You Need to Watch Bluey — Charger Press

Nov 9

Nov 9 You Need to Watch Bluey

Emma Vlaski

For decades, TV shows, ranging from Looney Toons to Cocomelon have existed to provide children with entertainment and prepare them for school and life. However, one of these shows sticks out from the rest: Bluey.

The Australian show is made up of 151 seven-minute-long episodes with no central plot and mainly focuses on a family of anthropomorphic Blue Heeler Cattle Dogs: Bluey, her sister Bingo, her father Bandit, and her mother Chili. Joe Brumm, the creator, was inspired by his two daughters and wanted to portray the importance of imaginary play. In each episode, a new pretend game is played, like keeping a balloon in the air or army. And, while these are simple, they take on a completely different approach to education. Instead of learning about numbers or letters, people learn about important life lessons, big and small, and the value of relationships. Certain episodes even tackle difficult subjects such as infertility, separation anxiety, and living with impairments, all while being enjoyable.

But why is this show so popular with people of all ages?

How it sets itself apart from other children’s shows

From the moment you begin watching, you will notice it completely destroys the preschool formula: the color palette doesn’t blind you, instead opting for soft pastels; backgrounds are not flat and add tons of depth into each scene; not ever does pacing feel mind-numbing and hurried, even with episodes being seven minutes-long; the music never fails to impress–ranging from fun tunes when playing games to tear-jerking, orchestral masterpieces for beautiful moments; every character has a cute design and portrays realistic characters with good and bad qualities; relationships and interactions are not forced and depict both teamwork and conflicts; and actual children (who are extremely expressive and nail every line) are used for voice acting children the same age in the show. But what truly makes this show amazing is that it doesn’t talk down to the viewer. You are not asked a basic question by Dora and glared at by her dead eyes; rather, you feel engaged in the fun they’re having and are not made to feel dumb while learning. You are an equal who is learning from the conflicts and experiences of characters in the show.

While other shows feel the need to appeal to the viewer using flashy colors, humanoid animals, and/or a made-up world, Bluey can capture the imagination, adventure, and education through mundane, real-world, and wholesome relationships. Mr. Weiss agrees, stating, “A lot of the things they do in the show is how kids act in real life, and every episode has a lesson for the kids to learn without doing it in a forceful or cheesy way.”

Universal Appeal

For the last few years, Bluey has managed to outlast the vast majority of children’s shows and skyrocket in popularity. There are no shortages of plushies, books, online posts and analyses, and even a video game just for this show. Not only this, but it is also one of the highest-ranking shows of all time, with its episode “Sleepytime,” focusing on Bingo becoming an independent sleeper, achieving a rating of 9.8/10. These ratings are not coming from cultured toddlers; they’re from adults who are drawn to the show because it reminds them of a simpler time.

All the seemingly trivial games that are played portray the carefree feeling that childhood allows for, and it's something that almost everyone can relate to. The parents in the show do a phenomenal job of exemplifying this. Mr. Deml says, “The dad is such a goofball. I love how quickly he transitions from his work or whatever task he is doing to fall into the make-believe world of his kids. He’s a world-class improviser. He just accepts the reality the kids have created and falls into it so perfectly.” My childhood, like many others, was defined by the vast amount of pretend games I played with family and friends; they let me use my imagination to create fun, and it's these experiences that Bluey flawlessly captures.

But don’t just take this from me, tons of other people share the same sentiment. Junior Delaney Danduran, having watched every single episode, says, “I think that everyone should watch it because it teaches life lessons that people need to learn.” Senior Harlowe Hutter shares a similar feeling. She says, “It’s a really good show for any age, and just because it’s a cartoon people should not not watch it” and, “It’s nice to see myself represented,” referring to Jack, a character that accurately showcases the struggles of ADHD. But Mr. Weiss sums up the show perfectly: “It’s beautiful, touching, and funny. I love it.”

Watching this show will make you sad that you had to deal with the likes of Dora the Explorer rather than growing up with this masterpiece, but you might as well embrace your inner child now. Don’t take the time and people you have for granted; relax, enjoy life, and put on an episode of Bluey.