Mysterious boarded up cave
What is interesting here is that on the boards are written 3 words: Blendin was here. This fits in well with his suit malfunction in the episode Blendin's Game. He showed three locations: the Northwest mansion, the Gravity Falls police station, and the sunset over Glass Shard Beach. The question is: why? Will Blendin return again? And what does he want? Did he try and fail several times to mess up people's lives so the Pines twins would never be born?
Stanley's splinters
That makes 2 references to previous episodes so far. The band-aid on Stanley's chin makes 3.
Pines! Pines! Pines! Pines!
Make that 4. I'm counting them up.
Theme song
Three things. First, oh full Gravity Falls theme song, how I have missed you! Second, the whisper is back to Key Vigenere. Third, you probably noticed the picture of Ford holding the journal, but you probably didn't notice that it's among the pictures... of the VILLAINS.
Ford punches Stan
This is important. Stan just said (before the intro) that he's the one who has punching. What they are trying to show is that Ford and Stan have developed some of each other's skills.
They're your family, poindexter. Shermy's grandkids.
I know this has gotten a lot of spotlight already, but WHO THE HECK IS SHERMY??? He has to be the brother of the Stans. Having him a generation behind them means a couple of teen pregnancies, a generation before them conflicts with the idea that Filbrick and Mrs. Pines are inexperienced parents (an idea confirmed by them giving both their sons the same name), and the same generation creates problems about his absence in this story. My guess? He was kicked out of the house.
Does anyone else know about this portal?
I want to know why Ford is so concerned that anyone else knows about the portal. Kind of suggests that it might be a doomsday device or something. From DDamD we know that it's too dangerous for the world it feeds into. I'm hoping to learn more about the portal in the coming episodes.
I'm hoping all this aligns exactly with my fanfic, Stan.
OK, Alex, if you're reading this, I know you're openly mocking us. And I love you for it!
Pines Pawns
Now, here are a few notes. First, the shop on the left, which serves "HOT BELGIAN WAFFLES!" Must've been a shock every time you went there. Second, the place on the right, which served up puns and Knuckles Sandwiches. Third, a truck driving by proves that even in the 60s, there was Pitt Cola. Fourth, a sign on the Pines Pawns shop reads "JEWELRY WATCHES NO REFUNDS".
Finally, you may notice that Mrs. Pines's logo is a picture of just one eye. Now don't forget, Gideon's logo is a 5-pointed star with just one eye. And they're both fake psychics. But wait, there's more! The Gideon pins in Gideon Rises, with which he spies on the citizens of Gravity Falls, show Gideon winking... and therefore using just one eye! I believe that adds up to 9 references.
Stans' room
First note: a magazine called WUH?, a parody of MAD, has Alex Hirsch's face on it. Second: the keyword is on a poster on the right side of the room: sixer. Third, a shot from this room was shown in the preview, confirming the Stans' name swap theory even before the episode aired. Fourth: Stan's monster costume is the same one he used in Tourist Trapped.
Stan o' War makes 11 references
...you and me are gonna sail away from this dumb town....
Is it just me, or does that sound like a promise that is yet to be fulfilled? In other words, THIS IS STILL A POSSIBILITY, PEOPLE!
Ford's brain seemed to get more impressive every year.
Now that explains all the awards and stuff around the secret room in Carpet Diem (now known to be Ford's.) 12.
Science fair. Project next to Ford's. Footbot. Bottomless Pit. 13 references.
You have two sons.
Get your facts straight, Mr. Principal! The Pines have at least 3 sons by now. As I mentioned above, Shermy could be a generation after Stan and Ford, but he is definitely born by now.
There. Alright. Good as new... probably.
Ah yes, the theory that Stan didn't actually wreck his brother's project. If this theory is true, someone (possibly Blendin Blandin?) came in later that night and messed with it. Amazing theory. But there's one problem: if it's true, that would totally put a damper on the whole "Stanford is angry at Stanley" thing. It would make his choice to forgive Stanley (come on, we all know it's coming!) all the easier, and if there's one thing Gravity Falls is doing, it's presenting its characters with difficult choices. If this was Phineas and Ferb I would believe the theory, but this is not Phineas and Ferb.
Commercial breaks
What the commercial breaks (or lack thereof, in the 30-minute airings) remind me of is the stories of premiere day. For those who don't know, TheMysteryofGF had a livestream set up for us to watch the new episodes and the all-day marathons that come before them. Unfortunately, about 4 hours before the premiere, the livestream was taken down. The people at TheMysteryofGF worked for hours to set up more livestreams. Some were even taken down before the episode aired. But eventually, over 12,000 people tuned in on themysteryofgravityfalls.com/stream, including Douglas MacKrell and Alex Hirsch!
I know what you two little broken teacups need.
Remember the first time Mabel called someone a broken teacup? That's right, it was in The Love God. She was referring to Robbie after his breakup with Wendy. 14.
I was officially banned from New Jersey.
Now, notice that the sign that says "Now leaving New Jersey" has a PINE TREE on it! 15.
Stan's products
A quote from Alex Hirsch's AMA: "Bobby Renzobbi once sold a really cheap tennis racket called "WHAT A RACKET!" which had overly tight strings that popped and blinded a few people resulting in lawsuits. He is always days away from prison." One of Stanley's failed products was called "WHAT A RACKET!" and the picture showed him holding a tennis racket with a popped string. Bobby Renzobbi either a) was once Stan's literal partner in crime, or b) is one of Stan's false identities. I'm going with b until more evidence presents itself.
Ford's map
Note a few things. First, as Alex Hirsch revealed at the SDCC, if you were to place a tack on a map for every anomaly in existence, there would be a few scattered tacks everywhere, but most would be clustered around Gravity Falls. Second, next to Ford is a box that reads Dungeons, Dungeons and More Dungeons. I'm giving this one 1/2 point. Third, although Stan has been banned in most states by this point, note that California (where Dipper and Mabel live) and Oregon are not among them.
Ford's house
When we see Ford's unfinished house (now called the Mystery Shack), the person working on it looks suspiciously like an older version of Wendy. My guess is that this is simply Wendy's mom. But why is she "no longer with her"? Anyway, that's 16 1/2.
Shapeshifter
Reference #17 1/2: it was revealed in Into the Bunker that the author hatched the shapeshifter from an egg.
