Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-27708312-20170202163909/@comment-31166511-20170217081119

The above review is only spoilery in the mildest and most fussy sense. But in this plot brainstorming post the kid gloves are OFF!

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

One important aspect of Gravity Fall is that it is a fairly safe place for kids--as long as they don't start meddling in things they don't understand. The Mystery Shack is an especial haven which is why it was so effective to have zombies invade the Shack for Grunkle Stan's big reveal that he'd known about the town's weirdness all the time.

The Pine's home may have been invaded, but the payoff is that Stan is prepared and capable of dealing with such threats.

This is why having the zombie tooth just suddenly show up at the begining is really disapointing. And the fact that Dipper didn't have a clue what it was also didn't fit well.

Not only has Dipper had extensive zombie parts experience. What tweleve-year-old do you think Grunkle Stand made clean up the ENTIRE zombie ooze-covered yard after he almost caused the end of life on earth as we know it? If Dipper doesn't already have a jar of zombie teeth, you can bet that Mable has at least one taped to the page of a scrapbook. Especially the Halloween Memories scrapbook page for the twin's sixth grade zombie costumes.

Mable may have even made dangerous craft projects out of pretty green zombie ivory, like friendship bracelets or a necklace.

A cool mystery plot element could have been added if the story introduced several new Mystery Shack displays that Dipper barely notices in passing, but an altert reader might suddenly realize whatever the pun name of the exhibit is, it implies that it contains one of the missing elements that Dipper needs. This would have added an audience participation element to the story like the show so often employed.

And it might be asking a lot, but it would have been very, very impressive to have worked a cipher into the plot. Not that it would be necessarry to the plot itself, but just stuck into the text for someone to find. An easy cipher at the end of the story, just like the final credits would not have been a difficult addition.