Schmebulock... Sr. makes 18 1/2. Also note that another gnome is trapped in a cage in the room, and he does not look happy.
McGucket's garage
First, from Ford's narration, McGucket could have been Steve Jobs and been worth billions. Second, there was a poster above his desk which further cemented the idea: a multicolored strawberry with a bite out of it, and the slogan "Ponder alternately." Third, the prototype computer in this garage looks suspiciously like McGucket's laptop from the bunker. 19 1/2.
Young Tyler and his mom: 21 1/2.
Caution line
I didn't notice until now, the reason Fiddleford was sucked into the portal was because he stepped over the caution line.
Fiddleford's messages
First: VOTMSRIG IVSKRX OORY! Played backwards, this translates to YROO XRKSVI GIRSMTOV, which is what he said in his memories in Society of the Blind Eye. In atbash, that translates to BILL CIPHER TRIANGLE!
Second: When Gravity Falls and earth become(s) sky, fear the beast with just one eye. As much as the fans would hate to admit it, when combined, these messages show that Bill is indeed the beast we must watch out for. But, is it become or becomes? Will Gravity Falls and earth fuse into sky? Or will gravity fall when earth turns into sky?
...one I'd just as soon forget. I quit!
Aaaaand, we are connected to Society of the Blind Eye. That makes 23 1/2.
I don't need you! I don't need anyone!
Now, this quote shows a common theme throughout the episode and the series: these characters DO need each other, and they need to trust each other. They really can't make it on their own, and sometimes forgiveness is a part of that trust. Check out this theory for more information. Also, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hear the whispers.
Just give me a few more days, Rico! I'll pay your goons back, I swear!
That makes 24 1/2. I for one am wondering who Rico is: maybe a former partner of Stan's, who he later tried to betray? Or maybe these were two different Ricos? Also, Stan Vac makes 25 1/2.
Who is it? Have you come to steal my eyes?
I think it's pretty clear that at this point, Ford has discovered that Bill can possess people. 26 1/2.
Ford's house - interior
Two references. First, the T-rex skull in the aquarium. Second, if you look closely you can see an actual trapdoor, just like Stan thought in Little Dipper. 28 1/2.
Stan's tattoo
So... it's a burn mark. First off, get that one out of the way. Now, in Dreamscaperers, when Bill says "Stan Pines..." he pictures two things: Ford in the fight in front of the portal, and Stanley's tattoo. This leads me to believe Bill was watching the fight from the other end of the portal. It also gives me 29 1/2 references.
The glasses
Ford's glasses fell off when he entered the portal. If the theory about the symbols on Bill's wheel representing mature moments in characters' lives is true, then there's no doubt in my mind that the glasses represent Stanley. But that leaves another problem: who is the fez symbol? It obviously represents the fez (it was changed in the journal in Dreamscaperers). Note that in Boss Mabel, it seemed to symbolize running the Shack, so maybe it has something to do with the Shack's future.
Ford's disappearance
We can safely assume now that Ford DID NOT disappear on July 4th, 1982, because it was snowing outside that day. It does not snow in America in July. And thanks to the appearance of the 90s teenagers at Dusk2Dawn, it was probably somewhere in the 90s. But that theory presents more problems than it solves. I really think their inclusion was just a big-time mistake by the animators, and this happened in the winter of 1982-83.
Stan's trip into town
Get ready for a load of references:
30 1/2. The guy Stan walks past has a Scout's honor sign on the back of his sweatshirt (Fight Fighters.)
31 1/2 - 33 1/2. The 90s teens, Dusk2Dawn, and Ma and Pa.
34 1/2 - 43 1/2. Younger versions of Lazy Susan, the Skull Fracture bouncer, Daryl Blubs, Free Pizza guy, Toby Determined, Tambry's mom, and 4 people I can't remember.
44 1/2. Lazy Susan's eye.
I don't know how you got a hold of one of these...
This proves two things. First, Ford knew about the memory erasers. (Judging by his writings in the journal, he also knew Fiddleford was the inventor.) Second, there is more than one. Meaning, theoretically, if there was a member of the Blind Eye Society who wasn't at that fateful last meeting, and theoretically, if they got their hands on another one of those, then theoretically, they could re-start the Blind Eye Society! 45 1/2.
I've been practicing making sounds of excitement for this very occasion.
But I'll need all of your floppy disks, and uh... 8 tracks. Right?
Seems old Fordsy was behind the times even before he disappeared into the portal. According to Wikipedia, 8 tracks became obsolete in the late 1970s, and Ford's disappearance was somewhere close to 1982.
You really aren't gonna thank me, are you?
That's all he wants. We've been teased that at least one character will not survive the season. One possible scenario I see is that Ford finally comes around and thanks Stan for saving him, but this comes right before Stan's actual death. This would also solve the problem of Stan having to move out.
Dipper... you don't think we'll turn out like Stan and Ford, do you?
Yeah, as of DDamD, they're starting to turn into Stan and Ford. But don't worry, I have a theory. I think that at some point, Dipper and Mabel will stop, look each other in the non-possessed eyes, and say "We got stupid." Then they will have an awkward sibling hug and their bond will become even closer. Ford and Stan, seeing this, will realize that it's not too late for them to mend their own bond. So in an odd twist of fate, Stan and Ford will turn out like Dipper and Mabel.
End credits messages
The Vigenere message is "BACKUPSMORE UNIVERSITY: YOU TRIED." Just a reference.
The end page tells us about the Stans' name discrepancy.
"A stubborn tough New Jersey native
Filbrick wasn't too creative
Having twins was not his plan
So he just shrugged and named both Stan."
Final reference tally: 45 1/2
Sentence: HOT BELGIAN WAFFLES!!!!! (crossed out, replaced with) SON OF A...
