Bluey is a rambunctious 6-year-old Blue Heeler dog, who loves to play games and have adventures. With a little help from the “magic” of imagination, Bluey and her little sister, Bingo, climb mountains, escape dastardly crocodiles and turn into fierce lions.
Always willing to play along or help create a new game are Bluey and Bingo’s mum and dad. They keep their lively little girls in check, teaching them valuable lessons, such as the importance of sharing and using good manners.
The Season Three finale (“The Sign”) garnered a bit of controversy when one new character made a casual reference to having two moms—the first LGBT reference in the show’s long running. But other than that, along with an occasional eyeroll, some mild toilet humor and an occasional light wink toward more adult behavior, Bluey is light and clean. The two sisters sometimes get into little tiffs over the rules of their made-up games, but they always apologize in the end and find a way to make the game fun for everyone. And they can inspire young viewers and their own mums and dads to play those same games, too.
Yes, Bluey has an issue or two for parents to note and consider. But this fun, well-written show also makes me wish I was a kid again (or at least that I had some kiddos to play these games with). And it feels like a valuable tool for parents since the games that Bluey creates don’t require a lot of toys, people or even time to play. With just a little imagination, your littles can mimic the lovable dog, developing their mental, physical and emotional resilience in the process.
When Bluey learns that the family is moving, she desperately tries to prevent the move from happening. Meanwhile, her mom, Chilli, searches for her friend, Frisky, who has run away from her wedding.
The episode generated a bit of controversy with a reference to an LGBT relationship wherein a classmate of Bluey’s casually mentions a story his “moms” told him.
Bluey’s teacher gives her a bit of spiritual advice regarding the move: “Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to, Bluey.” It’s said that someone went to India “trying to find himself.”
Frisky, kicks a garden gnome in anger. Later, she and her husband, Rad, share a kiss.
Chilli thinks Frisky has run to a lookout area. “Frisky and I used to come up here as teenagers to…um…think,” she explains, likely a reference to drinking. Someone parties a little too hard at the eventual wedding, groggily waking up in the bushes the next morning.
Bluey’s friends, Indy and Rusty, learn that parents should, above all, love each other and take care of their children: Where or how they work isn’t as important. Later, Bluey and Bingo race up a pretend mountain, learning that teamwork makes the job much easier. Finally, Bluey is taught a valuable lesson about using good manners after her family pretends to turn into rude dinner guests.
Children raise their voices and roll their eyes while playing games when the rules aren’t following properly. Bluey turns Bingo and her mom into lions using a “magic” asparagus. They then attack their neighbor, scaring him and pretending to bite him. Someone cheats in a game. Bingo rudely interrupts Bluey. Bluey talks with her mouth full, and Bingo sticks her tongue out covered in food. Bingo wears underwear on her head like a hat. Someone mentions a stinky diaper. Bluey’s dad pretends to use the toilet on the rug like an untrained pet.
Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He thinks the ending of Lost “wasn’t that bad.”
Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.
An elf mage contemplates on connection and regret as she watches her human friends grow old and pass away.
Netflix takes a classic sitcom, Good Times, and turns it into a vulgar, violent, sexually-charged TV-MA show.
