Well, it’s not just one moment, is it? It’s an endless stream of taser shots straight to the core of your being. Sometimes it is recognition and nostalgia, whether for being a kid yourself, or seeing a kid from an adult’s perspective. Sometimes it is absolute hilarity, the funny bone tickled into complete submission. And sometimes, it is absolute devastation by the simple expression of a truth that cannot be denied.
Bluey is a kids animated show about the Heeler family; Bluey, her younger sister Bingo, their mum Chilli and their dad Bandit, and everyone else they know. It is a global phenomenon of a TV show, and with good reason. It comes from a genuine place of love for children and play, and isn’t scared of harder topics when they need to be addressed. It also doesn’t talk down to anyone.
As a Televigion household of three, two thirds of us pretty much hate Bing, and one of us doesn’t know any better. Bing is attempting to do something similar to Bluey, talk about being a child for children and adults, and admittedly Bing is probably 2 or 3 years younger than Bluey as a protagonist. But the gulf in tone and engagement is vast.
The best way to communicate my love for it is with a list of favourite moments 1, so here we go.
- “Mount Mumandad” – This was the first episode I ever saw with no prior information on what the show was. And it got me! It’s a sure sign of genius that any given episode can communicate what the entire show is. And this had a completely relatable setup, imaginative play where you can understand the play and the reality behind it, sibling relationship issues and a heartwarming resolution.
- “Grandad” and “Camping” – My Televigion Wife is immediately heartstruck by a Bluey episode if there’s any sort of time-lapse involved. The examples in these two episodes are right at the end, and utterly beautiful. So I don’t want to spoil them.
- “Bingo” – Our Televigion child was quite young and in the pushchair, loving Bluey for the shapes and sounds more than understanding it. I was with her while my Televigion Wife was cooking dinner for us all. And this episode came on and gobsmacked me by playing with one of the foundations of sitcom, the opening titles! It’s not Bluey, it’s Bingo! I love nothing more than being surprised by TV, and Bluey did it in the opening titles.
- “Rug Island” – We’re really getting towards the meat of this list, the episodes that tap into your very soul. And Rug Island is about the pull of the adult world away from the world of play. Many episodes are. But this one really spoke to me. And we all want those pens!
- “The Show” – This is a very funny episode, where Bluey and Bingo are putting on a show about how their mum and dad met, as a treat for Mother’s Day. The pronunciation of “babe” in Bluey’s impression of her dad is a common reference for us at home that never fails to get a laugh. But there’s a fleeting moment in this episode that achieves at least three layers of meaning from a single balloon popping. It is spectacular. And I’m crying just typing about it.
- “Cricket” – This is from the latest batch of episodes, and is one of the strongest seven minutes of storytelling I have ever seen. Hilarious, heartwrenching, meaningful about sport (WHAT, THAT’S NOT POSSIBLE) and not even really about any of the Heeler family. This is a show firing on all cylinders and knowing how it can stretch the format and speak to people.
- “The Sign” – Bluey goes feature length (relatively, this is 28 minutes) and has no problems of pacing or feeling stretched. And it was the finale of all of Bluey, as far as we knew at the time (they released as episode called “Surprise!” after this finale aired, as a literal surprise. That is peak TV.) And yes, lots of crying.
- “Flatpack” – This episode of Bluey ranks as my all-time favourite. It literally covers the entirety of human (dog) evolution and civilisation, has a practical guide to how to be kind and work together, and explains what it is actually like to have a child grow up in front of you. It is perfectly formed and springs all of the above out of building a swing seat.
So please do yourself a favour and watch a couple of episodes and let me know what you think. Whenever you surface from watching all 154 episodes (and 20 minisodes) of course.
Televigion 