History Recap / GravityFallsS2E7SocietyOfTheBlindEye

* ArcSymbol: In one of [=McGucket's=] later memories, he is ranting and raving. Right before the video cuts out he holds the thumbs and forefingers of each hand in a triangular shape over one of his eyes. Who in the show could be said to resemble a triangle with an eye?

* ADayInTheLimelight: This episode puts a lot more focus onto Old Man [=McGucket=] and the climax reveals his backstory.

* AnAesop: Everyone has things they would rather forget, but instead of going deep into denial, people should ''learn'' from them.
* AffablyEvil: Some of the Society of the Blind Eye members. One even has a casual conversation with Soos about his marriage to a woodpecker.

* AdviceBackfire: Wendy and Mabel talk about Mabel's trouble with summer romances. After hearing her flirting and telling Mabel to [[BeYourself be herself]], Wendy says, "Forget about guys." Mabel decides to take this advice literally and attempt to use the amnesia ray on herself.

* BigBeautifulWoman: Upon seeing the picture of the Queen of the Manatees, Mabel comments that 'she's so beautiful'. Mermando's expression in the picture indicates he feels otherwise.

* BrainBleach: PlayedForLaughs when Mabel derobes Sprott only to find out he's wearing nothing but his underwear underneath; Soos nearly wipes his memory of the scene, but Blind Ivan intervenes before he can. Also, the Blind Eye members are squicked out by a janitor that makes out with the pioneer women display.

** Bud Gleeful's cheery demeanor in the face of Gideon's tantrums takes a darker tone after finding he willingly erased his memories of them.

** Wendy confesses that her laid back demeanor is a façade she puts on to hide the stress from dealing with her family.

* DisabilityImmunity[=/=]SuccessThroughInsanity: [=McGucket=] has been going so long without any memories that the ray doesn't have anything it can do against him.

* EarWorm: In-universe, Wendy complains that she can't get the "Blanching" song out of her head. Soos admits it's one of those summer songs designed to be catchy. By the end she gets ''very'' annoyed when it comes on the radio just after proclaiming that the adventure had made her forget it.

* ExtremeOmnivore: One of the newspaper clips about Old Man [=McGucket=] show him eating a ''live racoon''.

* {{Flanderization}}: In-Universe. [=McGucket's=] accent became more and more exaggerated the more his mind was wiped.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Two instances that are actually related: The fact that removing the tube with ''Old Man [=McGucket=]'s'' memories was what set off the alarm and Blind Ivan not remembering who the founder of the Society of the Blind Eye was.

** Dipper speculates this is the reason that [=McGucket=] has lost his memory, that the Society of the Blind Eye erased it. The real reason ends up being more complicated given [=McGucket=] ''founded'' the Society of the Blind Eye.

* ImAHumanitarian: Jeff commented that if he didn't get to eat pie soon, he'd resort to cannibalism.

* ImmediateSelfContradiction: After Mabel calls herself 'mature' after deciding to learn from her failed summer romances, she asks everyone to help her doodle on a poster of [[Recap/GravityFallsS2E4TheSockOpera Gabe]].

* MemoryWipeExploitation: The titular society's leader, Blind Ivan, reveals both his identity and the society's mission to the twins, Wendy and Soos as he is about to wipe their memories anyways.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: The failure of the author's device produced the reaction in [=McGucket=], enough to cause the LaserGuidedAmnesia that slowly wrecked his mind.

* NoodleIncident: An old issue of the Gravity Falls Gossiper reports that Old Man [=McGucket=] was once caught eating a racoon.

* OhNoNotAgain: After going on the adventure against the Society of the Blind Eye, Wendy comments that it helped her forget the 'blanchin' rap song, only for it to come on the radio as they're leaving.

* PoorCommunicationKills: Old Man [=McGucket=] is actually the founder of the Society of the Blind Eye, but neither him, nor its current members realize this because they've used the memory wiper on themselves so many times they've completely forgotten.

--> "Get ''this'' song out of your heads!"
* ProfessorGuineaPig: [=McGucket=] used himself as the initial test subject for the memory ray. Unfortunately with his now impaired mental functions he was unable to recognize side-effects until it was too late.

* RedHerring: Despite several factors supporting it (which both the fans and the characters had now picked up on), Old Man [=McGucket=] is officially confirmed to ''not'' be the author. However, he was revealed to be working for him.

* ShoutOut: Old Man [=McGucket=]'s descent into madness is eerily similar to the transformation of a certain [[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime princess kidnapping king]].

* StrangerBehindTheMask: While the Society of the Blind Eye contains a couple of minor characters, their current leader Blind Ivan was never seen before. {{Lampshaded}} by Ivan himself, who tells his captives that if they ''did'' see him before he would have made them forget.

* TakingTheBullet: [=McGucket=] jumping in front of the main characters to shield them from the ray blast. Of course, it turns out his memory's been wiped so many times that [[InsanityImmunity he's immune to it by now]].

* WhyWontYouDie: A non-lethal variant when Blind Ivan can't understand that the memory gun won't work on [=McGucket=] as he's repeatedly blasting him with it.

The hooded ones reveal themselves to be townspeople, such as Toby Determined, Bud Gleeful, and that guy who married a woodpecker last Pioneer Day. Led by the enigmatic Blind Ivan, they are the Society of the Blind Eye, an order dedicated to removing all memories of Gravity Falls' supernatural weirdness so the rest of the town can live in blissful ignorance. And now, they plan to remove the gang's memories of everything they've seen this summer. But before Ivan can fire the ray, Old Man [=McGucket=] leaps in to the rescue, having raided the miner's exhibit for weapons. A battle for [=McGucket=]'s memories ensues, and when Blind Ivan tries to fire the ray again, [=McGucket=] takes the shot, showing no ill effects as his mind is too warped to be damaged. "Take your best shot, baldie! But my mind's been gone for thirty-odd years! ''You can't break what's already broken!''" The Society is defeated, and Dipper uses the memory ray to erase the members' own memories of being part of it. After sending them off (And giving Blind Ivan a new identity), the gang examines [=McGucket=]'s memories.

Although the revelation is stunning, [=McGucket=] is happy to know who he used to be. Now, he can move on and recover. Mabel, for her part, decides that she should learn from her failed romances than trying to deny they happened. Dipper asks if [=McGucket=] remembers who the Author was, but the Old Man will need to time remember fully.

* ADayInTheLimeLight: This episode puts a lot more focus onto Old Man [=McGucket=] and the climax reveals his backstory.
* AdviceBackfire: Wendy and Mabel talk about Mabel's trouble with summer romances. After hearing her flirting and telling Mabel to [[BeYourself Be Herself]], Wendy says, "Forget about guys." Mabel decides to take this advice literally and attempt to use the amnesia ray on herself.

* CallForward: In one of [=McGucket's=] video logs he freaks out about a monster he saw in the lake, hinting back to the Gobblewonker.

* ChekhovsArmory: [=McGucket=] raids the pioneer family display to provide [[ImprovisedWeapon Improvised Weapons]] to Dipper and the crew, which includes a stuffed raccoon, a display on dysentery, and a banjo.

** The Society of the Blind Eye has been previously referenced in the cryptograms at the ends of [[Recap/GravityFallsS1E20GideonRises Gideon Rises]] and the [[Recap/GravityFallsDippersGuideToTheUnexplained Dipper's Guide to the Unexplained]] shorts. Its symbol, a crossed-out eye, also appears in graffiti in [[Recap/GravityFallsS2E3TheGolfWar The Golf War]] and [[Recap/GravityFallsS2E5SoosAndTheRealGirl Soos And The Real Girl]].

** Before Robbie is mind-wiped, he mentions the events of [[Recap/GravityFallsS1E10FightFighters Fight Fighters]].

* DeconstructedTrope: As it turns out, it's actually really hard for society to function when it's thrown into a FantasyKitchenSink with dangerous monsters and everything that goes bump in the night running amuck. As such, the Society of the Blind eye was created in order for the citizens of Gravity Falls to act normally (or at least... close to normal) in the face of this.

** Agents Powers and Trigger are passed by just before Wendy throws Soos's CD out of his truck.
** The names of Mrs Gleeful, Pacifica, Preston Northwest and Jeffrey Cannuck can be seen on the memories.

* LaserGuidedAmnesia: The Society of the Blind Eye has a ray that allows them to extract memories, though it has side effects. The "laser-guided" aspect seems to be the problem, as it seems to take some related memories as collateral damage: using it to erase "little men" from Lazy Susan's memories made her forget about the gnomes, but also whether she was a man or woman. Because Blind Ivan associates himself with the society so much, removing his memories of it [[IdentityAmnesia made him forget who he was.]]

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Wendy knows something is wrong when Mabel walks by a cat without petting it.

* SequelHook: [=McGucket=] starts to regain his memories at the end of the episode and TheStinger shows Stan saying that the portal is growing. As Stan rants that he won't let anyone stop him the camera ominously focuses on the photo of the twins.

* WhamEpisode: [=McGucket=] didn't write the journals but he worked for the person who did! Additionally, TheStinger shows Stan revealing that the portal created by the machine in his basement is ''growing stronger'' with each passing day.

* RedHerring: Despite several factors supporting it (which both the fans and the characters had now picked up on), Old Man [=McGucket=] is officially confirmed to ''not'' be the author.

Taking Soos and Wendy along for the ride, the gang confronts the local kook. [=McGucket=], however, can't remember anything beyond thirty years ago. Trying to jog his memories, Dipper shows him Journal 3, and an entry on hooded men called Blind Eye spurs a FreakOut from [=McGucket=]. Concluding that this "Blind Eye" must have tampered with [=McGucket=]'s memories, the gang takes him to the place of his earliest memory- the Gravity Falls history museum. There, they discover a series of hidden chambers, and witness the hooded men erase Lazy Susan's memories of the gnomes with a ray gun, sending the encapsulated recollections through a pneumatic tube. Dipper, Soos, and [=McGucket=] follow the tube while the girls stand guard. There, Mabel considers using the ray to forget her failed romances. The men find a chamber full of memory capsules coming from people in town, but removing[=McGucket=]'s triggers an alarm. The hooded men capture the kids, while [=McGucket=] slips away in the confusion.

Although the revelation is stunning, [=McGucket=] is happy to know who he used to be. Now, he can move on and recover. Mabel, for her part, decides that she should learn from her failed romances than tyring to deny they happened. Dipper asks if [=McGucket=] remembers who the Author was, but the Old Man will need to time remember fully.

* DisabilityImmunity: [=McGucket=] has been going so long without any memories that the ray doesn't have anything it can do against him.

* IgnoranceIsBliss: The Society of the Blind Eye subscribes to this philosophy.
-->'''Credits cryptogram:''' Ignorance is bliss, but bliss is boring.

* NotSoDifferent: Blind Ivan points out that everyone has bad memories that they would like to forget, and Mabel was going to use the ray on herself.

* RealityEnsues: As it turns out, it's actually really hard for society to function when it's thrown into a FantasyKitchenSink with dangerous monsters and everything that goes bump in the night running amuck. As such, the Society of the Blind eye was created in order for the citizens of Gravity Falls to act normally (or at least... close to normal) in the face of this.

* RedHerring: Old Man [=McGucket=] is ''not'' the author.

--->'''Mabel:''' I think she looks beautiful!\\

** Nate and Lee spray-paint [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar "Mc Suck It"]] over [=McGucket=]'s home in the dump. [=McGucket=] sadly admits they "got him good".

---> '''Wendy''': Who are you bathrobe-wearing freaks?\\
'''Dipper''': Why are you doing this?\\
'''Mabel''': What's with your creepy British accent?

--> '''Dipper''': ''Mabel?'' Seriously?!\\
'''Mabel''': Ehehehe... maybe?

* WhatTheHellHero: Wendy and Mabel both get offended when Soos makes fun of Lazy Susan's make-up.
-->'''Mabel''': I think she looks beautiful!\\
'''Wendy''': She's doing the best she can, Soos!

--> '''Dipper''': Don't you see? This is ruining lives! What about Old Man [=McGucket=]? He lives in a hut and talks to animals thanks to you. Don't you feel bad about that?\\
'''Blind Ivan''': ''(hesitantly)'' Maybe a little. ''(uses the memory ray)'' But not anymore!

* ShoutOut: Old Man [=McGucket=]'s descent into madness is eerily similar to the transformation of a certain [[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime princess kidnapping king]]

%%* BookcasePassage

* EarWorm: InUniverse, The "blanchin'" rap song.

** The general stupidity of the residents of Gravity Falls is implied to be caused by constant memory wipes.