MatPat We Miss You

Kate Chung

It’s been a while since the founding father of internet lore, MatPat, took a step back from his usual content creation to retire and spend time with his family. While we understand that dedicating time to his 5-year-old son is selfless and understandable, the internet is missing its “online father.” 

With the spooky season in mind, curious pockets of the internet are surfacing, and any well-seasoned mind on the web knows that MatPat is the one we need to dissect it all. Although some might argue that the beloved YouTuber already reached his peak during the pandemic with the world’s large online presence, many say that without his content, the internet has lost its spark– or something else? Since MatPat retired, the web feels like a classroom without a teacher. With the unexpected resurgence of the “Gravity Falls” fandom, armies of chronically online teens have been searching for answers in “The Book of Bill,” the newest work of the show’s creator, Alex Hirsch. Many theorists, including MatPat’s former YouTube team, have been analyzing this piece, but have yet to bring back his charm. Theories are growing faster than anyone can keep up with, but without MatPat’s signature mystery-solving approach, we’ve all been left guessing. 

In his absence, many viewers are left to miss his videos, not just for the theories, but also the comforting community he built as well. When asked in an interview what set the YouTuber apart from other content creators, John Kuli (ACT ‘26) shared that he had been a MatPat viewer for at least 5 years and that “his content is entertaining, but it also provides a sense of comfort.” According to Kuli, “No one had the same kind of energy or commitment.” 

In the upcoming year, a few exciting events are set to take place. With the announcement of the “Five Night at Freddy’s: Secret of the Mimic” movie, fans will surely add fresh ideas to the already massive series, and we can bet that new theories are coming our way. On the same note, director Jared Hess’s film, “A Minecraft Movie,” featuring an all-star cast, is hurling towards us, whether we like it or not. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come off as complex enough to need any analysis at all. But who knows, that’s just a theory.

The internet is buzzing with ideas, now more than ever, and no one is better equipped than our teacher to dive into their stories, connect the dots, and bring clarity to the chaos. MatPat, if you’re out there, consider this your official invitation to return to the frontlines of the madness.

 So, please, MatPat, come home.