Even 8 years after Gravity Falls ended, I still have questions about the show’s many mysteries and characters, which is what makes The Book of Bill so exciting. Penned by series creator Alex Hirsch, the tie-in text is written from Bill Cipher’s point of view. Although many of us didn’t initially realize what Gravity Falls‘ end-credits cryptograms were teasing, Bill, a triangle-shaped interdimensional demon, was the show’s overarching antagonist. The top hat-wearing, one-eyed menace is capable of infiltrating and taking over peoples’ minds, which makes him a massive threat — even by Gravity Falls standards.
The series finale, “Weirdmageddon 3: Take Back the Falls,” Gravity Falls‘ core characters — twins Dipper and Mabel Pines, their Great Uncle “Grunkle” Stan, and Stan’s estranged brother, Ford — try to thwart Bill Cipher’s evil plans. The profoundly unhinged and wildly irreverent Bill Cipher is one of my favorite TV show villains. Although his goals are deceptively simple, Bill is full of surprises. The Book of Bill‘s biggest reveals and takeaways prove that the demon is a one-of-a-kind antagonist, which has always made me wonder about Bill Cipher’s post-Gravity Falls fate.
The Book Of Bill Answered My Biggest Bill Cipher Question After Gravity Falls’ Ending
Bill Cipher’s Fate Is Revealed In The Gravity Falls Tie-In Book
Thanks to The Book of Bill, we finally know what happened to Bill Cipher after the Pines family saved the day. For me, the series finale, “Weirdmageddon 3,” boasts some scary Gravity Falls moments, largely thanks to Bill’s ability to summon just about anything he needs. Even though Bill seems all-powerful, he is sent to the “Neutral Zone” in Dimension 5150 after striking a deal with the Axolotl, a powerful extra-dimensional creature. Also referred to as the Theraprism, Bill’s rehabilitation center is located outside of space and time, which feels appropriate to me given his dimension-hopping ways.
…Bill refuses to vanish, or be vanquished, completely.
In Gravity Falls lore, the Theraprism is meant to rehabilitate the deceased, but, by his own admission, Bill Cipher shows no signs of changing. During one of his therapeutic arts-and-crafts sessions, Bill makes a book — in a meta twist, The Book of Bill — so that we can help him escape his extra-dimensional prison. After reading The Book of Bill, I found it even easier to say how Gravity Falls‘ TV horror elements were inspired by Twin Peaks. In true supernatural horror fashion, Bill refuses to vanish, or be vanquished, completely.
Just as Ford Pines fears, Bill is determined to return to Earth and put his villainous plans into motion once again. As the demon reiterates throughout The Book of Bill, someone will let him out. As we know from the TV series, some unaware soul always answers Bill Cipher’s siren song. The section about Bill’s fate ends with the reveal that somewhere, deep in Gravity Falls’ woods, a statue of the demon glows blue, teasing his return.
The Gravity Falls Book Digs Deeper Into The Show’s Villain
The Book Of Bill Provides Greater Insight Into Bill’s Origin Story & Personality
Told from Bill Cipher’s singular point of view, The Book of Bill is the demon’s side of the story, which means it digs deeper into Gravity Falls lore. What I believe to be some of Gravity Falls‘ best episodes do reveal how Bill met Ford, but The Book of Bill illustrates why it was advantageous to control Ford’s mind, in particular. To my surprise, it also gets into the details of why Bill landed in Gravity Falls, Oregon, of all places. For Gravity Falls fans who want a look into Bill Cipher’s twisted mind, the book is a must-read.
