Filbrick Elmer Pines[1][2] is the husband of Caryn Pines, the father of Stan, Ford, and Shermie Pines, and the great-grandfather of Dipper and Mabel Pines.
As of 2012, his current status is unknown, but due to the passing of time since Stanley was kicked out of the family, he has probably passed away before the start of the series.
History[]
Early life[]
Growing tired of his son's weak nature, Filbrick forced a young Stan Pines into boxing lessons, hoping it would help him build a stronger character. Though Stan believed it was done simply because his father disliked him, he later grew to appreciate the lasting benefits, later repeating the same process with his great-nephew, Dipper Pines.
He also had Ford, his other twin son, take boxing lessons, seen in the background of Stan's flashback (reading a book, covering his face) as well as in the picture in Stan's car.
When Stan accidentally damaged Ford's perpetual motion machine, ruining the latter's chances of getting into West Coast Tech, Filbrick believed he had done it on purpose. This leads to him angrily disowning Stan for ruining their family's chances of living a better life as he kicks him out of their house, telling him he could only come back when he had earned the kind of fortune that he cost them.
Ever since Stan never came back after being banned in New Jersey and almost every state in USA due to having trouble trying to earn millions of dollars for them, it may be possible he and his wife died of old age while Stan and Stanford are growing up.
Season 1[]
In "Dreamscaperers," Filbrick appeared in a memory held in Stan's mindscape, satisfactorily watching his son taking boxing lessons as a child.
Season 2[]
During Stan's recollection of his childhood in "A Tale of Two Stans," he described his father as being "a strict man, tough as a cinderblock and not easily impressed," though he later admitted to feeling the latter following his son Ford's possible acceptance into West Coast Tech.
In "Weirdmageddon 3: Take Back The Falls," he is mentioned by Stan when he and Ford lament on their fighting and states that his father was right about him being a screw-up.
Personality[]
From what little we hear of him from Stan within the show, it's implied that he was tough but fair; only pushing Stan so he would be the best he could be. However, it seems that Stan is quite lenient towards him, as Filbrick kicked him out and told Stan that he was "just a screwup".
It's revealed in "A Tale of Two Stans" that he's described as being "a strict man, tough as a cinderblock and not easily impressed" with everything, the exception being when Ford Pines was qualified for West Coast Tech. He seems serious about his children making a lot of money, as shown when he kicked Stan out of the family after he ruined Ford's project, causing them to lose potential millions. Both this unimpressed attitude and value for money influenced Stan deep into his adulthood, generating an insatiable greed for cash. Filbrick is also shown to be quite hotheaded and impulsive, as he immediately assumed that Stan had ruined Ford's project on purpose and refused to believe that it was just an accident. In the comics, he is shown tracking Stan down to yell at him and accuse him of stealing. He appears to trust Ford more than he trusted Stan, however Ford's continuous support for Stan in their childhood seemed to irk him.
Appearance[]
Filbrick is a robust looking man; he has burly arms, skinny legs and a distinct cleft chin. Just to the left of his chin is what appears to be a birthmark. He has light brown hair and a small moustache. He wears a fedora, sunglasses and a dark yellow-colored plaid suit with lighter yellow lines. Underneath the suit, he wears a blue dress shirt and white tie, along with brown dress pants and black shoes.
Sightings[]
Season 1
- 119. "Dreamscaperers" (flashback, no lines)
Season 2
- 212. "A Tale of Two Stans" (flashback)
- 220-221. "Weirdmageddon 3: Take Back The Falls" (mentioned)
Quotes[]
|
"I'm not impressed." |
|
"You ignoramus! Your brother was gonna be our ticket outta this dump! All you ever do is lie and cheat, and ride on your brother's coattails! Well, this time, you cost our family potential millions! And until you make us a fortune, you're not welcome in this household!" |
Trivia[]
- Filbrick was a member of The Royal Order of the Holy Mackerel, but he never told Stan or Ford much about it.[3]
- It is strongly implied that Filbrick, as well as the rest of the Pines, are Jewish:
- "Pines" is a common Ashkenazic jewish surname.
- At the entrance of his store and family home, Pines Pawn's, was an attached mezuzah.
- There is also the fact that series creator Alex Hirsch (who is also Stan's voice) and his sister Ariel, the inspirations for Dipper and Mabel respectively, are Jewish on their father's side.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "A Tale of Two Stans." Matt Chapman, Josh Weinstein, Alex Hirsch (writers) & Sunil Hall (director). Gravity Falls. Disney XD. July 13, 2015. No. 12, season 2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Shmeb You Unlocked: Book 8. Retrieved on July 27, 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gravity Falls: Journal 3 by Disney Book Group. July 26, 2016. Published by Disney Press. Page(s) My Brother Stanley. ISBN: 978-1484746691.
- ↑ Hirsch, Alex (July 28, 2016). Stan was raised Jewish but is now an atheist. Dip & Mab were raised unreligiously but celebrate all holidays at Mabel's insistence (Tweet). Retrieved on November 12, 2020.
- ↑ Hirsch, Alex (July 28, 2016). That's my headcanon anyway. But fans can interpret the characters however they want. (Tweet). Retrieved on March 1, 2023.