Latest Theories

This is the first amazing image from this trailer. The author is looking at his hand, and Grunkle Stan is angry at someone. In the background you can see that the boat is called the Stan o' War, which was first mentioned in Grunkle Stan's interview with the GF Gossiper podcast.

This picture was already released, but we can still learn from it. The Stans are exploring a cave, and I believe it is in the town of Glass Shard Beach. Notice that Grunkle Stan has a bandage on his chin. Also notice the opening is shaped like a triangle.

It seems the "arm punching to show playful affection" idea is nothing new. The Stan twins used it during their childhood. Note that they are in the same clothes as the previous picture.

The big reveal for this picture is the handprints. Look closely and you will see that Stanley's handprint has 5 fingers, while Stanford's has 6. So from now on I will call Grunkle Stan "Stanley" and the author "Stanford."

In this picture Stanford is using a butterfly net to catch floating eyeballs, mentioned in journal #3. We know it's Stanford because of the extra finger.

Here Stanley is sitting on a swing, alone and sad. This swingset was seen in Dreamscaperers, with his own swing intact but his brother's swing broken. It was also seen at the end of Not What He Seems. It seems that Stanley is mourning the loss of his brother.

Here Stanley is being pushed down. The man pushing him down looks to be wearing the same outfit as Great-Grandfather Pines (the Stans' father.) But this begs the question: why is this man pushing down his own son?

Dipper and Mabel are demanding an explanation here. But if you look closely, you'll see what appear to be the reflection off a pair of glasses. They are not part of the next image. This ought to be interesting. Also, I have a theory that Mabel might at some point stand next to the keyword for the Vigenere cipher.

Here Stanford and McGucket are working on the portal. Again, you can tell it's Stanford by the extra finger. You can tell it's McGucket by the hairstyle. Now, there is no 3rd assistant here. I think Stanley is the 3rd assistant, but he didn't do much until the portal was activated.

Here Stanley is lighting up a dark portal room. It could be a refueling attempt of the portal, or it could be whatever happened in Tourist Trapped. It could also have happened before the show even started. Who knows at this point?

"Hi, I'm Steve Bindington!" At least, I think that's what I heard. So Stanley (5 fingers!) appeared on TV as this guy at some point. He was either trying to pose as a real TV star to get the cops off his back, or he was trying out a job after his brother left.

So Stanley got chased out of Pennsylvania. The crowd was probably coming with a lot of pointy forks, pitch and otherwise (another nugget gleaned from Stanley's interview with the GF Gossiper.) He was probably caught in the act of pulling a heist, most likely something to do with the portal.

Here Stanford's hand is being traced. The paper was then cut out and glued onto journal #3. Note that this is the exact same desk seen in the flashback in Gideon Rises, to when the author was writing journal #2.

It appears in this picture as if McGucket was sucked into the portal, and one of the Stans was watching and tried to help him out. My guess is that Stanford is watching, and the other end of the rope holds Stanley. Somehow, Stanford became trapped on the other side of the portal as a result of this.

It's difficult to see, but here a Stan in a fez, Soos, Dipper and Mabel are watching a police car outside the Shack. Note that while the police car is facing right, it actually moves to the left. Note also that this might spoil the ending: that Stanford takes the fall for Stanley and goes to prison.

Here someone is opening a door to a dark room. It's probably a Pines as this person has the family hairstyle. There's not much I can see in this room other than that.

Here a Stan is turning around angrily to look at something in the Shack's living room. What he is looking at is up for speculation.

Here it appears that a tree is grabbing and smashing a car. I don't know whether the tree is possessed, or all trees are secretly evil, or that's the arm of a giant Gideon-bot, or what.

"Soos writes fanfiction about Stan." 'Nuff said.

A car is driving past the "Welcome to Gravity Falls" sign. I personally think it's one or both of the Stans on a high speed chase against the cops. I think they are driving into the town.

Here Stanford is proud of the construction on the house that will one day become the Mystery Shack. So this proves that he was there when it was built, and that it has been around for at least 30 years.

Here a clearly worried Stanley is making a phone call. I can't put a place or time on it, so there's no way I can tell who he's calling. This one is up for grabs.

Here Stanford is shining a flashlight into Stanley's eye. It looks like Stanley just got them almost busted for a heist.

Here one of the Stans is standing out in the snow. It looks like Gravity Falls because of all of the trees. I'm guessing it's right outside the Mystery Shack.

Clearly Stanford paid more attention in school than Stanley. Note also that Stanley is eating toffee peanuts, proclaimed by Alex Hirsch to be his favorite treat, and has a football carved into his desk.

Here Stanford is holding a rope. He is obviously trying to pull something (or someone) out of the portal. My guess? McGucket. This picture is coupled with the earlier one.

Here the Shack is lit up by the portal machine. I think this picture is from 1982 though because a) the building does not say "Mystery Shack," b) the present Shack does not have a satellite dish, and c) there is a red warning light where the totem pole should be.

Here we see Young McGucket working in his lab. Note the laptop prototype at the front of the screen. Note also the poster above McGucket's desk, a strawberry with a bite taken out of it. (an obvious reference to Apple) And I think McGucket is playing the banjo. One more thing: he appears to be working out of a garage, probably the one from his home at the time since the Shack doesn't have a garage.

Again, this pic was already released. Anyway, I think it means McGucket is trying to figure out who is represented by the question mark on Bill Cipher's Wheelfor their generation. More on this theory in the ROOTHM series "Deciphering Cipher."

Here Stanford is taking notes in journal #3 about Schmebulock. Now, we know from another previous image that he kept a gnome in a cage. We can also tell from the background that the secret room from Carpet Diem is indeed Stanford's room.

From Stanley's interview with the GF Gossiper: "I've been arrested in a lot of states. I've been kicked out of a lot of town halls, and chased with a lot of pointy forks, pitch and otherwise. This is the only town that I got left, where the cops don't know where I am. Plus, it's beautiful."