'Twin Peaks' Meets 'X-Files' in Disney+'s 2-Part Mystery Series Surging the Streaming Charts

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Kyle Maclachlan as Special Agent Dale Cooper looking intently past the camera in Twin Peaks.

Published Oct 17, 2026, 9:01 PM EDT

Jeffrey is a freelance features writer at Collider. He is an MPA-accredited entertainment journalist and a Tomatometer-approved critic based in the LA area. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Radio, TV, & Film and a Bachelor of Arts in Theater.

One of the best Disney animated series of all time is surging up the streaming television charts on FlixPatrol once again, and it's easy to see why. The unparalleled animated saga, Gravity Falls, ended its original run just over 10 years ago. 14 years after the series originally debuted on the Disney Channel in 2012, Alex Hirsch's epic show remains a bona fide classic that everyone should revisit on Disney+.

'Gravity Falls' Is Like an Animated 'Twin Peaks' Meets 'The X-Files'

Gravity Falls features a unique premise for an animated show. It follows pre-teen twins Mabel (Kristen Schaal) and Dipper Pines (Jason Ritter) as they are forced to spend the summer with their great-uncle, or Grunkle as he's nicknamed, Stan Pines (Hirsch), in the middle-of-nowhere town of Gravity Falls, where Stan runs a local tourist trap called the Mystery Shack. Not long after arriving in Gravity Falls, Mabel and Dipper discover that the town is home to all manner of strange phenomena, supernatural creatures, and otherworldly phantasmagoria. Dipper then stumbles upon a strange journal of unknown origins and seeks to unravel the mystery of this strange town.

Gravity Falls combines storytelling styles and narratives pioneered by such classic shows like David Lynch's Twin Peaks and Chris Carter's The X-Files, but adapts them in an animated series format. Obviously, Gravity Falls isn't as mature and adult as the aforementioned shows, but it utilizes those styles without dumbing them down. The series features both standalone episodic stories, where the Pines encounter strange creatures or events, as they get closer to unraveling the town's deeper mystery. Hirsch utilizes a sophisticated, complex narrative style that never talks down to his audience, and he even sneaks in clever jokes and gags that younger viewers might miss, but older viewers will certainly understand.

'Gravity Falls' Tells a Poignant Coming-of-Age Story

From the show's hilarious and outrageous slapstick comedy to the compelling mysteries, Gravity Falls never loses sight of its core duo, Mabel and Dipper Pines, who act as the emotional heart of the series. They are not only twins but best friends and two sides of the same coin, and their dynamic elevates the series, grounding it with an emotionally poignant relationship. Part of this is because Hirsch based Mabel and Dipper on his relationship with his real-life twin sister and spending summers away from home. That real-life influence permeates the entire series.

Although Mabel and Dipper constantly find themselves in strange situations and fantastical adventures, their relationship feels very realistic and true to life. Despite their hardships, Mabel and Dipper always look out for and support each other, imbuing the series with its emotional core. Some of the show's most powerful moments involve Mabel and Dipper, and their relationship intriguingly mirrors another set of siblings in the show that becomes more apparent later.

There's never truly been an animated show that captures a sibling bond quite like Gravity Falls. The "Mystery Twins" are quite individually distinct as brother and sister. Dipper is more serious and the smarter of the two, while Mabel is more socially outgoing and goofier. However, their unique attributes complement one another, and although they have their differences and experience turmoil throughout the series, the twins will stop at nothing to protect each other's hearts, as emphasized by one of the show’s best episodes, "Escape From Reality." Usually, Gravity Falls' greatest episodes nicely showcase Mabel and Dipper's sibling bond, and it's a beautiful relationship that empowers the entire saga.

'Gravity Falls' Endures as a Groundbreaking Event Series

Dipper and Mabel looking very scared in Gravity Falls episode Tourist Trapped.

Gravity Falls endures as a one-of-a-kind event series and one of the best shows of its era. Hirsch crafted a unique, artisanal, and groundbreaking series, and there's never been anything like it in the world of animation since it ended its run. Between its sophisticated narrative, grounded emotional relationships, hilarious comedy, and a massive cast of charming, lovable characters, Gravity Falls stands out as an unparalleled masterpiece. The good news is that the show is still readily available. Reruns air regularly on Disney XD, and the entire saga is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S. If you’ve never watched Gravity Falls, add it to your streaming queue immediately. It's a profound experience you will never forget or regret.

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