Disney Cartoons (hell, most shows in general) are trying to find their footing, gain some depth, etc.

Well, Gravity Falls has just finished it's first season... and it has already established itself (at least in my insane mind) as not only a fantastic show, but quite possibly, the best show on American TV.

It's incredible to think that such a little show could be so fantastically crafted, so deep, so funny... it's pretty damn close to perfect. Barring a couple of clunkers (and a slight dip in the middle), this season was pretty damn good.

Probably my favourite aspect of this season would have to be the character development and the relationship between them.

• While Dipper and Mabel seem like your typical twin siblings, the animosity between them is realistic; it's not dry and boring, nor is it nihilistically sadistic. That's what makes the interactions between them so awesome, so heartwarming, so funny. 
• We see Dipper start to come of age; he gains his first crush, learn the definition of masculinity, defend the ones he loves, and gain a knowledge of the insanity of the town.
• Mabel seems to develop into a more complex character than the goofy tween she first presents herslef as; she can be selfish, intelligent, and surprisingly mature... maybe even more so than Dipper.
• Stan, at first, seems totally inept when it comes to child-rearing, being a jerkass and all that. However, slowly, he becomes concerned with the state of the twins. Is he still greedy and aloof? Yes. However, he would trade anything and everything in for the well being of Dipper and Mabel. His knowledge of the events of the town remains relatively ambiguous through the season.
• One of my main complaints this season was the underuse of Wendy, and how her main role was as a potential love interest for Dipper, throwing her in a love triangle. However, the chance of a romantic relationship between the two is damaged - possibly beyond repair - when Dipper just about lets it slip that he wants to date Wendy... mainly because Wendy realises that Dipper saved her from what could've been a horrible situation (although that's all up to interpretation of what actions were committed by Robbie) and a lying smeghead (that is a much more solid fact) just to get a shot at her. Hopefully, the next season will show a much more well-written character.
• Soos establishes himself as some sort of combination between Red Dwarf's Kryten and Lister; he's a slobbish, childish man, yet he also has a strong moral centre. He slowly establishes himself as quite possibly the most "normal" of the people that live at the shack.
• Gideon, at first, just seems like a one-off villain that just has powers and wants to date Mabel. However, we slowly learn that he is looking to take down Stan... and get something located in the shack. He also reveals himself to be more crafty and manipulative than he lets off at first.

The plot... there is little to say about the plot except that it is quite complex, quite twisty, and very, very brilliant. Whether you're 5 or 55, the appeal of the plot development is quite broad. Same goes for the comedy; it appeals on every single level possible, from pop culture to character-based comedy, from highbrow humour to lowbrow humour.

Really, this was (and is) a fantastic season of what might be one of the best (and one of the most underrated) TV shows out there. Even the two "clunkers" ("The Time Travellers Pig" and "Dipper vs. Manliness") are decent enough by TV standards. Let's just hope the momentum carries over to season 2!

Well, on that note, that's it for my coverage of Gravity Falls for the next few months. Alex Hirsch has already confirmed that the second season should air this summer. I might do another Top X List, one related to the show. Coverage of Red Dwarf Series VI (the last of the "original" six) should begin within the next few days, so I have that to look forward to.

...mmm. What else can I do to pass the time between now and Summer?

May as well watch The Simpsons continue to crater in. That's what we need - a reminder on how the once greatest show of all time became a shell of itself.

Not Another Top (X) List: Top 6 Best Episodes of Gravity Falls Season 1

Well, yesterday, we looked at the top 5 worst episodes of season 1 of Gravity Falls. It was hard to pick the 5 worst, simply because the season was so good

Now, onto another hard task; the top 6 episodes of Gravity Falls season 1. This was hard merely because the season was so fantastic, it produced god-knows-how-many candidates for the title of "best episode". Narrowing it down to 6 was a hard task.

So, without further ado, here are...

Not Another Top (X) List: Top 5 Worst Gravity Falls Episodes of Season 1

Remind me to add graphics to this image. (Image taken from Google Images. I apologise.)

Well, I've done it. I have covered 10 hours of television. The first season of Gravity Falls was fantastic. From the plot, to the characters, to the drama, to the humour, everything was close to (if not outright) well done.

However, I don't believe in perfection. Between that belief, and the fact that as an internet reviewer, I must produce a decent output of "negative" content, I have decided to look back and see what 5 episodes were the weakest this season. I might say something different compared to what I said in the review; I apologise for that. Again, these episodes are not necessarily bad. Flawed? Yes. Bad? Not really. This season was, by TV standards, excellent; these are just subpar compared to the high standards of this awesome show.

So here we are, back at another segment of "Not Another Top (X) List!" This week, X=5, and we're looking at the...

Top 5 Worst Gravity Falls Episodes of Season 1!

Gravity Falls Review: "Gideon Rises" (Season 1, Episode 20)

Airdate: August 2nd, 2013

Took a page out of Duloc, eh?

Synopsis: With Gideon now in control of the Mystery Shack- uh, I mean Gideonland- the Pines Family (and Soos) have to crash at Soos's Grandmother's house. The world seems to be falling apart; Gideon has Waddles, the kids have nowhere to go, Stan's store is gone, and Wendy will be shipped off to her cousin's logging camp if she can't hold a job in Gravity Falls. (In this economy? Enjoy the logging camp!) Threatened with being sent back to Piedmont, CA for the rest of Summer, the twins have to resort to drastic measures to try and take down the shack.

As this is happening, Gideon reveals the reason de jure for his takeover of the shack... as the last traces of his sanity evaporate. Stan, meanwhile, is trying to get used to the fact that his life is all but trashed... when he notices something fishy with the Gideonland buttons

Review (SPOILERS MIGHT BE AHEAD): Let's get this out of the way; the ending. I can't say I enjoyed the basics of it that much, given that everybody and their mother expected it. In a show that twists and turns every other day of the week, this just seems like a weak end. Still, can't fault the excellent music and the creative visuals.

Hell, you can't fault the episode that much. It really is pretty damn good.

Again, the raison d'etre for my love of Gravity Falls comes in the characters and their development and interactions. And might I say, these are some of the finest we've seen our characters at this point. First would have to be Gideon. Between his knowledge of the history of the secret in the Shack, and the construction of the Gideon-Bot, we see just how manipulatively intelligent he is.

To segway a bit, remember the beginning of the first book?

In Gravity Falls, there is no one you can trust.

We'll go into this line a bit later in the season wrap up. Rather appropriately, that applies to Gideon and his relationship with the town. He manages to con and manipulate the town over god-knows-how-long to try and access a great power. The facade and propaganda manages to keep the town by his side, even after the robot is wrecked, Gideon accuses the twins of trying to assassinate him via dynamite.

Dipper, meanwhile, loses his trust in himself after he not only loses the book, but is also given a verbal beatdown from Gideon himself over the simple fact that he possessed the book. Gideon puts it best;

Every victory you've had was because of your precious book... No muscles? No brains?... You're nothing without this book.

Yet, without the book, Dipper managed to take down Gideon. How? Going back to character development, unlike Gideon, who has committed god-knows-how-many felonies, Dipper has honour. Once Gideon captures Mabel, Dipper finally goes in for a full-blown attack against the kid. Here's a tip for those who value their lives; Do. Not. Mess. With. Mabel.

Mabel takes less of an action-oriented role than in "Dreamscaperers". However, in a moment where the two seem to be close to death, Mabel pulls out the Grappling Hook from "Tourist Trapped". Truly, the Chekov's Gun trope has been applied in full force.

Soos seems to retain his role as the "jack of all trades" - strangely enough, despite being a master of nothing, his roles help save the plot. His seemingly goofy persona helps make his heroic actions that much more awesome.

Admittedly, Wendy does not get much of a role in this one. However, whatever scenes she did have gave me hope for the future. Why? She proves that the last ties between her and Robbie are cut. Apparently, being lied to in terms of creativity does nothing for her. Let's just hope this marks her shifting into more of an independent role and less of a "thrust Dipper into puberty" role.

And Stan... whoa. Stan proves once and for all that he will protect and defend the twins... even if it means sending them back to California, as he has no money to raise them. Hell, contrast his reaction to the twins having no food against a line in "Dipper v. Manliness", where he orders the kids... ketchup for breakfast. That's certainly not the character we see here. Once Stan realises something is fishy with the Gideon buttons thanks to his hearing aid, he goes out and tries to get Gideon locked up. Is it selfish because he always wanted Gideon out of his hair? Maybe. However, it also shows another example on how not every hero is a selfless knight in shining armour; that they can be selfish, slobbish, and rather manipulative.

But how did Stan figure out the truth about Gideon's buttons so suddenly? That's a pretty damn good question... which might lead to further questions if and when it's answered next season.

This episode also relies a bit on call-backs... and they are really used effectively. They could've used the Manotaurs to try and take down Gideon. No. They used the foot-tall gnomes. Admittedly, it also shows that as awesome as Dipper and Mabel are, they are still kids, and thus, may not think things through that well.

The visual effects are pretty good, albeit not the best this show has done. The Gideon-bot, to be honest, sort of reminds me of Futurama, what with putting CGI special effects in an otherwise cartoonish show. However, background shots are the strength of this particular episode. Look at this one, for example.

Not only is this the image of a man that has hit rock bottom, but look at the kitchen. That is not an acceptable kitchen, especially for two 12-year olds.  Add to that the presence of the shadows, and the shading, and you have a screenshot that shows just how well animated this show is.

Again, the ending was a tad bit predictable, and that does drag the score down a tiny bit. However, the rest of the episode is fantastic. A wonderful end to a great first season!

Favourite Scene: Hard to pick, but it would have to be Mabel using her grappling hook... to help rescue herself and Dipper.

Least Favourite Scene: Personally, I wasn't a fan of the reveal that Soos was the bus driver, but only because the Pines twins should've known when they first boarded the bus. Really though, it's not a bad scene; it's just my least favourite.

Rating: 9

Red Dwarf Review: Series V Wrap Up

Well, we've reached the end of Red Dwarf V. Considered by fans and critics alike to be the best series of Red Dwarf, it's pretty hard to disagree.

So I will make a small disagreement.

On one hand, Red Dwarf V was not really that consistent when it came to quality. Red Dwarf III was much more consistent, with not a single episode ranking below a 7.5 score (and only 1 episode reaching that low, the somewhat inconsistent "Timeslides"). Two episodes in Series V ranked below a 7; the somewhat cliche and/or dry "Terrorform" and "Demons and Angels".

However, the four episodes this season that didn't receive low scores are among the best episodes of Red Dwarf ever. "Holoship" took a tragic look on the love life of Arnold Rimmer, showing his emotional complexion. "The Inquisitor" gave us a look on the complexities of Lister's character, and how and why he is considered the hero of the show, no matter who gets top billing. "Quarantine" gives us a deeper look inside just how messed up Rimmer can go, especially under a holo-virus, as well as the overall dynamic between the Boys from the Dwarf. And "Back to Reality", the best ever Red Dwarf, gave us an idea of what would happen if our main characters had a pivotal part of their characters inverted or nullified.

In terms of character, barring the two duff episodes listed above, this series really showed the zenith of the characters. Rimmer is as complex and rounded as ever, going from a tragically sympathetic figure that was moulded by outside circumstances into the character we all know and love, to a deranged egoist who makes you wonder how the Boys from the Dwarf haven't pulled the plug on his hologram yet. Lister takes the role of the moral and strategic centre, as he displays a desire to do good for the common man, only kills in strong situations, and can plan ways to get out of sticky situations. (He still forgets to add parts when reconstructing Kryten). Kryten establishes himself as the smart guy, providing whatever scientific exposition is needed for the day, as well as humour surrounding his knowledge of the Space Corps and technoid concepts.

Even the Cat, who doesn't get a lot of development in this series, gets full mileage out of every line he gets in the show. He is the plucky comic relief of the crew, so that makes sense. Even then, we are reminded in "Back to Reality" just how shallow the dude is.

The only series that this was bad for was Holly; reduced to little more than a gag character, by the end of the series, Grant Naylor had decided to finally retire the character.

Production wise, this was a darker season... literally. There was stronger use of dark-lit rooms. Even the ship's beige seemed to take on a darker tone to it. Set development was pretty damn creative; even the clunkers had well-developed visual effects.

Really, elaborating more for this series would be worthless. This series is all but fantastic. Even if you never watched the show before... watch this series. Even if you dislike sci-fi, or are not a fan of Red Dwarf, watch "Back to Reality". The four episodes that are good in this series are sublime TV. The two that aren't still had a ton of potential, as well as tons of funny lines.

Still, is this my favourite season? Not really. Series III was much more consistent in it's quality. Still, this season was pretty fantastic.

Red Dwarf Review: Series V, Episode 6: "Back to Reality"

Airdate: 26 March, 1992

Synopsis: Starbug is investigating the wreck of the SS Esperanto, which was conducting seeding experiments at the bottom of an ocean-covered moon. Apparently, despite the success of the ship, all the members committed suicide, apparently as a result of a toxin. Suddenly, Starbug (who's members suddenly become depressed) has to evade a giant squid. They crash...

...and thus, ends the Total Immersion Videogame Red Dwarf. Final score? 4%.

The people playing the game wake up, and slowly not only realise that they outright played the game wrong, they also get oriented to who they once were. Kryten was played by half-human cyber-cop Jake Bullet, who was a mere traffic officer. Lister was played by Sebastian Doyle, the voter colonel of a fascist state who headed a secret police to take people away. Rimmer was played by Billy Doyle, a miserable failure and the half-brother of Sebastian. And the Cat? Horror of all horrors, he was played by Duane Dibbley, a geek with no sense of fashion nor grace. Despair sets in, especially once Jake Bullet kills somebody that reveals the pure horror of the world they exist in.

Review (SOME SPOILERS MAY BE AHEAD): This was the first episode written for Series V, which was thought to be the last series due to cast issues (for one, Robert Llewellyn was going to do Red Dwarf USA, and Chris Barrie was to work on The Brittas Empire. Thus, the episode was pushed back to the last one, in case it was truly the end for the Boys from the Dwarf. Juliet May, who directed this, had trouble confining to the sci-fi atmosphere of the show and resigned midway through the series.

So, how low could this go? Well, let's just take a look at a review or two or four of this episode.

"If there is one show to watch again (and again and again), then this is most certainly it."  -Stacy Kidd, Den of Geek's "Top 10 Red Dwarf Episodes". 

"And so, one of the immutable laws of the universe asserts itself - poll Red Dwarf fans on their favourite episode, and 'Back to Reality' will win." - Fan site Ganymede and Titan, on the episode placing 1st in the 20th anniversary survey.

"Well, this is it - the pinnacle of human endeavour. The videotape containing this one should be behind bullet-proof glass in a museum. It's no less than perfect, with an inspired mix of ingenious plotting, brilliant writing, and stunning performances. This video could cure cancer." Reviews by Gavrielle, taking a look at Series V. 

"It's just shy of 1000 points ahead of it's rival - by far the biggest margin - and it's the favourite episode of 18% of Red Dwarf fans. It won the "Smegzine" poll in 1992, the Better Than Life poll in 1999, the G&T poll in 2008, and it's our second non-mover. Back To Reality is quite simply a remarkable piece of television." - Ganymede and Titan, on the episode placing 1st (again) in the Silver Survey in 2013.

(Apologies to those whose quotes I used. Shoot me an email if you want them removed.)

So, all those quotes indicate that this episode is quite popular. And you know what?

They are right.

I don't believe that things can achieve pure perfection. However, "Back to Reality" comes pretty damn close to breaking that threshold. It is one of the most well-constructed TV episodes ever.

The reason de jure of Red Dwarf's popularity are the well-crafted characters and the humour that revolves around them. "Back to Reality" takes this to the hilt, all while adding plenty of drama surrounding the characters.

First, there's Jake Bullet. The centrepiece of Kryten's character is that, no matter how much of a superego he is, he is simply unable to bring himself to kill humans; it's in his programming. Jake Bullet has the option to stun a human with a weapon he uses. He instead kills. Thus, he is driven over the emotional brink, contemplating terminating himself (i.e. suicide).

We then have Sebastian Doyle. As much as Lister is an unambitious slob, he is also a firm believer in the goodness of the average man, as well as independence and a scepticism of authority. He is quite clearly the most moral character of the core four. To see him in an absolute dictatorship, overseeing a secret police out to kill dissenters of a fascist state, goes against every single one of his principles.

Now, Billy Doyle. Rimmer and Billy are both pathetic lowlifes who have quite clearly failed in their life. However, Rimmer has tried to justify this by blaming other people. To an extent, Rimmer has a good excuse; his upbringing was pathetic. Now that Billy and Sebastian had similar upbringings, with Sebastian being more successful in theory, he could no longer blame his past for his failures. He puts it best:

"This is a nightmare! I'm on the run from the Fascist Police with a murderer, a mass murderer, and a man in a Bri-Nylon shirt!"

On the subject of the Bri-Nylon shirt, we now go to Duane Dibbley.

Duane Dibbley?

This episode pretty much states what we have long known/feared; the Cat's personality is as thin as a New York Pizza (relatively speaking, of course). The Cat's focus is on his self-image and grace, as well as being the most action-oriented of the three. Duane has none of that; he wears suspenders, has an overbite, and a bowl cut. He has no sense of action or grace. With the one outstanding trait of the Cat nullified, Duane has no sense of self worth.

Beyond character, the writing is brilliant. There is little unnecessary exposition; even Andy's "Welcome Back to the Real World" sets the tone for the "We really suck" attitude that encompasses the characters over the next 15 minutes. The twists and turns add to the humour and character development.

Production-wise, this episode really stretches it. The acting of everybody is fantastic. The cop, played by Lenny Von Dohlen (Harold Smith from Twin Peaks), is shown with a borderline lust for his cruel job... and it is fantastic. Nothing is overt; emotions are first seen in the faces. When Sebastian realises what his job his, his face quickly becomes pained.

It's a very small detail, but look closely at Sebastian's face. you can tell that he is truly shaken by the reveal that he was only a mass murderer.

The car chase that follows, well, is unique. Let's just say it really helped with the budget. It really is fantastic and helps bring the episode to it's final twist.

This episode has it all; fantastic characterisation, superb humour, sublime drama, effective special effects, awesome acting. In short, this is...

...the best Red Dwarf ever.

Favourite Scene: I should really just provide a link to the episode on iTunes. It really is that fantastic. However, since I have to pick, I will simply say that the car chase is sublime.

Least Favourite Scene: Saying this has a least favourite scene would be an insult to this episode. It's simply fantastic.

Score: 10.

Red Dwarf Review: Series V, Episode 5: "Demons and Angels"

Airdate: 19 March, 1992

Synopsis: Kryten creates a triplocator, a device that creates two additional copies of any object. However, it creates one copy that is divine and pure, and another that is vile and base. Thus, when Red Dwarf gets affected and the original copy is blown to smithereens, the crew have to board both the high ship and the low ship and collect both sides within an hour. The high ship contains everything perfect, such as well-lit rooms, kind crew members, and edible pot noodles. The low ship is broken and staffed by sadists, who want to torture Lister as much as possible.

Review: This episode could've worked.

Examining the high aspects and the low aspects of every character might have been a bit obvious (especially with Rimmer's low aspects), but look at the potential! We could've taken a look at the high aspects of the characters for once - I point to Rimmer's ambition, Lister's kindness, Cat's ability to take action, and Kryten's scientific mind - and could've elaborated on how having these as a character's only character traits is boring. We also could've elaborated on the lows, with each one being shaped to a character's unique traits, such as Lister's slobbishness, Cat's vanity, Kryten's OCD, and Rimmer's ego. Sure, these have been elaborated on before, but seeing all of them at once at their lowest moments would've made for an impressive comedy of errors, as well as show us that, as bad as our guys are, they could be much more dysfunctional.

Thing is, we came close enough to that in "Polymorph", where all their positive or negative traits were flipped and exaggerated. Instead, we are treated to high and low versions that are mostly stock characters. The high versions are perfect and uniform, with few differences. Give me PC-Rimmer from "Polymorph" before this guy any day! The low versions are but cliches with little connection to the characters they were based on. That's the tragic part of it all; they could've done so much with these characters, and went for the same old route any other show would've taken.

Where this episode lacks in script strength, it more than makes up for in one-liner comedy and set design. There are a lot of jokes that, alone, are pretty damned funny. The set design is also pretty cool and colourful.

Yet, that's not really what Red Dwarf is about. Red Dwarf is mainly about character comedy, of which there is little once we get to the highs and the lows; it's replaced in favour of one-liners about pot noodles, as well as some of the most disturbing violence in the show's history.

Overall, this is certainly an episode to watch if you want a few rapid-fire jokes. If you are looking for character comedy... well, there are far better options.

Favourite Moment: Holly's warning to the crew.

Rude alert! Rude alert! An electrical fire has knocked out my voice recognition unicycle! Many wurlitzers are missing from my database! Abandon shop; this is not a daffodil! Repeat: this is not a daffodil!

 Rimmer promptly responds by declaring that Holly's unaffected. Fantastic character comedy there.

Least Favourite Moment: The entire torture sequence with the Low Dwarfers is quite uncomfortable to watch... and not in a good way.

Score: 6.

Gravity Falls Review: Season 1, Episode 19: "Dreamscaperers"

Airdate: July 12, 2013

Ah, Bill! Keep on laughing, you morally ambiguous wacko.

Synopsis: Back for revenge against the Mystery Shack... again... Gideon is driven over the edge. Taking out book #2, he summons Bill Cypher, a mind demon with the power to enter and control the subconscious, so that Gideon can gain control of the safe and steal the deed. Bill goes into Stan's mind. Dipper has to summon himself into the mind of Grunkle Stan... just as relations between the two seem to have hit an all time low. As the gang crosses the mindscape to try and hunt Bill Cypher, the way Stan's mind works is slowly unveiled, as Dipper realises how Stan treats the kid, and why he does the things he does.

Review (SPOILERS MAY BE AND ARE AHEAD): In February of 2014, I reviewed "Boyz Crazy" and declared it to be my favourite episode of the series thus far, due to it's use of Shakespearian tragicomedy and questionable motives amongst every single character. It really was the closest thing Gravity Falls ever came to nihilism.

However, remember: just because it's my favourite does not mean it was the most well produced episode. That honour goes to "Dreamscaperers". I swear to you, the survey on the Gravity Falls Wiki shows "Dreamscaperers" in a commanding lead for "Best Episode", and it seems to be there for at least the next few months. (The new season premieres over Summer).

Strangely enough, some of the features of "Dreamscaperers" oppose those of "Boyz Crazy". "Boyz Crazy" focused on the darker underbelly of our main characters, and the connections between them being threatened; "Dreamscaperers" focuses on the development of the supernatural features and a more positive side to the characters, especially Stan.

We get a peek in Stan's memories, which literally gives him the most complete backstory of the main characters so far. I used to compare Dipper to Red Dwarf's Arnold Rimmer, due to Dipper's own neurosis, organisational tendencies, and pride. However, as I rewatched the episodes, I slowly realised that the comparison, while justified, was not the best matchup. The reason? Dipper, past his moments of selfishness, neurosis, and pride, is actually one to practise self-improvement, selflessness, and will always come to the defence of other characters.

I now have to give the comparison to Stan, due to the tragic backstory the two had, as well as their cynical, self-serving actions. Yet, whereas Rimmer's childhood was played for comedy and was not used as an excuse for his behaviour, Stan's childhood was played in a much more tragic light, and used to show just why he became the man he is today; he's a jaded man, cynical because of the cards life dealt him. He doesn't want Dipper to turn into him; a weak man who is beaten into cynicism and selfishness.

We also see Mabel really take on a leadership role in the episode. Whereas Dipper has normally taken on the role of team leader, he's too derailed by his own self-interests and cynicism for much of the episode. It's Mabel who sends the crew into action against Bill Cypher. Yet she still keeps her eccentric behaviour and quirks.

And may we also give Bill Cypher a hand here? Sure, the first time you watch, he's a perfectly affable guy, who is merely a slave to the journal holder. Yet, we get to see a darker side to the "Isosceles Monster", as he has the power to manipulate the human mind, connect with people who are outright cruel (Gideon), and tortures the crew by bringing their worst nightmares to life. To go off on a tangent, that last part reminds me of the Red Dwarf episode "Back to Reality", an episode which is not only one I will review in the coming weeks, but an episode considered the zenith of it's franchise. Bringing the worst nightmares of people to life is, again, nothing new, but it also plays into the characters: Soos, despite bouts of maturity, still has the mind of a child, and Mabel also has the level of self awareness that makes her quirkiness just awesome enough to work.

Sorry for the tangent; back to Bill. He really is ambiguous; is he looking out for his own power and out to cause mischef, or is he only forced to do what people command him to do? Is he a wise being, or is he just using scare tactics? Is he the product of a Gravity Falls figurehead? What could be behind this character?

Last but not least on the Character chart, Gideon. We already know from "The Hand That Rocks the Mabel" that he owns #2, and that he wants the Shack (thank you, "Little Dipper"), but here, we see him finally execute 15 episodes worth of development. I won't spoil the ending, except for the fact that dynamite and personal connections get involved. Really, that last scene shows that he is craftier than we thought he was even in recent episodes: he knows his science.

We also must mention that, while the art in Gravity Falls has always been fantastic, it is the art in this episode (especially the credits sequence and the scenes with Bill) that convince me to say this: in terms of animation, Gravity Falls is the best animated TV show in recent years... possibly ever.

I don't even have to say anything else, really. The conflict is awesome, the humour is fantastic, the plot twists are pretty damn good... this is simply an episode that anybody and everybody should watch. Is it my favourite? It's close. A 10 score is given to my favourite episode of the entire show, and I think "Boyz Crazy" is still my favourite because it gave development to otherwise underrated characters... but still. This is damn near perfect. This is to Gravity Falls what "Back to Reality" was to Red Dwarf: it sent the show from fantastic to a show that will hopefully stand the test of time. Alex Hirsch, Tim McKeon, Matt Chapman, Joe Pitt, and John Aoshima, you should all be proud of yourselves. (And that's not even getting into the actors!)

Favourite Scene: If I HAVE to narrow it down... anything and everything with Bill Cypher. The character is just well crafted enough to work.

Least Favourite Scene: One of my most frequent complains this season has to be the underuse of Wendy. She gets one line ("One time, I caught Gideon stealing my moisturiser"), and it just does not connect as well as others in the episode, or others that the character has delivered. It just seems like they keep her in simply to give Dipper a love interest and personal flaws, or to try and avert "The Smurfette Principle". Come on guys, give her some sense of development. (Still an otherwise fantastic scene.)

Score: 9.5.

Red Dwarf Review: Series V, Episode 4: "Quarantine"

Think your bunkmate is bad? Try living with this guy.

Airdate: 12 March, 1992

Synopsis: The crew land on an ice planet to rescue Dr Lanstrom, a holo-researcher. This would require Rimmer to be turned off. The trio realise that Dr Langstrom has a holo-virus that drives her insane... yet also researched "good" viruses that provide good luck and happiness. Meanwhile, finally driven over the edge, Rimmer acquires the Space Corps Directives book thanks to Kryten, and begins using it against the crew, forcing them in a 1-bunk quarantine with no entertainment... in the hope that they destroy themselves. However, Rimmer manages to still catch a holo-virus... thanks to the holo-virus being transmitted over the radio.

Review: Certainly, this episode is one of those "reminder" episodes that Red Dwarf likes to utilise; that Lister is technically the only real crew member on board ship, that Kryten still is generally of little value when compared to his contemporaries, and, most importantly, that for all life threw at him, Rimmer is a smeghead.

On that last point, we are thrust straight into his neurosis at the beginning. It's a constant cycle; nobody likes him, so he's a smeghead, causing nobody to like him, causing him to act like a smeghead. Again, nobody liking him is not a justification for Rimmer's behaviour. He more or less uses his revenge by turning his crew member's flaws against him. Kryten's desire to quote Space Corps Directives gets Rimmer a nifty Book 'O Directives, causing him to trap the crew in quarantine, use every technicality and loophole in the book, borderline torturing the crew, and getting the crew to turn on each other. The Holo-virus he gets simply exaggerates his behaviour to comically sick levels.

The trio getting trapped in Quarantine also shows that their hatred of Rimmer is the closest they have in common. Lister is a total slob who really didn't mature past his early teenage years, the Cat is more egocentric than Rimmer and will not confess to anything that could put him in a negative light, and Kryten is neurotic and will do anything to the letter. The three are basically the three faces of Rimmer: the immaturity, the ego, and the neurosis. Yet, they all hate him. Is it because Rimmer is a smeghead? Or is it because they strive to not sink to Rimmer's smegish levels and use attacks on him as a means of defence?

Oh, crap. I over-analyzed a sitcom where Rimmer contacts a holo-virus, causing him to pull out and converse with a stuffed penguin puppet!

That seems to be what many people seem to remember this episode for; holo-virus infected Rimmer. That, my geeky friends, is just one of the many funny scenes this episode possesses. While the first half is a bit dry, once we go into Quarantine, damn near every joke connects. Rundown?

• This dialog:
• Rimmer: "I think that requires two hours of W.O.O." 
• Lister: "Well, what's W.O.O?" "
• The Cat: (in a very dry manner) "You had to ask."
• Rimmer: "With... out... oxygen! No oxygen for two hours! That'll teach you to be breadbaskets!"
• The lineup of meals served in quarantine (sprouts are a bit involved), as well as the entertainment (which is impressively bad).
• The revival of "smee hee".
• The use of the luck virus.
• "You know what happens when you call me tetchy!" So Lister writes it.

Just... fantastic! The drier first half keeps it from achieving "best episode", but it still deserves the praise it gets.

Favourite Scene: Can't I just say anything shown past "Rimmer orders the crew in quarantine?" 

Least Favourite Scene: I don't think that Dr Lanstrom chasing the crew was particularly funny.

Score: 9

Update: The title should read Episode 4, not Episode 2. Sorry.

Red Dwarf Review: Series V, Episode 3: "Terrorform"

Airdate: 5 March, 1992

Ah, waltzing around on a swamp planet that's literally powered by the brain. How bad could this be? Well...

Synopsis: Rimmer and Kryten wind up trapped on a psy-moon, a moon created by the psyche of any person, analysing his subconscious and adapting it's terrain and it's inhabitants to fit said subconscious... up to and including the worst demons. Rimmer is kidnapped by the inhabitants, Kryten manages to use his eye and hand to get back to Cat and Lister (who think it's a tarantula at first), and the three try and get Rimmer (now with a physical presence) back.

Recap (Synopsis): This episode was... not very good.

It's not a total write-off by any means. The plot of this episode, as well as the concept of the psy-moon, had so much damn potential. The visual effects, for a BBC sitcom in the mid 90s, still hold up very, very well. There is a lot of humour involving the interactions between the Cat and Lister, Kryten's actions, Rimmer being prepared to get eaten by his psyche (it makes sense in context), Cat's idea of putting on the "jet-powered rocket pants" and going to "Junior Birdman the hell outta here" (which seemed to be the last one to feature the "X is excellent, except X and Y" gag), and tons of subtle visual humour.

Subtle, though, is not this episode's strong point when it comes to characterisation.

This episode is another "Rimmer is a neurotic smeghead" episode. And, unlike "Dimension Jump", "Better Than Life", and "Meltdown", where we get to see this through his actions and past, this episode is as obvious as possible with it. The only way it could've been more obvious if it flashed "RIMMER IS A NEUROTIC SMEGHEAD" across the screen for the last 15 minutes of the episode. It's also not subtle with how much the others hate Rimmer, especially with the last three minutes.

Oh, and what the smeg was with the sword fight at the end? It just screams "we don't know how to end this obvious episode, so here's some beings representing Rimmer WHO IS STILL A NEUROTIC SMEGHEAD fighting each other!"

Again, the concept of the psy-moon is excellent. If it had been applied to the Cat, or Lister, it would have made for excellent character comedy. Instead, it's done with Rimmer. The situation is obvious, and the episode falls a bit flat.

Favourite Moment: Gotta be the "Tarantula" scene. Brilliant character comedy. To add to that, no words are spoken.

Least Favourite Moment: Again, the stupid swordfight. Worst. Dwarf. Ending. Ever.

Score: 6.5.