The international phenomenonBlueymay be a kids’ show, but there are so many little moments in it that resonate specifically with parents. In many ways,Blueyis just as relevant for adults as it is for kids, as it’s loaded withhidden movie references, sight gags, and poignant life lessons that are well beyond the sensibilities of a toddler or grade-school child. The show takes a realistic viewpoint on parenting, and isn’t afraid to show the daily struggles and frustrations right alongside the best parts of raising children.
As a result,Blueyhas a ton of scenes, and sometimes an entire episode, that really hit home for anyone who has raised a young child.Some are on the funnier side, minor annoyances in the grand scheme of things, while others aredeeper explorations of the universal hardshipsof parenting. These ten episodes in particular are must-watch options for any parent of little ones, regardless of what country you’re watching from or how many kids you have.
10 Bluey Supporting Characters That Deserve More Screentime
Most Bluey episodes revolve around Bluey and the three other members of the Heeler family, but some side characters frequently steal the show.
10“Rain” - Season 3, Episode 18
Chilli Gets Frustrated With A Muddy Bluey
“Rain” is unique within the context ofBlueybecause almost all of the seven-minute episode is dialogue-free. It features Bluey trying to dam up water flowing down her driveway during a rainstorm, and Chilli frustratingly trying to keep a muddy and wet Bluey from running in and out of the house before eventually giving up and helping her. Every parent understands the never-ending battle between maintaining a clean house and allowing a child complete freedom in their play. The two things are mutually exclusive, unfortunately, but the play should usually take priority over the house.
9“Fairies” - Season 1, Episode 30
Bandit Gets Frustrated When Bingo Interrupts His Work Call
As great a dad as Bandit is, he is just as capable of getting frustrated as any other parent, and frankly it’s important to show that given how many other times Bandit unrealistically kowtows to his children’s wishes. In “Fairies”, Bingo is trying to get his attention to show him the dominos she set up (as a “love heart” specifically for him), but she’s interrupting him while he’s on a work call, which causes him to quickly snap at her. Every parent has likely had (many) moments where they lose it for a second due to a child’s pestering.
8“Bedroom” - Season 3, Episode 1
Bandit And Chilli Play “Bags Not”
When Bluey decides to move into the old baby room across the hall, the two girls wind up staying up far later than they’re supposed to as they move items between the two rooms. Tired at the end of the day, Bandit and Chilli are relaxing downstairs when they hear the pitter-patter of little feet. They quickly shout “Bags Not” which is the Australian equivalent of “Not It” to determine who goes upstairs to re-tuck the girls into bed.
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“Bedroom”
“Surprise”
It’s a funny moment that most parents have had together at one time or another. you’re able to love your kids to the moon and back, but after a long day nobody wants to get up off the couch, plain and simple. That goes double for the constant fight to get them to go to bed when they’re supposed to, which is one of the greatest challenges for any parent of a 4-7-year-old.
7“Sticky Gecko” - Season 2, Episode 12
Chilli Struggles To Get The Girls Out The Door
“Sticky Gecko” is a hilarious but anxiety-inducing watch for most parents, because it’s such a universal experience for those with small children. Children have no concept of time, and certainly don’t care about punctuality, so the process of getting out the door can be incredibly frustrating. Chilli even loses her cool entirely at one point with the classic “Fine, we’re not going at all!” line that every parent has gotten to at one point or another. It’s one of the best examples ofBlueyshowcasing what parenting is really like as opposed to some idealized, unrealistic version of it.
6“Faceytalk” - Season 3, Episode 23
Stripe And Trixie Argue Over Parenting Techniques
While Bandit and Chilli usually have a great solution for their children’s problems, Bandit’s brother Stripe and his wife Trixie are a bit less experienced and on the ball. Bluey’s cousin Muffin is decidedly spoiled, and there is a strong implication that it’s due to her parents’ appeasement techniques. In “Faceytalk”, it comes to a head; Muffin not only refuses her father’s command to give her sister a turn with the tablet, she goes on to steal his phone and hide in the house before ultimately dropping it in the pool.
Uncle Stripe is voiced by Dan Brumm, the sound designer forBlueyand real-life brother of creator Joe Brumm.
At one point in the background, the audience can see and hear Stripe and Trixie arguing about who should be responsible for remedying the Muffin situation. While Bandit hits mute during the conversation, we can hear Trixie criticizing Stripe’s techniques (or lack thereof) in favor of something she’s read in a blog. Any modern parent has dealt with a ton of information and opinions online and from the people around them about the “right” way to parent. Truthfully, there is no such thing as a right answer, so seeing Trixie and Stripe struggle certainly hits home for parents.
5“Trampoline” - Season 1, Episode 33
Bandit Struggles To Leave For Work
InBluey, Bandit constantly struggles between wanting to provide the best life possible forthe Heeler family, and of course wanting to stay home and enjoy time with them. In “Trampoline”, he struggles to make it out the door to his job because Bluey and Bingo want him to stay and “make breakfast” out of them on their trampoline. It’s a common issue for any parent who works a full-time job, finding that work-life balance between your job and your children. Bandit, of course, has a great solution: give Bluey a “job” as well, which is coming up with games.
4“Sheepdog” - Season 3, Episode 12
Chilli Just Needs 20 Minutes To Herself
“Sheepdog” kicks off with a frazzled Chilli snapping at Bluey, who is playing a recorder as loud as she can. An entirely human parenting moment escalates when Bandit returns, and Chilli tells him that she needs 20 minutes where nobody bothers her. Every parent has gotten to a point of no return with their children’s annoyances, and more often than not it’s in both the kids' and parents' best interests for Mom or Dad to get a break. Chilli’s self-therapeutic session, guarded over by a vigilant, sheepish Bandit, is an extremely relatable experience for parents.
3“Sleepytime” - Season 2, Episode 9
Bandit And Chilli Struggle To Get The Girls To Stay In Bed
“Sleepytime” is an award-winning episode of television for good reason; it’s visually beautiful, emotional, and profound. However, its best asset may be the simplest element: its realism. Every parent–and I mean every parent–has struggled with bedtime. One way or another, kids wind up in parents' rooms or parents wind up in kids' rooms, or sometimes both in the same night. That broken sleep always seems to come when a parent has something to do the next morning, making it that much more miserable. No matter what though, a good snuggle with your little one is the best consolation prize possible.
2“Chest” - Season 3, Episode 10
Bandit Pushes Bluey Into Chess A Bit Too Early
“Chest” is an entertaining episode that sees Bluey and Bingo at their most imaginative, as they anthropomorphize the pieces on a chess board while Bandit tries to teach Bluey the game’s actual rules. Bluey, who is just seven years old at the time of “Chest”, is of course well out of her depth with the complexities of chess, which is why she is so easily distracted by the pieces. However, Bandit’s desire to teach her chess is born out of a very relatable emotion for parents.
I Love Bluey, But These 10 Episodes Hit A Little Too Close To Home
The best Bluey episodes balance lighthearted family adventures with poignant life lessons, some of which have hit a little too close to home.
As Chilli spells out, “smart people play chess”, which is why Bandit is so eager to teach his daughter the game. Every parent wants their child to succeed in life, whether it’s getting good grades, being a good athlete, or any other method of success. Bandit wants his daughter to be smart, and as a result he pushes her into something that he believes is for smart people. However, Chilli smartly steps in and notes that it’s too early to worry about making them smart; for now, they just work on making them kind, happy people.
1“Copycat” - Season 1, Episode 38
Bandit Has To Explain Death To Bluey
“Copycat” starts off silly, with Bluey copying everything her father says in an attempt to annoy him, which he plays along with willingly. Unfortunately, the episode takes a turn when they find an injured bird on the side of the road, which Bandit theorizes was attacked by a cat. Despite their best efforts and a visit to the veterinarian, the bird dies, and Bandit is forced to explain why the bird won’t get any better to his daughter.
Every parent has had those conversations with their child, and it’s always unpleasant. Each serious conversation, especially ones related to death, results in a loss of innocence for a child, and it’s always sad for a parent to see their child exposed to the real world a little bit more. “Copycat” has a beautiful ending, andBlueyeven provides a blueprint for a conversation about death with a little one thanks to Bandit and Chilli.
